Natasha Odendaal

https://staging1.creamermedia.com/

Natasha Odendaal

Natasha Odendaal is Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor for Engineering News and Mining Weekly.

Lesotho Highlands Tunnel set for six-month maintenance closure

4th March 2024 The Lesotho Highlands Water Project Tunnel is preparing for a six-month closure as it undergoes planned maintenance, jointly undertaken by the Lesotho Highlands Development Agency and Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority. The transfer tunnel links the Katse dam with the Muela power station and Muela... →

MDPMI public hearings start Monday

4th March 2024 The Competition Commission on Monday kicked off its month-long series of hybrid public hearings into its Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry (MDPMI), chaired by chief economist James Hodge, assisted by panel member and media veteran Paula Fray. More than 40 stakeholders, including... →

Municipal debt escalating, Rand Water takes hardline stance

4th March 2024 Water utility Rand Water has warned of a destabilising financial position as several municipalities fail to honour their bulk water purchase agreements and debt settlement arrangements with Rand Water, leading to escalating debts that pose a direct threat to the utility’s medium- and long-term... →

Call for continued public participation in wetland protection, preservation

1st March 2024 The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has called for continued public participation in the protection and preservation of South Africa’s critical wetlands. Wetlands play a significant role in flood prevention, clean water provision, support of biodiversity and provision of recreational... →

Nokia to support initiative to expand rural connectivity coverage in Africa

1st March 2024 As connectivity in rural regions across Africa lag that of the more populous urban areas, technology company Nokia aims to provide support to accelerate the pace of connectivity in these harder to reach areas. Nokia, with its broad portfolio of mobile network products, sees a real need to provide... →

Rand Water launches programme to rid Vaal river of invasive water lettuce

1st March 2024 Rand Water has embarked on a programme to clear the invasive water lettuce currently overwhelming the Vaal river. The water utility, after being approached by communities, had been working with Rhodes University and various technical experts, as well as local communities, to develop options to... →

Huawei unveils National Cloud 2.0

29th February 2024 Global digital transformation has reached a new stage of full intelligence driven by data and artificial intelligence (AI), said Huawei Hybrid Cloud VP Hu Yuhai. With this shift from moving applications to various clouds to data- and AI-driven industry intelligence, Huawei, at the Mobile World... →

Huawei showcases AI-oriented cloud solutions

28th February 2024 Huawei Cloud is accelerating the digital and intelligent transformation of industries as it presents cloud as the infrastructure of choice for artificial intelligence (AI). The company unveiled ten AI-oriented innovations, and the extensive industry expertise of its Pangu models, at the Huawei... →

Huawei Cloud global marketing and sales service president Jacqueline Shi

Huawei starts commercialising 5.5G

27th February 2024 Information and communications technology (ICT) giant Huawei has launched the commercialisation phase of 5.5G. Throughout 2024, the company aims to unlock the potential of networks and create new growth opportunities following the success of fifth-generation (5G) technology over the past five... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Natasha Odendaal
Huawei board member and ICT products and solutions president Yang Chaobin speaking at Mobile World Congress 2024

South Africa urged to increase investment in innovation

23rd February 2024 South Africa needs more collective investment to boost its innovation ecosystem and ensure that the investment is translated into improving everyday lives, says Telkom Group innovation and transformation executive Dr Mmaki Jantjies. Innovation is widely acknowledged as being vital to economic... →

Bayobab lands 2Africa subsea cable in Ghana, Nigeria

23rd February 2024 Following its two milestone landings in South Africa in 2022, pan-African digital connectivity solutions company Bayobab has now landed the 2Africa cable in Ghana and Nigeria. The 45 000 km cable, which was launched in May 2020, is being deployed by the 2Africa consortium, which includes China... →

Policing forums to help MTN tackle theft, vandalism

23rd February 2024 Telecommunications giant MTN is adding another approach to its efforts in mitigating the ongoing vandalism and theft of batteries and cables at its cellphone towers across South Africa by partnering with the Gauteng Provincial Community Police Board. MTN South Africa last year accelerated its... →

Blue Label H1 core earnings up

22nd February 2024 JSE-listed Blue Label Telecoms on Thursday posted core headline earnings of R420-million, equating to core headline earnings per share (HEPS) of 47.15c for the six months ended November 30, 2023. Comparatively, core headline earnings during the prior corresponding period last year amounted to... →

