Author: Gugu Lourie

Charnte Marthinus of Smartview Technology was named the overall winner of the GCIP Awards 2023/24 at an awards ceremony often compared to the Oscars for cleantech industry. The awards ceremony was hely at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) offices in Pretoria. SmartView Technology is driving sustainability with net-zero digital utility management for businesses. Its SaaS utility management solution is leading the way in providing real-time, actionable insights to drive your ESG initiatives, reduce costs and promote the sustainable use of resources. The company’s solutions are used by major brands such as Heineken, Virgin Active, Pepsico, Grupo Bimbo,…

The South African Government today issued a gazette officially withdrawing e-tolls scheme on various Gauteng roads. Last month, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi during the State of the Province Address (SOPA) stated that the Gauteng e-toll scheme is expected to be delinked from the end of March this year. Read the Government Gazette below: E-Toll government Gazette E-tolls are a system that was introduced in the province by national government on the basis that we wanted to improve our road network. We have now reached a stage where we all accept that the people of Gauteng have rejected e-tolls. The withdrawal of…

SuperSport United FC and technology partner Huawei have teamed up to unveil the latest additions to the Huawei nova series, introducing the Huawei nova 12i, the Huawei nova 12 SE, and soon, the much-anticipated Huawei nova 12s. This collaboration transcends mere smartphone launches; it’s a call to all South Africans to embrace their inner stars and embody the KeStar philosophy – a message deeply rooted in the unwavering spirit of shaping one’s own destiny. Renowned for its commitment to nurturing young South African football talent and uplifting communities, SuperSport United finds an ideal ally in Huawei . Together, they pave…

In today’s fast-paced business world, keeping ahead of the competition is essential for any company. One game-changer that’s reshaping the landscape is the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT is a network of interrelated devices that connect and exchange data with other IoT devices and the cloud. Since its inception in the early 2000s, IoT has been revolutionising management of supply chains. Today, it’s not merely a trend but a driving force behind advancements in supply chain management. It is one of the fastest-growing segments of the technology industry with roughly $805 billion invested¹ in IoT globally as of 2023. In…

Private equity firm Actis and Royal Bafokeng holds have acquired Telkom’s wholly owned subsidiary, Swiftnet for R6,75 billion. Swiftnet, a key player in the South African market, is renowned for its extensive masts and towers infrastructure, boasting approximately 4000 installations and leasing co-location space to major mobile network operators. The disposal entails the sale of Swiftnet to the purchaser, Towerco Bidco Proprietary Limited, a newly incorporated entity comprising of a consortium of equity investors led and managed by Actis, which holds 70% of the purchaser’s shares; with the balance of 30% held by Royal Bafokeng Holdings. This move underscores Telkom’s…

A new BMW Group Vision Vehicle provides a first glimpse of the Neue Klasse as an SAV: The BMW Vision Neue Klasse X brings the aesthetics, technology, sustainability, and philosophy of the Neue Klasse to the Sports Activity Vehicles sector. The first fully-electric raised derivative on the new architecture will go into series production at Plant Debrecen (Hungary) in 2025. “Together with the BMW Vision Neue Klasse, the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X showcases the breadth of our future BMW model line-up. The Neue Klasse reflects the variety of all the models that customers want today and in the future…

The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has imposed a hefty R475 million administrative fine on Markus Jooste, the former CEO of Steinhoff, for breaching the Financial Markets Act (FMA) in connection to his disclosure of Steinhoff International’s financial status. Following an earlier determination by the FSCA that Markus Jooste violated the FMA and was subject to a R20 million penalty under the Financial Sector Act, the decision and penalty imposed by the FSCA were affirmed by the Financial Services Tribunal. “The investigation found that Jooste and Dirk Schreiber made or published false, misleading, or deceptive statements about Steinhoff International Holdings…

The brakes are being tapped in the used car market in South Africa. In February 2024, sales declined by 1% year-on-year and by 8% month-on-month. While the brakes are far from being slammed, a slight decline in this sector is evident. According to data released by AutoTrader, 28,658 used cars were sold during the month of love. This compares to 28,894 in February 2023 and 30,996 in January 2024. Turning to new vehicle sales, naamsa | The Automotive Business Council reports that the February 2024 new passenger car market – at 28,857 units – registered a decline of 925 cars,…

Co-founders of Inflection Mustafa Suleyman and Karén Simonyan are joining Microsoft to form a new organization called Microsoft AI, focused on advancing Copilot and our other consumer AI products and research. In June 2023, Inflection revealed securing $1.3 billion in funding to develop its vision of ‘more personalised AI,’ with Microsoft as the primary investor. “Today we are also announcing that two of our three co-founders, Mustafa and Karén, will be leaving Inflection to start Microsoft AI, a new division at Microsoft that will bring together their consumer AI efforts, as well as Copilot, Bing and Edge,” Inflection wrote in…

After school, many kids seek solace in TikTok after a day of classes. As a parent one might ask, what could be more exciting and engaging? For Gareth, my son, it was the brand new Volvo XC90 T8 that he saw, for the first time, when he got home from school on Monday. Forget TikTok, homework, and mother’s homemade scrumptious lunch, the only thing on Gareth’s mind was riding in the passenger seat of the Volvo XC90 T8. Not wanting to disappoint the boy, I grabbed the car keys and unlocked the doors. Smiling, Gareth settled into the passenger’s seat.…