Author: Contributor
by Margaret Nienaber In a strange new world characterised by physical distance, we are rediscovering the value of real human connections – between colleagues, clients, communities, families and friends. Importantly, the pandemic has reaffirmed our belief that digital technology can help us to become more human and connected, not less. Standard Bank Wealth has expedited its digital innovations amid the crisis, yet we have been equally focused on the need to be thoughtful, empathetic and kind in our interactions at a time when anxiety and uncertainty about the future is elevated. To keep the communication lines open from the start…
By Rubesh Doomun PORT LOUIS, Mauritius — Much ink, and oil, has already been spilled about Mauritius having to deal with an ecological catastrophe. A few weeks before, everything was operating at leisurely speed on the south-east of Mauritius. Lockdown was a couple of months behind, and the local fishermen could envisage getting back to normal business in an attempt at salvaging earnings for the second half of this calendar year. The sea was naturally quiet. The usual picturesque background with the blue ocean, the radiant sun, and the usual greenery of the sugarcane fields would, however, quickly slip into…
Ask any business, whether big or small who has done digital marketing at some point of time on how easy or difficult it is to choose a full-service digital marketing agency. They’ll admit, it is not an easy task and finding a really good digital marketing agency is even harder. It’s tough to find an agency you can trust with something as crucial and valuable as your web presence. One needs to understand that every firm and business has its unique way of approaching clients/customers and hence it goes without saying that the digital marketing campaigns should be crafted keeping…
South Africans now have another crisis to worry about, their personal information has been lost to a fraudster who has gained access to 24 million people’s information. The information in question is the exact detail required to access banking information, access accounts and steal identities. Cybersecurity expert and J2 Software CEO John Mc Loughlin says the exact end game is not clear, but the possibilities are endless. “The initial hype around Experian mentioned they had been hacked and data was stolen. With additional detail it seems that none of the systems were breached and the personal information of 24 million…
In 2018, the Mail & Guardian ran a story under the headline “Who the fax is still sending faxes?” Surprisingly they found “it still has a ‘massive’ user base”, particularly in the health care and financial services sectors. Government is also big on faxing. This is backed up by a 2019 article in The Conversation “Why do people still use fax machines?”, which states that, “Millions of people, businesses and community groups send millions of faxed pages every day… It turns out that in many cases, faxing is more secure, easier to use and better suited to existing work habits…
By Larry Edsall As part of the rollout of its e-2008 all-electric sport utility vehicle, Peugeot reminds that it has nearly 80 years of experience with electric vehicles. Peugeot’s first EV wasn’t planned but was the result of what the French automaker terms “simply ingenuity.” In 1941, faced with the German occupation of France and fuel shortages as Europe went to war, Peugeot developed “a unique alternative for the time. That alternative was the VLV, short for Véhicule Léger de Ville, or “Light City Vehicle.” The VLV was a small cabriolet with two offset seats and an electric drivetrain. Peugeot traces its EV…
by George Thabit Ayad Thomas Cloud services are critical for SMEs in the current environment, but they require experienced advisory and a comprehensive offering. The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown has effectively demobilised the global economy – and it’s no different here in South Africa. Production has plunged and unemployment is at critical levels. National GDP is set to shrink across the globe, with the associated multiplier impacts on small business. Even as we ease into the reopening stage of the crisis, the question remains, what kind of an economy will we be returning to? Many business processes will be…
by Rob Hare and Aneria Bouwer SARS has recently announced the relevant dates in respect of the 2020 filing season for individuals. There are some significant procedural changes this year, most noteworthy of which is the new auto-assessment procedure for non-provisional taxpayers. The fact that SARS branches may not be visited without an appointment is also important for those taxpayers who must visit a SARS branch in order to submit their tax returns. 2020 Filing Season for Individuals Individuals can start submitting their income tax returns on 1 September 2020. However, unlike previous years, provision is now being made for…
by Jean-Louis Nel Earlier this month, the Pretoria High Court granted a small business owner an urgent basis for relief against the South African Revenue Service (SARS) who depleted his bank account without following due process. The court ordered SARS to set aside the third appointment of Absa who collected R1.3-million on behalf of SARS from the taxpayer’s bank account in terms of Section 179 of the Tax Administration Act (TAA). The Court further ordered SARS to repay the amount collected from the taxpayer’s bank account, together with the costs of the application on a punitive scale within three business…
By Dalene Deale South Africa’s rapidly-growing FinTech sector could play a key role in helping the country’s SMMEs recover from the impact of COVID-19 while bringing millions of ‘credit invisible’ consumers into the formal economy at the same time. The spread of the pandemic has already seen a surge in digital payments as businesses and consumers seek contactless ways to send and receive money. Now, the ability of FinTechs to use a wide range of alternative data sources to quickly assess risk and issue loans could be just what micro-businesses and consumers need to survive the current crisis and unlock…