Latest news with #MyBroadband
The South African
05-05-2025
- Business
- The South African
SA passport and Smart ID applications via your banking app?
South African citizens needing passports and smart ID cards could soon be able to apply for these documents from the comfort of their homes, via their South African banking apps. As reported by MyBroadband , who recently asked the Department of Home Affairs whether these services would be made available to digital banks anytime soon. According to Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber, however, making the services available at bank branches is a still a forerunner to integrating them into banking apps. 'Our goal is to enable our services to be available virtually, including through banking apps, so that clients can access those services from the comfort of their own homes,' Schreiber said, as per MyBroadband . 'This is all part of the same process, as integrating Home Affairs services onto banking platforms in branches is the logical precursor to delivering those same services online and on apps.' the Minister added. If all goes according to plan, this would mean that digital bank users will have access to a variety of Home Affairs services via their banking apps, as well as no longer needing to stand in long queues at Home Affairs offices or at banks. While this may not happen as soon as we'd like, there are now even more bank branches which offer passport and smart ID card applications in South Africa. Take a look… Canal Walk, Century City Centurion Lifestyle Centre Jubilee Mall, Hammanskraal Kathu Mall, Postmasburg Killarney Mall, Johannesburg Kingsmead, Durban Mitchell's Plain Promenade Newton Park, Port Elizabeth Simmonds Street, Johannesburg Burgersfort, Twin City Complex Centurion Lifestyle Centre Cornubia, Durban Glen Shopping Centre Lynnwood Merchant Place The Grove Mall Centurion Lifestyle Centre Key West, Krugersdorp Sandton City Stellenbosch Towers, Cape Town Stellenbosch Square Arcadia Constantia Kloof Rivonia St George's Mall, Cape Town Newton Park, Port Elizabeth Kathu Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- The South African
More bad news for driving licence renewals in South Africa
There's some bad news ahead for those in need of a driving licence renewal this year. According to the Department of Transport (DoT), the only driving licence card printer in South Africa has broken down yet again. As reported by Business Tech , the printer has been out of order since January this year, with a few to no cards having been issued since then. According to the reports, insiders at the Department of Transport revealed that South Africa's only printing machine had stopped working in January, adding that the machine also breaks down frequently, which has resulted in an ever-growing backlog of driver's licences awaiting printing. The machine is also reported to be a shocking 26-year's-old, and has had a total of 159 breakdowns in its lifetime. Speaking to MyBroadband , Department of Transport spokesperson Collen Msibi said that it could take several weeks to repair the machine 'The Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA) is liaising with the sole supplier in France to repair equipment that has malfunctioned and resulted in the machine breakdown,' Msibi said, as per MyBroadband. 'The Department is exploring various interim solutions to sustain the operations of the current machine, given its age.' Msibi added. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Afrikaans TV content dwindles amid SABC cash crunch
Cultural organisations warn of language decline as SABC axes Afrikaans shows and fails to pay for productions due to deepening financial troubles. One of SABC's Afrikaans shows, Voetspore, could soon face the axe. Picture: Supplied. State broadcaster SABC doesn't seem to have a vendetta against the Afrikaans language – but is so broke it cannot pay for the productions. One of the Afrikaans shows, Voetspore, could soon face the axe. Earlier this month, Afrikaners saw red when the SABC failed to broadcast the Afrikaans news on the first weekend of the month due to technical issues. SABC doesn't have vendetta against Afrikaans language MyBroadband reported that Voetspore's 14th season would likely be the last viewed on SABC2, after an extensive battle over the SABC's decision to stop payments in December last year. AfriForum's head of cultural affairs Alana Bailey said the organisation was sorry to hear that Afrikaans was being scaled down even further on the SABC. ALSO READ: SABC says Afrikaans remains important part of broadcasting mandate after 'technical issues' 'AfriForum is still waiting for feedback on its [Promotion of Access to Information Act] application to the SABC to obtain more information about the Afrikaans news bulletins and their future on the SABC,' she said. Bailey said the abolition of Voetspore on SABC2 also pointed to the necessity of independent Afrikaans channels and options such as AfriForum TV because they kept the language alive. Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge (FAK) operating officer Ziegfried van Huyssteen said 'the protection and development of our language and culture is of paramount importance'. A dying language? 'That is why it is always sad when one hears rumours about Afrikaans as a dying language, whether it is on TV, radio, in the news, or even in schools. 'These types of stories offer an incredible opportunity for every Afrikaans speaker to take ownership of their language again – become storytellers of the future because nurturing and living your language is the only way one will be able to keep it alive,' he said. ALSO READ: What's behind SABC news glitch? Ziegfried said Afrikaans was by no means a dead language and encouraged everyone to work with FAK to build a future for the language. MyBroadband also reported that the auditor-general (AG), in a presentation before the standing committee on public accounts last week, said the SABC had shown no real financial improvement despite the R3.2-billion bailout it got in 2019. AG deputy business unit leader Nathan Lawnet said the public broadcaster missed 48% of its targets in the 2023-24 financial year. SABC missed 48% of its targets Lawnet said the declining viewership related to the number of top 20 shows offered by the SABC. 