TechCentral

The 24th of February 2022 is a day Ronnie Apteker – and millions of his countrymen in his adopted home of Ukraine – will never forget.

Apteker woke up early that morning – as millions of others did – to the sound of bombs and missiles raining down. After months of military build-up along Ukraine’s eastern flank, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin had ordered a full-scale invasion.

In this special edition of the TechCentral Show, we chat to Apteker – a pioneer in South Africa’s internet industry – about his life in Ukraine amid the ongoing war.

Apteker has a storied career as co-founder of Internet Solutions, one of South Africa’s first and most successful internet service providers. He is also well known as a producer and promoter of movies, including Material and Beyond the River.

In 2015 Apteker bought an apartment in Kyiv and started a new life in the city, attracted by the country’s diverse tech scene and its incredibly beauty.

He had established a new and promising life for himself in Ukraine – he married a local woman, Marta, with whom he has a young boy (affectionately called “the Bunster”). Both Marta and the Bunster are now refugees from the war, living in Poland.

Never in a million years did Apteker expect he would be caught up in a major conflict, never mind the biggest land war in Europe since World War 2.

Today his life involves moving between Poland and Kyiv, where he has friends as well as business interests in the tech sector which he continues to nurture despite the chaos caused by Putin’s aggression.

In this sometimes emotionally raw interview, Apteker tells TechCentral editor Duncan McLeod about why he left South Africa to go and live in Ukraine, how the war started (he woke up early one morning to missiles raining down on Kyiv), what it’s like to live in a warzone, and how he’s coping with the daily hardships caused by the conflict.

Apteker, who is known for his wicked sense of humour – in a previous life he was even briefly a stand-up comedian – admits it’s been exceptionally difficult to stay positive about the future, but that he’s managed to keep going even us Putin’s war machine grinds on.

In the interview, Apteker chats about his daily life now and what it entails; the US election, and why Ukrainians fear another Donald Trump presidency; the new documentary film about the war that he’s been working on; his passion for moviemaking; and why love is the most important thing in the world.

Don’t miss the interview.

The Volvo EX30 is undoubtedly one of the most exciting electric cars to be launched in South Africa in 2024.

The vehicle, whose price starts at R792 000, offers a combination of price, performance and luxury tweaks that has attracted considerable appeal among South African consumers interested in making the switch to electric mobility.

But what is the Volvo EX30 like to drive?

TechCentral recently had the opportunity to spend time with the twin-motor version of the EX30 to put it through its paces. Apart from a few minor niggles, including the quality of materials used in the dashboard, we can confidently say this is a very compelling option for those interested in buying an EV in the sub-R1-million price category.

While it’s not as affordable as more entry-level EV models from the likes of China’s BYD, the vehicle offers many luxuries usually reserved for more expensive EVs, including a panoramic (non-opening) sunroof, high-end Harman Kardon audio and well-thought-out software features.

It’s easy to see where Volvo has compromised to get the price down, but the decisions it has made in this regard have mostly been carefully considered.

As for the driving experience, the power underfoot is extraordinary. The twin motor version TechCentral tested accelerated from 0-100km/h more quickly than a Porsche 911 – it really is a thrill to drive!

This is a sentiment shared by Greg Cress, who owns the EX30 and has been driving it since March, when he took delivery from Volvo. Cress joined TechCentral editor Duncan McLeod on the TechCentral Show (TCS) recently to review the vehicle and to talk about the state of the EV market more broadly in South Africa.

Cress, who works for Accenture – where he is principal director of automotive and e-mobility – told TCS about his experiences with the vehicle and what he likes about it and what he doesn’t.

He unpacks his experiences so far, including with the regular software updates that Volvo has issued and why he settled on the EX30 over other EV options available in the South African market. He also shares details about a recent long-distance return trip he did from Pretoria to White River in Mpumalanga and how he found utilising the charging points along South Africa’s national roads.

Then, in the second part of the TCS interview, Cress shares his views on the state of the EV market in South Africa, what is hindering its wider adoption and the outlook for electric mobility in the country.

Don’t miss a hugely informative interview. TechCentral

The Volvo EX30 is undoubtedly one of the most exciting electric cars to be launched in South Africa in 2024.

The vehicle, whose price starts at R792 000, offers a combination of price, performance and luxury tweaks that has attracted considerable appeal among South African consumers interested in making the switch to electric mobility.

But what is the Volvo EX30 like to drive?

TechCentral recently had the opportunity to spend time with the twin-motor version of the EX30 to put it through its paces. Apart from a few minor niggles, including the quality of materials used in the dashboard, we can confidently say this is a very compelling option for those interested in buying an EV in the sub-R1-million price category.

While it’s not as affordable as more entry-level EV models from the likes of China’s BYD, the vehicle offers many luxuries usually reserved for more expensive EVs, including a panoramic (non-opening) sunroof, high-end Harman Kardon audio and well-thought-out software features.

It’s easy to see where Volvo has compromised to get the price down, but the decisions it has made in this regard have mostly been carefully considered.

