Shows
iAfrikan BYTESGiving Voice To The Machine: Prof Mpho Primus On African Languages, AI, And EthicsIn this episode of iAfrikan Bytes, we sit down with Prof Mpho Primus, Co-Director of the Institute for Intelligent Systems at the University of Johannesburg and founder of Primus Tech Hub, to explore how language, ethics, and immersive technology are shaping Africa’s digital future.
She shares her journey from linguistics to AI, highlighting how African languages can drive machine learning. Her work publishing Sesotho, Setswana, and Sepedi datasets is a vital step towards inclusive NLP systems that truly understand African users.
We also dive into the Metaverse Research Unit’s virtual recreation of Sophiatown, blending culture, memory, and technology, and...
2025-07-0317 miniAfrikan BYTESInside CSIR’s Cybersecurity Mission With Dr. Jabu MotsweniIn this episode of iAfrikan BYTES, we speak with Dr Jabu Motsweni, Chief Researcher and Centre Manager at the Information and Cyber Security centre of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). He unpacks South Africa’s approach to cybersecurity and the innovations shaping the continent’s digital resilience. From secure identity systems and state policy collaboration to the urgent need for local cybersecurity skills, Dr Motsweni offers insights into building tech that truly serves Africa. Recorded live at IndabaX 2024 at the University of the Witwatersrand.
2025-06-2612 miniAfrikan BYTESInside MIND: Prof Benjamin Rosman On Africa’s Robotics Leap And The Rise Of Lightweight MachinesIn In this episode of iAfrikan Bytes, we sit down with Professor Benjamin Rosman, Director of the newly launched Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery Institute (MIND) at Wits University, to unpack the future of robotics and machine learning in Africa.
Rosman dives deep into developments at the intersection of AI and robotics, from cutting-edge research to real-world applications. He compares Africa’s advancements to global players like Boston Dynamics and Unitree, offering a grounded but optimistic view of the continent’s potential to lead in select niches.
The conversation explores both hardware and software breakthroughs, with a strong emphasis on the...
2025-03-2416 miniAfrikan BYTESInside Alphawave: CEO Frans Meyer On AI, Investment And The SKA Project’s Role In EngineeringIn this episode of iAfrikan BYTES, Frans Meyer, CEO of Alphawave, shares the company’s evolution from antenna engineering to becoming a key player in AI and advanced technology. He explores AI-driven startups, the SKA project, and the challenges of scaling founder led businesses.
With AI and ML transforming engineering, Meyer emphasises the need for talent development and equipping engineers for the future.
Recorded in Johannesburg, South Africa, at Wits University IndabaX 2024.
Listen now for insights into AI, Investment, and Innovation
2025-03-1314 miniAfrikan BYTESPelonomi Moiloa On AI, Data, And Africa’s Next LeapTune in to iAfrikan BYTES as we sit down with Pelonomi Moiloa, CEO and co-founder of Lelapa AI, at Indaba X South Africa to explore the future of AI on the continent. She delves into the urgent need for foundational AI and ML skills, the shift from research to commercialization, and the role of ethical data use in Africa’s technological self-sufficiency. Moiloa also unpacks the risks of AI hallucinations and the importance of building language technologies that truly reflect Africa’s diversity. Don't miss this insightful conversation on how Lelapa AI and initiatives like Indaba X are ensuring Africa does...
2025-03-0613 miniAfrikan BYTESIs Bytefuse The Key To Solving Big Challenges? Greg Newman On AI’s Transformative VisionAI isn’t just about futuristic promises, it’s about tackling real-world challenges today. In this episode of iAfrikan Bytes, Greg Newman, CEO of Bytefuse, unpacks how his company is creating AI solutions that transform industries like transport and education.
Bytefuse’s work in reinforcement learning is revolutionizing traffic systems, even as they navigate the financial hurdles faced by cash-strapped municipalities. Newman explains how their innovative business model ensures their cutting-edge technology reaches those who need it most.
In education, Bytefuse is training large language models (LLMs) to create personalized AI tutors, making tailored, high-quality learning accessible to all.
With R55 mi...
2024-11-2614 miniAfrikan BYTESThe Fight For AI: Abeba Birhane On Bias, Big Tech, And Africa’s RoleWhat does it take to create Artificial Intelligence (AI) that serves humanity rather than exploits it? In this unmissable episode of the iAfrikan Bytes, cognitive scientist and Time Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People in AI honoree, Abeba Birhane, dives deep into the pressing ethical challenges and groundbreaking opportunities in AI.
Abeba brings a fresh, African perspective to the global AI conversation, shedding light on its potential to amplify indigenous languages and preserve cultural heritage. But she doesn’t shy away from tough truths calling out Big Tech’s dominance, exposing the risks of biased datasets, and warning of AI’s role i...
2024-11-2620 miniAfrikan BYTESInstaDeep’s Next Move, How Africa’s AI Champion Plans To Stay AheadIn the bustling halls of the Deep Learning Indaba 2024 in Dakar, Senegal, iAfrikan caught up with Karim Beguir, the visionary CEO of InstaDeep. Fresh off a $680 million acquisition by BioNTech, the deal stands as Africa’s largest deep-tech exit, propelling the Tunisian-born AI company into the global spotlight. But with big opportunities come tough questions: Can InstaDeep maintain its bold, African-led vision under the weight of a global biotech giant?
The stakes couldn’t be higher. At the AI Day on October 1, 2024, InstaDeep unveiled new breakthroughs in AI-driven biology, promising to reshape drug discovery. At the same time, the company is e...
2024-10-2410 miniAfrikan BYTESBeyond Prototypes, Lelapa AI’s Vision For African Tech SolutionsDuring the Deep Learning Indaba 2024 in Dakar, Senegal, iAfrikan sat down with Pelonomi Moiloa, CEO of Lelapa AI, and Jade Abbott, CTO, to explore their journey and contributions to African AI development.
Lelapa AI has recently launched innovative tools like Vula Vula, a multilingual communication platform, and InkubaLM, a language model designed to support African languages. In October 2024, they hosted a Demo Day to showcase these advancements and their impact.
In this interview, Moiloa and Abbott discuss their approach to responsible AI, the challenges of developing technology in African contexts, and their vision for the future.
While Lelapa AI’s effort...
2024-10-2413 miniAfrikan BYTESNando De Freitas On His Path To AI DiscoveryIn this episode of iAfrikan Bytes Nando De Freitas, Principal Scientist and Team Lead at DeepMind, takes us on a journey through his academic and professional life, offering insights into the driving forces behind his pursuit of artificial intelligence (AI).
At DeepMind, Nando leads a team that is at the forefront of machine learning research. In the podcast, he shares the current research priorities that are driving the work at Google DeepMind. These priorities are not just about advancing the state of AI, but also about tackling some of the most pressing challenges in the field.
With his experiences, thoughts...
