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Unleashing Agritech Innovation in Africa

Location: News
Pitch AgriHack

The Pitch AgriHack (https://apo-opa.info/3Zaz0kE) 2023 results are in, capping an inspiring journey celebrating Africa's most exciting agritech visionaries. Applicants from 39 African countries went through a rigorous selection process until six winners were crowned at the Youth Innovation Awards on the final day of The Africa Food Systems Forum hosted at the Julius Nyerere ICC, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This year's Pitch AgriHack theme, “Unleash your Innovation,” resonated deeply with the entrepreneurs who demonstrated how technology can be harnessed to drive sustainability, improve productivity, and uplift communities.

Pitch AgriHack (https://apo-opa.info/3Zaz0kE) 2023 was jointly organized by the African Food Systems Forum (AGRF), Heifer International, and Generation Africa. This year participants and supporters witnessed an impressive showcase of innovation. The competition underscored the power of technology-driven solutions in addressing pressing challenges across the agricultural value chain. Awarding a total prize pool of USD 45,000, the competition recognized and celebrated the brilliance of young minds that are reshaping the future of African agriculture.

"This competition serves as a dynamic showcase of sustainable practices and innovation that is set to define African agriculture. Beyond acknowledging inventive ideas, Pitch AgriHack underscores the steadfast commitment of our youth to revolutionize the sector. At Heifer International, we recognize technology's pivotal role in fostering prosperity for smallholder farmers and rural communities," said Adesuwa Ifedi, Senior Vice President for Africa Programs. "We are deeply committed to investing in and enabling young individuals to create solutions that enhance the yields of smallholder farmers, and the agritech solutions presented not only address challenges within the agricultural value chain but also promote environmental conservation, resource efficiency, and long-term viability."

Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of AGRA and Former Special Envoy to the UN Food Systems Summit, remarked, "The achievements seen at Pitch AgriHack 2023 truly celebrate entrepreneurial excellence in agriculture. These young innovators are not only shaping the sector's trajectory through their creativity and dedication, but they're also inspiring future leaders to consider impactful careers in agriculture and agribusiness. The technologies presented demonstrate the power of youth to drive practical and sustainable solutions, paving the way for a resilient and prosperous tomorrow."

The innovative solutions developed by the 2023 Pitch AgriHack finalists span a diverse spectrum. From turning waste into cooking gas and electricity, to ultra-fast composting with integrated nutrient analysers, these young entrepreneurs are finding value in nature-positive projects. Cost-saving measurement devices that analyse crop and soil health, providing recommendations that empower farmers, also impressed the judges. Artificial Intelligence integrations featured in several digital farming assistants. Drawing on massive data sets they optimize production, detect diseases, and generate recommendations for improved farming practices.

The entrepreneurs also presented game-changing inclusive finance solutions for women farmers and commodity-backed, post-harvest handling and storage for smallholders. With automated farm management and monitoring systems and behaviour modification solutions that reward farmers for following better practises, Africa's young innovators are determined to build a better food system. 

“The multi-facetted technologies, environmentally-aware approaches, and thorough business models we saw here today indicate that our youth entrepreneurs are building more resilient businesses with more comprehensive offerings that in turn help their farmers become more resilient, too,” said Dickson Naftali, Head of Generation Africa. “It is exactly the type of transformation we need, at scale, for the responsible development of the African food system. Pitch AgriHack not only celebrates such innovation but also fosters networking, collaboration, and exchange among these enterprising youth, mentors, investors, and industry experts. It creates a supportive ecosystem that propels them to grow. We are excited to see how they benefit from this opportunity."

The Pitch AgriHack 2023 Winners are:

Early-Stage Winners:

Winner: Watson Matsa, Co-Founder and CEO of eSusFarm Africa, South Africa

eSusFarm connects with rural farmers via feature-phone USSD, allowing them access to value-chain services, markets, and credit providers. Their system helps small farmers build their track record by collecting farm production data, and monitoring produce quality. Connect with Watson's venture at www.eSusFarm.Africa.

Runner-up: El Mahdi Aboulmanadel, Founder and CEO of DeepLeaf, Morocco

DeepLeaf is an agricultural deep learning lab that is focused on leveraging the latest in AI technology to revolutionize the way we grow crops. Their intelligent farming chatbot, Morshida, uses deep learning to analyse plant images and assist farmers in disease analysis. With natural language processing, Morshida can communicate in 14 different languages and dialects. Connect with El Mahdi's venture at https://DeepLeaf.io.

Mature and Growth-Stage Winners:

Winner: Tunde Adeyemi, Founder and CEO of D-Olivette, Nigeria

D-Olivette builds Bio-Tanks, anaerobic digestors that transforms organic farm waste into fertilizer and biogas for cooking and electricity generation. Their solution is helping smallholder farmers to reduce operational costs, pollution, and CO2 emissions. Connect with Tunde's venture at http://D-Olivette.com.