As for the driving experience, the power underfoot is extraordinary. The twin motor version TechCentral tested accelerated from 0-100km/h more quickly than a Porsche 911 – it really is a thrill to drive!

This is a sentiment shared by Greg Cress, who owns the EX30 and has been driving it since March, when he took delivery from Volvo. Cress joined TechCentral editor Duncan McLeod on the TechCentral Show (TCS) recently to review the vehicle and to talk about the state of the EV market more broadly in South Africa.

Cress, who works for Accenture – where he is principal director of automotive and e-mobility – told TCS about his experiences with the vehicle and what he likes about it and what he doesn’t.

He unpacks his experiences so far, including with the regular software updates that Volvo has issued and why he settled on the EX30 over other EV options available in the South African market. He also shares details about a recent long-distance return trip he did from Pretoria to White River in Mpumalanga and how he found utilising the charging points along South Africa’s national roads.

Then, in the second part of the TCS interview, Cress shares his views on the state of the EV market in South Africa, what is hindering its wider adoption and the outlook for electric mobility in the country.

Don’t miss a hugely informative interview.

Identity theft is a massive and growing problem that requires smart risk mitigation strategies.

That is one of the key messages coming out of a TechCentral TCS+ interview with executives from CYBER1 Solutions and iiDENTIFii.

CYBER1 Solutions security architect Christiaan Swanepoel and iiDENTIFii co-founder and chief technology officer Marco Wagener unpack the subject in greater detail in the interview.

They discuss:

• The background to iiDENTIFii and its relationship with CYBER1 Solutions;

• The current trends in identity theft, and why this type of theft is a growing concern for businesses;

• How iiDENTIFii’s software can play a big role in fighting the scourge of identity theft;

• What companies are doing right and wrong in fighting the problem;

• How businesses can enhance their identity verification process to mitigate against the risk of identity theft;

• iiDENTIFii’s solutions, and how they integrate with existing corporate systems; and

• The role that cybersecurity tools can play in protecting personal identities;

Swanepoel and Wagener also share their insights into future trends in the identity verification market and how businesses can prepare themselves.

This is an important discussion for anyone involved in IT, but especially for those involved in cybersecurity – don’t miss it! TechCentral

Identity theft is a massive and growing problem that requires smart risk mitigation strategies.

That is one of the key messages coming out of a TechCentral TCS+ interview with executives from CYBER1 Solutions and iiDENTIFii.

CYBER1 Solutions security architect Christiaan Swanepoel and iiDENTIFii co-founder and chief technology officer Marco Wagener unpack the subject in greater detail in the interview.

They discuss:

• The background to iiDENTIFii and its relationship with CYBER1 Solutions;

• The current trends in identity theft, and why this type of theft is a growing concern for businesses;

• How iiDENTIFii’s software can play a big role in fighting the scourge of identity theft;

• What companies are doing right and wrong in fighting the problem;

• How businesses can enhance their identity verification process to mitigate against the risk of identity theft;

• iiDENTIFii’s solutions, and how they integrate with existing corporate systems; and

• The role that cybersecurity tools can play in protecting personal identities;

Swanepoel and Wagener also share their insights into future trends in the identity verification market and how businesses can prepare themselves.

This is an important discussion for anyone involved in IT, but especially for those involved in cybersecurity – don’t miss it!

South Africa’s telecommunications industry is facing a barrage of threats, from crime and vandalism to power cuts and overreach by politicians.

This is the word from Nomvuyiso Batyi, CEO of telecommunications industry lobby group the Association for Comms & Technology (ACT) and an industry stalwart who served as a councillor at communications regulator Icasa for eight years and as special adviser to the minister of communications. She was speaking to TechCentral editor Duncan McLeod on the TechCentral Show (watch or listen to the interview below).

ACT, which represents the six big telecoms operators in South Africa – MTN, Vodacom, Rain, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Telkom and Cell C – was founded two years ago as an interface between the industry and policymakers and regulators.

In the interview, Batyi unpacks a range of issues affecting ACT members. She discusses:

• Her first engagement with newly appointed communications minister Solly Malatsi, and her views on him;

• What her day-to-day work involves;

• Why government shouldn’t be setting deadlines for 2G and 3G switch-off in South Africa;

• Import taxes on cellphones, and why luxury taxes on 4G devices should be scrapped;

• How the load shedding problem has been replaced with the load reduction problem, and what the impact has been on operators;

• The scourge of theft and vandalism, and why urgent action is needed to address the problem; and

• South Africa’s upcoming spectrum auction, and why telecoms operators should get access to spectrum below 694MHz that has traditionally been reserved for broadcasting.

Don’t miss the interview! TechCentral

South Africa’s telecommunications industry is facing a barrage of threats, from crime and vandalism to power cuts and overreach by politicians.

This is the word from Nomvuyiso Batyi, CEO of telecommunications industry lobby group the Association for Comms & Technology (ACT) and an industry stalwart who served as a councillor at communications regulator Icasa for eight years and as special adviser to the minister of communications. She was speaking to TechCentral editor Duncan McLeod on the TechCentral Show (watch or listen to the interview below).

