BROADCASTS.com

b'You know it\\u2019s a slow news week when the week\\u2019s biggest news involves the CEO and the CFO of South African telecoms firm, Neotel, going on leave. Granted, it is \\u201cspecial leave\\u201d.\\n\\nBe that as it may, broadly speaking we are totally digging the prevailing positive sentiment we are sensing in Africa\\u2019s tech scene. Following the \\u201clet\\u2019s launch an incubator\\u201d trend that we have observed on the continent in recent months, the \\u201clet\\u2019s host a hackathon\\u201d craze is increasing momentum\\u2014 fueled by a number of companies and organisations looking to harness the growing public interest in all things nerdy, particularly coding.\\n\\nIn this week\\u2019s discussion Tefo Mohapi and Andile Masuku ask whether coding competitions, such as one hosted by Hotels.ng this past week, actually contribute to improving the standard of professional coding skills in our eco-system. Or are they simply PR gimmicks that do not add value?\\n\\nAlso in the news this week is the fact that Kenya is reportedly set to be the first African territory where Uber will test an innovation that will allow drivers who are either deaf or hard of hearing to make a living as taxi drivers.'