'The more top-rated programmes that you are showcasing mean that you are attracting viewers to come watch your shows. Higher viewership directly correlates to advertising,' he said. ALSO READ: How the Suidlanders plan to outrun the apocalypse Political analyst Piet Croucamp said it could be as simple as the SABC was bankrupt and didn't have money. 'It's costly for it to fulfil its mandate and legal responsibilities. It has a specific statutory responsibility which includes languages, regions, education and sport,' he said. Croucamp said it was hard to tell whether there was some sort of political vendetta or vindictiveness behind the decision to remove Afrikaans from the SABC2. Hard to see political vendetta 'It could well be, like they say if you want to see the pigeons scatter, take their food away,' he said. Croucamp said the statutory regime according to which they must have a diversity of programmes and different languages, was there for a good reason. NOW READ: 'Every SA language should be protected' – Marc Lottering on Afrikaans' 100th anniversary
The South African
25-04-2025
- Business
- The South African
Mediclinic shifts focus to AI amid hiring freeze
Remgro-owned Mediclinic is reshaping its operations by embracing artificial intelligence, resulting in a hiring freeze and early retirement offers. According to MyBroadband , Mediclinic owner Remgro has informed investors that it has frozen all new recruitment and offered a voluntary early retirement package to corporate office and shared service personnel as it enhances its operating model. This was revealed during Remgro's 2025 Capital Markets Day. The improved operating model will leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen Mediclinic's core business by focusing on operational efficiency. Mediclinic's chief operating officer, Bertrand Levrat confirmed that the hiring freeze and early retirement offer will help cut administrative costs. 'For SA-based corporate office people and shared services people, we have offered early retirement package. These will enable us to reduce the administrative costs of the group,' he said. Mediclinic said the strategy could help the firm save nearly R2 billion by 2027. The company emphasised that the hiring freeze does not apply to nurses and doctors. The company said its South African business was included in implementing its new operating model, and formed part of Mediclinic's broader strategy to leverage AI and automation. Mediclinic highlighted several successful examples of the adoption of AI and automation in the medical field: An AI model for scheduling appointments with doctors in AI has helped improve operational efficiency through reduced standby time and resulted in an additional 100 bookings per day at Mediclinic Middle East. The implementation of an AI agent to procure clinical documentation is saving man-hours, resulting in cost savings in staff time. The automation of clinical coding through AI is showing the potential for increased efficiency and accuracy in billing. AI agents deployed in revenue cycle management are showing the potential for cost savings in administrative processes. Mediclinic has started deploying AI models to read and interpret radiology, improving radiologists' efficiency. Mediclinic has appointed a dedicated team, operating under its chief data officer, to lead the implementation of its artificial intelligence, data, and automation strategy. This team is responsible for setting up governance structures, processes, and technology frameworks to support the company's digital transformation. As part of this strategy, Mediclinic will also invest in continuous AI-related training and upskilling for its workforce. According to Daily Maverick , Levrat emphasised that Mediclinic will not use AI to replace full-time employees, following early reports on the company's plans. 'This transformation includes the realignment of our corporate office structures, reinforcing our ability to support our facilities in providing exceptional care to our patients,' Levrat said. The announcement comes amid growing concerns about unemployment in South Africa, particularly among young people. According to IOL , individuals aged 15 to 24 face an unemployment rate of 59.6%, while those aged 25 to 34 have a rate of 39.4%, contributing to a broader youth unemployment rate of 45.5%. In this context, Mediclinic's commitment to workforce development and retention, even as it adopts advanced technologies, marks a notable approach. Strong Financial Position Maintained During his Capital Markets Day presentation, Levrat emphasised that the private hospital firm isn't in financial trouble, but in a sound financial position. Looking at Mediclinic Southern Africa, revenue grew by 10% from $557 million (R10.3 billion) to $613 million (R11.4 billion), while operating profit increased by 15% to $76 million (R1.4 billion). Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Zawya
10-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa's top companies have this one thing in common
MyBroadband delivers unrivalled online marketing performance for business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) products and services. South Africa's top IT, telecommunications, banking, and finance companies have one thing in common – they partner with MyBroadband. The reason is simple: MyBroadband delivers unrivalled online marketing performance for business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) products and services. As a result, South Africa's top ICT companies turn to MyBroadband to promote their brands, products, and services. This includes business like: - Vodacom - Huawei - Discovery - Samsung - MTN - Mustek - Tarsus - FNB - Absa - MSI - Lenovo - TCL - Skyworth Excellent performance MyBroadband delivers these impressive results because it is South Africa's largest and most influential technology news website. It reaches a massive audience of over 4.7 million South African readers, including the following: - CEOs, CTOs, CIOs, CFOs, and directors – 591,000 - IT managers and middle managers – 1.1 million - IT professionals – 1.7 million This is a vital audience for South African companies, which is why the best of the best partner with MyBroadband. Click here to contact MyBroadband's marketing team.