2024-09-1742 miniAfrikan BYTESScholar To CEO: Pelonomi Moiloa’s Mission To Transform AI In AfricaCEO and Co-Founder of Lelapa AI Pelonomi Moiloa,joins us in our latest episode of iAfrikan Bytes.
Pelonomi’s story is one of passion, perseverance, and pivoting. Initially drawn to biomedical and electrical engineering due to her fascination with artificial organs and limbs, she found herself increasingly captivated by AI's potential within the biomedical field. Her academic pursuits took her from the University of Witwatersrand to Tohoku University in Japan, where she earned a master’s degree focusing on the intersection of bioengineering and AI.
She passionately discusses projects like Vulavula, which uses AI to enhance natural language processing for Afri...
2024-09-1723 miniAfrikan BYTESUlrich Paquet On AI Winter To A Bright African FutureIn this episode of iAfrikan BYTES, we are honoured to have Prof. Ulrich Paquet, a leading expert in artificial intelligence and machine learning. With a career spanning over two decades, Ulrich is currently the Director at AIMS South Africa, an institute dedicated to advancing mathematical sciences. Prof. Paquet earned his PhD in Machine Learning from the University of Cambridge’s Computer Laboratory, highlighting his profound academic expertise.
Prof. Ulrich Paquet takes us through the evolution of artificial intelligence in South Africa. He provides a historical overview of the country’s AI winter, a period when progress in the sector was larg...
2024-06-1222 miniAfrikan BYTESAmal Rannen-Triki On IndabaX And Localised ML InitiativesIn this episode of iAfrikan BYTES, we delve into the vibrant world of AI and machine learning in Africa with Amal Rannen-Triki, a seasoned researcher and advocate for ML communities across the continent. Amal begins by introducing us to IndabaX, a grassroots movement aiming to democratize AI education and foster local ML talent. She highlights the significance of these small, localized events happening in 47 African states, providing invaluable learning and networking opportunities for enthusiasts and professionals alike.
As a member of the Deep Learning Indaba steering committee, Amal shares insights into the challenges of organizing the Indaba, particularly navigating the...
2024-05-1422 miniAfrikan BYTESExploring AI, Human-Computer Interaction, And African Innovation With Daniela MassicetiAI and machine learning technologies are being used in numerous industries that were previously thought to be restricted to using conventional production techniques.
In this episode of iAfrikan BYTES features a talk between Daniela Massiceti and us as part of our ongoing coverage series on African AI and machine learning research. Daniela is an intriguing and surprising person who specializes in machine learning and human-computer interfaces.
Daniela clarifies the precise meaning of human-computer interactions and discusses how they are used in business. She also discusses how The Indaba has influenced her thoughts and methodology around AI and machine learning.
2024-04-1223 miniAfrikan BYTESAbeba Birhane On Embodied Cognition And Cognitive Science In AICognitive scientist, Prof. Abebe Birhane, joined iAfrikan for an episode of iAfrikan BYTES, live at the University of Ghana during Deep Learning Indaba in September 2023.
Awarded Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People in AI" Abebe helped establish the field of auditing publicly available AI training datasets. This is very important because it keeps dangerous datasets from being gathered, which could cause AI to inherently be biased, sexist, or racist.
In our conversation, Abebe shares insights on her recent paper, on how she and co authors came to the startling conclusion that AI models trained on larger datasets are more likely to d...
2024-03-0619 miniAfrikan BYTESBenjamin Rosman On Deep Learning Indaba Impact On Africa and Co-founding Lelapa AIIn this enlightening episode of iAfrikan BYTES, we sit down with Professor Benjamin Rosman, a leading expert in machine learning and robotics at the University of the Witwatersrand, and the visionary Co-founder of both the Deep Learning Indaba and Lelapa.ai. Delve into the origins and impact off the Indaba, starting from its inaugural event in 2017, and explore the burgeoning AI ecosystem across Africa and insights into Prof. Rosman’s academic journey and his ventures in AI entrepreneurship.
2024-02-2232 miniAfrikan BYTESPaul On Zindi, Maathai Impact Award CO-Winner 2023Maathai Impact Award—a beacon celebrating African innovators utilizing machine learning and AI for positive change. An annual spectacle at The Deep Learning Indaba, this award echoes Wangari Maathai's legacy by recognizing outstanding contributions across technology, society, environment, and economy.
Hold onto your tech hats as iAfrikan Bytes cranks up the volume on Paul Kennedy, Chief of Staff at Zindi. This episode transforms into a symphony of data science innovation, showcasing how Zindi, Africa's data science hub, connects minds, fosters learning, and tackles global challenges. Paul's narrative is not just an interview; it's a glimpse into the heartbeat of a da...
2023-10-2612 miniAfrikan BYTESCourtney On Justice Code Foundation, VoteBot Maathai Impact Award CO-Winner 2023Maathai Impact Award—a beacon celebrating African innovators utilizing machine learning and AI for positive change. An annual spectacle at the Deep Learning Indaba, this award echoes Wangari Maathai's legacy by recognizing outstanding contributions across technology, society, environment, and economy.
First on the spotlight is Courteney Mukoyi, founder of Justice Code Foundation. iAfrikan Bytes takes you through a riveting episode, uncovering how this tech-driven organization is rewriting the narrative of Human Rights advocacy in Zimbabwe. From promoting transparency to ensuring justice access, Courteney's work is a superhero saga where technology becomes the catalyst for societal transformation
Join us on iAfrikan By...
2023-10-2616 miniAfrikan BYTESTech Terrain Talks: Uncomfortable Conversation with Thoriso RangataA new podcast segment on African BYTES, “Uncomfortable Conversation in the Tech Ecosystem,” sponsored by Ndiza Information System, bravely discusses the difficulties that South African entrepreneurs, SMMEs, and black-owned ICT enterprises confront.
Thoriso Rangata, the founder and CEO of KTO Digital, a software architect business that creates specialised solutions for industry, joined us in the inaugural episode of iAfrikan BYTES Uncomfortable Conversation.
Thorisi discusses the difficulties and impediments that government procurement policies and systems present in providing timely services to the general population. Ineffective systems, slow payouts, a lack of urgency, etc.
2023-10-121h 33iAfrikan BYTESLucien Pierce On South Africa's Department of Justice's R5 million privacy law fineThe Information Regulator took an unprecedented step against the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. An eye-watering administrative fine of R5 million was slapped on the DoJ and CD,following their failure to comply with a crucial Enforcement Notice issued just two months prior on May 9 2023.
Join us in this episode of iAfrikan BYTES as we unravel the heart of the matter, a trail of contraventions leading back to various sections of the revered Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). We’ll break down the specifics of the Enforcement Notice, which demanded the immediate renewal of critical licenses, including the Tr...
2023-08-0320 miniAfrikan BYTESNtsako Mgiba On Jonga And, Bars.appIn this episode of iAfrikan BYTES, we are joined by the founder and CEO of Bars.app Ntsako Mgiba to kick off a series documenting the journey of Barz. This app enhances the podcast listening experience and enables you to capture each note without taking your hands of the steering wheel or the broom.
