South Africa caught in the crossfire of global chip wars.

Loading player...
GUEST - Jan Vermeulen, Editor at MyBroadband

Taiwan has slapped export restrictions on semiconductors bound for South Africa a move that threatens industries from car manufacturing to cloud computing. The decision follows Pretoria’s downgrading of Taiwan’s diplomatic office, a gesture widely seen as bowing to Beijing. With Taiwan controlling up to 90% of the world’s most advanced chips, the ripple effects could be severe, from pricier electronics to delays in digital transformation projects.

So what triggered this high-stakes standoff, which sectors stand to lose the most, and could South Africa end up more dependent on China’s less advanced chipmakers?
23 Sep 2025 English South Africa Technology · Business

Other recent episodes

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

Rewiring SA Classrooms

The Shoprite Foundation is rolling out AI, coding, and robotics labs across townships and rural schools — from Khayelitsha to Mpumalanga. Director Maude Modise explains how the programme is transforming digital skills, boosting learner confidence, and preparing South Africa’s youth for an AI‑driven future.
19 May 8 min