Technology

15 September 2023

Branded mats are a cost-effective way to enhance your brand presence. Compared to other forms of advertising or branding, these mats offer a long-lasting and practical solution.

Location: MyPR

Heavy-duty indoor logo mats are high-quality floor coverings designed to withstand heavy foot traffic and provide effective dirt and moisture control in indoor settings. These mats are not only functional but also serve as branding tools by featuring custom logos, designs, or messages. They are commonly used in commercial spaces, retail stores, office buildings, hotels, …

14 September 2023

Postbank board axed over unlawful contracts

Location: News

Over 600,000 beneficiaries were affected by last week’s system failure, Ministers confirm

14 September 2023

The Heart of Every Smart Home: Understanding the Home Automation Operating Scheme

Location: MyPR

In the realm of smart homes, there’s a lot of buzz about various gadgets and devices. From smart lighting to intelligent security systems, the options are endless. However, there’s one element that often goes unnoticed but is crucial to the seamless functioning of all these devices: the Home Automation Operating System. Let’s dive deep into …

14 September 2023

What is in a Fully Smart Home

Location: MyPR

In today’s fast-paced digital era, the concept of a home has evolved beyond four walls and a roof. Modern homes are now integrated with technology, offering residents unparalleled convenience, security, and entertainment. But what exactly is in a fully smart home? Let’s delve into the world of home automation and discover the wonders of a …

14 September 2023

President Ramaphosa to deliver eulogy at Prince Buthelezi’s funeral

Location: News

President Ramaphosa to deliver eulogy at Prince Buthelezi's funeral

President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the eulogy at the special official funeral of the late Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi in Ulundi, KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday.

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed this during a press briefing with media houses to update them about the President’s diary at the Union Buildings on Thursday.

Buthelezi passed away on 9 September 2023, at the age of 95.

President Ramaphosa has honoured Buthelezi by declaring his funeral a special official funeral category 1.

“In accordance with the state, official, and provincial official funeral policy of the government, a special official funeral category 1 is a recognition reserved for individuals of extraordinary distinction as designated by the President of the Republic of South Africa,” Magwenya explained.

The funeral, according to the President’s spokesperson, will include elements of military honours.

“The President has directed that flags be flown half-mast at flag stations around the country until the evening of Saturday, which is the day of the funeral,” he added.

G77+China Summit

The First Citizen has delegated International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, to lead South Africa’s delegation to the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Group of 77 and China.

The gathering, which will be held on 15 and 16 September, will focus on the role of science, technology and innovation.

“President Ramaphosa values the importance of the Group of 77 and China as the largest intergovernmental organisation of developing countries in the United Nations (UN).”

The platform, according to Magwenya, is where Global South countries can articulate, promote collective economic interests and enhance their collective negotiating capacity.

“This capacity is brought to bear on global issues that are deliberated within the UN system and on the advancement of South-South cooperation for development.

“The President welcomes the opportunity for South Africa to contribute to the Group’s debates, analysis and consensus on the main challenges facing the South,” he added.

UNGA78

Meanwhile, it was announced that President Ramaphosa will lead South Africa’s delegation to the General Debate of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA78) which takes place from 18 to 26 September 2023 in New York, in the United States.

The President will deliver the South Africa statement to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, 19 September 2023.

A number of high-level engagements will precede the address to the UN General Assembly.

These include summits on Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health; Sustainable Development Goals; a High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development; Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response; and Climate Ambition to be hosted by the UN Secretary-General.

President Ramaphosa will also lead discussions during the Presidential Roundtable that will hosted by the United States Chamber of Commerce and the US-Africa Business Centre.

His programme will also include several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of UNGA.

South Africa’s participation at the UN, Magwenya said, is directed by its international relations policy objectives, among others. – SAnews.gov.za

Briefing the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition on Tuesday, Patel said historically transformation policies primarily focused on facilitating black ownership in existing enterprises.

However, the Black Industrialists Policy centres on promoting the development of new enterprises, fostering entrepreneurship and ensuring the emergence of businesses controlled by previously marginalized groups.

During the briefing, Minister Patel presented 46 case studies of Black Industrialists across the country in the food and energy sectors.

The evolution of empowerment policies over time has broadened their scope. Initially, they centered on individual share ownership, enabling capital accumulation among black South Africans. Subsequently, they embraced broad-based empowerment and community initiatives.

Today, the policy prioritises Black Industrialists, supporting individual black entrepreneurs with controlling stakes in new firms and employee share ownership (workers empowerment).