2023-06-1344 miniAfrikan BYTESFiber-to-shack,Disruption or Gamble?Unreasonably high data charges in South Africa have caused a stir; as part of the #DataMustFall campaign, millions of South Africans vented their annoyance on social media.
In order to address this broadband deficiency, Project Isizwe was established in 2013. Funded by the City of Tshwane, the project gave 600,000 monthly citizens 500MB per day via free WIFI access at 1050 public WIFI hotspots throughout the city.
After successfully piloting their ‘for-profit’ initiative Kayamandi, they were able to connect 891 families with affordable internet, at 100mbps for a low charge of R5 per day.
In this episode of iAfrikan BYTES, we speak with Alan Knot...
2023-05-3027 miniAfrikan BYTESGrandstanding On STARLINK, DebunkedThe RIA RAMP Index ranks South Africa as one of the most costly countries on the continent to buy data, hence any issues concerning the country’s data service industry are of national relevance.
Much grandstanding and politicking on the matter between ICASA and broadband satellite internet company Starlink has occurred in the absence of a true and balanced explanation of the procedural and regulatory requirements to obtain an ISP license to operate as an internet service provider in South Africa.
In this episode of iAfrikan BYTES, were joined by Lucien Pierce from ICT firm PPM attorneys, to understand what co...
2023-05-1021 miniAfrikan BYTESFred Roed On Entrepreneurs, Leadership And HeavyChef.comAccording to research from the University of the Western Cape School of Business and Finance, 70% to 80% of startups and small business in South Africa fail within five years, and just 1% of micro enterprises that began with less than five employees have expanded to employ 10 or more people. In this episode of iAfrikan BYTES, Heavy Chef founder Fred Roed joins us to discuss growth issues and how failure can be minimised. Heavy Chef, a platform for entrepreneurship education, provides recipes on how successful entrepreneurs succeeded in light of the difficult environment.
2023-05-0552 miniAfrikan BYTESData and Analytics on South Africa #NationalShutDown ProtestIn this episode of iAfrikan BYTES, we are joined by journalist, Molebogeng Moloka and senior research analyst, Euston Witbooi from the Centre for Analytics and Behavioral Change. We discuss standard techniques like keyword tracking, sentiment analysis, topic modeling, influencer identification, geolocation tracking, real-time monitoring, and data visualization. We also look at how social media listening tools track and monitor political narratives, lastly, they share insights and data on the National Shutdown Deep Dive Report and Xenophobia Social Media Analytics Report.
2023-04-2727 miniAfrikan BYTESProf. Vukosi Marivate On Lelapa AIOne notable contribution to the AI revolution in Africa comes from AI research Lab Lelapa AI. With a mandate to strengthen AI research capacity on the African continent, Lelapa aims to empower developers, researchers, and entrepreneurs to harness the potential of AI for positive impact. In this episode of iAfrikan BYTES, we are joined by Prof. Vukosi Marivate, Co-Founder and CTO of Lelapa AI and Chair of the Data Science for Social Impact Research Group at the University of Pretoria to talk about AI and what they are doing at Lelapa AI.
2023-04-2039 miniAfrikan BYTESNdabenhle Junior Ngulube On PineappleUsing technology to increase customer experience, efficiency, and cost savings. The traditional insurance sector has been disrupted by technology such as artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms are increasingly used to analyse massive volumes of data in order to correctly assess risk and price policies. The first insuretech startup to take advantage of this technology and transform the South African industry was Pineapple Insurance. Ndabenhle Junior Ngulube, co-founder and chief developer officer of Pineapple, joins us on this episode of iAfrikan BYTES to share where it all started and explain what are all the technical ingredients needed to bake this.
2023-03-2231 miniAfrikan BYTESCaleb Maru on Proximity VC and Tech SafariAlthough the African continent’s venture capital market is expanding, there are still many obstacles preventing the sector’s expansion. Regulatory obstacles, transaction flow restrictions, infrastructure problems, a lack of knowledge, and insufficient cash are few of the major roadblocks to this expansion. Proximity Ventures, an Australian-based company, is tackling this issue head-on. In addition to backing the best startups on the continent, tech Safari, their African-focused publication, is helping to highlight and create a strong network for African startups. Join us in this episode of iAfrikan BYTES as we speak with Caleb Maru, partner at Proximity Ventures and editor at T...
2023-03-2024 miniAfrikan BYTESKeet van Zyl on Knife CapitalWith an increasing number of companies and investors aiming to capitalise on the continent’s untapped potential. On this episode of iAfrikan BYTES, partner and co-founder of Knife Capital Keet van Zyl joined us to discuss the maturation of the VC landscape in South Africa and the matrix VCs use when investing in startups.
2023-03-0827 miniAfrikan BYTESInformation Regulator South Africa VS National Department of Health SAThe South African Information Regulator is requesting the National Department of Health to comply with its requirements for the deletion and de-identification of personal data handled during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode of iAfrikan BYTES, we’re joined by Adv Collen Weapond from the Information Regulator to better understand what procedural and substantive considerations the regulator will undertake after it referred matter to its enforcement committee following unsuccessful compliance attempts by health officials.
2023-03-0513 miniAfrikan BYTESLegal Concerns Over Multichoice and French Canal+The French pay-television firm Canal Plus upped its stake in Multichoice to 30 percent, making it the largest stakeholder. This has alarmed market observers. Critical, is section 64 of the Electronic Communication Act, which regulates the extent to which foreign entities can have interests in commercial broadcasting services within South Africa. In this episode of iAfrikan BYTES, from ICT law firm PPM Attorneys, we're joined by Lucien Pierce, to unpack the interpretation of section 64 and understand the legality of Canal Plus largest shareholder status.
2023-03-0116 miniAfrikan BYTESFintech-Crypto Assets and ConsumersThe University of Pretoria and the United States Attorney General Alliance are hosting a webinar titled Fintech-Crypto Assets and Consumers to discuss the regulation of crypto assets as it stands today, the difficulties facing regulators, and what the future may hold for this rapidly developing industry. In this episode of iAfrikan BYTES, we are joined by Prof Sylvia, associate professor, Department of Mercantile Law, University of Pretoria, South Africa to share insights about the event.
2023-02-2521 miniAfrikan BYTESiKhokha Graeme Cumming explains SuperSport United F.C. sponsorshipThree-time premiership champions SuperSport united and fintech company iKhokha have struck a sponsorship agreement for the team’s sleeves. In this episode of iAfrikan BYTES, we hear from Graeme Cumming, chief growth officer of iKhokha, who explains from a storytelling standpoint, if we do it well, it’s a terrific medium for us to take our brand to all of South Africa and increase our brand awareness in a crucial market segment.
