Launch
Gauteng’s Future Hangs in the Balance
(Debate in the Gauteng Legislature on the Department of Agriculture’s annual report) Gauteng’s future could be bleak if the province does not take urgent and decisive action to address the growing agricultural and environmental crisis. The latest annual reports of the Departments of Environmental Affairs and Agriculture and Rural Development confirm the scale of the […]
The post Gauteng’s future hangs in the balance: Agriculture and environmental crisis warrants immediate intervention appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
TransUnion Unlocks Smarter, Faster Financial Services for SMMEs and FinTechs With API Marketplace
- TransUnion’s new API Marketplace gives SMMEs and FinTechs instant, self-service access to credit, identity, and fraud prevention tools
- The platform simplifies integration, accelerates decision-making, and supports inclusive, data-driven financial services
- Designed for agility and scale, it empowers smaller businesses to compete and innovate in South Africa’s growing digital economy
- Improved access to accurate data enables businesses to better serve underserved communities, advancing equitable access to financial services
Global information and insights company TransUnion Africa has launched its API Marketplace, a streamlined digital platform designed to give small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) as well as FinTechs direct, self-service access to a wide range of credit, identity and fraud prevention solutions. The platform aims to simplify integration, strengthen risk assessment, and support the delivery of faster, more personalised financial services across the country. The API Marketplace helps reduce technical complexities, enabling companies to quickly incorporate credit checks, identity verification, and fraud detection into their operations for faster, more accurate decision-making.
Simplifying Access to Trusted Data Solutions
For many SMMEs and FinTechs, limited access to reliable credit data, time-consuming verification processes, and the burden of manual fraud checks can slow growth and undermine customer trust. The TransUnion API Marketplace addresses these pain points by allowing businesses to discover and embed TransUnion’s trusted data solutions directly into their systems, without lengthy onboarding processes or complex development cycles.
“With the launch of the TransUnion API Marketplace in South Africa, we’re empowering SMMEs and FinTechs with the tools they need to thrive in the digital economy,” says Dee Chetty, Chief Product Officer at TransUnion Africa. “It’s about lowering barriers to entry for businesses aiming to innovate quickly, deliver inclusive financial services, and make smarter decisions, while upholding the highest standards of data integrity and security.”
The platform offers real-time access to insights that support key business functions, from identity verification during customer onboarding to fraud flagging and credit risk assessment throughout the customer lifecycle. This is particularly powerful for SMMEs and FinTechs, which often operate with lean teams and need to maximise efficiency without compromising on due diligence.
Supporting Financial Inclusion and Economic Growth
According to the latest Mastercard SME Confidence Index, 90% of South African SMMEs have adopted digital payments in recent years, demonstrating the sector’s appetite for modernisation. However, many still lack access to the kind of scalable, reliable infrastructure that larger organisations take for granted. The API Marketplace bridges that gap, enabling smaller firms to leverage TransUnion’s capabilities in a cost-effective and agile way.
Crucially, the offering also supports national priorities around financial inclusion. Improving the flow of accurate credit and identity data enables businesses to offer more tailored products to underserved consumers, particularly in emerging markets and low-income communities. This helps create a more transparent and equitable financial ecosystem, where access to funding and services is based on real, data-driven insights.
“The API Marketplace is not just a product, it’s an enabler of impact,” adds Chetty. “We know that the future of inclusive finance in South Africa depends on access: to data, to tools, and to trust. This platform delivers on all three, helping more businesses deliver safe, responsible, and responsive financial products.”
Developer-Friendly Design for Rapid Deployment
Digitising integration through the API Marketplace enhances operational efficiency and significantly shortens development timelines. The platform includes a wide range of features designed for accessibility and ease of use. It offers a searchable API catalogue, developer-friendly documentation, and robust security protocols, all designed to reduce friction and accelerate deployment. A structured onboarding process is already in place, with plans to introduce full self-service and digital onboarding in the next phase of development.
Looking ahead, TransUnion sees the API Marketplace as a critical lever for economic resilience and innovation, particularly as the South African FinTech sector continues its rapid growth. The local FinTech market is projected to reach USD 14.86 billion by 2033, with APIs playing a foundational role in scaling new financial solutions.
Visit TransUnion’s API Marketplace for more information.
TRC Commission: Does Jacob Zuma Have Something to Hide?
Former President Jacob Zuma’s eleventh-hour demand that Justice Sisi Khampepe be withdrawn as chairperson of the Commission investigating alleged political interference in the prosecution of apartheid era crimes compounds the very injustice the Commission was set up to probe.
