Author: Gugu Lourie

Siemens and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are enhancing their collaboration, streamlining the development of generative artificial intelligence (AI) applications for businesses across diverse sectors and sizes. Professionals in engineering, manufacturing, logistics, insurance, and banking can now effortlessly create and enhance applications using state-of-the-art generative AI technology. “This is achieved through Siemens’ integration of Amazon Bedrock—a service providing access to high-performing foundation models from leading AI companies via a unified API, complete with security, privacy, and responsible AI features—with Mendix, the prominent low-code platform within the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio,” reads the statement. “By integrating Amazon Bedrock into our low-code platform, we…

The significance of artificial intelligence has become a focal point of discussion, particularly in the wake of the introduction of ChatGPT. This advanced technology prompts us to reflect on its potential impact across various industries. The question that arises is not just about the importance of artificial intelligence but also about the profound transformations it might bring to diverse sectors. As we navigate this era of rapid technological advancements, the implications of AI on industries are both intriguing and far-reaching. The deployment of AI, such as the capabilities exhibited by ChatGPT, raises fundamental questions about how businesses and sectors will…

Volkswagen, the German automaker, plans to integrate the artificial-intelligence-based chatbot ChatGPT into its models equipped with the IDA voice assistant. The German automaker announced Monday in a statement that it will be the first volume manufacturer to offer Chat GPT as a standard feature from the second quarter of 2024 in many production vehicles. The AI-driven chatbot, utilising Cerence’s Chat Pro product, is set to launch in the second quarter, initially debuting in Europe. The new chatbot is offered in conjunction with the latest generation of infotainment in the following models: ID.703, ID.4, ID.5, ID.3, the all-new Tiguan and the…

Telkom today announced that an unidentified bidder for its mast and tower business housed in Swiftnet, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, completes confirmatory due diligence. “Shareholders are herewith further informed that continued progress has been made on meeting certain agreed milestones under the exclusivity arrangement, including that the bidder has completed its confirmatory due diligence,” Telkom inform investors. “Shareholders are advised that the exclusive negotiations may or may not lead to a transaction, and therefore, are advised to exercise caution when dealing in the Company’s securities until a further announcement is made.” Two months ago, Telkom disclosed that it…

On Monday, BT Group, the largest telecommunications provider in the UK, announced the activation of its inaugural electric vehicle (EV) charging unit, repurposed from a street cabinet traditionally used for broadband and phone cabling. This marks the initial phase of technical trials aimed at evaluating the potential upgrade of up to 60,000 cabinets, aligning with government sustainability goals and the decarbonization of the UK’s transportation system. These trials, designed to address the growing demand for EV charging infrastructure by repurposing existing street furniture, will investigate the scalability of this solution to alleviate the shortage of charging stations on UK roads.…

The following speech was delivered by the DA Federal Leader, John Steenhuisen, during a Live Broadcast in Cape Town earlier today urged prompt action regarding suspected NSFAS corruption. Steenhusisen said: The tentacles of corruption that feed the ANC have now identified a new target: South African students. While the youth of this country struggle against the odds to build a better future, the ANC is stealing their dreams. Last week, a series of leaked recordings released by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse revealed the details of a criminal cartel operating inside the Department of Higher Education and the National Student…

The popularity of the Frame TV has led Samsung to introduce a speaker variant, aptly named the Music Frame. This has been revealed ahead of CES 2024. Samsung announced that the Music Frame is  a customizable speaker compatible with SmartThings and provides surround sound when paired with Samsung TVs and soundbars. The company added that the Music Frame can either operate as a standalone wireless speaker or pair with a Samsung TV and soundbar via Q-Symphony to augment bass and surround sound. “Seamlessly blending into its environment by camouflaging itself inside modern picture frames, Music Frame provides high-quality sound without…

The City of Ekurhuleni has warned the public to be aware of job scam messages that are being sent through social media purporting to be from the city. The city said its job application process is not conducted through social media platforms or social media messaging. “Our positions are strictly advertised on our website: www.ekurhuleni.gov.za/vacancies where permanent, temporal and fixed-term vacancies are advertised. “The city strongly advises the public not to respond to unsolicited offers of employment or those who seek information claiming to work for or to be associated with the City of Ekurhuleni,” the city said in a…

