Author: Staff Writer

Many companies are looking for new ways to access markets and clients, given the impact of COVID-19 on our economies.  Current market conditions, as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown, have limited the opportunity for face-2-face sales meetings.  Manufacturing Indaba has developed a new virtual event platform that solves this market dilemma.  The new platform is known as Africa B2B and is a virtual business event providing 2 full days of virtual business meetings. Africa B2B affords companies with 2 days of new local and international clients to network, engage, sell, and showcase products and services.  Companies are looking for…

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, says the 64-dish MeerKAT, the pre-cursor to the Square Kilometer Array (SKA), will be expanded by 20 dishes at a cost of R800 million. The Minister said this when he outlined the department’s spending priorities during a virtual sitting of the National Assembly on Friday. Nzimande said that astronomy in South Africa remains important to its socio-economic landscape and that the heritage will further be strengthened through the MeerKAT, which has already been able to give the world a glimpse into the star-formation history of the universe. “To extend its research…

The Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel, has tested positive for COVID-19, the Presidency announced in a statement released on Saturday night. The Minister received his results today, 25 July 2020. This was the Minister’s second test to be conducted since the outbreak of this virus. Minister Patel is in good spirits and is in self-quarantine, and will continue to work from home. Those that have been in contact with the Minister are also in self-isolation and have been encouraged to get tested. On Friday, Patel participated in the virtual parliamentary budget vote debate on the revised budget…

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is investigating allegations that unscrupulous officials and businesses benefited from billions meant to fight COVID-19. According to a report by the Sunday Times, the SIU is investigating 90 companies that received contracts from the Gauteng health department. It is also investigating R30 million worth of allegedly irregular contracts in KwaZulu-Natal, as well as others in the Eastern Cape. The deals are believed to be worth more than R2.2bn, involving emergency purchases of personal protective equipment (PPE). Black Business Council president Sandile Zungu told the Sunday Times he was saddened to see that his lobbying for…

Police Minister Bheki Cele says the department will embark on a virtual media campaign to educate communities on the police’s response to reported gender-based violence cases. He said this when he outlined spending priorities for the men and women in blue during a virtual sitting of the National Assembly on Friday. Cele said police are supportive of initiatives that are aimed at improving access to support services for survivors through victim-centric criminal justice services. “As part of the Women’s Month activities, the department together with provincial departments will embark on a virtual media campaign to educate communities on SAPS response…

Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu says discussions on the mooted Basic Income Grant beyond October are in early stages. Zulu said this when she briefed members of Parliament in the National Assembly while outlining the department’s budget priorities for the year ahead on Friday. “As we consider multiple ways to extend the social protection coverage to those aged 18 to 59 years in the period beyond October 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic is bringing back the discussion about the Basic Income Grant. “The lack of social protection coverage for this group calls for an acceleration of efforts to put in place…

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Ronald Lamola says the department will introduce a new bill that will enable victims of gender-based violence to apply for a protection order online. The Minister said this when he outlined the department’s priorities during a virtual sitting of the National Assembly on Thursday. “I am pleased that our Domestic Violence Bill will introduce modernization in a radical form. If passed, our domestic violence bill will make it possible for one to apply for a protection order online. “This will be a leap forward in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide. “This is the…

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has cut the repo rate by 25 basis points. “The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to cut the repo rate by 25 basis points, taking it to 3.50% per annum, with effect from 24 July 2020. Three members preferred a cut of 25 basis points and two preferred to keep rates on hold,” Governor of the South African Reserve Bank, Lesetja Kganyago, said on Thursday. He said the implied path of policy rates over the forecast period, generated by the Quarterly Projection Model, indicates one repo rate cut of 25 basis points in…

Jaguar Land Rover and the University of Cambridge will help keep drivers’ eyes on the road and reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses in a post-COVID-19 world through new contactless touchscreen technology. The patented technology, known as ‛predictive touch’, uses artificial intelligence and sensors to predict a user’s intended target on the touchscreen – whether that’s satellite navigation, temperature controls or entertainment settings – without touching a button. The pioneering system, developed with engineers at the University of Cambridge, is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s Destination Zero vision – a desire to make its vehicles safer and the environment…