Runner-up: Reem Nafea, Co-Founder and Business Development Director of BioMasr, Egypt

Biomasr's new Rafik app is a hub for organic agriculture in Egypt. It connects farmers to ecological waste management, clean energy production, and organic fertiliser suppliers, while also empowering women farmers to grow and sell quality organic produce. Connect with Reem's venture at https://BioMasr.com.

Women-led Agribusiness Winners:

Winner: Priscilla Wakarera, Co-Founder and CEO of Rhea, Kenya

Rhea helps smallholder farmers make the right decisions by providing affordable, convenient soil testing for smarter farming. Their IoT device does moisture testing, NPK measurements and soil PH tests before sending AI generated recommendations for fertiliser, pH adjustments, irrigation, and crop recommendations. Connect with Priscilla's venture at www.Rhea.Africa.

Runner-up: Solape Akinpelu, Co-Founder and CEO of HerVest, Nigeria

HerVest is about inclusive finance for African women. They provide easy access to target savings, impact investments and credit financing for smallholder women farmers and women-owned/led SMEs in Nigeria. Connect with Solape's venture at https://www.HerVest.ng.

The winners were selected by an esteemed panel of judges that included experts and leaders in agriculture and technology. Pitch AgriHack contestants were honoured to get invaluable advice and guidance from this highly-respected judges group consisting of:

  • Barbra Sehlule Muzata, Communications Lead – CGIAR  
  • Dr. Nalishebo Meebelo, Executive Director – Regional Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ReNAPRI)
  • Nono Sekhoto, Sector Lead - AL for Agribusiness Network – African Leadership Academy
  • Victor Mugo, Head of Local Youth Action – World Food Forum
  • Sheila Kaaya, Lead - Agriculture, Agribusiness and Agrifood systems – The Mastercard Foundation
  • Jane Lowicki-Zucca, Senior Youth Advisor – USAID
  • Patrick Heffer, Deputy Director General – International Fertilizer Association
  • Jehiel Oliver, Founder & CEO – Hello Tractor
  • Dr. Charles Iyangbe, Signature Program Director - Africa Programs – Heifer International

This year's Pitch AgriHack applicant breakdown mirrors Africa's youthful dynamism. 79.3% were early-stage startups, embodying the innovative pulse of the competition. Mature/growth-stage agritech ventures represented 20.5%, underlining the sector's growth.

The innovation showcased at Pitch AgriHack 2023 is a strong affirmation of the commitment of AGRF, Heifer International, and Generation Africa to nurture innovation, create job opportunities, and enhance food security across the continent. Through this dynamic competition, the partners seek to inspire a new generation of agritech entrepreneurs who will not only revolutionize the agricultural landscape but also empower smallholder farmers to overcome challenges and embrace sustainable change.

For further information and updates, please visit the official Generation Africa website: https://GenAfrica.org. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Pitch AgriHack.

Contact:
Jane Machigere
jane@jsmcommunications.com
www.GenAfrica.org 

About Heifer International:
Since 1944, Heifer International has worked with nearly 43 million people around the world to end hunger and poverty in a sustainable way. Working with rural communities across Africa for nearly 50 years, Heifer International supports farmers and local food producers to strengthen local economies and build secure livelihoods that provide a living income. Heifer is currently operating in 19 countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas. For more information, visit https://www.Heifer.org.

About Generation Africa:
Generation Africa is a thematic platform of the AGRF, whose mandate is to strengthen the ecosystem for youth entrepreneurs in the agri-food sector across Africa. From its start in 2019, Generation Africa has brought together industry leaders, government institutions, NGOs, NPOs, and community platforms to collaborate on ecosystem development, curation and support of agribusinesses, research and advocacy, and the inspiration of young people to embrace opportunities in the agrifood sector. Find out more at https://GenAfrica.org.

About the AGRF:
The AGRF is the world's premier forum for African agriculture, bringing together stakeholders in the agricultural landscape to take practical actions and share lessons that will move African agriculture forward. Under AGRF's current strategy, the Forum is particularly focused on driving progress of the Malabo Declaration by 2025 as the priority set of commitments African Heads of State and Government have made to strengthen agricultural development at the centre of the continent's overall development and progress. The AGRF is organised by the AGRF Partners Group, a coalition of institutions that care about Africa's agriculture transformation. For more information visit https://AGRF.org.  

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How cybercriminals trick their victims

Location: News
KnowBe4

Key findings:

  • 40% of the respondents from eight countries had been scammed online
  • Distraction and multi-tasking made 43% of the victims fall for an online scam
  • Financial scams affected nearly 48% of respondents

Nearly half of the 800 African survey participants have fallen victim to an online scam at least once, losing thousands of dollars in the process and compromising their personal data. This alarming statistic is one of the key findings of the KnowBe4 2023 Online Scams and Victims in Africa Report, which was just released. The report is based on a survey of 800 respondents across eight African countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, Mauritius, and Botswana. According to the report, 53% of the respondents who fell victim, were convinced the offer was legitimate because the website looked real, while nearly 48% of the scams were financial.

