Johannesburg: As cybercrime escalates in scale and sophistication, South African businesses and individuals face an increasingly complex digital threat landscape. From ransomware and data breaches to phishing and identity theft, cybercriminals are exploiting vulnerabilities that threaten financial stability, sensitive information and business continuity. As Cybersecurity Awareness Month comes to an end, it is important to highlight that cybersecurity is about creating everyday habits that make it difficult for cybercriminals. "Fraud and scams are two of the biggest challenges South Africans face when interacting online," says Manie van Schalkwyk, CEO of the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS). "As the world becomes increasingly digitised, these threats will continue to grow. South Africans must understand the risks they face and the measures available to protect themselves." Cybercriminals Are Increasingly Exploiting Trust and Human Vulnerabilities Cybercrime increasingly relies on deception, with scammers exploiting trust through emails, phone calls, fake websites, social media and messaging platforms. Their evolving tactics make fraud increasingly difficult to recognise. Phishing (fraudulent emails) continues to rise, while telephone-based scams, known as vishing, remain particularly damaging. “Fraudsters impersonate bank representatives or reputable organisations, warning victims about suspicious transactions before directing them to transfer money, share One-Time PINs or click malicious links,” explains Van Schalkwyk. Scammers also pose as bank fraud departments, offering assistance with account verification or branch appointment bookings. Their objective is to obtain sensitive information or gain access to victims’ devices and accounts. Online shopping scams are another growing concern. Fraudsters advertise unbelievable deals, create convincing websites with fake reviews and payment portals, then deliver counterfeit …
Preparing South Africa’s Healthcare Workforce for a Digital Future
Johannesburg: Technology is fundamentally reshaping healthcare, accelerating the shift towards digital innovation, patient-centred care and increasingly complex medical systems. Countries that fail to recognise and respond to this transformation risk falling behind. As healthcare evolves, tertiary education providers face growing pressure to equip future professionals with the skills needed to remain competitive. Healthcare is changing through digital technologies, new models of care and shifting population needs. Artificial intelligence (AI), telehealth and electronic health records are changing how information is gathered and care is delivered. At the same time, South Africa faces persistent infectious diseases, rising non-communicable diseases, unequal access to services and pressure on the health workforce. Raeesa Khan, Academic Programme Leader at the MANCOSA School of Healthcare, says that the divide between public and private healthcare is part of this context. "In 2024, about 84% of South Africans relied on public health facilities, while around 16% were covered by medical schemes that enable access to private healthcare." As a result, key priorities must govern the future of healthcare development in South Africa and must be incorporated into the NHI. Key Priorities and Education Gaps The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified fragmentation between public and private financing as a constraint on more equitable access to quality care (WHO, 2025a). The National Health Insurance Act sets out an ambition of more equitable access, but legislation alone cannot deliver it. Workforce capacity, effective institutions, adequate resources and public trust matter too. "Education should prepare students for this changing environment, while helping them understand that new tools and policies operate within real service conditions. South Africa has made important gains, including through its HIV treatment programme and the continuing contribution of …
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Bootstrapping vs Venture Capital: Choosing the Right Path
Johannesburg: For entrepreneurs trying to turn promising ideas into sustainable businesses, securing external investment can appear to be an obvious marker of progress. Headlines celebrating major funding rounds and rapidly growing startups have strengthened the perception that attracting venture capital is something every ambitious founder should pursue. The reality is considerably more nuanced. According to Dr Farai Nyika, Academic Programme Leader at the MANCOSA School of Public Administration, entrepreneurs should first determine what kind of business they are building before deciding how it should be financed. “The first question should not be, ‘How do I raise money?’ It should be, ‘Should I raise money, and what exactly would that money enable the business to achieve?’” says Nyika. Bootstrapping Offers Something Money Cannot Buy Bootstrapping is sometimes overshadowed by the excitement surrounding venture-backed startups. Yet for many businesses, Nyika argues, self-funding can be the more appropriate strategy. Its greatest advantage is ownership. That extends beyond retaining equity. Entrepreneurs financing their own growth maintain control over strategic direction, company culture, hiring decisions and the speed at which the organisation develops. A bootstrapped founder is principally accountable to customers and the market. There are no external investors demanding accelerated expansion or applying pressure to change direction before the business is ready. That freedom does, however, come with discipline. A bootstrapped company can generally spend only what it earns, making revenue, profitability and cash flow immediate considerations. This can force founders to build carefully rather than chasing growth for its own sake. Venture Capital Buys Speed Venture capital offers a fundamentally different advantage: it can compress time. Certain businesses operate in markets where speed is crucial. Technology platforms, fintech …
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Why Tertiary Education Still Matters in a Changing Economy