Telkom mobile subscribers near 20m

19th February 2024 Telecommunications group Telkom’s mobile subscriber base is nearing the 20-million mark, amid increased next generation (NGN) product uptake. In the trading update for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, Telkom reported that its mobile subscribers increased 6.4% to 19.7-million, while its mobile... →

DWS, DFFE to probe whether Vaal invasive vegetation clearing methods are aligned with regulations

19th February 2024 The departments of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) are reviewing complaints and concerns in the public domain over the use of chemicals as part of a programme to eliminate water lettuce in the Vaal river. In a joint statement, Forestry, Fisheries and... →

Icasa reopens telecoms loadshedding inquiry comments period

19th February 2024 The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has reopened the submissions process for its inquiry into the impact of loadshedding on telecommunications operators in South Africa. The reopening of submissions aims to afford all stakeholders adequate time to answer the series of... →

Digitalisation is the key to SME success in 2024

16th February 2024 For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to drive sustainable economic growth across South Africa in 2024, digital transformation is critical. The impact of SME digitalisation is far-reaching, promoting sustainable economic growth, inclusivity and resilience against economic headwinds. →

New task team to review municipal water, sanitation service delivery mechanisms

16th February 2024 A new nationally coordinated task team is being established to review service delivery mechanisms for water and sanitation services in South Africa. The task team, comprising the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), the Department Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) and... →

Rand Water kicks off programme to weed out water lettuce in the Vaal river

15th February 2024 Rand Water on Thursday released the first batch of weevils and hoppers as biocontrol agents to start eliminating the invasive water lettuce in the Vaal river. The programme, which formed part of Rand Water’s efforts to remove the alien invasive water plants at the Vaal Barrage, entailed an... →

MTN South Africa’s solar project progresses net zero ambitions

14th February 2024 MTN South Africa has switched on 5 418 out of the planned 9 000 solar panels at its 14th Avenue headquarters as it progresses its solar renewable energy project. Over 50% complete, the energisation process of its solar renewable energy Phase 1 project unlocks 700 kW into the microgrid, making the... →

Significant progress made on R292m Sir Lowry's Pass river upgrade

14th February 2024 Since breaking ground on the R292-million major upgrade of the Sir Lowry’s Pass river a year ago, the City of Cape Town is on track to complete the project in 2026. The upgrades, in an effort to reduce flooding, started in February 2023. →

Proposed water amendments needed, but inconsistencies, enforcement need to be fixed

14th February 2024 While some of the Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS’s) recently proposed water amendments, which have significant implications for water resource management and public access to water, are an important step in working towards clean and accessible water for all, some inconsistencies need... →

Waning perceptions of drinking water quality underline need for urgent intervention

9th February 2024 While the majority of South Africans perceive their water to be safe to drink, their confidence in water services and quality has been deteriorating over the last decade, a water services barometer study has revealed. The 2022 water services barometer study, undertaken by the Water Research... →

Competition Commission media and digital inquiry public hearings to start in March

9th February 2024 The Competition Commission is preparing to hold the first round of public hearings on its Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry (MDPMI). The inquiry was officially launched in October after publishing the final terms of reference (ToRs) in September 2023. →

Telkom says it has made ‘significant strides’ against vandalism, cable theft

9th February 2024 Telecommunications group Telkom says it has made significant strides against cable theft and vandalism as various joint initiatives drive down infrastructure-related crime at its facilities. Joint efforts between Telkom and the South African Police Service (SAPS) is helping to turn the tide on... →

Waning perceptions of drinking water quality underline need for urgent intervention

9th February 2024 While the majority of South Africans perceive their water to be safe to drink, their confidence in water services and quality has been deteriorating over the last decade, a water services barometer study has revealed. The 2022 water services barometer study, undertaken by the Water Research... →

MTN, JUMO launch new, expanded loan platform

6th February 2024 Telecommunications group MTN’s Mobile Money (MoMo) and banking technology company JUMO have partnered to launch Qwikloan to offer affordable, short-term loans in South Africa. The newly launched Qwikloan enables MoMo users to obtain small, short-term loans, from R250 to R10 000 depending on... →

MTN, Mastercard sign agreement for minority investment in MTN Group Fintech

6th February 2024 Telecommunications group MTN and Mastercard have signed a definitive agreement for a minority investment of up to $200-million into MTN Group Fintech, at a valuation of $5.2-billion on a cash and debt-free basis. This followed the August 2023 signing of a memorandum of understanding between the... →