2023-02-2329 miniAfrikan BYTESImportance of a technology ecosystemGeekulcha, an urban-focused STEM incubation center with a nationwide network, is one of the most effective organizations for connecting, sharing ideas, and learning new skills among young, talented, creative, and ambitious tech brains.
In this episode of iAfrikan BYTES, we hear from its founder, Mixo Ngoveni, on the development of the digital technology skills in South African urban communities, as well as initiatives that target very scarce talents.
2022-05-1323 miniAfrikan BYTESAnalyzing online narratives in real-timeYossabel Chetty of the Center of Analytics and Behavioral Change joins us on iAfrikan BYTES to talk about how her group utilizes brand monitoring technologies to track, monitor, and analyze online narratives in real-time to report on and prevent fake news.
2022-05-1227 miniAfrikan BYTESAnalog to digital migrationAs mandated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the South African government is currently undertaking a process to migrate the transmission of analog television signals to digital. The South African Broadcast Corporation (SABC) after an initial dispute with the country's Communications Minister on the proposed date for the analog switch-off, has now accepted the Gauteng High Court’s order to begin the process on 31 June 2022.
However, with just 165,000 Set-Top-Boxes (STB) supplied out of the remaining 2.9 million impoverished homes eligible for STBs, the SABC remains worried that turning off the analog TV signal before these families receive their STBs may jeopardize it...
2022-04-1416 min
Tech Legal MattersAn African approach to cybersecurityThis episode of the Tech Legal Matters podcast is a recording from the World Cyber Security Summit - Africa Edition 2020. The event was successful in bringing in fresh narratives, innovative ideas, and awareness on key areas such as cyber threat intelligence, data governance, data privacy, and cyber regulations across Africa.
Every year that passes African countries experience a growing number of cyberattacks. These cyber-attacks occur both in the private and public sectors and depending on the type of incident, can threaten national security. This makes it imperative for African governments to have a holistic view and strategy around cybersecurity.
In...
2020-10-1240 minTech Legal MattersConsumer and business legal options regarding the Experian Data BreachDuring August 2020, we got to learn of a data breach at one of South Africa’s big credit bureaus, Experian. As mentioned in the previous episode of this podcast, the whole ordeal around how the data was accessed and the subsequent disclosure statements and interviews by Experian, left more questions than answers.
We’ve hard from Experian, South African Banks, and the Information Regulator of South Africa. Now, we will hear from an attorney regarding what rights you have as a consumer.
Joining us on this episode of the Tech Legal Matters podcast is Lucien Pierce, an attorney in South Afri...
2020-09-0400 min
The Tefo Mohapi ShowDenisha Kuhlor on startups, music, and technologyA few days after George Floyd was killed by a policeman in the USA, protests erupted. Under the banner of the Black Lives Matter movement, the protests calling for justice for George Floyd and anyone else killed by police in America, soon spread globally.
At the same time, a few days later after the fateful day that Floyd passed away, many companies and brands started publishing and broadcasting messages that they stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. Some, like several VCs, investors, and accelerators, took this a step further and made commitments to Black startups and founders.
When it...
2020-08-3040 min
The Lead CreativeWelcome to The Lead CreativeThe Lead Creative podcast hosts a series of conversations with great minds in the creative, marketing, and communication industries. These are some of the creative and dynamic people behind some of the leading brands, businesses, organizations, and top ideas that we all love. Hosted and conceptualized by Mongezi Mtati, the podcast shares insights, analysis, trends, and strategic intelligence.
Find the podcast host, Mongezi Mtati on Twitter: @Mongezi
The podcast: theleadcreative.com
Mongezi Mtati is also on LinkedIn
This podcast is produced, distributed, and is also available on iAfrikan.com/radio
2020-08-2701 minTech Legal MattersEverything you need to know regarding the Experian Data BreachFor several years since 2015, we at iAfrikan.com have been reporting on and researching various cybersecurity, data protection, and privacy-related matters around Africa. We have observed several patterns, some of the more worrying patterns are that many people seem to think that data breaches are victimless crimes.
Also, it rare that you will hear or read about authorities in Africa taking serious action against any organization fro failing to protect the data it handles. This is excluding in Nigeria, whereas Olufemi Daniel from the West African country's National Information Technology Development Agency has informed us in a previous episode of...
2020-08-2600 minThe Tefo Mohapi ShowBen Basche on trends that are shaping the future of technologyOn 13 August 2020 something interesting happened. Firstly, Epic Games, the makers of Fortnite, decided to allow players to make in-game purchases by paying it directly on iOS devices and not using Apple's in-app payment system. This led to Apple swiftly banning and removing the popular Fortnite game from its App store citing violation of rules.
Things then escalated quickly on the same day as Epic Games would then file legal papers against Apple opposing the ban and saying that the company is abusing its App store monopoly. What was surprising is that Google would also later remove Fortnite from its Play...
2020-08-2147 minThe Tefo Mohapi ShowOresti Patricios on the state of the media industryIt goes without saying that the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020 has been devastating for many businesses. Many businesses have announced downsizing measures while others have completely shut down.
The media industry has not been spared. However, it has been interesting to observe as some media organizations have gone on to blame the pandemic for their troubles. In some cases, some of them have been slightly more honest in admitting that digitization, and their not being quick enough to understand the digitization trend, has led to some of the troubles they are experiencing now.
In this latest episode of The Tefo Mohapi...
2020-08-1737 minTech Legal MattersThe Nigeria Data Protection Regulation explainedNigeria's National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), was established in 2007 under the West African country's NITDA Act. The NITDA is responsible for planning, developing, and promoting the use of Information Technology across Nigeria.
During January 2019, the NITDA published and was responsible for issuing the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR). The NDPR is aimed at regulating and controlling the use of data in Nigeria, it mandates that, amongst other things, private and public organizations in Nigeria that control data of natural persons need to adhere to regulations around the collection, storage, processing, and transfer of such data.
Olufemi Daniel, the Lead...
2020-08-1400 minThe Tefo Mohapi ShowTerry Virts on life spaceIn recent decades the topic of humans living in space has slowly become a possibility. With the advent of the International Space Station and various countries looking to explore Mars, other organizations talking about commercial space travel, it is an exciting time to be alive.
However, for many of us visiting space in our life might be a longshot given the costs that are associated with it. However, it doesn't hurt to sometimes wonder and explore what living in space would be like.
Things like: given that there is no gravity, how does one move around and do simple tasks...
2020-08-0930 minTech Legal MattersUnderstanding South Africa's cyber lawsYou’ll often hear it being mentioned that South Africa has one of the best constitutions in the world. We could even go further and argue that this excellence in legal matters also extends into the country’s cyber laws. For example, considered a first world country, but the USA has yet to pass a law that specifically addresses personal data protection similar to South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
Not only that, POPIA, as it is commonly known, is often argued that it compares favorably with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation - GDPR.
However...
