Author: Staff Writer

Gauteng Premier David Makhura announced on Friday that he has tested positive for COVID-19. “On Wednesday 08 July 2020, I experienced some mild symptoms. On Thursday 09 July 2020, I decided to self-quarantine and test for COVID-19 as a precautionary measure,” Makhura said in a statement. “Today, Friday 10 July 2020, I received my test results confirming that I have tested positive for COVID-19.” Gauteng Premier is now in self-isolation and will work from home over the next 14 days whilst monitoring my health. “Given the fact that I only have mild symptoms, I will continue to ensure that the…

The recent launch of 5G technology in South African presents several highly attractive opportunities for consumers, carriers and the ICT industry at large. Three South African mobile service providers – MTN, Vodacom and rain – recently announced the beginning of the 5G roll-out on their networks. The transformative impact of the technology will immediately begin to be felt across sectors, but as the roll-out expands, it will begin to fundamental influence on the way we live, work and interact. Faster, more affordable connectivity A key advantage of 5G technology is that it is a more cost-effective way to serve more…

MTN today announced the introduction of three offerings to its mobile device insurance range aimed at offering consumers more affordable options for protecting their devices in these tough economic times.   Customers can now opt for the exclusive cover of screen repair only, from as little as R17 pm, or accident only cover, starting at R21 pm, or theft and loss cover only, starting at R24 pm.  “South Africans are facing financial hardship and while this is not a revolutionary offer it does offer our customers the flexibility to choose the cover that best suits their needs at a far…

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) engineering team designed and developed portable 3D printed mechanical ventilators that have a customisable base plate to treat multiple patients. ​South Africa faces a looming ventilator shortage as the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases increases, daily. As of yesterday, a cumulative total of 224 665 confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa have been reported. Gauteng Province has now overtaken Western Cape as the province with the highest number of cases cumulatively. The ventilator, named AURA IMPRIMERE, meaning ‘A Breeze of Air provided by printing’ is portable and allows off-grid operations for up to one and…

More than one million gravesites are being prepped in Pretoria as the province braces for an increase in COVID-19 deaths. Gauteng’s health department is feeling the effects of the growing COVID-19 numbers, according to ENCA. Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku says the province has approximately 1.5-million burial sites that can be easily accessed should the need arise. Watch ENCA video below:

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in collaboration with a number of local partners – has completed work on a local ventilator to be rolled out nationwide to patients showing respiratory distress in the early phase of COVID-19 infection. The first batch of ventilators will be provided to state hospitals around the country that are currently experiencing pressure due to the unavailability of equipment to deal with the pandemic. The CSIR solution is a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device that uses an innovative design to provide a mild level of oxygenated air pressure to keep the airways…

Nigerian ‘Instagram Billionaire‘ Ramon Olorunwa Abbas has been extradited to the US from Dubai to face fraud charges. The Arabian Business reported that Abbas, who is popularly known as “Hushpuppi,” faces criminal charges “alleging he conspired to launder hundreds of millions of dollars from ‘business email compromise’ (BEC) frauds and other scams.” Hushpuppi was arrested last month in Dubai before being handed over to the FBI, according to the US Department of Justice. The Rolls Royce-driving Hushpuppi has 2.5 million followers on Instagram, where he regularly posts photographs of himself posing with luxury cars or boarding private jets. Abbas was part…

The MultiChoice Group announced on Wednesday a long-term, content-driven partnership with Springbok and DHL Stormers captain Siya Kolisi. The ambassadorship extends to all brands under the MultiChoice Group umbrella, including DStv. “I’m thrilled to partner with MultiChoice and DStv, and to be offered such an incredible platform to have a voice, allowing me to connect with my fans in ways I can’t on the rugby field,” says Kolisi. Through the deal, negotiated by Roc Nation Sports, MultiChoice have committed themselves to supporting the work of the Kolisi Foundation, Siya and Rachel Kolisi’s philanthropic platform, which has worked tirelessly on the…

Customers can now make cash deposits directly into their own bank account at any Pick n Pay till point, anywhere in South Africa. Deposits at till points is another first for the retailer as they increasingly become a one-stop-shop where customers can do their shopping and banking at the same time. For many years, customers have been able to withdraw cash from till points and now they can deposit cash, up to the value of R5,000 per transaction, at any Pick n Pay stores, including Clothing stores. Pick n Pay facilitated over R36 billion in cash withdrawals last year in…