“These numbers highlight that online scams have evolved,” says Anna Collard, SVP Content Strategy & Evangelist at KnowBe4 AFRICA. “What is concerning is that 43% of the victims were distracted and multi-tasking when they fell for the scam, which highlights how easy it is for a person to make a mistake when they are not paying attention. Their emotional states can affect a person's judgment, awareness, and decision-making, causing them to be more vulnerable to online deception,” says Collard.

Financial scams were the most common type of online fraud, affecting nearly half of the respondents (50%). Other prevalent scams involved fake investments (30%), cryptocurrencies and NFTs (29%), brand impersonation (28%), information theft (24%), online shopping (21%), and fake job offers (21%). Less frequent but still significant scams included the classic Nigerian scam (17%), family or friend impersonation (18%), law enforcement impersonation (7%), tax fraud (6%), holiday fraud (9%), romance fraud (13%), and lottery fraud (15%).

An email was the preferred channel for scammers to initiate contact, accounting for 24% of the cases. Social media came in second with 19%, followed by WhatsApp with 10% and other messaging services like Telegram with 8%. In Nigeria, however, social media was the most used platform for scams (32%), while in South Africa, email was the dominant method (28%). The scammers often used social engineering techniques to convince their victims, such as creating rapport or trust by making websites look legitimate, sending messages that appealed to emotions, using social media profiles that seemed authentic, and avoiding spelling or grammar mistakes.

Collard says that the statistics reveal a more evolved and sophisticated network of scammers who use emerging technology to lure people into costly mistakes. 30% lost between US$100 and US$1,000, 40% around US$100, and 9% more than US$1,000.

The report also showed that falling for a scam had a significant psychological impact on many victims. While 23% said it had little or no effect on them, nearly 50% felt a strong or moderate impact. The results highlight how easy it is for victims to blame themselves, when in reality, they were deceived by cunning scam tactics. The survey found that many victims experienced negative emotions, such as embarrassment (39%), anger (40%), naivety (40%), loss of trust (36%), and shame (25%). Some also felt traumatised (20%), vulnerable and helpless (25%), anxious (16%), and guilty and fearful (15%).

The emotional toll of falling for an online scam may be more harmful than the money lost as a result. For most victims, the financial consequences were not severe, with 24% saying it took them several months to recover and 10% saying it took more than a year, but the majority had no repercussions or recovered in a few days to a few weeks. However, when it came to healing from the psychological impact of the scam, the majority said it took them a few months (22%) and 11% said it took more than a year.

“The report shows how vulnerable people are to online scams and the emotional distress they cause,” says Collard. “While respondents were aware of scams and understood the risks, many still said they did not feel prepared, which highlights the need for regular training that gives people continuous awareness of scams and the threat they pose, to themselves and their organisations.”

You can download the full report here. https://apo-opa.info/3LjspOS

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of KnowBe4.

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Amplifin Launches Heavyweight Solution For Small To Medium Businesses – Innovative web-based scheme empowers businesses for growth and success

Location: MyPR

7 September, 2023 – In the dynamic business landscape, growing enterprises encounter an escalating array of challenges that demand innovative solutions. Amplifin recognises that as businesses expand, their concerns multiply – from financial intricacies to operational complexities. The organisation understands that these enterprises require access to cutting-edge technologies, akin to those embraced by larger corporations, …

Read moreAmplifin Launches Heavyweight Solution For Small To Medium Businesses – Innovative web-based scheme empowers businesses for growth and success

FCB Secures Smirnoff Account

Location: MyPR

Johannesburg, 6 September 2023 – FCB, a leading global advertising agency renowned for its expertise in building timeless brands and driving short-term sales, is excited to announce the acquisition of the prestigious Smirnoff account. As the new creative partner for Smirnoff, FCB is poised to elevate the brand’s iconic status and deliver exceptional results in …

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Stay Safe from account takeover attacks

Location: MyPR

In the current era of digitalization, where people store sensitive information online, account takeover (ATO) attacks have become a growing concern. Data breaches have increased, with attackers constantly looking for vulnerabilities to exploit. Due to the growing sophistication of attackers, the shift to remote work and digital transactions, and the increasing value of stolen data, …

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SARS Commissioner calls for tax administrators to be excluded from budget cuts

Location: News

SARS Commissioner calls for tax administrators to be excluded from budget cuts

South African Revenue Service (SARS) Commissioner Edward Kieswetter has called on National Treasuries to exclude tax administrations from across-the-board austerity measures, as it poses a threat to innovation, fiscal integrity and sovereignty.

“Once you suspend funding, the end result will always be the suspension of innovation and regression against the progress of other administrations. This goes against the intrinsic value of digitalisation in improving tax compliance and detecting tax non-compliance,” Kieswetter said on Tuesday in Cape Town.