2020-08-0700 miniAfrikan BYTESConnecting Africa to the InternetOver approximately the past decade, Facebook has been investing millions of dollars into telecommunications infrastructure and partnerships to connect Africans to the Internet. What hasn't been clear during this period is whether or not these telecommunications infrastructure projects and partnerships are making an impact on reducing the digital divide.
A recent study conducted by Analysys Mason highlights how Facebook's investments in infrastructure and connectivity across Africa could deliver over $57 Billion in economic benefits over the next five years (2020–2024).
This is partly because, as demonstrated across different countries and communities, once you provide people with Internet access they are exposed to mo...
2020-08-0607 minThe Tefo Mohapi ShowOby Ezekwesili on corruption and politicsCorruption, despite it being one of the frequently occurring topics discussed across the continent, is not unique to Africa. Also, it did not originate in Africa. However, its effects, especially when it comes to the misuse of public funds, is more pronounced on the continent given how it robs citizens from having functional infrastructure and public services.
Given corruption's negative effects on public service delivery, is it something we can completely stop?
In this episode of The Tefo Mohapi Show, I have an in-depth discussion with Oby Ezekwesili on to help us understand the origins of corruption in Africa, the...
2020-08-0242 miniAfrikan BYTESFormalizing and digitizing Africa's informal retail sectorNigeria is no different from most African, if not all, in that most of its retail supply chain is informal and fragmented. Many companies have tried to tackle this market by introducing e-commerce business models that have worked in North America and Europe but they fast learn that the conditions on the ground in Africa are very different.
What makes this retail supply chain problem even more complex to solve is that each country is different and requires local understanding and adaptation of processes and business models. Having said that, there are many common things among African countries and cities...
2020-07-2711 minTech Legal MattersHow to protect your data onlineWith more and more people going online and various apps and digital platforms becoming part of our daily lives, the legal and security risks associated with them are also increasing. This is because all these apps and platforms collect our data in various forms.
These digital platforms and apps sometimes take precautions to ensure that our data is securely stored and not accessible to anyone who shouldn’t have access to it. In some cases, like we have seen over the years at iAfrikan.com with various data breaches, this data can fall into the wrong hands.
Joining us on th...
2020-07-2400 miniAfrikan BYTESNew integrated digital finance and e-commerce platform launchedNow more than ever during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the enforced lockdowns, online shopping has become an essential part of our daily lives. The convenience is that you don’t have to leave your home.
However, not all businesses across Africa have online shops in place to take advantage of this and make it convenient for their customers to shop.
On this episode of the iAfrikan BYTES podcast, I am joined by Dr. Thabo Lehlokoe, Executive Chairman of Tafari Capital, a company in South Africa that has recently launched the Tafari App which allows individuals and businesses to set up...
2020-07-2227 minTech Legal MattersFighting and prosecuting corruption in South AfricaWhen it comes to corruption, whether it be in the public or private sectors, South Africans generally lament that those accused of corrupt activities hardly ever face the consequences of their actions. This is due to several reasons some being that obtaining evidence of corrupt dealings and proving the corruption link often, legally takes time.
In this episode of the Tech Legal Matters podcast, we are joined by Nazreen Pandor, an attorney in Johannesburg who is also a certified fraud examiner. Nazreen explains how prosecuting corruption cases works and how whistleblowers and digital technology play an important role in these...
2020-07-1000 miniAfrikan BYTESHow Naspers Foundry decides on which technology startup to invest inDuring 2018 Naspers announced that it will be committing R1,4 billion towards funding technology startups in South Africa over three years through a new fund known as Naspers Foundry. The announcement was made during the inaugural South Africa Investment Conference which took place in Johannesburg on 26 October 2018.
To date, Naspers Foundry has invested a total of R130 million in two South African technology startups. Namely, R30 million investment in SweepSouth, South African tech startup with an online cleaning services platform that connects clients with domestic cleaners, during 2019; this was followed up by R100 million investment in Aerobotics, a South African Agritech...
2020-07-0810 minTech Legal MattersLegal and regulatory considerations for FinTech solutionsThere has been significant growth in the number of financial technology solutions available to consumers in South Africa. More commonly known as FinTech, these solutions mainly aim to replace all the functions that a customer would typically perform in a physical bank branch with a digital app and platform.
However, this welcome convenience and efficiency come with its own legal and regulatory risks. Among those risks are privacy, data protection, security, to name but a few.
Joining us on this episode of Tech Legal Matters is Lucien Pierce, an attorney in South Africa, who will help us unpack some of...
2020-07-0300 minTech Legal MattersEverything you need to know about the EU's GDPROn 25 May 2018, the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation came into force amid much coverage and fanfare. Many companies, especially Internet-based ones, scrambled to comply with GDPR to ensure to they don't suffer any penalties if they were to be found guilty of not complying with any of its laws.
In this episode of the Tech Legal Matters podcast, we are joined by Delphine Daversin, a French qualified lawyer with 17 years of experience with a strong focus on privacy and IT regulations. Delphine explains all the key components of GDPR and looks at some case studies of where it has...
2020-06-2600 miniAfrikan BYTESWhat small and medium businesses can do post-COVID-19iAfrikan.com, with Tefo Mohapi as MC, recently facilitated a webinar hosted by 4IRSA Black Partnerships and Collaborations Group led by Gcobisa Mashegoane. The event took place on 20 May 2020. The webinar was themed “Repositioning Business for Post COVID-19 phase.” One of the speakers was Mr. Xolani Qubeka explored several things that small and medium businesses can do to reposition themselves post-COVID-19.
2020-06-2031 miniAfrikan BYTESTito Mboweni talks about the economic recovery phase post COVID-19iAfrikan.com, with Tefo Mohapi as MC, recently facilitated a webinar hosted by 4IRSA Black Partnerships and Collaborations Group led by Gcobisa Mashegoane. The webinar was themed “Repositioning Business for Post COVID-19 phase.” The event took place on 20 May 2020. One of the speakers was Mr. Tito Mboweni, South Africa’s Minister of Finance, who among several topics stressed that there will be continuity in other sectors of the economy and discontinuity in others once the COVID-19 pandemic is over.
2020-06-2021 miniAfrikan BYTESBilly Selekane explains Organizational Culture 5.0iAfrikan.com recently facilitated a webinar hosted by 4IRSA Black Partnerships and Collaborations Group led by Gcobisa Mashegoane. The webinar was themed “Repositioning Business for Post Covid-19 phase.” The event took place on 20 May 2020. The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Billy Selekane who is an Author, Internationally acclaimed Inspirational Keynote Speaker, Personal, Team, and Organizational Effectiveness Specialist. Mr. Selekane spoke about using Organizational Culture 5.0 to reposition your business for the post-COVID-19 phase.
2020-06-2029 minTech Legal MattersWhat you need to know about the Life Healthcare data breachLife Healthcare Group, a private healthcare company that operates private hospitals in South Africa and Botswana, recently said that their IT systems suffered "a targeted criminal attack." According to the company, the attack affected its hospital admissions systems, business processing systems, and e-mail servers.
