Tag: Africa

  • Europe After the American Century

    For most of the last eighty years, Europe has lived inside a system it didn’t have to fully carry.Security came from the United States. Growth came from globalisation. Stability was assumed. The arrangement wasn’t perfect, but it worked well enough that Europe could prioritise prosperity over power. That arrangement is now breaking down. What’s happening…

  • The Growing Demand for Caregivers in South Africa

    South Africa faces a rapidly growing demand for trained caregivers due to an ageing population, rising chronic illness rates, and an underdeveloped formal care economy. This presents a significant opportunity for scalable, socially impactful caregiver training and placement models. The gap between available services and national needs is both urgent and expanding. Key Demand Drivers…

  • Evaluating RICA: Is SIM Registration Effective in South Africa?

    In South Africa, the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act (RICA) was introduced in 2003 with the aim of combating crime and enhancing national security by regulating the registration of SIM cards and the interception of communications. However, nearly two decades since its inception, questions persist regarding the effectiveness of…

  • Mobile Money Revolution: Assessing the Current State of Mobile Financial Services in Africa

    Introduction: Mobile money has emerged as a transformative force in Africa, revolutionizing the way people transact, save, and manage their finances. With the widespread adoption of mobile phones and the expansion of digital infrastructure, mobile money has become a ubiquitous tool for financial inclusion and empowerment across the continent. This scholarly article examines the current…

  • The Thriving Mobile Market: Unveiling the Vast Potential Across the African Continent

    In recent years, the African continent has emerged as a hotbed of mobile innovation and adoption, with millions of people embracing the transformative power of telecommunications technology. From bustling urban centers to remote rural villages, mobile phones have become ubiquitous, revolutionizing communication, commerce, and connectivity across the continent. As we delve into the scale of…

  • FICA vs. RICA: Understanding the Differences in South Africa’s Regulatory Frameworks

    In South Africa, two legislative frameworks play crucial roles in regulating different aspects of the country’s telecommunications and financial sectors: the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA) and the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act (RICA). Despite their similar-sounding names, these two laws serve distinct purposes and operate within different domains,…

  • Addressing the Menace of SIM Fraud in Africa: A Call to Action

    In recent years, Africa has witnessed a surge in mobile phone adoption, with millions of people across the continent embracing the convenience and connectivity offered by modern telecommunications. However, amidst this digital revolution, a sinister threat looms large: SIM fraud. This insidious form of cybercrime has become increasingly prevalent, posing significant challenges to individuals, businesses,…

  • Facial Recognition as a Service: A Game-Changer for KYC in Africa’s Mobile Money Revolution

    How Facial Recognition Can Transform Mobile Operators’ KYC Challenges In the bustling landscapes of Africa’s mobile telecommunications industry, a revolution is underway. Mobile operators are venturing into the realm of mobile money, aiming to provide financial services to millions of unbanked and underbanked individuals across the continent. While this endeavor holds great promise, it is…

  • The role of the press.

    Seeing this in a mailshot I received today from The Daily Maverick reminds me of a post from some time ago about just this subject, it rings true today as much as it did then. “The print, broadcast and electronic media have a particular role in the protection of freedom of expression in our society.…