Technology offers the best opportunity for Africa’s advancement, and African countries have the right to choose which countries and companies they partner with in charting the technological development of their people. This was one of the messages emerging from a webinar hosted by the University of Johannesburg yesterday. Titled, “Gearing Africa for the 4th Industrial Revolution: Patterns, Prospects and Lessons,” the event saw stakeholders from business, academia, civil society and the media share insights on the continent’s future, and the role of technology in achieving its developmental aims. Panellists attending the UJ Gearing Africa for the 4th Industrial Revolution Webinar…

If you are worried about your driving licence that has expired during the lockdown, don’t stress, as you have until next year to renew it. Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has publicised the gazette announcing amended directions on the validity period of licences, which was published on Wednesday, 22 July. “All learner’s licences, driving licence cards, temporary driving licences and professional driving permits, which expired from 26 March up to 31 August 2020, are extended to 31 January 2021,” the gazette reads. In addition, all motor vehicle discs, temporary permits and roadworthy certificates, which expired between 26 March 2020 and 31…

Hello Paisa, one of South Africa’s largest international money transfer providers, today announced its customers are now able to send global money transfers for payout at the global network of Western Union. This partnership enables Hello Paisa customers to send money from South Africa to their family and loved ones for pay-out into billions of bank accounts in more than 100 countries, millions of wallets in a dozen countries or to Western Union’s retail network across 200 countries and territories. This collaboration further delivers on Western Union’s strategy to open its platform to third-party partners to help them expand their…

LG Electronics (LG) is bringing new meaning to immersive gaming with its new UltraGear (model 27GN950), the world’s first 4K IPS 1 millisecond Gray-to-Gray (GTG) gaming monitor. Featuring advanced IPS displays, LG UltraGear monitors achieve stunning speed without compromising picture quality, contributing to the brand being named the top gaming-designed monitor in the United States. The new UltraGear monitor builds on the fast, accurate colours of its predecessor to deliver 4K resolution for maximum gaming impact. A combination of speed, high resolution and 98 per cent coverage of the DCI-P3 colour space gives gamers a total sense of immersion. LG’s one-of-a-kind…

Are you looking to buy a new and affordable smartphone, a tablet with a bigger screen for smooth gaming and system experience or a smartwatch to monitor your health and fitness? Look no further, Telkom has the newly launched Huawei devices that suits everybody’s needs. The devices are available at Telkom stores nationwide and they all come with cool and fun freebies. Get a free Huawei GiftBox when you buy the new Huawei Y6p Huawei’s latest addition to the Y series has arrived at Telkom. The device is aimed at users looking for an affordable smartphone and it is available…

At the beginning of this year, nobody could have predicted just how economically challenging the year 2020 was going to be. While many people are still coming to terms with the financial difficulties caused by COVID-19 and the national lockdown, FNB customers have turned to eBucks rewards to help them extend and better manage their finances. According to Johan Moolman, “We’ve seen how eBucks members are using their rewards to buy essentials. Since the start of the national lockdown towards the end of March, members have spent over R451 million worth of eBucks on things like fuel, groceries, airtime and data…

Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu say R4.6 billion has been allocated to provinces and metro municipalities to upgrade over 300 informal settlements. Sisulu said this when she outlined spending priorities for the department during a virtual sitting of the National Assembly on Tuesday. “Together with Provinces, we will work with communities and municipalities to incrementally upgrade over 300 informal settlements and improve the living conditions of households. “Our policy is clear that for those informal settlements on safe ground, the first choice is to upgrade in-situ. This means that an agreement is reached with the community on…

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) today lists its first China-focused Exchange Traded Fund (ETF), the Satrix MSCI China ETF. This ETF will track the MSCI China Index which will provide investors access to the broader Chinese equity market.    The Satrix MSCI China ETF offering exposes investors to an array of Chinese industries, ranging from online commerce, financials, communication services and many others.  “Our global ETF range has been very popular with investors seeking to diversify their portfolios. We track the MSCI World, MSCI Emerging Markets IMI, S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 indices,” Helena Conradie, Satrix CEO says. “The investor interest…