Minister Patel underscored that the Black Industrialists Policy is just one pillar of a broader transformation agenda.

Other transformation instruments include industrial financing, sector master plans, localization, competition measures, B-BBEE codes, equity-equivalent investment programs, special economic zones and state preferential procurement.

The Black Industrialists Policy spans various industries, including agro processing, automotive components, textiles, steel and metal fabrication, mining, machinery and equipment, aerospace equipment and technology.

"The Black Industrialists Policy represents a pivotal shift in South Africa's transformation strategy. It fosters new enterprise development, entrepreneurship, and economic inclusion while addressing historical disparities and promoting innovation,” Minister Patel said.

“The policy's impact on the food and energy sectors underscores its significance in driving South Africa's economic transformation,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Wed, 09/13/2023 - 10:11

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13 September 2023

KZN South Coast collective creates app to drive coffee growth and investment opportunities in agriculture

Location: MyPR

When it comes to first-class coffee-growing nations, South Africa has yet to reach its peak, however, one KZN South Coast-based coffee collective is finding a way to change this. RedBerry Coffee Collective, driven by Dylan Cumming of Beaver Creek Coffee Estate on the KZN South Coast, is building a strong base to increase coffee farming …

12 September 2023

Hostex 2024 Announces Growing Exhibitor List

Location: MyPR

Hostex 2024, Africa’s food, drink and hospitality trade expo, is gearing up to be an unmissable event for industry professionals. With just months to go, Hostex has announced a significant milestone – an impressive 50% of the exhibition floorspace has already been sold, indicating the industry’s support and excitement surrounding this year’s event. Hostex 2024 …

12 September 2023

Reserve Bank highlights country’s fourth decimal coin series in September

Location: News

South African Government
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The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) will highlight the country's fourth decimal coin series in September as the nation observes Heritage Month. The new circulation coin series features deep ecology as the overarching theme and is the first complete set of coins to be issued in the country's democratic dispensation. The SARB's focus on the coin series comes after the launch of the upgraded banknotes and coin on 3 May 2023 where the focus was placed largely on the upgraded banknotes.

The fourth decimal coin series has a contemporary appearance, and the design elements offer valuable information about the country's identity, including its culture, national symbols, history, languages, flora and fauna, cities and technology.

New security features have also been added, making the coins difficult to replicate.

The series was designed and engraved by South African artists and developed in consultation with key stakeholders such as the South African National Botanical Institute (SANBI), Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) and the Institute for the Blind to ensure inclusivity, accessibility and accuracy of the design elements.

The six-coin denominations and designers are:

10c ‘Cape honey bee' by Carl Jeppe;
20c ‘bitter aloe' by Zinhle Zulu;
50c ‘Knysna turaco' by Kotie Geldenhuys;
R1 ‘king protea' by Lilian Guerra and Richard Stone;
R2 ‘springbok' by Temba Mkhangeli; and
R5 ‘southern right whale' by Sujay Sanan.

The coins retain the colours that South Africans are familiar with. The cents are brown (copper) or gold (bronze), the rands are silver, and the R5 is a bi-metallic copper alloy of both the gold (bronze) and silver colours. Each coin design has a unique landing pattern with various sides, which helps the visually impaired to identify the coins' value.

While the coins have undergone a makeover, they remain circulation coins. This means that they are worth their face value and can be used alongside earlier circulation coin series.

Design note to editors:

The 10c coin was designed by Carl Jeppe, a design lecturer, and bears the Cape honey bee which is indigenous to Southern Africa. The bee plays a vital role in South Africa's agriculture and agricultural economy by pollinating crops and producing honey.

The bitter aloe adorns the 20c coin, designed by Zinhle Zulu, an illustrator and cultural visual storyteller. The bitter aloe is a tall, single-stemmed plant that can grow to a height of 10 feet (3 metres).

The Knysna turaco or the Knysna loerie as it is referred to in South Africa, is a large turaco. The tall, elegant bird on the 50c coin was designed by Kotie Geldenhuys, an illustrator and graphic designer.

The South African Mint's Lilian Guerra and Richard Stone collaborated on the R1 coin, featuring the king protea, which has the largest flower head in the genus. This flower is also the national flower of South Africa. It is adapted to survive wildfires by its thick underground stem which contains many dormant buds; these produce new growth after a fire.