ACT, which represents the six big telecoms operators in South Africa – MTN, Vodacom, Rain, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Telkom and Cell C – was founded two years ago as an interface between the industry and policymakers and regulators.

In the interview, Batyi unpacks a range of issues affecting ACT members. She discusses:

• Her first engagement with newly appointed communications minister Solly Malatsi, and her views on him;

• What her day-to-day work involves;

• Why government shouldn’t be setting deadlines for 2G and 3G switch-off in South Africa;

• Import taxes on cellphones, and why luxury taxes on 4G devices should be scrapped;

• How the load shedding problem has been replaced with the load reduction problem, and what the impact has been on operators;

• The scourge of theft and vandalism, and why urgent action is needed to address the problem; and

• South Africa’s upcoming spectrum auction, and why telecoms operators should get access to spectrum below 694MHz that has traditionally been reserved for broadcasting.

Don’t miss the interview!

Andy Higgins, founder of e-commerce solutions company Bob Group, knows more about e-commerce in South Africa than most people.

Higgins founded Bidorbuy (now Bob Shop) at the height of the dot-com boom in the late 1990s, and over the past 25 years has actively participated in the industry as it has mushroomed from those nascent beginnings.

In this episode of the TechCentral Show (TCS), Higgins has a look back at the growth of the industry, and what’s likely to propel its future expansion.

In the show, Higgins unpacks:

• How Bob Group has done since it was created nearly two years ago through the merger of Bidorbuy and uAfrica, and what the future holds for the business;

• What is driving the rapid growth in South Africa’s e-commerce industry – did Covid lockdowns give it the spark for its current rapid expansion, or is there more at play?;

• The rise of on-demand deliveries in South Africa and what it means for online retailers;

• The rise of Chinese competitors – how much of a threat are Shein and Temu really, and is the South African Revenue Service right to crack down?;

• The Competition Commission’s intervention in the market and whether it is warranted;

• Whether Amazon’s South African launch was a flop; and

• What trends to look out for as the market develops further in the coming years.

Don’t miss a fascinating discussion! TechCentral

Andy Higgins, founder of e-commerce solutions company Bob Group, knows more about e-commerce in South Africa than most people.

Higgins founded Bidorbuy (now Bob Shop) at the height of the dot-com boom in the late 1990s, and over the past 25 years has actively participated in the industry as it has mushroomed from those nascent beginnings.

In this episode of the TechCentral Show (TCS), Higgins has a look back at the growth of the industry, and what’s likely to propel its future expansion.

In the show, Higgins unpacks:

• How Bob Group has done since it was created nearly two years ago through the merger of Bidorbuy and uAfrica, and what the future holds for the business;

• What is driving the rapid growth in South Africa’s e-commerce industry – did Covid lockdowns give it the spark for its current rapid expansion, or is there more at play?;

• The rise of on-demand deliveries in South Africa and what it means for online retailers;

• The rise of Chinese competitors – how much of a threat are Shein and Temu really, and is the South African Revenue Service right to crack down?;

• The Competition Commission’s intervention in the market and whether it is warranted;

• Whether Amazon’s South African launch was a flop; and

• What trends to look out for as the market develops further in the coming years.

Don’t miss a fascinating discussion!

Customer relationship management software giant Salesforce recently showcased the power of its latest artificial intelligence and cloud-based solutions to customers, partners and associates at Salesforce World Tour Essentials Johannesburg, held at the Kyalami Convention Centre in Midrand.

In this episode of TechCentral’s business technology show, TCS+, Zuko Mdwaba, Salesforce area vice president/Africa executive and South Africa country leader, shares highlights from the event. He also provides insight into the company’s plans for South Africa and Africa.

More than 2 200 global and local leaders attended the Salesforce event in Johannesburg, demonstrating the huge interest in AI and digital transformation in South Africa, with organisations from across a range of sectors eager to learn more about new technologies that will allow them to leverage their data more fully and grow their businesses.

The Salesforce ecosystem of partners in the South African region has grown 34% year on year, but the most significant improvement is in the area of certifications, with an increase of 43% in the same period. These partners, Mdwaba explains in the TCS+ interview, are helping organisations across all sectors to raise employee productivity and transform with real-time insights and new levels of customer experience.

Mdwaba shares data from International Data Corp, which shows Salesforce and its partner ecosystem is being fuelled by AI- powered cloud solutions and will generate US$5.8-billion in net new business between 2022 and 2028.

In the interview, Mdwaba delves into:

• The economic impact that the Salesforce ecosystem is going to have on South Africa in the next few years.

• How the combination of CRM, cloud, data and trust is transforming organisations.

• How Salesforce is ramping up its skills development and talent programme in Africa to build the workforce that will help drive its aspirations for the continent.

Finally, he speaks about some of the infrastructural challenges on the continent and where the opportunities for technological innovation and business growth lie.

Don’t miss the interview! TechCentral