Category Archives: Knowledge central

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Google opens applications for R64m fund targeting Africa. (ITWeb)

Digital Economy Google has committed $4 million (R64 million) to fund 60 eligible black-founded start-ups across Africa. The internet firm yesterday opened applications for the second cohort of the Google for Start-ups Black Founders Fund for Africa. The fund was launched in the wake of the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement as part of Google’s racial equality […]
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The battle of African female startups: For every $1 invested in women, $25 goes to men (News24)

Africa’s female entrepreneurs, like their US and European counterparts, are underrepresented when it comes to raising funds. Their startup journeys are also often a lot more arduous, say investors like Polo Leteka, co-founder of Alitheia IDF, the continent’s largest gender-led fund. The issues are “probably more pronounced here because we have more underlying problems”, said Leteka, pointing to her own experience with tapping […]
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Gauteng premier Makhura partners with SAB to revitalise township economy. (Sunday World)

Gauteng premier David Makhura has entrusted the beer industry with the help to revitalise the province’s economy through investments in the townships. The alcohol industry value chain contributes about R75-billion to South Africa’s gross domestic product, and the beer category is a major contributor to economic activity in Gauteng. It is also crucial to tourism […]
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MTN rolls out R2.2bn Gauteng township investment (ITweb)

MTN’s investment comes on the back of growing emphasis by the provincial government for business to help formalise township-based enterprises and provide support for such businesses. Last month, the Gauteng Legislature passed the Township Economic Development Bill, saying it helps to economically empower townships and disadvantaged communities. Now, MTN says its infrastructure investment will help […]
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One of South Africa’s biggest banks is making a permanent shift in how it does business (BT)

FNB plans to continue modernising its branch network with a strong focus on digitisation and smaller branches to cater for digital and face-to-face client interactions. Raj Makanjee, CEO of FNB Retail and Private Banking, says that future FNB branches will be 76% the size they used to be, from an average of 460 sqm to […]
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All hands on deck at the JSE in bid to stem the tide of delistings (DM)

Despite challenges from shareholders, the JSE’s leadership seems confident that it is doing all it can to stem the tide of delistings from the exchange. That said, management remains open to new ideas. The JSE is considering the establishment of a dedicated technology bourse, it is reconsidering the requirement that the public holds 20% of […]
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Green hydrogen: Looming large for Anglo American (MRA)

The project is part of Anglo American’s innovation-led approach to sustainable mining, FutureSmart Mining, which applies innovative thinking and technological advances to address mining’s sustainability challenges. Amplats forms part of the wider Anglo-American group. Hydrogen fuel cells work by combining hydrogen and oxygen in an electromechanical process that generates electricity. The only by product is […]
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FT ranking: Africa’s Fastest Growing Companies 2022(FT)

From banks to education providers, and from start-ups to established businesses, companies have shifted further online and sought fresh solutions for customers and societies as a whole. Wasoko, formerly Sokowatch, which heads the ranking, is one of several on the continent seeking to cut the cost of doing business in the massive informal commerce sector, […]
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How to help smallholder farmers fight climate change (DM)

In response to these and other challenges that farmers said they face, the University of KwaZulu-Natal designed a training programme on climate-smart agriculture. The first method that farmers learned and practised was the use of the A-frame to mark and plant, following horizontal or contour lines, and the digging of trenches to keep water underground […]
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South African SMEs and the business case for sustainability (IOL)

The sustainability concept is a top priority globally and has gained significant traction in recent years. An increasing number of emerging entrepreneurs are entering the business world with a “greener mindset,” being succinctly aware of issues around people and the planet. Conscious consumers set the pace Over the last decade, there has been a noticeable […]
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