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RED TAPE: The Secret Stranglehold on South Africa’s Digital Revolution

A new report has blasted South Africa’s regulators for their iron-fisted grip on the digital economy, warning that their heavy-handed approach could strangle the country’s very last chance at becoming a major player in the global tech game.

The report, compiled by Naspers and the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection, takes aim at the Competition Commission and its crusade against e-commerce giant Takealot, which has been forced to jump through hoops to operate in a country where regulators seem more interested in stifling innovation than encouraging growth.

"Regulators are stuck in the stone age, oblivious to the seismic shifts taking place in the digital landscape," said a senior source close to the investigation. "They’re so fixated on playing catch-up that they’re strangling the very innovation they’re trying to nurture."

The report calls for a radical overhaul of the regulatory framework, urging policymakers to adopt a "regulatory sandbox" approach that lets digital businesses flourish without suffocating them under a blanket of bureaucratic red tape.

But the challenges facing South Africa’s digital entrepreneurs don’t stop there. The report also highlights the country’s crippling fintech sector, where startups are forced to navigate regulations designed for traditional businesses, not digital disruptors.

"The fintech sector is in danger of being strangled at birth," warned Joel Netshitenzhe, executive director at Mistra. "We need to give these innovative businesses the freedom to grow, without bogging them down in outdated regulations."

So what’s the solution? For starters, regulators need to get with the times and recognize that digital is the future. They need to speed up the regulatory process, not slow it down. And they need to stop suffocating small businesses with paperwork and fees.

As the report notes, it can take up to 180 working days to process some approvals, leaving small businesses to struggle on the sidelines. That’s just not good enough.

The stakes are high. South Africa’s digital economy is the key to its economic future, and regulators have a responsibility to create an environment that allows innovation to thrive. Anything less would be a betrayal of the country’s very own economic potential.

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The Secret to Unlocking the Power of GBS Operations in Townships?

It’s not just about throwing more money at the problem. It’s about fundamentally changing the way we approach economic development. By locating global business services (GBS) operations in townships, we’re not just creating jobs – we’re unleashing the untapped potential of the youth and empowering them to drive economic growth in their communities.

The Gauteng Department of Economic Development (GDED) has recently launched a tender to establish a panel of service providers to assist with the development of GBS operations in townships for the next three years. The scope of work is broad, including business process outsourcing, knowledge process outsourcing, and IT outsourcing. And the best part? It’s all about creating opportunities for the youth and supporting the growth of the township economy.

But that’s not all. Other tenders making headlines this week include:

• Eskom’s search for a video management system to address the problem of theft and vandalism of their assets.
• Broadband Infraco’s requirement for a cloud-based VOIP solution to provide internet access to schools across the province.
• The Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury’s bid for the supply and delivery of desktop and laptop computers.
• And many more!

The Bottom Line:

GBS operations in townships have the potential to unlock the capabilities of the youth and drive economic growth in these communities. But it’s not just about throwing money at the problem – it’s about fundamentally changing the way we approach economic development. The Gauteng Department of Economic Development is taking a bold step in the right direction by establishing a panel of service providers to support the growth of GBS operations in townships. Other provinces would do well to follow suit.

The Top Tenders:

1. GDED’s tender for a panel of service providers to develop GBS operations in townships.
2. Eskom’s tender for a video management system to address theft and vandalism of their assets.
3. Broadband Infraco’s tender for a cloud-based VOIP solution for schools across the province.
4. The Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury’s tender for the supply and delivery of desktop and laptop computers.

Stay tuned for more updates on the top tenders in South Africa!

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Warning: The Unlicensed Wi-Fi Highway to Nowhere

Are you tired of being stuck in a digital traffic jam, crawling along the N1 highway on a Friday afternoon? That’s what you’ll get with unlicensed wireless connectivity, which is like trying to navigate a crowded highway without a map or a plan.

But what if you could have your own private lane, a dedicated highway to success, where you can drive as fast as you want and never have to worry about gridlock? That’s what Comsol’s Gary Woolley is offering, and it’s a game-changer.

Woolley, the chief commercial officer at Comsol, says that many organizations still don’t understand the difference between consumer-grade unlicensed connectivity and dedicated, enterprise-grade licensed spectrum. "Last-mile access solutions that aren’t licensed can’t guarantee performance and service-level agreements for business," he warns. "At times, everyone will be stuck in a gridlock."

Comsol, on the other hand, owns key spectrum and has dedicated its own private highway for business use. "We’re like the Gautrain for redundancy," Woolley says. "We can choose the vehicle and drive in any lane." And with Comsol’s latest 5G FWA solution, you can get a business-class broadband connection that’s faster, more reliable, and more cost-effective than ever before.