Johannesburg: A qualification can no longer be viewed simply as a certificate that guarantees employment. In a South African economy shaped by high unemployment, technological disruption and rapidly changing skills requirements, tertiary education must give people something more enduring: the ability to adapt, solve problems, continue learning and turn opportunity into meaningful economic participation. That is the message from Duncan Park, Registrar at MANCOSA, who believes the value proposition of tertiary education is evolving alongside the world of work. “Tertiary education cannot guarantee employment or entrepreneurial success. What it can do is significantly strengthen the foundations from which people pursue those outcomes,” says Park. Education Remains a Powerful Economic Enabler South Africa's unemployment challenge inevitably shapes any discussion about the value of further study. Park argues that the distinction between a guarantee and an enabling factor is therefore important. A qualification does not automatically produce a job. Nor does completing a business programme automatically create a successful entrepreneur. However, Park points to the substantial difference in employment outcomes between younger South Africans with post-school qualifications and those without formal post-school training. The broader lesson is difficult to ignore. Education continues to improve a person's prospects, even when it cannot determine the eventual outcome. That matters particularly in an economy where employment opportunities are intensely contested. Tertiary education should therefore be understood not as a promise of success, but as one of the mechanisms capable of expanding the opportunities available to individuals. Knowledge Alone Is No Longer Enough The expectations placed on graduates have also changed. Historically, tertiary education enjoyed a significant advantage because universities and colleges were repositories of specialised …
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AI Can Drive South Africa’s Entrepreneurial Future
Johannesburg: Entrepreneurship is a significant part of South Africa’s economy, supporting economic activity, employment and innovation across formal and informal markets. For many entrepreneurs, the environment in which they operate is changing quickly. Technology has fundamentally reshaped that landscape. Digital platforms, automation and artificial intelligence are creating new ways to build businesses, reach customers and participate in the digital economy. The shift is opening doors that barely existed a generation ago. Yet access to technology alone does not guarantee meaningful progress. Farad Chohan, School Manager: MANCOSA School of Information and Digital Technology (SIDT), says this changing environment presents entrepreneurs with both opportunities and challenges. Stop Copying and Start Solving Chohan points out that the real opportunity is not to produce African versions of the world’s largest technology companies. It is to identify problems close to home that existing systems have failed to solve. His message to entrepreneurs is deliberately practical: look at the community first. “Africa’s experience with mobile financial services provides a useful model. Technologies built around the widespread availability of mobile devices demonstrated how an existing constraint could produce a different route to financial transactions. Rather than recreating infrastructure found elsewhere, innovators worked around what was missing,” says Chohan. The same thinking could be applied to transport, informal commerce and other industries. Chohan points to the public taxi sector as one example where local entrepreneurs could use digital platforms to address needs within an existing African industry. “The broader principle is more important than any individual application: disruption often arrives quietly, through somebody finding a better workaround to an everyday problem,” says Chohan. According to Chohan, African businesses do not need to …
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SAFPS Prevents R7.44bn in Fraud Losses
Johannesburg: The Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) has saved its Members more than R7.44 billion in potential fraud losses during 2025, underscoring the growing value of shared fraud intelligence in an environment where criminal syndicates are becoming increasingly organised, technologically advanced and difficult to detect. The figures, released in the 2025 SAFPS Annual Report, represent a 47% increase in fraud savings compared to the previous year. The number of enquiries into the SAFPS fraud database totalled 131 million during the year, reflecting a 63% increase in the use of shared intelligence to identify fraudulent activity before losses occur. Manie van Schalkwyk, CEO of the SAFPS, says that the results demonstrate what is possible when industries collaborate instead of tackling fraud in isolation. "Fraud is no longer confined to individual organisations or sectors. Criminals share information, adapt quickly and operate across industries. Our response must be equally collaborative. Every confirmed fraud case contributed by our Members strengthen our collective ability to detect emerging threats and prevent losses before they occur," says Van Schalkwyk. Fraud Networks Are Combining Multiple Attack Methods The report shows that fraud has evolved well beyond isolated incidents. Increasingly, organised criminal groups are combining several methods into coordinated attacks that exploit both people and systems. "Today's fraudsters rarely rely on one technique," says Van Schalkwyk. "They combine social engineering, identity theft, technology and document forgery into highly coordinated attacks. Understanding their modus operandi is critical if we want to stay ahead of them." Document fabrication remains one of the most significant fraud enablers. Forged identity documents, altered bank statements, fraudulent payslips and fabricated supporting documentation continue to underpin fraudulent applications across financial services, …
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SA’s Tertiary Education Capacity Crisis Gains Momentum
Johannesburg: As South Africa's matric learners prepare for the next chapter of their lives, many are already looking towards taking further steps in their academic journey. Yet for thousands of qualifying high school graduates a significant challenge may be securing a place at a tertiary institution. With traditionally popular tertiary education providers unable to accommodate growing demand, concerns are mounting over whether the country's tertiary education system has the capacity to meet the aspirations of its youth. "The excitement surrounding matric results should never be overshadowed by uncertainty about whether qualified learners will have a place to continue their education," says Professor Zaheer Hamid, Director and Chief Academic Officer at MANCOSA. "Every year we see thousands of capable young South Africans meet tertiary education entrance requirements, only to discover there simply isn't enough capacity within the traditionally popular system." More Matriculants, But Fewer Opportunities "The excitement surrounding matric results should never be overshadowed by uncertainty about whether qualified learners will have a place to continue their education," says Prof Hamid. The challenge is not a reflection of declining ambition among young people. Quite the opposite. South Africa has made encouraging progress in educational attainment over the past three decades. According to Statistics South Africa, the proportion of adults aged 25 years and older with tertiary qualifications has increased substantially since the country's democratic transition, while the number of South Africans completing secondary education has also grown significantly. These gains demonstrate that more learners are aspiring to continue their studies than ever before. Public Universities Cannot Meet Growing Demand That progress has placed even greater pressure on an already constrained tertiary education system. Public tertiary education providers continue …
