Sunday, November 24African Digital Business Magazine

Tag: southern Africa

South Africa News, Startups

Seven South African legal startups to pitch for EUR 10,000 grant

Virtual pitching event to occur on 13 July, register to attend The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) kicked off its annual global Innovating Justice Challenge in search of the region’s best justice-related social entrepreneurs in March this year. With more than 200 applications from startups with high impact justice innovations, HiiL has selected the top seven in Southern Africa to pitch to an esteemed panel and are inviting interested community members to join the presentation. Adam Oxford, Head of the HiiL Innovation Hub Southern Africa, says that an estimated 70 percent of justice problems remain unresolved due to lack of access, trust, and high costs. These issues often result in poor outcomes for health, equality, and economic stability. “By addressing justice over the past...
African News

A company that knows how to make things look easy

By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa Alcatel-Lucent has a success story to tell. Its stories, references and activities in Africa in 2012 is a lesson for many other organizations who what to make it big on the continent. In a recently published document Alcatel-Lucent shares references, successes, achievement and activities in Africa; as well as vision of African Market and broadband according to Daniel Jaeger, Vice-President of Alcatel-Lucent in Africa. News from Algiers, Algeria reveal that broadband for Africa, realize the potential of a connected world and tackle rural inclusion. I – Alcatel-Lucent presence, activities and foot print in Africa. II- Broadband in Africa, vision and view according to Daniel Jaeger Vice-President of Alcatel-Lucent Africa. III - Alcatel-Lucent’s pres...
African News, Energy, Green Energy, South Africa News

How will South African industry deal with tariff hikes and carbon taxes?

African Utility Week to assist Large Power Users to face energy obstacles The proverbial axe is falling on ‘business as usual` as every industry in South Africa, from mining to manufacturing to retail, is cringing at the thought of rising energy tariffs and the impending implementation of a carbon tax. Stemming the tide of rising tariffs On the receiving end of tariff hikes, industry is dealing with three significant elements, namely the cost of electricity, uncertainty around sufficient electricity supply and carbon emission management. According to Shaun Nel, Project Director & Advisor, Energy Intensive Users Group of Southern Africa (EIUG), “the current request by Eskom to raise electricity prices by 16% per annum over 5 years will have a significantly negative ...
Energy, Green Energy, Zimbabwe News

Air quality deteriorates in Zimbabwe’s main cities

by Wallace Mawire A report produced by the Institute of Environmental Studies (IES) on  the proposed National Climate Change Response Strategy in Zimbabwe has revealed that there is increasing evidence of deteriorating air quality in the country's main cities. The IES, a department of the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) was contracted by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Management to come up with a national climate change response strategy for Zimbabwe. The strategy report says that studies conducted by the Air Pollution Information Network for Africa show that carbon monoxide constituted 74% of Zimbabwe's total emissions using 2000 as the base year and was mostly from savanna and vegetation burning including forest fires. "The other pollutants such as nitrogen oxide c...
African News, South Africa News

Frost & Sullivan Awards Invensys Operations Management for Growth Leadership in the South African ACS Market

Diversified product portfolio, focused innovation and exceptional customer service underpin continuous growth CAPE TOWN, Africa, Nov., 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the Automation and Control Solution (ACS) market in South Africa, Frost & Sullivan recognises Invensys Operations Management Southern Africa with the coveted 2012 South African Growth Leadership Award. "In a market facing increasingly intense competition, Invensys Operations Management Southern Africa has continued to register strong growth," noted Frost & Sullivan's Automation & Electronics Team Leader, James Maposa. "An innovative and diversified product portfolio, strategic partnering and exceptional customer service and support have enabled the company to maintain its pos...
South Africa News

Telecoms journal highlights challenges in the sector

By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa Johan van Huyssteen, PwC Communications Leader for Southern Africa reports that with billions of dollars of international investment flowing in and subscriber numbers rising across the continent, Africa’s communications market is at the inflection point where high potential starts to turn into high growth. And more reports showing that strong growth in the telecommunications sector is being driven by increasing investment, rapid progress in technological and communications services and some deregulation across the African continent. But for many reasons these achievements to date are only just the beginning as Africa’s future potential dwarfs the growth seen so far. These are some of the highlights from PwC’s publication: Communications Revie...
African News, South Africa News

Frost & Sullivan: Mobile Operators Reap the Benefits from Infrastructure Investment in Sub Saharan Africa

  Decline in retail price to push growth of voice and internet services CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Oct., 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Broadband penetration in African countries is significantly low, with a majority of countries recording penetration levels of less than 5%. This has had a considerable impact on internet usage levels in the region. African countries, however, have experienced a steady uptake of mobile communications and are poised to witness an appreciable growth of mobile, broadband and internet services over the next 4-5 years. New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.wireless.frost.com), Sub Saharan African Communications Quantitative Quarterly Tracker Q3 2012, covering key countries in the region, finds that the market had 181.7 million mobile and fixed telephon...
African News, South Africa News

AFDB gives ATI support

  By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa More and more support is pouring in; in an attempt to beef up the attraction of investment into Africa. Recently the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) approved a USD15 million equity investment in the African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI) to increase its capital base. A statement reports that this contribution will allow ATI to increase its provision of trade, credit and political risk insurance products that encourage foreign direct investment and trade in Africa. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, ATI was founded in 2001, under an International Treaty by African Member States at the initiative of Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and with the technical and financial support of the World Bank. ATI has a mandate to incr...
African News

South Africa: AAD2012 offers an extraordinary branding opportunity to local companies

  Africa Aerospace and Defence 2012 (AAD2012) is the largest defence and aviation showcase ever to be held on the African continent, with thousands of people expected to attend the five day exhibition from 19 to 23 September 2012, at the Air Force Base Waterkloof. Exhibition space is already sold out, but there are still numerous sponsorship opportunities available. “The last event, AAD2010, attracted 93 000 people at Air Force Base Ysterplaat,” says Vhongani Shumba, Marketing and PR manager for AAD2012. “AAD2012 has moved back to Waterkloof after the base’s renovation and upgrade, and we will make the best possible use of the much bigger space here. “The increased exhibition space indoors and outdoors is already completely sold out, which gives an indication of the high esteem i...
African News, South Africa News

Students need vocational education

  By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa Vocational education and training is clearly the answer for most students who can't enter the university system. That is why experts have in the past urged students to consider private colleges and Further Education and Training (FET) institutions as a viable option for gaining a tertiary education. Among them are quality institutions offering courses that address the economic needs of our country. Many colleges have a higher ratio of graduates placed directly into related employment. Sharene Menteath, Head of Academics at CTI Education Group comments: "CTI Information Systems graduates are employed at the same level as university graduates, but require only one year of study and are likely to have earned an additional R100 000 before their universi...