Liquid Intelligent Technologies (Liquid) celebrated the success of 101 Grade 12 learners from four high schools in Mathibestad, Northwest Province (South Africa), through its 2024 STEM and Digital Literacy Programme. This initiative aims to strengthen foundational knowledge in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, as well as digital literacy.

• Liquid fully funded the programme, hosted at Sempapa Secondary School, providing supplementary lessons in mathematics, physical sciences, and digital literacy.
• Ziaad Suleman, CEO of Cassava Technologies in South Africa and Botswana, highlighted the investment in future engineers, scientists, and innovators.
• The top learners will be recognized at an academic awards celebration and career expo on July 25, at the Liquid South Africa office in Johannesburg, with three university bursaries awarded for STEM degrees in 2026.

RESPECT, a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Education, was launched in Africa, aiming to revolutionize the continent's EdTech landscape by aligning with AUDA NEPAD's Africa EdTech 2030 Vision and Plan. This initiative provides Africa a significant head start globally, with Version 1 already released, making it easier for stakeholders to develop and access sustainable educational solutions.

• RESPECT aims for every African student to have access to the world’s best interactive digital courseware by 2030.
• Developed by the Spix Foundation, RESPECT seeks to address issues of market fragmentation and tool fatigue in African EdTech.
• It lowers policy, technical, and commercial barriers, offering all RESPECT Compatible™ apps for free to students while paying developers and localizers based on usage via sponsorships.

Visa has launched its first data centre in Africa, located in Johannesburg, South Africa, as part of a 1 billion rand ($57 million) investment in the country over the next three years. This initiative aims to extend the reach of VisaNet and leverage South Africa's digital economy for continent-wide innovation.

• Visa's investment in South Africa is part of a larger $1 billion commitment to Africa over five years, announced in 2022.
• The data centre is one of the few Visa has built outside its core infrastructure hubs in the U.S., UK, and Singapore.
• Solly Malatsi, Minister of Communications of South Africa, praised the launch, calling it a "vote of confidence" in the country's investment potential and a boost to "national financial sovereignty."