PayPal has announced the launch of PayPal World in Africa, scheduled for 2026. This was confirmed by Otto Williams, PayPal’s Senior VP for the Middle East and Africa, to end the decade-long standoff where African entrepreneurs were restricted from receiving funds overseas.The new platform acts as a cross-border bridge that connects existing local mobile money wallets directly to millions of global merchants, rather than forcing users to open traditional Western-style PayPal accounts.For nearly 20 years, PayPal’s relationship with Africa was defined by distrust over fraud and high chargeback rates. The company also maintained a send-only policy in many African nations, including Nigeria. This created a digital wall for freelancers and small businesses who could pay for global services but could not get paid.During this absence, Africa built its own financial world. Systems like M-Pesa (Kenya) and MTN MoMo to revolutionize mobile finance, turning Africa into the global leader for mobile money, accounting for 70% of the world’s transaction value. PayPal’s 2026 entry is an admission that it can no longer win a wallet war against these homegrown giants.Under the PayPal World model, users won’t need a separate PayPal account. They can simply click a PayPal button at an international checkout, which then links directly to their M-Pesa, MTN, or Flutterwave wallet to complete the payment. Africa follows a 2024-2025 rollout in India (via UPI), China (WeChat Pay), and Brazil (Mercado Pago). By 2026, a Kenyan user could scan a M-Pesa QR code to pay a merchant who only uses PayPal, and vice versa.To support this rollout, PayPal has committed $100 million for venture investments and innovation in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, including hiring local staff to scale regional compliance and operations.
Tesla launches first African base in Morocco, aiming to build EV manufacturing hub
Tesla is launching its first official operation on the African continent in Morocco, thereby creating job openings in Casablanca. Tesla intends to leverage with the rapid growth in the automotive sector and favorable electric vehicle (EV) policies in Morocco over South Africa, which was historically the continent’s largest vehicle market.The new Country Leader will be responsible for sales, delivery, daily operations, and market expansion, placing Tesla for both sales and potentially future manufacturing in North Africa.While South Africa traditionally holds the largest vehicle sales market, Morocco has aggressively placed itself as the automotive manufacturing and EV production leader of the continent.Tesla’s establishment of a presence in Casablanca, its first official subsidiary in Africa, is expected to have far-reaching implications for the entire African automotive industry. Tesla’s presence will likely accelerate EV adoption across Morocco, supporting the country’s targets of 10,000 public charging stations by 2030 and 20% EV penetration in new vehicle sales.The move increases competition, particularly with Chinese EV manufacturers like BYD, which has been investing in South Africa. This competition is expected to drive greater overall investment and innovation in African electric mobility.Tesla’s decision will likely encourage other global automakers to invest in North Africa, capitalizing on Morocco’s favorable investment environment and EV incentives.Tesla’s entry into Morocco is seen not just as a sales strategy but as a strategic long-term play, potentially setting up the North African kingdom as the primary EV manufacturing and distribution hub for the entire continent. South Africa will need to quickly implement its announced EV incentives and ramp up local EV production to remain competitive in the face of this global shift towards sustainable mobility.
Equinix to launch $22 million data center in Lagos
Global digital infrastructure leader Equinix has announced plans to open LG3, a $22 million data center in Lagos, Nigeria, marking its first purpose-built facility in West Africa set to launch in early 2026.LG3 designed to provide high-quality infrastructure and connectivity, will support local businesses and attract international companies by enabling seamless connection to global cloud services and partners through Equinix Fabric.Equinix Managing Director for West Africa, Wole Abu, described the Lagos facility as instrumental in bridging Africa’s digital divide; We’re not just building data centres; we’re fostering growth, empowering innovation, and laying the foundation for an interconnected African economy – Abu LG3 aims to elevate local startups, banks, fintech firms, e-commerce platforms, and AI enterprises by providing reliable, global-standard data services in Nigeria.Cedarview Managing Director Olawale Owoeye stressed the critical role of LG3’s connectivity and performance. Access to Equinix’s global ecosystem will enable Cedarview to expand its digital footprint and deliver high-performance solutions The upcoming LG3 data center will be a cornerstone for Africa’s digital transformation, enhancing technological capacity across Nigeria and the region.
Truecaller faces privacy investigation in South Africa over alleged data violations
Truecaller, the popular caller ID app, is under investigation by South Africa’s Information Regulator for allegedly violating the country’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) through misuse of user data.The investigation follows complaints that Truecaller improperly labels some businesses as spam and demands payment for removal, charges the company denies. Truecaller insists it does not charge for whitelisting and that its use of contact permissions complies fully with POPIA regulations. Known for identifying unknown callers and blocking spam, Truecaller argues that accessing users’ contact lists is necessary for core app functions, not for collecting or misusing personal data. However, privacy experts remain sceptical, especially about how Truecaller displays information about individuals who have never downloaded the app or given consent. Senior associate Lucinda Botes of Phukubje Pierce Masithela Attorneys explained that displaying information on non-users raises legal concerns under POPIA’s principle of “openness,” which requires clear communication about how personal data is collected and used. Many individuals featured in Truecaller’s database may not have consented to their data being shared via others’ contact lists. The law protects businesses, which can request removal or clarification of wrongly tagged information to protect their reputations.
DStv offers South African customers 3-days of free premium channels to celebrate 30 years
MultiChoice, in celebration of its 30th anniversary, is giving all active South African DStv decoder customers free access to its Premium channels from November 7 to 9, 2025. This “Open Time Weekend” allows subscribers to enjoy top-tier content including movies, documentaries, live sports, and reality shows, regardless of their current subscription level.MultiChoice’s CEO of SA Pay-TV, Byron du Plessis, stated; For three decades, DStv has been a significant part of South Africans’ lives, and this weekend is our way of expressing gratitude. DStv aims to remind subscribers of the value and diversity offered within its ecosystem, by temporarily unlocking the Premium tier. The goal of the company is to attract former customers and encourage upgrades from lower-tier packages by showcasing the benefits of premium programming.
Kenyan transport union to petition Uber and Bolt over driver exploitation allegations
The Transport Workers Union of Kenya (TAWU Kenya) has announced plans to file a petition against ride-hailing giants Uber and Bolt, accusing them of engaging in unfair, exploitative, and unlawful digital labor practices that violate drivers’ constitutional rights. This was confirmed by Nicholas Ogolla, General Secretary of TAWU Kenya, in a statement on November 7.The petition intends to challenge the algorithmic management systems of the companies, commission deductions exceeding legal limits, arbitrary account deactivations, and the opaque use of driver data without proper transparency or consent. It will be filed at the Employment and Labour Relations Court and will name not only Uber and Bolt but also key state regulators such as the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), and the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK).Ogolla criticized Uber and Bolt for deducting commissions above the legally mandated 18% cap set by the Digital Hailing Regulations of 2022. He described the drivers’ treatment as a form of digital dismissal, pointing out how drivers, labeled as independent contractors, have little control over pricing, penalties, and accounts, practices he argues amount to exploitation rather than independence. Drivers are not slaves of the algorithm. They deserve dignity, fair compensation, and protection under Kenya’s labour laws – Ogolla. TAWU Kenya is collaborating with platform driver associations and civil society groups to gather evidence and prepare affidavits supporting the petition. The legal action invokes constitutional protections including Articles 41 (fair labour practices), 46 (consumer rights), and 47 (fair administrative action) of Kenya’s Constitution.The union has given Uber, Bolt, and the relevant authorities a 14-day deadline to address the grievances raised, warning that failure to do so will result in immediate court proceedings.