He was addressing the 2nd Network of Tax Organisation (NTO) Technical Conference, which took place under the theme: ‘Digitalisation of Tax Administrations and Contemporary Issues’.

“As more financial transactions are taking place digitally, more third party data sources are shared with tax administrations, and central bank digital currencies are emerging, the importance of digitalisation and consequently the use of data science, and artificial intelligence have become central to revenue collection, compliance and trade facilitation.

“So, in short, whenever budget cuts are required, National Treasuries – Budget Offices are advised to avoid across-the-board cuts and ensure a more prudent approach to invest to build enabling and productive economic capacity, create employment, and thus expand the tax base.

“This secures fiscal integrity and sovereignty in the long run. Tax administrations should be excluded from across-the-board austerity measures. The investment in digitalisation should not be disrupted. The cost of recovery is simply too high in every respect,” Kieswetter said.

He said the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the modernisation and digitisation of work at SARS.

“COVID-19 inadvertently took us to the drawing board to think from first principles, and very quickly accelerated our response towards reprioritising our technology investment to enable our employees to work during the hard lockdown and to allow taxpayers to continue to fulfil their tax obligations,” the Commissioner said.

Although SARS has made progress, he explained that much more still needs to be done, as the revenue service is behind in its digitalisation journey.

“I want to pause here and focus on one element as a critical enabler of the digitalisation journey - and that relates to funding. Before State capture, SARS was a leader in digital modernisation for many years.

“However, partly due to financial constraints, but also a short-term approach, budgets were then frozen for a number of years and SARS fell behind in driving technological innovation. We have now managed to restore some additional funds to continue our modernisation, but we are still substantially underfunded to move at the necessary speed in an environment that is changing exponentially, business models are being disrupted, and tax crime proliferating at an alarming rate,” he said.

SARS faces the challenge of not only having to play catch-up after many years of underinvestment, but also of accelerating modernisation simply to remain relevant.

“We are at a point where we can again focus on innovation. The important lesson here is that the digitalisation journey is not a finite project, but a new way of being. It is an ongoing journey. Once you suspend funding, the end result will always be the suspension of innovation and regression against the progress of other administrations,” the Commissioner said. - SAnews.gov.za

 

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Wed, 09/06/2023 - 10:08

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How Much Does It Cost to Enact SEO

Location: MyPR

Introduction When it comes to digital marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a term that’s often thrown around. While most businesses understand the importance of SEO, many are left wondering about the costs involved. The truth is, the cost of SEO can vary widely depending on a range of factors, including whether you’re planning to …

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UIF launches free mobile app to speed up its services

Location: News

UIF launches free mobile app to speed up its services

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has launched a zero-rated mobile APP, as well as a free USSD platform to enable clients to access UIF services at any time.

This will go a long way to reducing long queues at the labour centres.

The app, which was launched on Monday, will bring services to the people and enable UIF clients to access services at any time, from anywhere at no cost.

Unveiling the platforms during a media briefing in Cape Town, Maruping said the USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) and mobile APP will promote greater self-service for clients, reduce long queues in the labour centres and alleviate pressure on officials. 

UIF Commissioner Teboho Maruping believes the platforms will put more money in the pockets of clients because they will save on transport costs currently incurred when visiting labour centres.

“There is really no better time than now to do this to ensure that workers begin to access services at their fingertips. We are moving with the times to create a better, more capable UIF that leverages technology to respond to challenges on the ground and changes in the external environment,” Maruping said. 

He said the UIF recognises that most of their clients may not be in the best financial position when they need to access their services, hence the initiative to launch the mobile app and USSD platform.

Maruping said the two platforms also enable clients to check their UIF registration status, which will improve non-compliance with the Unemployment Insurance Act by employers who fail to register, declare and pay contributions for their workers.

“By simply dialling *134*843# on any cellular phone for free, clients can, among others, submit a continuation of payment or check their claim and payment status, instead of visiting a labour centre. The same services can also be accessed on our mobile APP, which can be downloaded from either Google Play Store, App Store for IOS phones or Huawei App Store,” Maruping explained.  

The Commissioner also called on all UIF contributing workers to use these platforms to check their registration status, whilst in employment, and not wait until they are no longer working. 

“If you find that your employer has not registered you, but is deducting UIF, then immediately report this to a labour inspector so it can be corrected,” Maruping said.

The Commissioner stressed that the fund is committed to taking bold steps to improve service delivery.

The UIF will go on roadshows to educate clients in all provinces and implement a mass media campaign. 

“In addition to these new platforms, we recently installed free Wi-Fi at all labour centres around the country to enable clients to access our services online and reduce the time it takes to queue for assistance. Meanwhile, our mobile buses continue to take services to the doorsteps of clients, especially in deep rural and remote areas,” Maruping said.