The post TRC COMMISSION: DOES ZUMA’S APPLICATION FOR CHAIR’S RECUSAL IMPLY HE HAS SOMETHING TO HIDE? appeared first on For Good.
Cape Town’s Unique Shelter Officially Recognised by Government
The facility provides safety support for LGBT+ and male victims of violence
Justice for Caiphus Nyoka, Finally
The GOOD Party applauds the conviction of Abraham Engelbrecht and Pieter Stander for the murder of anti-apartheid activist Caiphus Nyoka in 1987.
The post JUSTICE FOR CAIPHUS NYOKA, FINALLY appeared first on For Good.
Wesley Jacobs to Contest Ward 57 By-Election in Tshwane
This morning, the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) officially introduced Wesley Jacobs as its candidate for the upcoming by-election in the City of Tshwane’s Ward 57. The by-election will take place on 21 January 2026. The national leader of the Freedom Front Plus, Dr Corné Mulder, and the Gauteng provincial leader, Mr Jaco Mulder, also […]
The post Freedom Front Plus announces Wesley Jacobs as candidate for Ward 57 by-election in Tshwane appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
TransUnion’s New AI-Powered Film Puts Humanity at the Heart of Data
TransUnion, a global information and insights company, has unveiled a bold new chapter in its South Africa-focused Be the Reason Things Change campaign with the launch of a powerful AI-driven brand film. This emotionally resonant digital piece continues the campaign’s mission to make financial inclusion a lived reality for more South Africans by reimagining how technology can be used to tell human stories of inclusion, visibility and empowerment.
Developed with creative agency One Over One and production partner Run Jump Fly, the film fuses artificial intelligence with authentic storytelling to capture the experiences of everyday South Africans navigating the financial system. It serves as both a creative innovation and a powerful social statement – demonstrating how data, when used responsibly, can shine a light on those who are often unseen.
“The AI film is more than a creative milestone; it’s a deeply human story told through the lens of technology. Using AI-generated visuals, the film brings to life the emotional realities behind financial data – the hope of opportunity, the weight of exclusion, and the power of visibility,” said Amy Beck, CMO of TransUnion Africa. “Rooted in empathy and powered by innovation, the film embodies our belief that technology should serve people, not the other way around. It invites viewers to look past the numbers and be part of a movement changing the way we see each other”.
Turning Data into Impact
The AI film builds on the success of TransUnion’s Be the Reason Things Change movement, which has inspired South Africans to act – making the invisible visible and driving meaningful impact across the country.
In just one month, the campaign achieved:
- 10,838 panels peeled nationwide (this includes physical and digital billboard panels), each unlocking access to free credit education e-learning courses, valued at R2,000 each.
- Education fund prizes awarded to five individual winners, valued at R20,000 each, awarded directly to recognised educational institutions or nominated beneficiaries.
- Ten tech-for-learning prizes, worth R7,000 each, comprising of a laptop and 12 months of data, equipping recipients with the tools they need to thrive in a digital-first world.
These results go beyond metrics – they represent real lives changed through knowledge, opportunity and empowerment. One of the five recipients of the R20,000 education fund prize, Roggers Mamaila, shared how the campaign has made a lasting impact on his family’s future: “This contribution towards my family’s education means more than words can express. It’s a tangible step toward a better future – one my family will carry with pride for years to come. It’s proof that when people are seen, real change becomes possible.”
AI with a Purpose
In an age where artificial intelligence often feels distant or impersonal, TransUnion’s new film reframes the narrative – showing how innovation, when guided by empathy, can accelerate financial inclusion and create lasting change.
Unlike many AI-driven creative pieces that use artificial intelligence in fragments – generating snippets, visuals, or voiceovers – this film is a fully integrated, end-to-end AI production. From concept to execution, every aspect of the film was shaped using AI tools, making it a first-of-its kind on the African continent. What sets this film apart is not just its use of technology, but its authenticity and purpose. The film draws its narrative from real lives and lived experiences, transforming data into emotion, and statistics into stories that matter.
Every frame is a reflection of the campaign’s core belief: that visibility leads to change. This isn’t just an experiment in technology – it’s a movement in storytelling. The piece invites viewers to rethink what’s possible when technology and trust work together – to see every data point as a story, every statistic as a person, and every innovation as a chance to drive inclusion.
The campaign continues to challenge traditional notions of creditworthiness by advocating for alternative data and inclusive scoring models that better reflect the realities of underserved communities.
