Author: Gugu Lourie

The logistics sector plays a crucial role in the economy, facilitating the movement of goods across vast distances. However, this sector is also a significant contributor to carbon emissions. As the world increasingly focuses on sustainability, it is imperative for logistics companies to adopt strategies that reduce their carbon footprint. According to Martínez, a research scientist at the MIT Centre for Transportation and Logistics, freight transportation accounts for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and its carbon footprint is projected to double by 2050. “As a responsible corporate citizen, we recognise the importance of taking action to mitigate this impact,”…

The Bidvest Group board has approved the process to dispose of Bidvest Bank and its related entity, FinGlobal. This decision is part of a broader strategic restructuring aimed at aligning and strengthening the group’s core business operations. The short-term insurance businesses within Bidvest’s Financial Services division, which primarily focus on vehicle insurance and related value-added products, will be transferred to the Automotive division. This move supports the Automotive division’s strategy of diversifying into allied automotive services. The disposal process for Bidvest Life, which had been announced previously, is currently underway. Following these disposals, the Bidvest Group will comprise six divisions:…

In the digital economy, data is cast as a critical asset, one that’s key to production. Indeed, data is now a foundational and strategic resource for every organization and, as we step into the YB — yottabyte — age, data applications are proliferating, making trustworthiness and reliability central to data infrastructure. Dr. Peter Zhou, president of Huawei’s Data Storage Product Line, explains that as data usage evolves, so must storage solutions. AI demands efficient, data-driven storage. “AI is different,” Zhou notes. “It’s the right time to redefine data storage.” Typically, boosting AI data centre performance focuses on adding GPUs. However,…

Panyaza Lesufi, Premier of Gauteng Province, announced that the seventh administration has no plans to alter any of the policies set by its predecessor led by the African National Congress. Speaking at the Huawei Africa Connect conference in Sandton, Lesufi emphasised that the new government of national unity will not consider any policy changes or shifts. “We will accelerate policy transformation,” Lesufi stated. “We will work with businesses to bring about change and improve service delivery. The new administration, once sworn in, understands its mandate to collaborate effectively.” Lesufi highlighted digital transformation as crucial for enhancing service delivery. “The world…

Standard Bank has significantly enhanced banking convenience and cost savings for its customers through strategic partnerships and customer-focused policies. Over the past three years, ending on June 30, 2024, the bank’s initiatives have led to savings exceeding R670 million for clients using the Saswitch ATM network. In a groundbreaking decision in 2021, Standard Bank eliminated the Saswitch network fee, allowing customers to use ATMs from other banks without incurring penalty fees. This move alone saved customers R245 million in 2023, solidifying Standard Bank’s reputation as one of the leading banks in South Africa to offer such a benefit. With over…

MWC Shanghai 2024 saw Huawei take centre stage with a powerful showcase of its latest technological advancements, setting the tone for the mobile AI era. Huawei’s presence at the event underscored its commitment to pushing the boundaries of 5G-A and AI integration, promising a transformative impact on the global mobile industry. What is 5G-A or 5.5G? 5.5G technology, still evolving, builds on 5G’s foundation to improve network performance. It aims to provide download speeds up to 10 Gbps and upload speeds up to 1 Gbps. It is said that in a 5.5G network and at Gigabit download speeds, the maximum…

Huawei’s commitment to fostering digital talent in Sub-Saharan Africa continues to soar as the company plans to train an additional 150,000 young people through its LEAP digital skills development programme over the next three years, according to Gao Xiang, President of Huawei’s Sub-Saharan Africa division. LEAP, which stands for leadership, employability, advancement, and possibility, was launched in April 2022 to equip students from across the region with essential digital skills aimed at fostering innovation and technological solutions within their communities. “The LEAP Framework targets pivotal areas including digital leadership, employability enhancement, skill advancement, and future opportunities across Sub-Saharan Africa,” noted…

After five years of investing in Metrofibre, the South African Housing and Infrastructure Fund (SAHIF), led by its founder and CEO Rali Mampeule, has announced its decision to exit the business. SAHIF aims to diversify into the emerging market independently, with the expectation of high returns. SAHIF had a busy year in 2024, raising R700 million for expansion in the first half of the year alone. As part of its expansion plans, the fund is acquiring a majority stake in one of South Africa’s emerging fibre network operators specialising in prepaid fibre services. The Fibre to the Home (FTTH) market…

Global technology brand HONOR today revealed two industry-leading on-device AI innovations created to empower individuals and introduce a new level of user safety. During its keynote at MWC Shanghai 2024, titled “The Human-AI Synergy: Intelligent Devices Will Empower People Better,” HONOR showcased its latest advancements in human-centric AI, AI Defocus Eye Protection[1] and AI Deepfake Detection. The brand also reiterated its focus on human-centric on-device AI and its belief in the potential for AI-enabled hardware to empower users by delivering tailored services while protecting user privacy. “AI is revolutionizing our lives and driving the smartphone industry forward, but much of the industry…

Stellenbosch-based Biotech startup Immobazyme has secured R24.5 million for global expansion of its innovative enzyme immobilization and precision fermentation platform. This funding, led by the University Technology Fund (UTF) and University of Stellenbosch Enterprises (USE), will enable Immobazyme to double its facility size and dramatically scale its high-value proteins and enzyme production capabilities. The company plans to double the size of its facility and dramatically scale its production capabilities, positioning itself at the forefront of South Africa’s biotech industry. Dominic Nicholas, CEO of Immobazyme, expressed his gratitude in achieving this milestone. “We’re incredibly grateful to all our investors and partners…