Maruping also visited the Bellville labour centre to interact with clients and promote the platforms. – SAnews.gov.za

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Tue, 09/05/2023 - 10:42

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Tourism, Airbnb sign MoU to grow sector

Location: News

Tourism, Airbnb sign MoU to grow sector

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between her department and Airbnb to support the continued recovery of the tourism sector and build inclusive tourism in South Africa.

“The MoU will see the Department of Tourism work closely with Airbnb to advance tourism services that are aimed at growing tourism in South Africa and creating more jobs in the sector,” De Lille said.

The MoU seeks to grow collaboration between government and the private sector, as it is “a collective responsibility to grow and enhance tourism sector”.

“As government, if we want to significantly grow tourism and its contribution to the economy and job creation, collaboration with the private sector is vital. We are delighted to be the first African Ministry of Tourism to sign a collaborative MoU with a successful global company such as Airbnb,” she said.

The Minister explained that by leveraging Airbnb's global reach and understanding of the market, the collaboration seeks to create a positive impact on local communities, travellers and the tourism industry as a whole.

“The primary goal of this collaboration is to develop a relationship between the Ministry, entity and Airbnb to harness and drive tourism domestically and internationally.

“As shared in the department’s Green paper, insufficient information is available about the unregulated short-term rental subsector, and this hampers informed policy decision making. Access to the Airbnb data can only assist in informing better decisions,” De Lille said.

As part of the MoU, the parties will have regular engagements to evaluate opportunities for strategic collaboration on driving inclusive tourism and ensuring fair and proportionate regulation of short-term rentals.

Velma Corcoran, Regional Lead: Middle East Africa at Airbnb, said they look forward to working with the Department of Tourism to help build a more inclusive and sustainable tourism economy in South Africa.

Corcoran said the Airbnb platform can help anyone, anywhere, to become a tourism entrepreneur, and that they hope to continue to break down systemic barriers to entry and enable more South Africans to participate in the sector.

“We welcome the opportunity to work with the department to develop a clear, proportionate national framework for the regulation of short-term rentals and see huge power in public and private sector collaborations. We also know from our work with the Airbnb Entrepreneurship Academy, that together, we can make a tangible difference and enable more people, in more places, to benefit from tourism,” said Corcoran.

The signing of the MoU is in line with the aims of the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan, which is key to the country’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan.

The Tourism Sector Recovery Plan (TSRP) was adopted by Cabinet in March 2021 to facilitate the recovery of the sector to preserve jobs and livelihoods, facilitate new job opportunities, match demand and supply, and strengthen transformation. – SAnews.gov.za

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Mon, 09/04/2023 - 13:34

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Achieving Net Zero in the Mining Industry: Challenges, Opportunities, and Action Sandrine Pfister – Sustainability Market Leader, Bureau Veritas Africa

Location: MyPR

In the year 2050, the world has successfully reduced carbon emissions, with the contribution of efforts of mining and metal industry players who achieved their targets in greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction. Through project-specific approaches, these companies assessed their carbon footprints, identified emissions hotspots, developed tangible net-zero roadmaps and invest in low-carbon technologies leading to improved …

Read moreAchieving Net Zero in the Mining Industry: Challenges, Opportunities, and Action Sandrine Pfister – Sustainability Market Leader, Bureau Veritas Africa

Largest CHIETA smart skills centre opens in rural KZN

Location: News

Largest CHIETA smart skills centre opens in rural KZN

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has commended the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) on the successful opening of the Babanango SMART Skills Centre, which will provide tech-enabled learning programmes.

Nzimande unveiled the third and largest CHIETA SMART Skills Centre last week. It forms part of CHIETA’s efforts to bridge the digital skills divide and accelerate the development of basic digital skills in rural communities.

The centre will provide tech-enabled learning programmes, including virtual and augmented reality, robotics and the Internet of Things, among others.

Speaking at the launch, Nzimande said the Babanango area was specifically identified for the establishment of the SMART Skills Centre because it is in a deeply rural area of KwaZulu-Natal, without any internet connectivity.

Nzimande said the centre will benefit the local community, including learners, students, job seekers and businesspeople. It will also provide youth with digital skills that will help to meet the demands of industries, which rely on technology to grow their enterprises.

“The centre will advance skills development for the unemployed youth by offering programmes based on various technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR), blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), software development, data science and mobile repairs.

“Through this centre, our unemployed youth will have access to various online learning platforms to start up successful and scalable data-driven commercial businesses that will provide technological solutions. This centre we also help us bridge the digital skills divide between urban and rural communities,” Nzimande said.

The SMART Skills Centre is part of government’s bigger plans to revolutionise digital skills development in South Africa.

The skills centres will further cater for Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) development, as they play a crucial role in the growth of the economy. SMMEs make up 34% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which was valued at $358 billion in 2019.

Nzimande said through the National Development Plan (NDP), government has recognised the importance of SMMEs for job creation, innovation and sustainability of the country. 

