Author: Gugu Lourie

University life is a time of newfound independence, late-night study sessions, a buzzing social life, and the ever-present challenge of managing finances. But where do South African students really spend their money? The Varsity Vibe 2024 Student Spend Survey, based on 18,819 responses, sheds light on student spending habits, revealing the financial pressures young adults face. The reality of student expenses Many students underestimate the true cost of living in South Africa, according to Varsity Vibe. Moving out of home for the first time and handling their own shopping presents a steep financial learning curve. Survey respondents expressed surprise at…

The Mayor of Tshwane is set to table an adjustment budget tomorrow, proposing an additional R315 million for so-called watchman services, just days after revelations surfaced about a potential business link between ANC Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise and one of the security companies contracted by the city. “This is a blatant attempt to entrench wasteful spending while ignoring smarter, more effective security solutions,” said Ald Cilliers Brink, DA Tshwane Caucus Leader. The DA has long advocated for modern security measures such as CCTV cameras, motion detectors, and mobile armed response units—proven to be more effective and cost-efficient than relying on…

The DA’s relentless push for a corruption probe into Tshwane’s ANC Deputy Mayor has forced Mayor Nasiphi Moya to take action and launch an investigation into her second-in-command. This follows the DA’s demand for a fast-tracked forensic investigation into allegations that a company linked to Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise, Triotic Protection Services, was unfairly awarded a municipal tender for watchman services, potentially in violation of procurement regulations. “The people of Tshwane deserve transparency and accountability,” said Cllr Jacqui Uys, DA Tshwane Spokesperson on Finance. “We need to determine whether Modise is financially benefiting from the City through this company, which…

Eskom announced that loadshedding was suspended today at 5:00am, following the recovery of generation capacity and the replenishment of emergency reserves. “We maintain our guidance that loadshedding is largely behind us due to structural improvements in the generation fleet. Our focus remains on eliminating loadshedding as a structural constraint on the economy,” said Eskom Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane. “There will be valuable lessons to be learned from the set of multiple unit trips that were unconnected and purely technical in nature related to electrical and control system issues within auxiliary parts of our power stations,” continued Marokane. Over the…

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has reported Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Minister Barbara Creecy to the Public Protector over alleged political interference in the appointment of the new South African Airways (SAA) CEO. According to DA National Spokesperson Willie Aucamp MP, the appointment process has been tainted by undue political meddling, with Minister Creecy reportedly set to recommend John Lamola, who performed worst in independent assessments, over far more qualified candidates, including Kenya Airways CEO Allan Kilavuka and top-scoring contender Philip Saunders. “The fact that Lamola, the lowest-scoring candidate, is being favoured over more competent individuals raises serious red flags…

Volvo Car South Africa  is introducing an exclusive offer to make electric vehicle (EV) ownership more convenient and accessible. As the country’s leading EV brand, Volvo is providing new EV buyers with two years of free public charging, a GridCars wallbox with installation support, and 10 GB of Vodacom data per month for three years. Two years of free public charging New Volvo EV owners will receive a charging voucher worth R12,000, linked to the GridCars charge card, valid for 24 months. “South African motorists have shown they’re ready for electric motoring, as demonstrated by the strong sales of Volvo…

Eskom has reduced load shedding from stage four to stage two, following the successful restoration of several power generation units. According to the power utility, this improvement comes after all five units at Majuba, two units at Camden, and one unit at Medupi were brought back online. Over the weekend, eight out of ten generation units tripped, initially prompting Eskom to implement stage three load shedding before escalating it to stage six. Eskom stated on X: Eskom is currently #loadshedding in #Stage2 Eskom customers may obtain their loadshedding schedules from https://t.co/UzMtttaJ4q Municipal customers should contact the local municipality for schedules…

Lenovo announced its third-quarter results for fiscal year 2024/25, reporting significant increases in overall group revenue and profit. The company’s revenue grew 20% year-on-year to $18.8 billion, marking the third consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. The group’s diversified growth engines continue to accelerate, with non-PC revenue mix up more than four points year-on-year to 46%. The quarter’s results were driven by the group’s focused hybrid-AI strategy, the turnaround of the Infrastructure Solutions Group, as well as double-digit growth for both the Intelligent Devices Group and Solutions and Services Group. Locally in South Africa, Lenovo holds the no.1 market share in…