The springbok, featured on the R2 coin and designed by award-winning visual artist and environmentalist Themba Mkhangeli, is the national animal of South Africa. A feature unique to the springbok is its ability to perform multiple leaps into the air of up to 2 meters above the ground.

The R5 coin designed by Sujay Sanan features the southern right whale, which can be found in the southern part of the southern hemisphere. During the winter months these whales migrate to the coastal waters of South Africa, with more than 100 of them known to be in the Hermanus area.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Government.

12 September 2023

The Official Imaging Supplier for Rugby World Cup France 2023

Location: Sport

Today, Canon (Canon-CNA.com) begins its role as the Official Imaging Supplier of the Rugby World Cup 2023, which will be the third Rugby World Cup tournament it has sponsored. As the Official Imaging Supplier of Rugby World Cup 2023, Canon provides world-leading technology that ensures fans don't miss a moment of the action. Canon will be supplying a full range of support from its diverse businesses, including cameras, lenses, video camcorders and network cameras. As with many major sporting events, Canon Professional Services will be available, where its team members will be providing technical support to more than 800 press, 400+ photographers, 300+ TV crew personnel, 300+ agency staff and 70+ radio personnel. Support includes camera and lens maintenance services and product loans, ensuring they are equipped to capture every nail-biting moment.

AFP Partnership

In addition to its official imaging role, Canon is supporting several activities off the pitch that are designed to champion inclusivity across the sport. This includes an exciting partnership with the AFP, which will see one aspiring young photographer from each of the participating nations partnered with a staff photographer, equipped with a Canon camera.

Earlier this year, ahead of the tournament, each pair worked on an assignment together that illustrated their nation's relationship with the Rugby World Cup through photography. By allowing the next generation to show the world what the tournament means to their nation, we can celebrate the diversity of the sport and inspire a world of change.

Partnership with the Portuguese National Team

At the Rugby World Cup 2023, Canon will be giving members of the Portuguese national team PowerShot V10 (https://apo-opa.info/3VTs35H) cameras and will be featuring their stories on its website, enabling them to catalogue their tournament journey through their own lens.

Let's Celebrate our Differences

Rugby is a universal sport. It brings together women and men sharing key values of the sport such as solidarity, commitment, and respect, no matter where they come from and no matter who they are. These values have been celebrated in a unique international “Celebrating Our Differences” (https://www.LetsCelebrateOurDifferences.com/en/) photography competition, of which Canon is an official sponsor.

Once again, ahead of the tournament, the power was handed to fans across the world, to illustrate what the sport means to them. The winners of the challenge – from France, Argentina, Uganda, India, and Vietnam – were awarded prizes that included 16 Canon cameras: 12 Canon EOS R50s for the winners of each category and 4 EOS R8s for Canon's favourites. The photographs can be found on display on the gates of the UNESCO's headquarters in the seventh arrondissement of Paris until the 6^th September, as well as during the tournament at the host cities of this year's Rugby World Cup.

See the winning images here (https://apo-opa.info/3Ewr6Zr).

“We're delighted to be the Official Imaging Supplier of the Rugby World Cup this year, following two great tournaments in England and Japan” says Peter Morris, Brand and Sponsorship Senior Manager, Canon EMEA. “We've also been thrilled to participate in the AFP partnership and the “Celebrate our Differences” photography competition, two initiatives that put the power of imaging in the hands of the diverse fans that help make this tournament such a special event. We hope that these moments, captured through the lens of our iconic imaging equipment, will help drive positive change.”

Rugby World Cup 2023

Host country: France

Tournament period: September 8 – October 28, 2023

Participating teams: 20 (South Africa, Namibia, England, Wales, New Zealand, Japan, France, Australia, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Argentina, Fiji, Samoa, Uruguay, Georgia, Romania, Portugal, Tonga and Chile.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).

Media enquiries, please contact:
Canon Central and North Africa
Mai Youssef
E-mail: Mai.youssef@canon-me.com

APO Group - PR Agency
Rania ElRafie
E-mail: Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com

About Canon Central and North Africa:
Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (Canon-CNA.com) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon's business within the Africa region - by strengthening Canon's in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon's commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.

Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa's rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.

Canon's corporate philosophy is Kyosei (https://apo-opa.info/3xeczh6) – ‘living and working together for the common good'. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon's products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better. For more information: Canon-CNA.com.

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12 September 2023

South African Telecoms Customers Only Prepared to Wait 5 Minutes

Location: News

SUBTONOMY (https://www.Subtonomy.com/), the world's leading telecoms technical customer support vendor, today reveals new research on the South African market, providing key insights into the online habits and customer support expectations of South Africans.

