UNLOCK THE SEEDS OF WEALTH: MINISTRY URGES EXPERTS TO Fertilize UniTech Dreams with R1-Billion Fund

Attention all geniuses, risk-takers, and change-makers: the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) is calling out to you! This is not just a passing whisper – the ministry is willing to spend a whopping R1 billion to back your revolutionary tech ventures, sired at our very own universities.

With the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF), the ministry is on a quest to supercharge university innovation hubs, unleashing a tidal wave of entrepreneurship and job creation to revitalize the South African economy.

The partnership between the DSI and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a powerhouse collaboration, engineered to foster an ecosystem where academics, private sector players, and government agencies merge forces to stimulate innovation. And, this is no mere lip-service – it’s a concrete endeavour to create tangible change.

“Our goal is crystal clear: to crack open the hidden potential of our universities by empowering innovators to seize the opportunities lying within,” proclaimed Dr Blade Nzimande, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation.

You, esteemed experts, are called upon to inject your expertise into these innovation systems, mentoring, and guiding bright young minds, giving them the much-needed boost to bridge the gaps in the innovation-entrepreneurship landscape.

So, what’s on the menu? Co-creating general entrepreneurship programmes, ideation workshops, business models, validation sessions, market access, and yes, even investing in intellectual property!

The invitation is out: be part of shaping the future of HEIF by applying for one of these transformative initiatives. The call for proposals closes on 19 August, but the opportunities are forever.

Hurry! And remember: in the immortal words of the illustrious Dr Nelson Mandela: “Education is the key that unlocks our imagination, knowledge, and skill, leading to creativity, innovative thinking, and entrepreneurship!”

Apply here: https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_negotation.cfm?nego_id=22632

Here’s a rewritten version with a more provocative tone:

BANKING ON BETRAYAL: Sable International’s Cyberattack Exposes Clients to Ransom

In a shocking admission, Sable International, a UK-based financial and immigration services firm with a footprint in South Africa, has been caught in a "sophisticated criminal cyberattack" that’s putting its clients’ personal data on the line. And to make matters worse, some clients have already received phishing emails that are designed to extract even more sensitive information.

"We’re talking about a brazen breach of trust here," said a cybersecurity expert who wished to remain anonymous. "It’s like they’re throwing caution to the wind and waiting for the wolves to pounce."

According to Sable International, its systems were breached despite its claims of having "robust" cybersecurity measures in place. And now, it’s scrambling to contain the damage by contacting affected clients and working to mitigate the risks.

But here’s the kicker: Sable International has shut down its servers, website, and transactional portal as a "security measure" – a move that’s likely to cause more chaos than calm for its clients.

"We’re in a full-blown crisis mode here," said group CEO Reg Bamford, who apologized to clients for the breach and promised to do everything possible to protect their interests. But the question on everyone’s mind is: how could this happen?

The truth is, data breaches are becoming more common by the day. And in South Africa, where cybercrime is rampant, it’s more important than ever to stay vigilant. That’s why we’re taking a closer look at the true cost of a data breach in South Africa – and what you can do to protect yourself.

Read next: The true cost of a data breach in South Africa

Fortinet Unleashes Cybersecurity Apocalypse in Southern Africa

In a move that’s sending shockwaves through the cybersecurity community, Fortinet has launched a new point-of-presence (PoP) in Isando, Johannesburg, signaling its intention to dominate the region’s security landscape.

The company’s bold move is part of its strategy to expand its unified secure access service edge (SASE) cloud architecture model across Southern Africa, a region where the demand for cloud-delivered security has never been higher.

With the pandemic-induced shift to remote and hybrid workforces, businesses are facing a perfect storm of security challenges. A staggering 54% of South Africa’s workforce is now either hybrid or fully remote, leaving enterprises with a massive attack surface to protect.

"We’re not just talking about securing networks, we’re talking about securing the very fabric of modern business," said Doros Hadjizenonos, regional director for Southern Africa at Fortinet. "Our strengthened presence in the region will enable us to meet this growing market opportunity and address the critical security challenges faced by our customers in today’s digital landscape."

Fortinet’s unified SASE is a game-changer, seamlessly integrating essential networking and security technologies to support the hybrid workforce. By combining SD-WAN and a cloud-delivered security service edge (SSE), the cloud architecture solution delivers networking and security to the network edge and microbranches, ensuring secure access to web, corporate, and SaaS applications.

But Fortinet’s ambitions don’t stop there. The company has partnered with Google Cloud and Digital Realty to accelerate the expansion of its unified SASE globally, with the solution now available in over 140 locations worldwide.

"We’re not just building a security solution, we’re building a global security empire," said William Petherbridge, systems engineering manager at Fortinet. "Our strategy is to deliver the most reliable and secure SASE solution to businesses in Southern Africa and South Africa through a two-pronged approach: by investing in purpose-built, scalable unified SASE locations across the region and by scaling our cloud network through partners like Google Cloud and Digital Realty."

