South Africa Risks Turning BNPL into a Credit-Exclusion Trigger without Fairer Scoring Rules

South Africa risks turning Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) into a credit exclusion trigger if scoring systems fail to properly interpret short-term instalment data. Experts warn that integrating BNPL into traditional credit models could unfairly lower credit scores for responsible borrowers, particularly younger and lower-income consumers. Regulators have paused BNPL data integration as concerns grow over financial inclusion and scoring accuracy.

Brice & Burnett named South Africa’s Best Luxury Wine Retailer

Brice & Burnett, formerly Wine Cellar, has been named South Africa’s Best Luxury Wine Retailer by the Luxury Lifestyle Awards, recognising 25 years of excellence in fine wine curation and client service. The brand is celebrated for its premium selection of local and international wines, investment portfolios, brokerage services, and expert cellaring solutions. This award highlights its leadership in shaping South Africa’s luxury wine market.

Mezzanine and Open Access Energy Partner to Accelerate Virtual Wheeling Adoption Across South Africa’s Renewable Energy Market

South Africa’s renewable energy market is entering a new phase as Mezzanine and Open Access Energy (OAE) partner to accelerate the adoption of virtual wheeling. By integrating Mezzanine’s Virtual Wheeling Platform into OAE’s Energypro platform, the partnership simplifies renewable energy procurement for corporate energy buyers, independent power producers, and energy traders. The collaboration expands access to clean energy across Eskom- and municipally-connected customers, helping businesses reduce carbon emissions, manage energy costs, and participate in South Africa’s rapidly evolving electricity market.

Powering Beyond the Crisis: Unlocking South Africa’s Economic Revival Through Distributed Energy

South Africa’s energy crisis continues to weigh heavily on economic growth, industrial productivity, and household finances. In this opinion piece, Gerjo Hoffman, CEO of Open Access Energy, argues that distributed renewable energy and private power generation offer the fastest path to economic recovery. By reducing electricity costs, improving energy reliability, and enabling long-term savings through private Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), businesses can regain competitiveness and stimulate GDP growth. The article also highlights the role of financial institutions in accelerating renewable energy investment and calls for urgent regulatory reform to unlock South Africa’s full distributed energy potential.

Why Investors Are Looking at African Fintech Again

African fintech is regaining investor attention as the sector matures beyond venture-led growth into sustainable, revenue-generating businesses capable of attracting institutional capital. Recent IPOs by South Africa’s Optasia and Morocco’s Cash Plus, alongside expectations around Airtel Africa’s mobile money business and OPay, signal renewed confidence in African fintech’s long-term potential. With fintech revenues projected to reach $65 billion by 2030, the continent continues to benefit from rising smartphone penetration, mobile money adoption, and a young, urbanising population. Increased merger and acquisition activity, stronger local partnerships, and improved funding momentum in 2026 suggest African fintech is entering a new phase focused on scalability, profitability, and liquidity opportunities for investors.

New Study of 10,000 South African Youth Reveals the Future of Youth Marketing

A new ReachPlayers study surveying 10,000 South Africans aged 13 to 25 reveals major shifts in youth marketing and consumer behaviour. The research shows that young audiences prioritise financial stability, family support, and quality over fame, influencers, and repetitive advertising. While TikTok remains the leading platform for brand discovery, gaming environments generate significantly higher attention and engagement than social media. The findings highlight how brands can better connect with Gen Z and Gen Alpha through immersive, participatory experiences that build trust and relevance.

Perion, Mediamark and McSorely Media Launch Exclusive AI Advertising Partnership Across Africa

Perion Network, McSorely Media, and Mediamark have launched an exclusive AI advertising partnership across Africa, bringing Perion’s Outmax AI-native execution platform to agencies and brands throughout the continent. The collaboration aims to improve programmatic advertising performance, transparency, and measurable outcomes as Africa’s digital advertising market continues rapid growth.

Club Med South Africa Signals New Era for Tourism, Investment and Global Travel Demand

Club Med South Africa is set to transform KwaZulu-Natal’s tourism landscape with a major new Beach & Safari Resort expected to boost international travel demand, create jobs, attract investment and strengthen South Africa’s position as a leading global tourism destination. Backed by strong government and private sector collaboration, the development is already generating significant global interest ahead of its official opening.