Author: Contributor
At a time when the whole world has been forced to make drastic changes to the way in which it operates, one has to wonder whether being at the helm of any organisation is an enviable position. As the cumulative effects of South Africa’s recent economic downturn and current world events make themselves felt, the ability to adapt to new models of working has been the fundamental driver of maintaining operations. Canon South Africa MD, David Preston, has been working from his home country in England when lockdown took effect, and when asked what challenges he’s had to overcome in…
As he told the National Assembly of the arrival of the COVID-19 storm, Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, says the department has started implementing a “surge strategy” in anticipation of the peak. Leading a debate on COVID-19, Mkhize said the storm has arrived and while government works tirelessly to ensure that the system is ready to manage the peak, South Africans have a duty to take the necessary precautions to ensure that they protect themselves and the lives of those around them. “The Department of Health has developed and is implementing the Surge Strategy, in anticipation of the peak. “This…
MyBroadband Insights has released the Q2 2020 Mobile Network Quality Report, which shows that MTN had the best mobile network in South Africa during the lockdown. The report is based on 278,890 speed tests which were performed by thousands of MyBroadband Speed Test App users across South Africa between 1 April and 30 June 2020. The research shows that South Africa had an average mobile download speed of 27.13Mbps and an average upload speed of 10.53Mbps. MTN had the highest average download speed at 52.28Mbps, followed by Vodacom on 29.08Mbps, Telkom on 20.16Mbps, Cell C on 17.62Mbps and Rain on…
by Sustainability Experts, Lungile Manzini and Lerato Moja While no one would choose to go through the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, researchers worldwide are keen to investigate the effects of this crisis global experiment. Around half of the world’s population is on lockdown in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19, a public health emergency that has claimed thousands of lives and sparked fears of the worst global recession since the Great Depression. This has brought about a profound change in the quality of air, water as well as the environment. Globally, people have been on lockdown which has brought…
by Suraya Hamdulay One of the most encouraging outcomes of the Coronavirus pandemic is the opportunity to literally stop, reflect and introspect. One of the many aspects that most people may be thinking about during COVID-19 is man’s relationship with nature and the environment. No matter how bad COVID-19 might seem, there are some positive elements of the lockdown… for the first time in living memory, almost all human activity literally stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drone footage from most modern cities around the world, according to the latest media reports, showed endearing scenes of nature reclaiming its natural place…
by Tendani Mantshimuli and Vimal Chagan On Wednesday, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni tabled a national emergency budget outlining reprioritisation of spending in light of the impact of the pandemic. Apart from numerous COVID-19 health and frontline services, boosts to local government spend and talk of potential infrastructure injections, Mboweni laid out no real reprieve for the average income-earning consumer – even as he detailed the dramatically worsened economic environment that consumers must face. While ‘protecting the most vulnerable’ was a driving theme in the budget reallocation, conspicuously absent was any mention of relief for all but the poorest members of…
By Kashira Naidoo and Zach George According to UNICEF’s Generation 2030/Africa Report, over the next three decades, almost two billion babies will be born in Africa. In fact, the report predicts that, by 2050, roughly 40% of all births, and the same percentage of all children, in the world will be in Africa – a massive increase on the 10% of the 1950s. It’s a well-known fact that the youth are the primary consumers of technology. It’s a fact that puts Africa, with its literally hundreds of millions of young people, firmly on the map as a significant global launchpad…
Nothing will be the same in the world post-COVID 19. As our economy slowly starts to reopen following a crippling lockdown, the realisation that consumer behaviour and the drivers of consumption patterns have been radically altered is laid bare. The financial and health impacts of COVID-19 and the lockdown are patently obvious. What is opaque, however, is how the changes to daily work and living routines are going to manifest in our societies and business environments for the long term. There will be a butterfly effect across every single industry sector and societal structure, and in this regard, insurance and…
Tech gadgets make life easier and fun! That said, if you are really in love with tech gadgets, then you ought to watch your spending. Most tech gadgets are usually very costly, and you are perhaps wondering how you can save bucks buying them. Well, we have compiled a few tips you can use to save more when purchasing your favourite electronic gadgets. Research before buying a tech gadget For starters, the best way to shop smart is to research. You need to compare prices and quality of different brands, both online and offline, if you can. Keep in mind…
Huawei has taken its ICT Academies which are run in several South African tertiary institutions, online to ensure that students do not miss out on crucial learning during the Covid-19 outbreak. Huawei is also offering several incentives to students who complete the training and exam. “By registering for these courses online, students can make good use of this potentially disruptive period to gain certification from Huawei and make themselves more attractive to employers. Given the uncertainty that lies ahead, this is more valuable than ever,” says Tsholofelo Llale, Huawei’s ICT Talent Development Manager. “The online training has been very informative.…