So why settle for a slow and unreliable connection when you can have a high-speed highway to success? Choose Comsol for your business connectivity needs and leave the gridlock behind.

Get Connected with Comsol

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to revolutionize your business connectivity. Learn more about Comsol’s licensed 5G FWA solution and how it can benefit your organization. Visit comsol.co.za today.

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The ITWeb CX Summit: Where the Revolution Begins

Join us on October 3 and 4 at the Forum in Bryanston, Johannesburg, as we ignite a fiery discussion about the future of customer experience (CX). Our speakers will blow the lid off emerging trends that will either propel your business to new heights or crush it like a bug under their heels.

"The Hermit Consumer": Are They the Death Knell for Brick-and-Mortar?

Dion Chang, CEO of Flux, will kick off the Summit by unpacking the mysteries of the hermit consumer, social commerce, influencer farms, and the ethics of personalized pricing. Buckle up, because the next wave of CX revolutionaries will reshape the very fabric of how we engage with customers.

Unified Experiences? More Like One-Stop Shop for Self-Soothing

Our first track, Integration and Unified Experiences, is a must-attend for those who still think CX means building yet another siloed chatbot. Learn from our expert speakers how to break down the barriers between departments, departments, and – dare we say – silos.

The Real CX Show: Engagement Strategies Revealed

On the second track, we dive deep into the art of customer journeys, sustainability and CX strategies, and the delicate dance of personalization. Don’t miss Dr Jeremai Moloi, Senior Experience Design Manager at Standard Bank, as he spills the secrets of integrating UX design with CX strategies.

Get Certified: From Customer Wizard to CX Master

And if you thought you knew everything about CX, wait until you meet Steve Towers, CEO of BP Group, on Day 2. He’ll put you through your paces with training sessions on hyper-personalization, AI, and the metrics that will make or break your CX strategy. And, of course, earn that coveted Accredited CX Advisor (ACXA) certification, backed by the Academy of Customer Experience and the PMI.

Don’t get left in the dust – secure your spot now and join the CX revolution at the ITWeb CX Summit 2024. Click here for registration and training information.

Eskom’s Toxic Legacy: The Emperor’s New Clothes

Behind the thin veil of "success" lies a rotting corpse, a victim of decades of neglect and malice. Eskom’s chairman, Mteto Nyati, dares to speak truth to power, to expose the festering sores that threaten to consume us all.

"Load shedding? Ha! That’s just the tip of the iceberg, folks. The real problem is the monumental debt owed to Eskom by municipalities. It’s a ticking time bomb, and we’re all just waiting for it to detonate."

And what’s causing this toxic mess? Simple: the culture of lawlessness that’s taken root in our society. Theft, in all its guises, is the name of the game.

"Municipal infrastructure is dying, and we’re all to blame. How can we expect Eskom to fund new projects when they’re crippled by debt and illegal connections?

"It’s not just a financial crisis; it’s a crisis of values. Do we really think it’s okay to steal from our neighbors? That’s what we’re doing, folks. That’s what we’re condoning.

"We need a drastic overhaul, a revolution in thought and action. We can’t continue to pretend that everything is hunky dory while our kids grow up in a world where basic necessities are luxuries."

In this maelstrom of inefficiency and greed, Nyati pleads for sanity, for a chance to take a step back and rethink the foundation of our energy infrastructure.

"We need government, society, and the municipalities themselves to take responsibility for their actions. Enough is enough. We can’t fix this on our own. The game is up, and it’s time to face the music."

The emperor, it seems, has no clothes – and we’re all standing by, powerless, as the very foundations of our society crumble beneath our feet.

Don’t miss:

Illegal Connections: The Silent Killer

And, yes, load shedding, too, but that’s just a Band-Aid on a festering wound. The real story is the daily, silent struggle against thievery, against the lawbreakers who steal from our grid, from our homes, and from each other.

Read: The Rise of the Illegal Connection Syndicates

The ultimate power play: Discovery Bank aims to control your financial destiny from the palm of your hand. And with over 1 million clients in their pocket, they’re well on their way to achieving their sinister plan.

But what exactly is this “shared-value model” they’re so proud of? Just a fancy way of saying they’re tracking your every financial move and using it to manipulate you into spending more, more, MORE. It’s like they’re the creepy ex who just won’t take no for an answer.

And don’t even get me started on the whole “24/7 service channels and banker support” thing. It’s just code for “we’re watching you 24/7 and will swoop in to “help” you at the most inopportune moments”. Mark my words, this is just the beginning of a dystopian nightmare.

So, congratulations to Discovery Bank on their supposed “milestone” of one million clients. But let’s be real, they’re just one step closer to taking over the world… or at least your wallet.