“One of the goals outlined in the NDP was for 90% of new jobs to be created through SMMEs by 2030. This is against the backdrop that our country continues to struggle with the burgeoning problem of unemployment, particularly in its highly youthful population.

“I am more than certain that this project will certainly give our youth and the community at large the opportunity to get or create employment because digital skills are required in most occupations in the 21st century. I am also hoping that this centre will be a catalyst to attract other developmental projects and programmes,” Nzimande said.

The Minister announced that due to the successful implementation of CHIETA SMART Skills Centre, the department has taken a decision to expand this project in all nine provinces of the country.

CHIETA CEO, Yershen Pillay, commended the partners who were involved in this initiative, including the department, Mthashana Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college and Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA), among others.

Pillay noted that this is one of the biggest smart skills centres in the country, which has, among others, cell phone repair skills, and will also provide free data to the community of Babanango. – SAnews.gov.za 

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Mon, 09/04/2023 - 12:40

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Accenture Song Named Digital & Direct Agency Of Record For Telkom

Location: MyPR

Accenture Song has been appointed digital and direct agency partner for Telkom – one of South Africa’s providers of communication services, following a competitive pitch process. This win holds notable significance as it marks the first piece of business for the newly positioned tech-powered creative group, firmly establishing its credentials as a new breed of …

Read moreAccenture Song Named Digital & Direct Agency Of Record For Telkom

The Importance of Professional Answering Services in Today’s Business World

Location: MyPR

In the age of instant gratification and 24/7 availability, businesses can’t afford to miss a beat. Whether it’s a potential lead, a long-term client, or even a dissatisfied customer, every call counts. That’s where professional answering services come into play. These services are more than just a modern convenience; they are a crucial component for …

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Telkom shines a spotlight on 10 Phenomenal Women in Tech

Location: MyPR

31 August 2023, Johannesburg: Telkom Introduces the “Phenomenal 10,” a distinguished selection of women from the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector who embody the epitome of women’s potential, transcending adversity to achieve greatness. These women were carefully chosen and recognized as exceptional women who have demonstrated remarkable prowess. As Women’s Month draws to an …

Read moreTelkom shines a spotlight on 10 Phenomenal Women in Tech

SA records more than 4 million tourist arrivals

Location: News

SA records more than 4 million tourist arrivals

South Africa’s tourism sector continues to show strong recovery with the first half of 2023 recording more than four million tourist arrivals.

“Our arrival numbers for 2023 are looking good, demonstrating that South Africa is still a favourable tourist destination and we are eager to welcome more tourists as we head into the busy summer season,” said Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille.

She said the arrivals demonstrate that South Africa is still a favourable tourist destination.

“South Africa’s tourism sector continues to exhibit strong recovery with the first half of 2023 recording more than 4 million tourist arrivals, according to the latest data from Statistics South Africa [Stats SA]. This is a significant increase from the 2, 3 million tourist arrivals between January and June 2022.

The total number of tourist arrivals to South Africa between January and June 2023 showed a sizable 78.2% surge in the first half of 2023 when compared to the same period in 2022.

The Minister on Tuesday held the second National Tourism Safety Forum meeting in Cape Town  with various stakeholders in the tourism sector.

De Lille said South Africa receives millions of tourists per year, and the vast majority of visitors return home without any issues and a memorable experience of the country.

The Africa region continues to bring the largest share of tourist arrivals to South Africa with more than three million arrivals from the rest of the African continent in the first six months of 2023.

“This is a testament to the marketing efforts that we have implemented to attract tourists from this region.  Africa remains a key source market for us, and we are committed to collaborating as a tourism sector to make sure we welcome visitors from this region and that we cater for their needs and preferences.

Beyond the African continent, South Africa has welcomed more visitors from other regions too. The Asia region almost doubled its figures with a 99.5% growth compared to 2022.

“This year, Europe, the largest source of visitors outside Africa, also experienced solid growth of 66.8.1%, when compared to the same period in 2022. These robust figures showcase South Africa’s charm and attractiveness as well as the work that we are doing in marketing South Africa as a tourist destination of choice.”

North America, Central & South America, and the Middle East also demonstrated strong growth trends with rates of 70.6%, 74.4%, and 75.8% respectively.

“These robust figures showcase South Africa’s charm and attractiveness as well as the work that we are doing in marketing South Africa as a tourist destination of choice.”

Meanwhile, the department is gearing up for the summer season and will be launching the Summer Campaign in two weeks’ time in the Eastern Cape.

Safety

She said the previous meeting of the forum held in May saw all representatives agreed on clear actions to address tourism safety.

”While the latest statistics from StatsSA reveal an upward trend in tourist arrivals, issues of safety are an obstacle in converting would-be tourists to visit our country. As I said after the previous National Tourism Safety Forum meeting, crime is a matter which affects tourism in many parts of the world.”

This was echoed by several tourism ministers from all over the world.