South Africans are spending increasing amounts of time online

The global shift towards digitalisation hasn't bypassed South Africa. Rather, as South Africans transition to the latest smartphones, they're spending more and more time online. According to a recent ProxyRack report, for example, the average South African now spends 9 hours and 38 minutes per day online – making them the world's heaviest internet users.

A new study by Sweden's Subtonomy, provides unique insights into how South Africans are spending this time, revealing:

97% are using at least one social media platform
88% are watching the latest movies or streaming TV
86% are paying bills or reading news online
74% are using their mobiles to work from home or to access video conferencing apps
56% are gaming on their handsets
28% are controlling smart home applications.

What all of these advanced data applications have in common, is that they require a robust, stable and always-available network, and this is precisely where customers say there's a big problem - with 7 in 10 admitting they're frequently experiencing problems with their connectivity.

Excellent customer support has become a critical decision point for customers

In addition to dealing with the demands of more complex services, and responding to changing customer needs, South African service providers have the added challenge of regular and unpredictable load balancing events to cope with. But while South Africans don't necessarily blame their service provider - indeed 8 out of 10 say they're doing a great job supporting them – disruptions to their service have become such a significant issue that customer support quality is now seen as a key decision point when deciding which network to use.

But what does excellent customer service look like to the average South African? Increasingly, they expect it to be fast, convenient, proactive and digital.

FAST - 53% of customers say they're only prepared to wait a maximum of 5 minutes to access service.
CONVENIENT – 39% of customers expect round-the-clock support, and in the 50-54 demographic this rises to 56% of customers.
PROACTIVE - 94% of customers say they'd like to be notified about planned maintenance ahead of time, so they can take mitigation actions, and want to be notified in real time about any outages.
DIGITAL – although 51% of customers are resolving their problems via the call centre, 30% said digital self-service is now their preferred support channel, and a further 56% said they'd choose self-service via their mobile app IF their service provider could troubleshoot and fully resolve problems from within the app.

Fast, convenient, proactive, digital support is available today

The good news is that the type of fast, convenient, proactive digital support South Africans want has already been developed, tried and tested, and is now being routinely delivered in the advanced mobile markets of Scandinavia. South African service providers are now actively seeking to replicate this type of experience in order to meet customer expectations, drive down support costs, and deliver a world-class experience to customers.

“All networks experience both planned and unplanned problems at one time or another,” explains Fredrik Edwall, EVP Sales & Marketing, Subtonomy. “But what differentiates service providers is the ability to rapidly pinpoint exactly what's causing their customer's problem and then quickly resolve it, while at the same time keeping the customer informed and updated throughout.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Subtonomy.

Contact Tina Rosén to set up an interview: tina.rosen@subtonomy.com

Click here (https://apo-opa.info/48cLpc0) to download a full copy of Market Study 2023: Customer Attitudes to Support in South Africa.

About Subtonomy:
As the only telecoms vendor dedicated to technical customer support, Subtonomy isn't just a solution, we're at the forefront of a customer experience revolution - blending cutting-edge technology with user-friendly tools to break down barriers, streamline and future-proof telecom operators' businesses.

When precision matters our solutions dive deep, revealing detailed service experiences and addressing current needs while preparing for the dynamic telecoms market of tomorrow.
Harnessing automation to meet customer expectations via Subtonomy's Self-Service API which helps enhance every digital touchpoint, with effortless but complex troubleshooting thrown in.
When shifting from reactivity to proactivity our advanced tech support solutions mean you're not just acting faster, but reaching out proactively to keep customers informed via mobile app, website, or IVR.

To find out more about how Subtonomy is reshaping customer support and helping deliver stellar customer experiences today see Subtonomy's website (https://www.Subtonomy.com/).

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12 September 2023

Sony and Zoom partner to bring video conferencing to BRAVIA TVs

Location: MyPR

Sony and Zoom partner to bring video conferencing to BRAVIA TVs Connect with family and friends on the TV screen from the comfort of your living room JOHANNESBURG, 12 September 2023 – Sony announced that Zoom Video Communications, Inc. is now available on Sony’s BRAVIA TVs that are compatible with BRAVIA CAM[i]. This partnership will …

11 September 2023

Unleashing Agritech Innovation in Africa

Location: News

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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11 September 2023

How cybercriminals trick their victims

Location: News

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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