South Africa has experienced a marked increase in cybersecurity attacks and data breaches in recent years. These attacks have spanned both public and private sector organizations in the country.
Joining us on this episode of Tech Legal Matters is Lucien Pierce, an attorney at PPM Attorneys in South Africa. Lucien discusses whether we should be worried...
2020-06-1900 minTech Legal MattersSouth African case law regarding defamation and freedom of expression on social mediaWhat we communicate on social media platforms may have consequences which can lead to legal prosecution. There have been several legal cases in South Africa around freedom of expression and defamation on social media.
In this episode of the Tech Legal Matters podcast, we are joined by Lucien Pierce, an Attorney at PPM Attorneys. Lucien takes us through some case law examples of how the law was applied in South Africa regarding freedom of expression and defamation as they relate to social media.
Looking at most of these cases, there's also a pattern that emerges: most of them involve high...
2020-06-0500 minThe Tefo Mohapi ShowKamal Moukheiber talks about building an African cigar brandAfrica produces a lot of tobacco annually. Across the continent, you will find tobacco farms that produce and mostly export their leaves outside the continent to cigarette and cigar makers across the world. More interestingly, one of the finest tobacco leaves grown in Cameroon is responsible for making (a wrapper) some of the world's finest cigars, yet, Africa for a long time never had a cigar brand or maker.
Kamal Moukheiber, the founder of Mozambique based Bongani Cigars, also realized this and started researching and building an African cigar brand. Not only an African cigar brand but one that is...
2020-05-3139 minTech Legal MattersLegal implications of what you post on social mediaSocial media has become a big part of many people’s lives. Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, and many other social media platforms have become some of the prominent forms of communication we use today. However, what we communicate on these social media platforms may have consequences which can lead to legal prosecution.
Also, if you are employed, and as we have witnessed with some instances in South Africa, it can also lead to you being dismissed.
On this episode of the Tech Legal Matters podcast, we are joined by Mathando Likhanya, an Associate Director at PPM Attorneys. She specializes in...
2020-05-2900 minThe Tefo Mohapi ShowIsaac Mophatlane talks about government accountability, the ICT sector, and tech startupsAt 47 years old, Isaac Mophatlane is easily a veteran in South Africa's ICT sector and the broader ICT sector across Africa. It is not because of his age but rather his experience in the industry that qualifies him as such.
From starting, together with his late twin brother Benjamin Mophatlane, as consumer and small business software salespeople at a retail software store in the mid-to-late 1990s in Pretoria, right up to selling a company he co-founded with his brother, BCX (formerly Business Connexion), for approximately $200 million to Telkom, he been in the trenches.
In this episode, Isaac shares how his...
2020-05-2451 minTech Legal MattersDigital technology solutions for legal professionalsThe legal profession and justice systems in many countries are often seen to be the last to adopt digital technology solutions. However, there's usually a good reason for that.
Among many other considerations when adopting digital technology solutions in the justice system is that of being able to prove that the documents and information being used have not been tampered with and have been preserved as they were originally received or produced.
In this episode of the Tech Legal Matters podcast, Tefo Mohapi is joined by Matthew De Wet, an attorney in South Africa who esplains how they have been...
2020-05-2200 minThe Tefo Mohapi ShowThebe Ikalafeng discusses personal branding, narratives, and Africa as a brandBy default, when one thinks of Thebe Ikalafeng thoughts of his passion for Africa, marketing, and being an experienced and professional brand strategist come to mind. This is not only by default, but it is also by design.
In this episode Thebe joins Tefo to unpack what personal branding is about, especially explaining that it doesn't necessarily mean not being yourself. He further explores how we can continue to tell our stories as Africans.
Thebe also explores the topic of marketing Africa as one brand.
2020-05-1728 minTech Legal MattersLegal considerations when live streamingLive streaming has been around for many years. More recently it has been made accessible and more popular by various social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and many others. Simply put, it is like having your own media channel broadcasting publicly, live.
Even before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, live streaming was proving to be popular with music artists and other professionals in the entertainment industry. However, as it is with any new technology or digital platform, there are legal concerns.
In this episode of the Tech Legal Matters podcast Melody Musoni, a legal consultant in Johannesburg, South...
2020-05-1500 minTech Legal MattersThe role of South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act during the COVID-19 pandemicAfter details were announced regarding South Africa's COVID-19 Tracking Database, the country's Information Regulator issued guidance notes regarding the database and collection of people's data. The notes cover how South Africa's government and business should handle people's data during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this episode of the Tech Legal Matters podcast, Yashoda Rajoo, an attorney at PPM Attorneys, joins Tefo Mohapi to elaborate on what role the Information Regulator plays in South Africa, the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and how it affects South African citizens, as well as how POPIA applies to how the government handles people's personal...
2020-05-0800 minThe Tefo Mohapi ShowAlexandre Lazarow on how to build a startup to survive tough timesEven before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic happened, the world was already experiencing an economic slowdown. In South Africa for example, many big corporations were already laying off thousands of their staff.
Interestingly, technology companies, although some were experiencing some downturn in fortunes, weren't exactly the worst affected. But, how does one ensure that their startup can survive tough times?
In this episode of The Tefo Mohapi Show Alexandre Lazarow, a Venture Capitalist, Adjunct Professor, and Author argues that startups should focus more on becoming camels (to survive tough times) rather than unicorns. Alex also shares other thoughts on how...
2020-05-0339 minTech Legal MattersWelcome to Tech Legal MattersOn 26 March 2020 South Africa enforced its COVID-19 lockdown by amending the Disaster Management Act. As part of this, also as part of looking to contain the spread of COVID-19, several regulations were implemented that led to what people in South Africa can consider infringements on their rights as guaranteed in the country's constitution.
Notably, the right to freedom of movement is one of the main ones that are affected as the government tries to reduce the spread of the virus by requesting people to stay at home unless they are essential workers. However, there are other regulations that are related...
2020-05-0100 minThe Tefo Mohapi ShowDr. Vukosi Marivate on how Artificial Intelligence can be used to fight fake newsOver the past 5 years or so, we have witnessed an exponential growth of what is commonly known as fake news to influence not only political discussions online but every aspect of our lives. Some might say that fake news is a victimless offense but as we have come to experience over the years, there are real-life consequences to the rise in misinformation and disinformation that is circulated on the Internet.
There have been several suggestions on how we can stop fake news. Some have pushed for the use of fact-checking services while others have stated that emerging technologies such as...
2020-03-281h 13The Tefo Mohapi ShowAdvice for freelancers and small businesses during coronavirus outbreakNot only is the coronavirus (COVID-19) now a global pandemic as declared by the World Health Organization (WHO), it has also disrupted life as we know it globally. As many countries around the world have announced various measures to try and "flatten the curve," some people are faced with uncertainty over where their next income cheque will come from.