Audi has launched the AudiSmart Service plan, an affordable new service offering which is applicable to all Audi vehicles that are 6 to 13 years old (or within a maximum mileage threshold of 270 000 KM), and which fall out of the standard Audi Freeway Plan or Freeway Plan Extension. This progressive new plan includes cover for two years and/or 30 000 KM (whichever occurs first) and includes two minor oil change services at a significantly discounted price. AudiSmart Service ensures that only trained Audi technicians will maintain the vehicle, according to the highest standards of Vorsprung service excellence. Further to this,…

Online trading is taking the African continent by the storm. Forex platforms present a viable earning tool for the local population. Anyone can profit from currency trades remotely — all they need is software and a registered account. These are provided by intermediaries known as brokers. The companies are classified as ECN or market makers based on their revenue source. The former is the purest form of brokerage. Here is why. The foreign exchange is an over-the-counter market. This means buyers and sellers establish a direct connection through intermediaries. Individuals, banks and market traders all partake in the activity. If…

The Competition Tribunal has slapped pharmacy group, Dis-Chem, with a R1.2 million fine for excessively overpricing surgical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. This comes after the company was found guilty following complaints registered by the public. In its order and reasons, the Tribunal found that Dis-Chem contravened the Competition Act for charging excessive prices for three types of surgical face masks to the detriment of consumers during March 2020. The Tribunal considered the background to the COVID-19 pandemic as the economic context in which Dis-Chem had increased its prices on three occasions. This included, among others, the fact that the…

South African company Brand Hubb is using an innovative e-commerce platform to change how South African consumers exchange gifts. “We are expanding our business offering by leveraging technology to improve or reinvent ‘stuffy’ tradition,” says Rob Anderson, CEO of Brand Hubb. “The next big idea is usually found by identifying and resolving areas that cause consumers pain or stress”. Brand Hubb’s Chip In gifting solution is a case in point. It was built to address the pain points that most consumers experience when giving gifts. Finding the perfect gift used to involve spending countless hours trawling through physical stores until,…

JSE-listed 4Sight announced on Tuesday that it has inked a strategic deal with Unplugg Group, a black-owned tech company. As part of the transaction, a new entity to be known as 4Sight Unplugg has been formed. The new company will be 51%-owned by Unplugg and 49% by 4Sight. 4Sight Unplugg’s board will be led by Antony Hlungwane, the CEO of Unplugg. Hlungwane has more than 20 years’ experience in the ICT industry. He is a former CIO of Mr Price and has extensive executive experience in the retail, banking and telecommunications industries. In 2013 and 2015 he was a finalist in…

IT and data science students are invited to apply for the Shoprite Group’s bursary programme for the 2021 academic year. Each bursary comes with a work-back agreement to deepen learning with a strong practical element to gain hands-on experience in the business. “Our IT capabilities are complex, extensive and ever-growing,” confirms David Cohn, the CIO. Most recently the Group was the first retailer in South Africa to launch virtual vouchers and contactless QR payments in direct response to the Covid-19 pandemic. “We operate in an incredibly fast-paced environment, at the forefront of retail innovation. As such we are offering IT…

Online and video medical consultations prompted by COVID-19 restrictions will continue even after the threat of the pandemic has passed because they are convenient, cost-effective and broaden access to healthcare. That’s according to Dr. Steven Holt, CEO of First Care Solutions, a medical services and administration company that is part-owned and -funded by RMB Ventures.  In partnership with Johannesburg-based ER Consulting Inc, in February 2020, First Care Solutions launched its direct telephonic and video consultations for South Africans who require medical attention. “Demand for virtual, online and telephonic medical consultations – or telemedicine, to use the generic term – has…

Meet the new BMW X5 M Competition and BMW X6 M Competition. Both powerhouses possess a high-revving 4.4-litre V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology, resulting in a  power increase over their respective predecessors of 37 kW for both the BMW X5 M Competition and the BMW X6 M Competition. This sees both the BMW X5 M Competition and the BMW X6 M Competition boasting 460 kW of power  (at 6 000 rpm) and a maximum torque of 750 Nm between 1800 – 5600 rpm. Both the BMW X5 M Competition and the BMW X6 M Competition accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h…