DWS, Salga, Cogta to review water service delivery mechanisms in municipalities

5th February 2024 The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), the Department of Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) and the South African Local Government Association (Salga) are establishing a coordinated task team to review service delivery mechanisms for water and sanitation services. This... →

MTN SA, community police forums partner to tackle theft and vandalism

5th February 2024 Telecommunications giant MTN has partnered with the Gauteng Provincial Community Police Board to support Community Policing Forums (CPFs) as the company accelerates its fight against ongoing vandalism and theft of batteries and cables at cellphone towers across South Africa. The partnership with... →

CHARLES MOLAPISI

Vodacom Group customers surpass 200-million for first time

2nd February 2024 Telecommunications giant Vodacom on Friday reported that it has increased group revenue by 26.8% to R38.9-billion during the quarter ended December 31, 2023, with a positive impact from the company’s Vodafone Egypt acquisition. The group’s service revenue, including Vodafone Egypt on a pro-forma... →

Installing higher efficiency motors can help address energy crisis

2nd February 2024 Energy-intensive industries, such as mining, are increasingly seeking out ways to reduce energy consumption, and the use of the latest motor and drive technology can play a significant role. Energy-intensive industries not only need to reduce energy consumption and increase efficiencies for... →

New Vodafone-Microsoft partnership aims to scale generative AI, digital and cloud services

2nd February 2024 Vodafone and Microsoft have entered into a new 10-year strategic partnership to scale generative artificial intelligence (AI), digital services and cloud services. The far-reaching partnership will see the companies collaborate in five identified key areas, namely generative AI, scaling the... →

Mchunu warns of hardline approach towards nonconforming water-service authorities, municipalities

2nd February 2024 While the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is offering comprehensive and collaborative support for underperforming water services authorities (WSAs), mayors and municipalities, Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu has warned of a hard-line approach for nonconforming entities. This... →

Fibre connections to South African homes up 2 400% over past seven years – Frogfoot

2nd February 2024 Globally, the connectivity and ubiquity of fibre remains a priority, with the UK set to achieve more than 80% of full fibre coverage over the next two years, on track to join countries such as Japan, Iceland, Korea, Spain and Sweden, where coverage has surpassed 80%. South Africa is also making... →

There is no substitute for economic growth, Deloitte says ahead of 2024 Budget

1st February 2024 A tight balance is expected for this year’s National Budget as South Africa’s woes continue; however, a significant, or fundamental, raising of taxes is not expected, with a tightening hold on revenue collections to bridge the budget gap foreseen instead. South Africa’s 2024 Budget precedes a... →

New regional representative announced for IWMI Southern Africa

29th January 2024 Circular economy and water innovation expert Dr Henry Roman has been appointed as the International Water Management Institute’s (IWMI’s) regional representative for Southern Africa and country representative for South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Roman, as the regional representative for... →

Telkom tackles cable theft

29th January 2024 Telecommunications group Telkom has made strides against cable theft and vandalism as various initiatives drive down infrastructure-related crime at its facilities. Hundreds of convictions for cable theft and infrastructure vandalism have been secured in a joint effort between Telkom and the... →

Condra supplies electric hoists, overhead cranes and chain blocks to Platreef mine

26th January 2024 Cranes manufacturer Condra Cranes has delivered electric hoists, two overhead cranes and a number of chain blocks to Canada-based Ivanhoe Mines’ South African subsidiary Ivanplat’s Platreef platinum group metals mine, near Mokopane in Limpopo. The lifting equipment will be used for machinery... →

5G poised to be fastest-growing subscription type in sub-Saharan Africa

26th January 2024 Fifth-generation (5G) is set to be the fastest-growing subscription type in sub-Saharan Africa between 2023 and 2029, when 85% of the global population will have 5G coverage access. The latest Ericsson Mobility Report forecasts that 5G subscriptions in the region will increase 60% a year over the... →

Global smartphone market poised for recovery following 3.2% slump in 2023 – IDC

26th January 2024 Global smartphone shipments declined 3.2% to 1.17-billion units in 2023, the lowest full-year volume in a decade, driven largely by macroeconomic challenges and elevated inventory early in the year. However, while the global smartphone market remains challenged, growth in the second half of the... →

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