Prosus has reached a conditional agreement to acquire Just Eat Takeaway.com for €4.1 billion in cash, aiming to create a leading European food delivery company. The offer of €20.30 per share represents a 49% premium over the three-month volume-weighted average price. This acquisition is expected to position the combined entity as the fourth-largest food delivery group globally. “We are excited for Just Eat Takeaway.com to join the Prosus Group and the opportunity to create a European tech champion,” said Fabricio Bloisi, Prosus’s CEO. “Prosus already has an extensive food delivery portfolio outside of Europe and a proven track record of…

JSE-listed technology group Altron anticipates a significant rise in headline earnings, forecasting an increase of up to 40%. The company attributes this growth to its customer-centric approach, disciplined strategy execution, and profit enhancement initiatives. Altron announced today that it is in the process of finalising its financial results for the year ending 28 February 2025. The group expects headline earnings per share (HEPS) from continuing operations to be at least 40% (a minimum of 41 cents) higher than the 103 cents reported for the twelve months ending 29 February 2024. HEPS is South Africa’s primary profit indicator. Altron stated that…

South Africa’s Decentralised Finance (DeFi) market is still in its early stages but is steadily expanding, according to a recent study published by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA). The FSCA’s DeFi Market Study aims to enhance the Authority’s understanding of DeFi-related activities in the country, providing valuable insights into the opportunities and risks associated with this emerging financial technology. DeFi applications operate on blockchain technology and utilise smart contracts: self-executing pieces of code that define the rules of a given DeFi product. These applications enable users to engage in traditional financial activities such as borrowing, lending, and trading assets…

In a major step toward bridging the justice gap, the Empire Partner Foundation (EPF) has developed a cutting-edge digital case management solution for ProBono.Org. This innovation is set to revolutionise how legal assistance is delivered, making justice more accessible to those who need it most. The newly developed platform streamlines ProBono.Org’s operations, enhancing case management, improving client tracking, and enabling real-time oversight of legal assistance. By digitising case handling, the system empowers ProBono.Org to expand its reach, tackling systemic barriers and providing critical legal support to underserved communities. Joanna Govender, CEO of EPF, emphasises the impact of this technological advancement:…

JSE-listed technology firm Blue Label Telecoms has once again raised questions about its financial dealings with struggling mobile operator Cell C, as its latest financial results reveal continued transactions involving its subsidiaries, Comm Equipment Company (CEC) and The Prepaid Company (TPC). These transactions involve substantial airtime purchases, prompting scrutiny over whether Cell C is being financed in an unconventional manner. Strange airtime purchases to ‘fund’ Cell C In its latest financial report, Blue Label disclosed that TPC now holds either a 53.57% or 63.19% stake in Cell C. The ambiguity around this ownership raises a fundamental question: Is Cell C…

JSE-listed Blue Label Telecoms has increased its stake in Cell C to 53.57% through its subsidiary, The Prepaid Company (TPC), raising fresh questions about whether the struggling mobile operator is now a subsidiary or remains an associate company. On January 24, 2025, Blue Label announced that ICASA had approved the transfer of Cell C’s spectrum and network licenses, clearing the way for the company to assume more control. TPC acquired an additional 4.04% of Cell C shares from Cedar Cellular Investment 1 (SPV1). However, despite the increased shareholding, Blue Label maintains it does not have de facto control of Cell…

In a significant move toward enhancing transparency and accountability in law enforcement, South African Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has announced plans to deploy body-worn cameras for police officers. The revelation came in a written Parliamentary response to Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament (MP) Billy Mzamo, with the rollout set to begin in April 2025. However, concerns have been raised about the slow pace and limited scale of the initiative. According to Minister Mchunu, the South African Police Service (SAPS) will commence the procurement of 100 body-worn cameras this year, at an estimated cost of R28,818 per unit. This translates…

The automotive industry has started the year off positively, with strong sales in both the new and used car segments. January is typically one of the better-performing months in terms of sales, and this is reflected in steady used car sales and increasing new vehicle sales, reflecting strengthening confidence amongst South African consumers.  Data from South Africa’s most trusted motoring marketplace, AutoTrader, shows strong used car sales, even against January 2024’s exceptional performance. In January 2025, 30,961 used cars were sold—a +17.2% increase from December 2024’s 26,424. Year-on-year, sales dipped slightly by just -0.1% from the 30,996 vehicles sold in…