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has declared that 85% of the UIF cases which were previously deemed not to be qualifying for the R350 COVID-19 grant qualify. This is a major about-turn for an agency that has rejected millions of applicants for the special grant. On 21 April, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a R500 billion stimulus package to deal with the negative economic impact of COVID-19. As part of the package, Ramaphosa revealed a special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress grant of R350 a month for six months to be paid to jobless individuals. The relief grant excludes…

Phathilizwi Training Institution has invoiced the OR Tambo district municipality R4.8 million for ‘work’ done over four days. The Sunday Times reported that the company claims to have hired community workers to embark on a door-to-door COVID-19 awareness campaign in the Eastern Cape. Documents leaked online show that Phathilizwi Training Institution invoiced the district municipality for just over R3m on May 21 and a further R1.8m four days later. The municipality now says it has launched a probe into the project. Municipal speaker Xolile Nkompela told the Sunday Times he has asked the director in his office to provide a…

The Gauteng government wants to reintroduce a hard lockdown in the province to curb the rapid spread of COVID-19. This is an attempt to curb soaring COVID-19 numbers in the province. The Sunday Times reported that if the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) approves the request, it could see Gauteng being shut down for up to two weeks at a time. “Nobody goes to work and no-one moves,” Gauteng health MEC Bandile Masuku told the newspaper. “Then the economy opens up again for a particular period of time and then it closes again. So at least there is predictability and…

iStore today announced that it will open its largest flagship store in Cape Town on 13 July. The new iStore Queens Hotel V&A store is located on Dock Road, Cape Town, amid the vibrant city centre, cultural landmarks and shopping district. The Queens Hotel building has stood on this spot, which used to be on the shoreline of the harbour, since around 1880. iStore in conjunction with the property owners, V&A Waterfront, has been on a two-year journey to attentively restore the building to its iconic status. “The result is breath taking, it is one of our second largest store…

At a time when South African SMEs need it most, FinTech SME capital provider, ProfitShare Partners today announced that it has secured R100 million from the SA SME Fund. This will allow ProfitShare Partners to partner with more small and medium businesses to provide much-needed capital to catalyse growth for SMEs. In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, SMEs have been severely affected – even after the easing of lockdown restrictions over the past few weeks. According to the colloquium held on 23-24 June 2020 by the National Planning Commission on small business as the spine of economic recovery and…

Avon is introducing its LATEST ANEW Skin Reset Plumping Shots, powered with Protinol, which is a patented formula that is clinically proven to revitalize skin by naturally restoring collagen 1 and 3 to a perfect balance that is found in baby skin. Independent scientific tests have confirmed that Protinol, the breakthrough formula discovered by Avon, helps to rebuild and simulate the perfect balance of collagen. The findings were authenticated in a test conducted in a controlled laboratory environment where these never seen results were observed and validated. The breakthrough ingredient is already gaining attention from industry leading scientists. Dr Bayat…

South Africa’s FinTech startups, associated with AlphaCode, share how the country’s extended lockdown has provided some with growth opportunities as people adapt how they engage with their finances,  while other FinTechs share their challenges. Andile Maseko, head of ecosystem development at AlphaCode explains, “Mixed experiences are expected for our members but those with a digital first approach are benefiting the most. Those experiencing difficulties, are evaluating product offerings to better address the new normal, but the uncertainty of the COVID-19 environment adds complexity to pivoting.”   Business is better than usual A business achieving records is Luno, a global cryptocurrency…

MTN this week successfully launched its superfast 5G next-generation mobile network across major cities in South Africa, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth. During a YouTube livestream media launch, speed tests were performed at various locations in Johannesburg showing download speeds in excess of 600Mbps, with latencies averaging 15ms demonstrated. Tests performed by media reported download speeds peaking in excess of 700Mbps and upload speeds peaking at 100Mbps Huawei Massive MIMO deployed in Johannesburg Leveraging on multiple bands, MTN deployed 5G in 2.1GHz using Dynamic Spectrum Sharing, 3.5GHz and 28GHz bands. 3.5 GHz, known as C-band, is the…