Customs officials from the South African Revenue Service (SARS) have seized 23 kilogrammes of drugs cleverly disguised as molded artwork at the cargo sheds of OR Tambo International Airport this week. The estimated street value of the seized drugs is R37 million. During their routine inspection rounds, Customs officers discovered a box destined for New Zealand containing molded artwork that raised suspicions. Utilising a narcotics test kit, officers confirmed that some of the items were positive for crystal meth, with a weight of 10 kilogrammes. Subsequent tests conducted by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on other items in the…

The broadcasting rights for all 52 matches of the forthcoming 2023 African Cup of Nations tournament have been successfully acquired by the SABC. Originally slated for June and July of the previous year, the tournament, set to commence next week, was postponed due to apprehensions regarding the summer weather conditions in the Ivory Coast. The declaration, disclosed on Friday, comes in the wake of a Wednesday pronouncement by MultiChoice, where the pay-television provider revealed that its subsidiary SuperSport had been unsuccessful in obtaining the broadcasting rights for the tournament. “Total Energies AFCON 2023 is a highly anticipated sports spectacle that…

Volkswagen is preparing to unveil a refreshed version of the eighth-generation VW Golf. This facelift holds significant importance for both the brand and the car itself, especially as the model commemorates its 50th anniversary in 2024. The world premiere of the new Golf  will take place already at the end of January – and like its predecessors, it will bring numerous innovations into series production, according to VW. In 1974, the Golf succeeded the Volkswagen Beetle  It was an automotive revolution when Volkswagen presented the first Golf and thus the successor to the legendary Beetle in 1974: with front-wheel drive…

Intel and DigitalBridge Group have jointly established Articul8 AI, Inc. (Articul8), an independent firm dedicated to providing enterprise customers with a comprehensive, vertically-optimised, and secure generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) software platform. This platform ensures that AI capabilities, encompassing customer data, training, and inference, remain safeguarded within the confines of the enterprise security perimeter. Additionally, Articul8 offers customers the flexibility to choose between cloud, on-premises, or hybrid deployment options. Leveraging intellectual property (IP) and technology developed at Intel, Articul8 is the result of this collaboration. Both Intel and DigitalBridge will maintain strategic alignment on go-to-market initiatives and continue their collaboration to…

MTN Nigeria will cut off customers that have not complied with new national identity regulations, as part of an industry-wide order from the Nigerian government. In April 2022, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said all operators are required to restrict outgoing calls of subscribers whose SIMs are not yet linked with their national identity numbers (NINs). For wary investors, the registration programme could be a concern as previous clashes with Nigerian authorities have hammered MTN’s share price. MTN informed investors that  it has “received a  formal directive from the NCC to implement full network barring on all phone lines for…

Volvo Car South Africa has confirmed that the new fully electric EX30 is well on its way to local shores, with the country’s first allocation of units already on the water. Scheduled to launch locally in the opening quarter of 2024, the highly anticipated EX30 will touch down as one of the most affordable electric vehicles (EVs) on the market, with the five-strong line-up bearing a starting price of R775 900. As of September 2023, more than 150 pre-orders for the small Swedish luxury SUV had already been placed. Greg Maruszewski, Managing Director at Volvo Car South Africa, says the fact…

In a groundbreaking initiative, TymeBank has successfully facilitated the disbursement of an astounding R200 million in previously unclaimed benefits from the Motor Industry Retirement Fund (MIRF). The Motor Industry Fund Administrators (MIFA), entrusted with managing retirement funds on behalf of MIRF beneficiaries, played a pivotal role in this endeavour. TymeBank’s innovative approach to payments, fueled by its advanced technology and the introduction of the Pay2ID solution, allowed for the secure and efficient transfer of funds. Lihle Khoza, CEO of MIFA, says: “When MIFA approached TymeBank to explore this initiative, the team at TymeBank readily welcomed our mission and has been…

Over the past few years, social media has experienced exponential growth. As South African consumers dedicate an increasing amount of their daily routine to social platforms, retailers are actively seeking ways to engage with them. Notably, the surge in Black Friday media spending across Sub-Saharan Africa’s prominent social channels, has been noteworthy in recent times. In 2022, the digital media investment for Black Friday in Sub-Saharan Africa witnessed a substantial 60% increase. We conducted an interview with Stephen Newton, the Managing Director of Aleph, who acts as a representative for companies in Sub-Saharan Africa, including X, TikTok, Snapchat, and Spotify in order…