The City of Cape Town is ramping up its paperless billing campaign, with over 430,000 accounts already being sent via email. As part of its commitment to digital transformation, the City has announced that it will discontinue sending printed bills through the South African Postal Service after 31 December 2025. This initiative is aimed at improving efficiency, reducing environmental impact, and ensuring more reliable bill delivery. Residents who do not have access to email are encouraged to contact the City’s Call Centre for assistance in making alternative arrangements. “We’ve made a lot of progress over the years with reducing the…

Crime in South Africa is vastly underreported, leaving many communities without safe and effective ways to alert authorities. Enter Community Wolf, an AI-driven platform that is revolutionizing crime reporting by enabling anonymous incident reports via WhatsApp. With over 30 million South Africans already using WhatsApp, Community Wolf makes crime reporting effortless, free, and completely anonymous. No apps, no personal details—just send a message to Wolf, and your report is processed in real-time to help prevent crime before it happens. “We work directly with community leaders, ward councillors, and security providers to transform anonymous reports into positive safety outcomes for all…

Volvo today reveals the Volvo EX30 Cross Country, designed for people who want big experiences from their small, fully electric SUV. Building on the success of the EX30, this rugged version is perfect for those eager to escape crowded cities and explore the great outdoors—rain, shine, snow, or ice. Volvo isn’t just selling a car; they’re offering an experience. Alongside the EX30 Cross Country, Volvo is launching a special experience package for buyers, including access to outdoor gear, accessories, and tips to help you make the most of your adventures. “Cross Country is more than just a car—it’s a lifestyle,”…

In an exciting move to modernise charitable giving, PayPoint, in partnership with the SPCA, is replacing outdated cash collection tins with a secure, seamless, and efficient digital donation platform. This innovative solution ensures no more lost or stolen donations, making it easier than ever to support animal rescue, shelter, and care. “We’re thrilled to announce that PayPoint, one of our standout portfolio companies, is making a paws-itive impact with its cutting-edge donation technology,” says EPF Tech Fund, a black-led venture builder focused on driving tech innovation across Africa. PayPoint, a FinTech leader specialising in advanced payment solutions, has teamed up…

In a thought-provoking essay on his personal blog, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged a pressing concern: the benefits of artificial intelligence may not be evenly distributed. To address this, Altman proposed a series of unconventional ideas, including a “compute budget,” aimed at ensuring AI’s transformative power reaches every corner of the globe. “We need to enable everyone on Earth to use a lot of AI,” Altman wrote, emphasizing the importance of equitable access to the technology. Among the “strange-sounding” solutions he floated is a system where individuals receive a set amount of computational resources, leveling the playing field and preventing…

President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the U.S. will impose a sweeping 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, a move that could have significant repercussions for South Africa’s economy. The decision, expected to be formally unveiled early this week, is part of a broader strategy to implement reciprocal tariffs on trading partners. “Any steel coming into the United States is going to have a 25% tariff,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, according to NBC News. He confirmed that aluminum imports would face the same levy, stating, “Aluminum, too,” when questioned by a reporter. Trump indicated…

Pretoria-based electric vehicle (EV) pioneer Everlectric has secured a major funding boost from the Vumela Fund, unlocking further capital for expansion and driving the adoption of electric commercial fleets in South Africa. This milestone positions Everlectric at the forefront of the country’s transition to sustainable transportation solutions. The global EV revolution is accelerating, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) reporting that global EV stock surpassed 16 million vehicles in 2022, a staggering 60% year-on-year increase. The momentum continued with a 35% rise in 2023 and a further 25% in 2024. South Africa is catching up, with the National Association of…

South Africa refuses to be bullied. That was the unwavering message from President Cyril Ramaphosa as he addressed the nation during his State of the Nation Address (SONA), responding to criticism from the US government under Donald Trump’s administration. Speaking on the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to democracy, equality, and global solidarity. “We stand for our shared humanity, not for the survival of the fittest,” Ramaphosa declared. “We will not be bullied. We will stand together as a united nation. We will speak with one voice in defense of our national interest, our…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to leveraging technology in law enforcement, saying the country is adopting surveillance, analytics, and smart policing solutions to modernize crime-fighting efforts. Speaking during his annual State of the Nation Address (SONA), Ramaphosa highlighted the crucial role of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital forensics in combatting financial crimes, corruption, and violent offenses. “We have seen the value of technology in fighting crime,” he stated. “By using AI in its fraud risk detection and verification work, SARS has prevented the leakage of over R95 billion in impermissible refunds, recovered R20 billion in revenue, and…