Watch the AI brand film and learn more at: https://www.transunion.co.za/bethereason
SASSA Expects to Save R341-Million by Tightening Screenings
Treasury has added new conditions to improve the monitoring of grants
Child Literacy: We Can Change How the Story Ends
The Funda Uphumelele National Survey shows us what must be done
Millions in Jozi FM Lottery Grants Missing
Board chair of holding company says funds were spent on documentaries, but the station CEO says there is no proper accounting for the money
Tender for Operating Krugersdorp Game Reserve Issued
Constant pressure from the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) on the Mogale City Local Municipality (Krugersdorp, Magaliesburg, Muldersdrift) has been key in setting things in motion to reopen the Krugersdorp Game Reserve. After years of making promises during State of the City addresses, Integrated Development Plan meetings and numerous council sessions, the Municipality has finally […]
The post Tender for operating Krugersdorp Game Reserve issued appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
We Are Cautiously Optimistic About Emfuleni’s New Water Management Entity
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) notes with cautious optimism the launch of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to help address water problems in the Emfuleni Local Municipality (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging). The SPV is a new legal entity specifically established to manage the Municipality’s water-related services. Rand Water will hold 75% and […]
The post Freedom Front Plus cautiously optimistic about new water management entity in Emfuleni appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
Rising Body Count Underscores Cape Town Policing Crisis
The number of people killed in shooting incidents in Cape Town has spiralled since the launch of the Safer Festive Season operations last month, with 40 deaths, mostly gang-related, reported over the past two weekends.
The post RISING BODY COUNT UNDERSCORES CAPE TOWN POLICING CRISIS appeared first on For Good.
Public Protector to Probe Promotion of CCMA Official Who Tampered With Case Management System
An investigation had previously found Nonzame Jaxa guilty of altering records to boost the office’s statistics
Arts Festivals Call For Clarity on Funding
Long-standing arts festivals that provide thousands of jobs have received no funds this year from the arts and culture department
Madagascar Protests: How Ousted President Andry Rajoelina’s Urban Agenda Backfired
President Rajoelina’s large-scale infrastructure projects didn’t meet the needs of most Malagasy citizens.
UFS and Fort Hare Burn While Akademia Builds
Akademia’s launch of its Paarl campus on Wednesday serves as concrete commentary on the recent destruction of academic facilities at two established South African universities. At the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Qwa-Qwa campus and Fort Hare’s Dikeni (Alice) campus, students expressed their dissatisfaction by destroying infrastructure. One of the constant causes of unrest […]
The post Higher Education: UFS and Fort Hare burn while Akademia builds appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
Ethiopia Has Struggled to Build National Unity: Can Its Big New Dam Deliver It?
Symbolic attempts at national unity in Ethiopia managed to achieve only short-lived national pride.
Chaotic Start to Gauteng Social Development Department’s 2026 Funding Cycle
Gauteng DSD abandons new funding applications platform
One in Two Nigerians Live In Poverty and Relief Programmes Have Failed
The absence of strong accountability turns anti-poverty programmes into symbolic gestures rather than vehicles of real change in Nigeria.
We Demand Answers Over Neglected Idas Valley Rugby Clubhouse
GOOD Stellenbosch has formally submitted a request to Stellenbosch Municipality for an urgent investigation into the deteriorated condition of the Idas Valley Rugby Clubhouse, a facility that once stood as a proud symbol of sporting excellence, community development, and cultural heritage for the people of Idas Valley.
The post STELLENBOSCH MUNICIPALITY: GOOD DEMANDS ANSWERS OVER NEGLECTED IDAS VALLEY RUGBY CLUBHOUSE appeared first on For Good.
Dramatic Song, Disturbing Priorities – Municipality Must Explain Wasteful Spending
The launch of the Drakenstein “anthem” may be intended to promote pride, but what it reveals instead is a deeply troubling set of municipal priorities and a worrying use of public funds in a time of growing hardship.
The post DRAKENSTEIN MUNICIPALITY: DRAMATIC SONG, DISTURBING PRIORITIES – MUNICIPALITY MUST EXPLAIN WASTEFUL SPENDING appeared first on For Good.
Mpumalanga Youth Caught in Drug Crisis
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) warned in a Member’s Statement in the Mpumalanga Legislature that the province’s young people are increasingly becoming entangled in a destructive drug abuse crisis, and urgently appealed to the MEC for Health, Ms Sasekani Manzini, to take the necessary steps to address it. This epidemic is not unfolding in […]
The post Mpumalanga youth caught in drug crisis – decisive action needed appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.