This month’s used car sales story is – in large part – about KIA. In November, AutoTrader’s used car sales data shows that KIA was the brand among the ten best-selling brands to post the highest positive sales growth. And among the ten best-selling models, the KIA Picanto also experienced the highest growth in sales. The KIA brand posted a 25% increase in used car sales over the previous month, while its KIA Picanto model boasted a 20.8% month-on-month sales growth. The KIA Picanto is knocking on the door of the most sold variant ranking too. While not among the five top-selling variants in…

South African VAT vendors should familiarise themselves with SARS’s recently launched automated VAT assessment system. SARS’ notice, which was issued on 11 December 2023 provides that the new system will automatically issue assessments for those who fail to submit necessary verification documents timeously. Most notably, corrections will not be allowed for the same period once an automated VAT assessment is issued. Zulfah Mullins, tax compliance officer at Hobbs Sinclair highlights the significance of this update for VAT vendors. Key points include: Estimated assessments will be issued if vendors fail to submit necessary documents during verification. Corrections for the same period…

While new car sales in South Africa remain under pressure – and, depending on December sales, may not return to pre-pandemic levels this year – the used car market certainly isn’t in the doldrums. According to the used car sales data supplied by AutoTrader, a total of 32,300 used cars moved through AutoTraders platform in November 2023, a 6.6% increase over the 30,286 cars sold in November 2022¹. In stark comparison, according to naamsa | The Automotive Business Council, 29,384 new passenger cars were sold in South Africa during November 2023 – a significant decline of 4,052 cars – or a…

Momentum Metropolitan Holdings has promoted Ravikumaran Govender as Group Chief Digital and Technology Officer (CDTO), effective 1 January 2024. He makes the move from his current role as Momentum Metropolitan Group Digital Transformation Executive. With over 15 years of service in the financial services and consulting industries, Govender presents an impressive scope of experience and innovative thinking applicable to his new role. His focus will be on making sure all the Group’s digital activities and innovations are aligned with market needs and opportunities, while making sure the operations are in sync across all businesses in the Group. Govender holds various leadership…

These days, most of us live increasingly connected lives. While it’s perhaps worth considering “unplugging” – that is, refraining from using your digital devices – for at least part of the upcoming holidays, there’s one time you most certainly should not be without the ability to communicate via such technology.Yes, we’re talking about the humble road trip. During any lengthy journey via South Africa’s highways and byways, it’s important you remain connected and able to reach out should you require some sort of assistance or maybe even just for some entertainment. So, what steps should you take to ensure your vehicle is…

The Eskom Board is delighted to declare the selection of Dan Marokane as the incoming Group Chief Executive of Eskom. Marokane, a certified Chemical Engineer with an MBA, brings over two decades of executive expertise to the role. He is scheduled to assume his position at Eskom by no later than March 31, 2024. Marokane returns to Eskom after he and three other senior executives were suspended following an ethical stand they took against state capture, fraud and corruption.  He has experience working in distressed organisations with visible and pressurised turnaround mandates. His recent assignment is at Tongaat-Hulett where he…

Dr. Bongani Mabaso, the CEO of the State IT Agency (Sita), has tendered his resignation, leaving the agency, which has previously been marred by corruption issues. SITA board said in a statement that it has accepted a request from the Managing Director, Dr . Bongani Mabaso, to be released early from his employment contract with the company. Dr Mabaso joined the company on 01 April 2023 and was on a fixed term contract for five years. SITA said he indicated the desire to pursue interests elsewhere, aligned with his career direction and growth. “The Board respects the choice and decision…

BestAgent today announced it has close to 800 estate agents registered on its platform that help consumers select top estate agents. The platform was developed to enable South African consumers to make informed decisions when selecting estate agents. “Our platform is a game-changer for anyone navigating the real estate market,” explains Van Niekerk, CEO of BestAgent. “We provide a transparent and reliable way for both buyers and sellers to identify the best-suited estate agents in their desired areas. The idea for Best Agent was born during the March lockdown in 2020. One year later, Koole turned the idea into a…

Yassir is set to become available to Uber Eats users across multiple locations in Gauteng, with a national rollout anticipated early next year. The integration of Yassir stores into the Uber Eats app will grant customers convenient access to a diverse array of grocery options for swift delivery. This strategic move aligns seamlessly with Yassir’s dedication to broadening its offerings and cultivating strategic relationships. At the forefront of its collaboration with Uber Eats, Yassir is unwaveringly committed to furnishing consumers with an extensive selection of goods and services, including fresh groceries, convenience items, personal care products, pet food, and more—all…