Telkom is transitioning its customers from copper-based internet to new-generation fibre technology in all fibre-ready regions across South Africa. The telecommunications provider is currently hard at work upgrading its customers from copper ADSL internet to fibre-based internet. This migration applies to all customers residing in fibre-ready regions around the country where the current DSL infrastructure overlaps with the FTTH footprint. Telkom notes that fibre promises a significant improvement in users’ connectivity experience and assures customers that they will receive the support that they need to undergo the upgrade with minimal stress and disruption. “With technology advancing so rapidly, we want…

One of the most common myths when buying a home is that you should find a home before getting pre-qualified for a loan. Before COVID-19, Estate Agents could show a home or several homes to a buyer whether pre-qualified or not. With the implementation of social distancing and the health and safety risks associated as a result of the global pandemic, it is no longer viable to show homes to clients that are not pre-qualified. Some of the most common things buyers say who do not want to first get pre-qualified for a home loan include: “I’m going to wait…

South Africa has continued to suffer adversely as a result of COVID-19, with the number of new cases having increased of late and the country currently recording the highest death rate on the continent (there have been 5,033 fatalities to date). This is continuing to take a socio-economic toll on the nation’s economy, which is expected to shrink by 6.9% in 2020 according to the S&P Global Ratings. The government is looking to combat this loss with a number of planned policy changes, as it looks to optimise growth potential in the near and medium-term. We’ll break these down below,…

Microgrid and off-grid home solar systems are being rapidly deployed in Africa, where power utilities have failed to keep up with demand. Many Africans are still without electricity or still struggling to access electricity, especially in rural communities. The only solution to this is by introducing microgrid energy. While South Africa has the highest electricity consumption in the sub-Sahara region, the demand continues to outpace the installation of generation capacity. Africa is rich in renewable energy sources which remain the most economical approach to powering microgrids. However, the development of micro-grids faces several barriers that must be unpacked. “Energy poverty…

General Electric (GE) announced on Monday that it has appointed Nyimpini Mabunda as the CEO for Southern Africa. In this role, Nyimpini will lead GE’s growth in the region and drive alignment across its Power, Healthcare, Aviation and Renewable Energy businesses. He will also drive GE’s BBBEE roadmap and processes in South Africa. Nyimpini holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Science, a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management and an MBA from the University of Cape Town. His successes have been underpinned by his talent in people leadership, business turnaround, stakeholder management, digital disruption, execution excellence, and building strong brands. “I…

Harken Holdings, a business builder in South Africa, which owns brands such as Moneypanda.co.za, Insurehero.co.za, Jackmarx.co.za has launched fomo, it’s first app in the hospitality vertical. South Africa’s first food specials and events app launched this month as a tool to help both consumers find specials in their area, as well as restaurants, expand their reach outside of traditional instore and own social media marketing. Ryan Marx and Jacqueline du Plessis, co-founders of Harken Holdings and MoneyPanda, launched the app out of their own need to see up-to-date events and specials that are happening in their area. South Africa and…

rain, South Africa’s data-only mobile network launched its first Standalone 5G network in the country. Powered by Huawei, this is the first commercial standalone 5G network in Africa, and among a few networks of its kind globally. rain’s Standalone 5G is currently available in Cape Town covering areas including Sea Point in Cape Town, Claremont, Goodwood, Bellville, Durbanville, and Cape Town City Centre. The newly released Standalone 5G network are built on rain’s own sites. This allows rain to significantly enhance its fixed wireless broadband (FWA) service experience in the covered areas. “Standalone 5G will further improve 5G network performance…

IMPower is proud to announce a name change as the company was formerly known as All Power Systems. The name change will be effective from 3rd of February 2020. The name change came as a result of a name clash with a South African-based firm that had a very similar name and offered similar solutions. Founded in 2014, IMPower Pty Ltd is a leading engineering, procurement and project management contractor (EPCM) operating in the solar and energy storage industry. The company is focusing more on providing Solar Rooftop/Ground Mount Solutions (Grid-Tied), Micro-Grid/Storage Solutions, Energy Management & Reporting as well as…