The stakes have never been higher, and Fortinet is ready to unleash its cybersecurity arsenal on the region. Get ready for a wild ride.

Here’s a rewritten version with a more provocative tone:

The Rise of TymeBank’s Dark Horse CTO

You think banking is boring? Meet Bruce Paveley, the CTO who’s shaking the status quo. His journey from corporate IT to disrupting the digital banking scene is the stuff of legend.

Paveley reveals the shocking truth: "You go from a sea of suits to a tiny office with a handful of pioneers, and you wonder, ‘Is this even a bank?’ And we’re talking about a bank that’s now South Africa’s most successful digital startup!"

But Paveley’s not your average tech guy. He got his start playing with ancient computers as a kid. Little did he know, his love for technology would become a force for disruption.

Fast forward to TymeBank, where Paveley is leading a team of rebels in building the underpinnings of a modern digital bank. It’s a war zone, with established players circling for the kill. Paveley shares the inside scoop on what’s working, what’s not, and what’s driving TymeBank’s meteoric rise.

What Paveley reveals in this exclusive interview:

• The mainframe era that shaped his tech sensibilities
• His wild ride at Standard Bank, including that massive SAP project
• Why he joined TymeBank and what it was like to work with a team of 20 to build a bank
• TymeBank’s tech stack, and why the bank ditched the old way of doing things for the cloud
• Plans for international expansion and the role tech plays in that quest
• His approach to cybersecurity in a world gone mad
• And what keeps him up at 3 AM, wondering how he’s going to change the world.

Join the conversation and get ahead of the curve. Listen to this exclusive episode of Meet the CIO now!

Here is a rewritten version of the content in a provocative manner:

MTN Group Shakes Up West Africa Operations, Appoints Controversial Leaders

MTN Group, the African mobile giant, has made some bold moves in its West African operations, appointing Ayham Moussa as the new Chief Operations Officer (COO) of MTN Nigeria and Mohammed Rufai as the CEO of MTN Congo-Brazzaville.

Moussa, a seasoned tech executive with a reputation for being a digital disruptor, joins MTN Nigeria from MTN Congo-Brazzaville, where he previously served as CEO. His appointment is seen as a move to shake things up in the Nigerian market, where MTN has faced intense competition from local players.

Rufai, on the other hand, is a seasoned ICT professional with over 24 years of experience in the telecoms industry. His appointment as CEO of MTN Congo-Brazzaville is seen as a strategic move to strengthen the company’s presence in the Central African region.

But not everyone is celebrating these appointments. Critics are questioning Moussa’s track record in MTN Congo-Brazzaville, where he was accused of being too aggressive in his pursuit of market share, leading to a backlash from local operators. And Rufai’s appointment has been met with skepticism, given his lack of experience in the region.

Meanwhile, two long-serving executives, Hassan Jabber and Djibril Ouattara, have bid farewell to MTN. Jabber, who served as COO of MTN Nigeria, is leaving the company after 22 years of service. Ouattara, who was CEO of MTN Côte d’Ivoire, has retired after nearly nine years at the helm.

The appointments and departures come as MTN Group struggles to maintain its dominance in the African mobile market, where it faces intense competition from local and international players. Will these changes be enough to turn things around for the struggling telecom giant? Only time will tell.

Here’s a rewritten version of the content in a provocative manner:

The End of an Era: Telkom Sells Off Its Towers – But at What Cost?

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the telecoms industry, the Competition Commission has given the green light for Telkom’s massive mast and tower business, Swiftnet, to be sold to a consortium led by Actis – but only after imposing certain "conditions" on the deal.

Telkom’s Golden Handshake

Shareholders, including the government of South Africa, which owns a whopping 40.5% of Telkom, voted overwhelmingly in favour of the sale in May, despite not a single vote being cast against the deal. The government’s significant stake in Telkom raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and the motivations behind the sale.

A Towering Failure?

The sale of Swiftnet to Actis and Royal Bafokeng Holdings has sparked concerns about the impact on competition in the market. The commission’s lukewarm approval of the deal raises eyebrows, especially given the potential risks to consumers and the telecoms sector as a whole.

The Bottom Line

The real question is, what’s in it for Telkom? CEO Serame Taukobong claims the sale will enable the company to "unlock shareholder value and streamline its focus on core business operations," but is this just a veiled attempt to dump a loss-making asset and shift the blame to others?

The Consortium’s Gameplan

Actis and Royal Bafokeng Holdings plan to fund the purchase of Swiftnet through a combination of equity and third-party debt. But what does this mean for the future of the telecoms industry, and are these players truly committed to benefiting the South African economy or is this just a cynical play to extract profits?

Stay Tuned

The fate of Telkom’s Swiftnet is far from sealed. The company still needs to get the thumbs up from the Competition Tribunal, and only then can the deal be officially done. Will the Tribunal see through the fine print and block the sale, or will Telkom get its way? Only time will tell.