Kaya 959 Tech & Innovation

Telkom’s R100 Million AI Institute: Building SA’s Digital Future

Loading player...
Telkom CEO Serame Taukobong discusses the company’s landmark R100 million pledge to launch the Telkom AI Institute — a national platform aimed at building AI and digital skills, accelerating innovation, and expanding participation in the digital economy. He explains why “connectivity without capability only gets South Africa halfway there,” how AI is creating a new digital divide, and what the Institute means for young people, small businesses, and the country’s Vision 2030 ambitions.
14 Jul English South Africa Technology · Business

Other recent episodes

AI for the Township Entrepreneur: Yoco’s 20+ Tools Transform SME Growth

Yoco Co-founder Lungisa Matshoba reveals Yoco’s biggest strategic shift yet — from card machines to a full AI‑powered business platform. We unpack the new AI Business Agent, POS intelligence, admin‑cutting automation, and how these tools could reshape productivity for South Africa’s small businesses.
7 Jul 11 min

Auto‑Assessments 2026 in advancing Smarter Tech, Smarter Filing

SARS has upgraded auto‑assessments with pre‑filled investment data, cleaner forms, WhatsApp notices and smarter verification alerts. But automation doesn’t guarantee accuracy. Andre Bothma from Tax Tim explains what’s improved, what taxpayers must still check manually, and how TaxTim’s Auto‑Assessment Checker and TimAI can help prevent costly mistakes.
30 Jun 7 min

AI Policy Failure & the Future of Economic Decision‑Making

Economist Xhanti Payi and AI innovator Simukayi Mukuna explore how AI is exposing the limits of traditional policymaking, revealing data gaps, institutional weaknesses and risks for inequality. We discuss what a modern, AI-enabled policy environment should look like — and the skills South Africans need to thrive in a tech-driven…
23 Jun 10 min

How SA’s Innovators Are Driving Cleantech

Start-Up Culture CEO Tervern Jaftha discusses the surge of over 2,000 applications to the National Cleantech Innovation Challenge and what it reveals about South Africa’s innovation momentum. We explore grassroots entrepreneurship, township-to-tech pathways, and how TIA partnerships are helping innovators commercialize solutions in energy, water, agriculture, and waste.
26 May 11 min
All episodes