Freelancers, small businesses, and self-employed people are some of the categories of people around the world who are about to be severely be affected by the many restrictions and lockdowns that are being implemented by various countries. This will even be...
2020-03-2141 minThe Tefo Mohapi ShowWhat you need to know about the coronavirus (COVID-19)On 31 December 2019, the first reported outbreak of the current coronavirus (COVID-19) was said to be in Wuhan, China. Since that first reported outbreak in China, the disease has spread rapidly across the world and caused thousands of death and put many people in critical condition. However, it is also important to note that many who contracted the disease have also succesfully recovered from it.
In this bonus episode of The Tefo Mohapi Show I spoke to Dr. Mary Stephen, Technical Officer at the World Health Organization's Regional Office for Africa, about the coronavirus. Dr. Stephen explains what the disease is...
2020-03-1417 minThe Tefo Mohapi ShowHiginio Ochoa talks about hacker culture and hacktivismHiginio "w0rmer" Ochoa was once upon a time banned from using the Internet by the FBI. This was because as a formerly convicted hacktivist he, as part of the Anonymous movement supporting the Occupy Wall Street movement hacked into some police databases in the USA as well as being involved with shutting down several companies websites and and online services around 2011 and 2012.
However, that is some time ago as he is now an Information Security professional in the USA who cares about a secure, private and open Internet. In this podcast I got to chat with Hig' about various...
2020-03-011h 02The Tefo Mohapi ShowNothando Migogo on culture, colonization, music and lawNothando Migogo is arguably one of the foremost knowledgeable and experienced people across Africa when it comes to understanding copyright licensing in the creative industries. She has spent the last decade leading copyright licensing organisations, most recently as CEO of the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO). She has made a significant impact on the music royalty collection landscape both in South Africa and the African continent.
Naturally, she was the person I sought to speak to when it comes to understanding the legal side of music as well as seeking the answer to the perennial question: "why do South...
2020-02-221h 27The Tefo Mohapi ShowWelcome to Season 2The podcast will be bringing you conversations with various people from across the world who have famously or infamously made an impact on our world. This is through the work they do through their businesses or organizations or through some of the technology they have developed. The aim is to try and understand the world we live in a bit better and find solutions to some of the problems we face.
I trust you will find the conversations insightful!
Kgotso!
2020-02-2202 minThe Tefo Mohapi ShowMurray Hunter explains privacy and South Africa's citizen spying operationsSouth Africa has one of the world's best laws when it comes to data protection. However, unfortunately, it is only good enough on paper.
This is because since the Protection Of Personal Information Act (POPI Act) has been signed into law in South Africa, some of its provisions cannot be fully implemented pending the SA Information Regulator office being fully functional and resourced. As a result, the country has experienced some of the worst abuses of personal data collection, storage, and distribution without the responsible organizations being taken to task.
In this podcast episode, I spoke to Murray Hunter, one...
2019-12-2457 minThe Tefo Mohapi ShowMaged Korga on cycling across Africa and ICT4DWhen Maged first told me that he would be cycling and hitch-hiking across Africa I thought to myself this is a weird way to punish oneself considering he could at minimum do the trip using a car. However, having spoken to him during this podcast there are clearly some important lessons one learns on such an excursion.
Maged Ahmed Korga is an Egyptian ex-Google software engineer who decided, in between switching jobs from Google in San Francisco to a startup that develops technology for self-driving vehicles, to take a 90-day trip across Africa on a bicycle. In this podcast, he...
2019-12-0943 minThe Tefo Mohapi ShowDavid Li talks about Shenzhen's open innovation technology ecosystemIf you look back just under 40 years ago, the global Information Technology sector was completely different, from the perspective of the dominant countries and companies, from what it is today. However, it is exactly at that time that China started building a city that plays an extremely important role in the global supply chain of electronic goods and especially mobile phones.
In this podcast, David Li, who works in Shenzhen, explains how the Chinese government selected Shenzhen, a rural fishing village of a few thousand people, 39 years ago as one of its Special Economic Zones. This decision, along with other...
2019-11-161h 01The Tefo Mohapi ShowYoel Kenan discusses the digital music business in AfricaThe digital music business has undergone three phases in Africa, namely: the mobile phone ringtone/ringback phase, the digital downloads phase, and now the online streaming phase. Yoel Kenan, Founder, and CEO of Africori (an Africa-focussed digital music aggregation and distribution business) explains these phases and how, in most parts of Africa, the first phase is still prevalent.
This podcast spans the history of the digital music business, the role of distributors, discussion on music rights, and many more topics relating to Africa's booming music industry. Yoel also provides balanced and nuanced insights and further elaborates why in his view...
2019-11-1056 minThe Tefo Mohapi ShowKamran Elahian on how Africa can take advantage of the innovation economyIt's not often one gets to sit down with a person who has built as well as invested in some tech unicorns (a company with a $1 billion-plus valuation). It is also not often that such a person would be humble enough to admit their failures in business and celebrate them as lessons despite the temptation to paint themselves as a flawless hero. Kamran Elahian is both these things and much more.
Kamran is also an innovator. One of his innovations, the Momenta tablet computer which was way ahead of its time in the 1980s, is also one of the great...
2019-11-0850 minThe Tefo Mohapi ShowBankole Oluwafemi looks back at the evolution of Africa's tech innovation and startup ecosystemIf you had to think back a decade or even 6 or 7 years back, the digital technology media landscape across most parts of Africa was considerably different to what it is today. Most online publications, if any, that covered technology innovation were doing so from a developmental and social impact point of view. If not that, they were covering mostly enterprise technology.
The era of personal digital technology blogs gained popularity somewhere around a decade ago and around 6 or 7 years ago, online media publications focussed purely on digital technology innovation and startups started emerging in different countries across Africa. One such...
2019-11-0345 minThe Tefo Mohapi ShowEmmanuel Banda discusses how Zimbabwe deteriorated under Robert MugabeWith the recent passing of Zimbabwe's former President, Robert Gabriel Mugabe, the southern African country once again came under the spotlight. Questions about how good (or how bad) Mugabe's legacy was have been asked, and depending who you ask, Zimbabwe is or was a great country or a horrible country. The same mixed sentiment applies especially if you ask South Africans about Robert Mugabe.
As such, I thought it best to catch up and talk to someone who I think has a better experience and understanding of Zimbabwe than myself. I've known Emmanuel Banda for several years as a waiter...
2019-10-151h 03The Tefo Mohapi ShowGwen Ngwenya on South African politics and tech policyIf you have been following South African politics for the past few years, especially on Twitter, you would probably have come across the name Gwen Ngwenya. She is a former Member of Parliament representing the Democratic Alliance (DA), the official opposition in South Africa.
