03 March 2026

Nishandra Baijnath, Systems Architect, Digital Automation at Schneider Electric

Utilities and municipalities are facing a pivotal challenge as the country’s legacy power grid – engineered for one-way energy delivery from centralised suppliers to end-users – must rapidly evolve to meet a new paradigm.

South Africa’s electrical grid is a classic example of a traditional power system, designed for one-way energy flow. Historically, generation was located close to the fuel source, which saw coal-fired power stations concentrated in Mpumalanga. These stations fed power into high-voltage (HV) yards, which then connected to the national transmission network. This network transported electricity across the country, eventually stepping down the voltage through distribution infrastructure to serve consumers and large power users.

03 March 2026

Aslam Tajbhai, Head of Solutions at DMP SA

Today, organisations rely heavily on data as the backbone of their operations. Every business decision, customer interaction, and innovation depends on instant access to accurate information. Unfortunately, many businesses only realise the importance of data protection after experiencing system failures or data loss. In today’s digital landscape, a robust backup strategy is not just advisable, it’s essential for resilience.

The 3-2-1-1 backup model is a proven approach for safeguarding data. It involves maintaining three copies of data, stored across two different types of media, with one copy kept offsite in an immutable state. This method enhances data durability and speeds up recovery, especially as immutable backups remain unaltered even when security systems are compromised. With cyber threats and ransomware attacks increasing, such protective measures are vital for organisational survival.