“South Africa is no different and across the world, countries are grappling with these issues with instability and wars in some countries.  While it is the mandate of the SAPS to keep our citizens and visitors safe, we all have a role to play.”

She said progress was made since the last meeting.

In a bid to ensure the safety of tourists in the country, the Department of Tourism will be deploying tourism monitors to all provinces at top tourist attractions and national parks.

The key responsibilities of the appointed tourism monitors include patrolling within the identified attractions and site/ areas, raising tourism awareness and provide information to tourists and report any crime incidents to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other relevant enforcement agencies.

The monitors will be deployed towards the end of October or early November 2023, in time for the summer tourist season.

The department has reviewed the training curriculum for tourism monitors with the departmental budget at R174.5 million, to train more than 2 200 tourism monitors across the country for this financial year.

The key responsibilities of the appointed Tourism Monitors include patrolling within the identified attractions and site/ areas, raising tourism awareness and provide information to tourists and report any crime incidents to SAPS and other relevant enforcement agencies.

Meanwhile, an update from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on the C-More tracking device and how best this technology can be incorporated into the Secura app that has been set up by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, was received.

“Through the use of technology, we are enhancing the tourist experience by offering technology and tourism monitors that assist tourists in various attractions as well as on-demand requests through an app.”

She said the app is now up and running and the operations centre will be launched in Sandton on Thursday.

“The Secura App is already being used by tourists and aims to enhance the visitor experience and assist in many ways including roadside assistance and directing those who are lost,” said the Minister. –SAnews.gov.za

 

Edwin
Wed, 08/30/2023 - 10:11

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SA’s payments gold mine: The alchemy of data into growth

Location: MyPR

The African payments industry, by furnishing diverse, robust and user-friendly platforms, is catalysing entrepreneurship and financial independence, while also enhancing income for entrepreneurs. Over the past five years, mobile payments have seen tremendous growth in South Africa. As of 2023, the South African mobile payments market is estimated to be worth $25 billion, with a …

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Behind Apple’s Strong Results And What The Future May Hold

Location: MyPR

Johannesburg, 30 August 2023: Apple’s meteoric rise to prominence is nothing short of exceptional, with its impressive performance in 2022 carrying over to 2023. Fred Razak, Chief Trading Strategist at CMTrading, delves into the factors underpinning this sustained success and the road ahead. A Resilient Position “Apple’s unrivalled streak of non-negative quarters since 2009, spanning …

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Nzimande calls for BRICS commitment implementation

Location: News

Nzimande calls for BRICS commitment implementation

Higher Education and Training Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, says he would like to see implementation of the BRICS TVET Cooperation Alliance Charter.

Nzimande said the recent and highly successful BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Summit held in South Africa last week, placed the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system at the centre of skills development co-operation by members states.

Addressing the TVET Curriculum Transformation and Innovation Summit, currently underway at Vodaworld Dome in Midrand, Nzimande noted that BRICS had committed to strengthen collaboration in TVET amongst BRICS Member States through the hosting of a seminar to provide an overview of the TVET education systems and foster closer collaboration.

“BRICS emphasise that the TVET programmes and projects should be coordinated by relevant BRICS senior TVET officials and focal points assigned by their respective Ministries. This places TVET education at the centre of the developmental agenda of governments, supporting initiatives and interventions to revive and enhance the economy.

“As a result, TVET curriculum transformation is a crucial step towards unlocking skills development for the modern economy. As industries evolve and technology advances at an unprecedented rate, it becomes essential for TVET institutions to adapt their curricula to meet the changing needs of the job market,” Nzimande said.

The Minister argued that the traditional approach to TVET education, which focused solely on providing students with specific trade skills, is no longer sufficient in today's dynamic and globalised economy.

Therefore, he said, to bridge the skills gap and equip individuals with the competencies required for the modern workforce, a comprehensive curriculum transformation is necessary.

“This transformation involves a shift from a narrow focus on technical skills to 21st century skills which advocates for a broader emphasis on critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and adaptability. 

“By integrating these 21st century skills into TVET curricula, students will be better prepared to navigate the complexities of the modern economy, where job roles are constantly evolving, and cross-disciplinary expertise is highly valued,” Nzimande said.

He said the inclusion of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, robotics, and data analytics in TVET curricula, will further equip students with the necessary digital skills.

Having regular curriculum reviews of TVET programs and qualifications aligned with the current needs of industry and society, was among the resolutions taken at the TVET Imbizo held in 2017.

Nzimande emphasised that the focus is on updating the content of current programs, by introducing modern delivery methods, integrating digital skills, and rationalizing outdated programs that no longer serve their intended purposes.

“In line with this objective, over 70 subjects in the NATED (National Accredited Technical Education Diploma) Report 191 programs have been reviewed since 2018. Additionally, in January this year, we introduced a new NCV (National Certificate Vocational) program in IT (Information Technology) and Computer Science focusing on Programming and Robotics. 