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South Africa’s Digital Healthcare Shift: Progress, Challenges Ahead
Johannesburg: The rapid advancement of technology has ushered in a new era of digitized healthcare systems, reshaping how nations deliver medical services. This transformation is not merely a matter of convenience but a necessity, as global health crises have highlighted the urgent need for innovation and resilience in healthcare infrastructure. Pandemics such as COVID-19 and the recent Ebola outbreak have accelerated this shift, forcing governments and institutions to embrace digital solutions for patient care, data management, and disease surveillance. Against this backdrop, the question arises: is South Africa moving in the right direction, and are our healthcare professionals, both current and future, adequately prepared to navigate this digital transformation? "South Africa has made good progress, but I wouldn't say we're fully prepared yet. We have the right vision and policies in place, but implementation is where the real work still lies. Digital healthcare isn't just about introducing new technology - it's about making sure healthcare professionals know how to use it, patients can access it, and the infrastructure supports it," says Mehnaaz Olla, School Manager of the MANCOSA School of Healthcare. Progress and Challenges Despite regular reports about the pressures facing the South African healthcare system, as well as concerns about policy development and implementation, South Africa has made some progress over the past five years. The World Health Organization reminds us that digital health should strengthen health systems, not simply digitise existing processes. That's the opportunity South Africa has over the next few years "The COVID - 19 pandemic was probably the biggest catalyst. Almost overnight, healthcare providers had to embrace virtual consultations, electronic communication and digital ways of working. What's encouraging is that those changes didn't disappear after COVID-19. We've also seen continued investment through the National …
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SAFPS Urges Taxpayers to Remain Alert to Fraud
Johannesburg: Tax season is an important period for South Africans to meet their tax obligations, but it is also one of the busiest times of the year for fraudsters seeking to exploit unsuspecting taxpayers. As SARS continues to simplify filing through digital services and pre-assessments, cybercriminals are using increasingly convincing scams that closely resemble legitimate SARS communication. The Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) is urging taxpayers to remain vigilant and verify every request before sharing personal information or making payments. "Tax season consistently attracts fraudsters looking to exploit taxpayers," says SAFPS CEO, Manie van Schalkwyk. "Scammers are constantly adapting their methods, making it essential for consumers to understand the latest tactics and remain alert throughout the filing process." Phishing emails and SMSs Remain Common Scam Tactics Fraudsters commonly impersonate SARS officials to manipulate taxpayers into disclosing sensitive information or making payments under false pretences. They rely on urgency, fear and the appearance of legitimacy to pressure victims into acting without verifying the request. One of the most common scams involves fraudulent emails or SMSs that appear to come from SARS. These messages often contain links directing taxpayers to fake websites designed to steal login credentials, banking details and other personal information. Van Schalkwyk says criminals have become increasingly sophisticated, often making only subtle changes to email addresses or website links that are difficult to detect at first glance. These messages may ask taxpayers to verify banking details, confirm personal information or update their eFiling profile. Clicking the embedded links can expose confidential information or compromise devices with malicious software. "Always inspect the sender's email address carefully," says Van Schalkwyk. "Official SARS correspondence comes from an …
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South Africa’s Stem Crisis: Inequality Weakens Education
Johannesburg: South Africa’s declining performance in STEM education has become a pressing concern. Global benchmarks consistently rank the nation poorly in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, highlighting systemic challenges that demand urgent attention. This shortfall threatens the country’s ability to compete in a knowledge-driven economy. Without strong foundations in STEM, learners are left underprepared for careers in innovation, technology, and research, fields that are critical to driving sustainable growth and global competitiveness. "Addressing these gaps is not only an educational imperative but also a national priority. Strengthening STEM education will empower future generations, foster resilience, and ensure South Africa can fully participate in the rapidly evolving digital and technological landscape," says Prof Aradhana Mansingh, Senior Manager: Research Directorate at MANCOSA. Framing the Challenge Current gaps in secondary education weaken South Africa’s STEM pipeline long before learners reach university. The challenge is not simply academic performance but unequal opportunity. Learners in under-resourced schools face overcrowded classrooms, shortages of qualified teachers, limited access to laboratories, limited digital access, and limited exposure to STEM careers. These inequalities, rooted in South Africa’s historical education landscape, continue to shape learner outcomes despite progress since democracy. “From a tertiary perspective, this creates a narrowing effect across the pipeline. Fewer learners achieve the subject combinations and performance levels required for admission into engineering, IT, health sciences, and other STEM programmes. Universities therefore draw from a smaller pool of STEM-ready applicants. At the same time, those admitted often require bridging programmes and additional support to overcome knowledge gaps, placing pressure on institutions and affecting retention,” say Prof Mansingh. The …