More interesting, is how, despite the insults that have been hurled at her on social media and some times in Main Stream Media (MSM), Gwen has kept her cool and argued her points with little emotion. As such, I thought since she has now declined to be an MP, it would be great to discuss a...
2019-09-291h 07The Tefo Mohapi ShowMteto Nyati talks about his career in South Africa's ICT industryMteto Nyati is one of those leaders in South Africa's society whose career path is nothing short of excellence. From starting as an engineer during South Africa's much darker Apartheid days, to changing industries into the Information Technology field and then later Telecommunications.
He has proven that he has a knack for taking on challenges and finding solutions. In this episode of "The Tefo Mohapi Show" I got to speak with Mteto about his younger days as detailed in his book "Betting on a Darkie."
We also discuss the state that South Africa finds itself in and what he proposes...
2019-09-271h 05The Tefo Mohapi ShowMarek Zmyslowski on doing business in NigeriaIn this episode of The Tefo Mohapi Show, I speak to Marek Zmyslowski, a Polish entrepreneur who packed up his bags in 2013 to go to Nigeria to start an online travel startup. Having met with the Samwer brothers, founders of Rocket Internet, Marek was recruited to be the co-founder and Managing Director of Jovago in Nigeria.
Jovago initially focussed on servicing customers in Nigeria with a vision to expand across Africa. However, things didn't go as Marek planned. Africa Internet Holdings (which would later rename and rebrand to Jumia), the group company under which Jovago and other Rocket Internet startups...
2019-09-261h 04The Tefo Mohapi ShowIntroduction to The Tefo Mohapi ShowI, Tefo Mohapi, will be your host for this podcast show. Having previously founded iAfrikan.com and other technology and media businesses and having now worked in the Information Technology sector across Africa for now just under 20 years.
I hope to bring you unique and interesting insights into some of the people that make our world tick. We will together explore the views of my guests regarding the state of the world currently, the impact of digital technology on culture and how the world works, and what they think needs to be done to make our world better, or at...
2019-09-2602 miniAfrikan BYTESSouth Africa's Youth in ICT strategyBhekisisa Ngcobo, Chief Director (Youth and Children) at South Africa's Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services, joined us on this podcast to briefly explain what the country's "Youth in ICT" strategy aims to achieve. He also elaborates on what work is being done to keep the Internet safe for children.
2018-04-3005 miniAfrikan BYTESA South African youth online safety programmeQhakaza Mthembu (Head of Strategy at Digify Africa), Nqobile Tshabalala (student / Ilizwe lam youth ambassador), and Jamie-Lee Simelane (student/ Ilizwe lam youth ambassador), join the discussion about online safety for youth in South Africa. Also discussed on the podcast is the iLizwe Lam youth safety training programme - a partnership between Facebook and Digify Africa.
2018-04-2506 miniAfrikan BYTESFacebook's safety and community policies for AfricaWe sat down with Emilar Gandhi, Public Policy Manager at Facebook Africa for a quick interview. We discussed Facebook's safety and community #policies and tools, whether Facebook users should still be worried about Facebook third-party apps harvesting their data given the recent Cambridge Analytica saga, as well as Facebook's involvement and partnership with Digify Africa's iLizwe Lam youth safety training programme.
2018-04-2506 miniAfrikan BYTESNew digital banking solution for South Africa's unbankedGugu Zikhali, Head of Transaction Products: Mass Market at First National Bank of South Africa talks about the bank's newly launched digital banking solution targeted at the unbanked and underbanked. Zikhali explains what motivated the bank to launch the eWallet eXtra mobile bank account and its features.
2018-04-1905 miniAfrikan BYTESHotels.ng partnership with Nigeria's Akwa Ibom stateDuring August 2017 Nigeria's Hotels.ng announced a partnership with Akwa Ibom State Government for a remote internship programme. We caught up with Neo Ighodaro, CTO at Hotels.ng, to understand what the remote internship entails and what motivated the partnership with Akwa Ibom State.
2017-09-0111 miniAfrikan BYTESNokia's new African beginningsShaun Durandt, General Manager for Southern Africa at HMD Global talks about Nokia's return to Africa. Durandt explains the motive behind HMD Global deciding to re-launch the Nokia brand of phones as well as touch on the dynamics of the mobile phone industry and how HMD Global hopes to navigate them.
2017-08-0218 miniAfrikan BYTESImportance of keyword researchA quick discussion between Balungile Belz and Oluwatobi Asehinde, Founder and Managing Director of Nigeria's Vibe Web Solutions, about the importance of keyword research for digital businesses. Tobi explains that "It all comes down to knowing what people want, and we don’t guess at this, but only by proper keyword research can we realistically know what people are looking for."
2017-02-1308 miniAfrikan BYTESThe Fourth Industrial Revolution explainedLinda Khumalo, Founder of the South African Digital Content Organisation explains briefly what the fourth industrial revolution is all about. Linda also takes us on a short history of the previous three industrial revolutions dating back to the 1800s.
2017-02-0801 miniAfrikan BYTESWhat 5G means for AfricaEnvir Fraser, Chief Strategy Officer and Principal at Investment company Convergence Partners, speaks about the key trends they have observed and what they think 5G means for Africa. The trends were focused on technology infrastructure mostly. He also touched on the changing models of Data Centers, OTT service providers, FinTech, Bitcoin, Security and Privacy.
2017-02-0311 miniAfrikan BYTESHow technology can improve governanceYarik Turianskyi and Steven Gruzd speak to Balungile Belz to explain how technological advances can help improve the state of governance in Afrika. Revolutionary technological advances over the past decade have provided new opportunities for establishing deeper links between citizens and state institutions. The question is can they help Afrikans on their quest for better governance?
2017-01-2816 miniAfrikan BYTESWhat to expect at the Seedstars SummitTefo Mohapi caught up with Marcello Schermer, Regional Manager for Africa at Seedstars, to get an update on what we can expect at the Seedstars Summit 2017 and what Seedstars has in store for Africa in 2017.
2017-01-2404 miniAfrikan BYTESEnglish-Speaking Cameroon has Internet switched off by governmentMimi Mefo reports from Douala, Cameroon on the Internet shutdown in the English-speaking North-West and South-West regions of the country. Mimi also gets reactions from residents of Cameroon affected by the Internet shutdown and what impact it is having on their lives and businesses.
2017-01-2303 miniAfrikan BYTESState of Angel investing in AfricaSean Obedih speaks to Balungile Belz to discuss the state of angel investing in Afrika. Sean runs the London-based private investors club NewGenAngels. NewGenAngels is a members-only investment Club for high liquid professionals and sophisticated angels, Ultra High Net Worth Individuals, venture capital firms, family offices and angel networks with an interest in Africa.
2017-01-2212 miniAfrikan BYTESBitcoin and other cryptocurrencies explainedBalungile Belz chats to Simon Dingle about the latest updates on the Bitcoin phenomenon and the Decentralized Autonomous Organisation (DAO).
2017-01-2011 min