“Ten of our TVET colleges are currently offering this program and more of our colleges are planning to offer this program from 2024. As a department, we are collaborating with the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) in reconstructing curricula for Engineering Studies to align with the rapidly changing industry needs and professional standards,” Nzimande highlighted.

He added that the prioritised fields currently undergoing reconstruction, include Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Civil Engineering.

The Minister also announced that the NATED N1 to N3 programs will be phased out from January 2024. – SAnews.gov.za
 

GabiK
Tue, 08/29/2023 - 13:22

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How financial institutions can safeguard against deepfakes

Location: News
iiDENTIFii

In a matter of seconds, it is possible to hold your phone up to your face and see what you will look like in 40 years. Or you could fuse the image of your face with that of a celebrity. You could even record a birthday song for a friend in the voice of their favourite artist. With deepfake technology, it is simple and possible to edit a person's facial and vocal likeness with alarming accuracy. For the most part, this can be seen as harmless entertainment. But what if your likeness was used to drain your savings or commit fraud? As the technology to create deepfakes becomes easier and cheaper, the need to guard against these cybercrimes have come to the forefront.

A deepfake is a video, visual, or audio recording that has been distorted, manipulated, or synthetically created using deep learning techniques to present an individual, or a hybrid of several people, saying or doing something that they did not say or do. These deepfakes are often used in digital injection attacks which are sophisticated, highly scalable, and replicable cyberattacks that bypass the camera on a device or are injected into a data stream.

Murray Collyer, Chief Operating Officer of iiDENTIFii (http://www.iiDENTIFii.com/), says, “Digital injection attacks present the highest threat to financial services, as the AI technology behind it is affordable, and the attacks are rapidly scalable. In fact, a recent digital security report by our technology partner, iProov (http://www.iProov.com/), illustrates how, in an indiscriminate attempt to bypass an organisation's security systems, some 200-300 attacks were launched globally from the same location within a 24-hour period. As more and more South Africans embrace digital banking, deepfake technology is a serious threat.”

Recent research (https://apo-opa.info/3L09o3T) by Discovery Bank and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) into the future of retail banking in South Africa found that most (86%) South Africans are ready to do all their banking digitally, particularly via an app. Much of this trend stems from previously unbanked people. The Covid-19 pandemic naturally accelerated the trend.

As more South Africans set up digital accounts and do their banking online, financial crime and cybercrime have become more inextricably linked than ever before. Interpol states that financial and cybercrimes are the world's leading crime threats and are projected to increase the most.

Collyer adds, “Deepfake technology is one of the most rapidly growing threats within financial services, yet not all verification technologies are resilient to it. Password-based systems, for example, are highly susceptible to fraud. South Africa needs to strengthen their technology to outwit cyber criminals.”

While deepfakes are a severe threat, the technology and processes exist to safeguard financial services companies against this method of fraud.

A growing percentage of face biometric technology incorporates some form of liveness checks - such as wink and blink - to verify and authenticate customers. Liveness detection uses biometric technology to determine whether the individual presenting is a real human being, not a presented artefact. Therefore, this technology can detect a deepfake if it were to be played on a device and presented to the camera.

While many liveness detection technologies can determine if someone is conducting fraud by holding up a physical image (for example, a printed picture or mask of the person transacting) to the screen, many solutions cannot detect digital injection attacks.

Collyer says, “Specialised technology is required to combat deepfakes. Within iiDENTIFii, we have seen success with the use of sophisticated yet accessible 4D liveness technology, which includes a timestamp and is further verified through a three-step process where the user's selfie and ID document data are checked with relevant government databases. This enables us to accurately authenticate someone's identity.”

Collyer will be part of the speaker panel that will present to delegates at the 8th instalment of the AML, Financial Crime Southern Africa Conference (https://apo-opa.info/3KYm7Ec), that also includes representatives of companies such as Financial Intelligence Centre South Africa, Investec, Sanlam, Stanlib, Albaraka Bank, Standard Bank Mozambique, iiDENTIFii, Nice Actimize, SABRIC, Rand Merchant Bank, S & P Global Intelligence, FirstRand Namibia, Corruption Watch and many more.

The high-level conference will be hosted on 6 & 7 September at the Indaba Hotel Fourways South Africa and is attended annually by professionals from banks, insurance and investment companies, service providers, government, and MLCO's from non-designated financial service providers.

“With the right technology, it is not only possible to protect consumers and businesses against deepfake financial crimes but also create a user experience that is simple, accessible and safe for all,” Collyer concludes.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of iiDENTIFii.

About iiDENTIFii:
iiDENTIFii is a world-leading remote face authentication and automated onboarding technology platform. It fulfills the needs of customer-focused organisations that are required to authenticate and onboard customers. Using a frictionless and non-invasive automated proven process that meets customer intelligence and risk and compliance goals, iiDENTIFii ticks all the boxes from a governance and legislative perspective. https://iiDENTIFii.com/ 

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