Author: Contributor

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.…

“Let’s stand up for our healthcare heroes!” This is our call to fellow citizens in solidarity with healthcare workers currently stretched to the limit due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. We, 2Care4Carers, are a team of professionals, with a shared mission to assist and support hospitals during this challenging time in our country and the world at large. As COVID-19 continues to demand more and stretch facilities beyond the limit, we call on individuals and organisations alike to join this initiative, which aims to assist by raising funds and securing donations of essential goods for our caregivers. We would like to…

by Ralph Hamann and Scott Drimie In South Africa a range of social solidarity networks have emerged to respond to the COVID-19 hunger crisis. They are a vital part of the societal response because of their speed, innovation, and local responsiveness. They complement the central role of government. Yet the government is struggling to develop this partnership and risks stifling solidarity networks with bureaucratic control. Government responses to crises are crucial. But the scale and complexity of the current crisis are too great for the government acting alone. It is constrained by its prior way of working, which emphasises standardisation…

by Julia de Kadt The COVID-19 pandemic is a fundamentally social and societal event. The virus spreads between people, and impacts individuals, households and communities. Any country’s response to the pandemic must be guided by social data and expertise as much as by medical data and expertise. Failing to identify and address social impacts of the pandemic opens the way for devastating social damage and loss of life. Reliable and openly available social data are key to ensuring that a functional society emerges from this pandemic, rather than one more desperately vulnerable than before. This is as true in South…

by Marcos E. García-Ojeda I, like many Americans, miss the pre-pandemic world of hugging family and friends, going to work and having dinner at a restaurant. A protective vaccine for SARS-Cov2 is likely to be the most effective public health tool to get back to that world. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, cautiously estimates that a vaccine could be available in 12 to 18 months. I am a professor of microbiology and immunology and study how the immune system develops. I think Dr. Fauci’s estimate is an optimistic one, but possible. Traditional vaccine…