Author: Staff Writer

With the coronavirus pandemic lockdown easing, South Africans are being warned to expect a spike in crime. “Since the lockdown has eased, petty crime like theft of garden tools, plants and fruit from trees began to increase. This, however, has escalated to more serious crimes such as house break-ins, house robberies, and theft of motor vehicles.” Says Shaun Rademeyer, CEO of Multinet Home Loans. Protecting your humble abode from unwanted guests is easier than you might think. To help, we’ve put together the following list of protection tips for your new home. Use this list to ensure that your home protection…

Cape-based Flyt Property Investment has recently announced an inventive means for South Africans to take advantage of Government’s Section 12J tax incentive when the chips are down. Flyt Partnership Fund, which is restricted to R300 million, allows investors to take part in the fund on a 100% loan basis. The R300 million has been made available as loan capital to investors to participate as partners in the fund. A minimum investment of R1million is required; however, an investor need only contribute 35% (i.e. R350 000 per R1 million), with Flyt Property Investment contributing the remaining 65% on the investor’s behalf. To…

Naked, the artificial intelligence-driven insurance provider, has announced that its customers will continue to pay just 10% or so of their usual premium on the days that they ‘pause’ their accident insurance cover until 30 September this year. This follows Naked’s decision when the lockdown was announced to offer this higher premium saving until 30 June for customers who use its CoverPause feature. The average customer would usually pay roughly 50% of their comprehensive cover rate when CoverPause is active. Customers simply activate the CoverPause feature on the Naked app to freeze their accident cover on the days that they…

Over the past few months, South Africans have been inspired by the unrelenting and fearless work of those facing the worst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, from the healthcare and essential workers doing dangerous but crucial work every day, to the journalists bringing us the news from frontlines of this issue. But there are also unsung heroes, closer to home, who have reached out to those in need to make a difference, no matter how small, during this challenging time. It is these stories that MTN wants to hear as it calls on all South Africans to “shout-out” their COVID-19…

COVID-19 has accelerated the inevitable. Before the pandemic, the world had been moving on an unavoidable path toward a new digital age, despite many businesses failing to invest in the requisite technologies. However, as the COVID-19 meteor hit global markets, companies in sectors like retail that failed to recognise the encroaching new virtual age were brutally impacted in the market sell-off. What is undeniably clear in the post-COVID-19 age is that companies that do not leverage on new technologies might not remain competitive relative to new entrants. The sheer pervasive reach of tech across industries is challenging traditional valuation frameworks.…

Global beauty and personal care brand company Avon Justine has joined nationwide relief efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus by pledging 1.5 tons of hand sanitisers to the South African Police Services (SAPS). The hand sanitizers will be handed over to senior officials of the SAPS and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation for distribution among law enforcement officials. “We are delighted for this kind gesture which will go a long way to help in bolstering our defences against this pandemic. Our members are exposed to this pandemic daily, risking life and limb in the exercise of their duties.…

In an effort to weed out corruption in its ranks, the South African Police Service (SAPS) on Wednesday nabbed eight of its own in a pre-dawn operation across the country. Eight were among the 14 arrested by the Anti-Corruption Task Team during the operation. Among those arrested were senior police officers and six company owners and directors. In a statement, police spokesperson Vish Naidoo said among the arrested senior officers was a former SAPS Lieutenant General. “[They were arrested] on warrants of arrest issued on multiple charges, including fraud, corruption, theft and money laundering,” he said. The Special Anti-Corruption Task…

Almost 5 000 Wits students have received laptops, delivered by the South African Post Office (SAPO), to enable online learning during the nationwide lockdown. Through its Speed Services Courier Unit, SAPO delivered the laptops to the homes of disadvantaged Wits students across South Africa, including in rural areas. Due to the national COVID-19 lockdown, Wits University suspended contact teaching and commenced with emergency remote teaching and learning on 20 April 2020. In its transition to online learning, Wits established a mobile computing bank, which granted qualifying students access to a mobile device for online learning purposes. A partnership with the SAPO ensured…

FNB is distributing 100 000 cloth masks to SASSA beneficiaries who collect their social grants across the Bank’s branches. The masks are distributed through 200 FNB branches in provinces which include Gauteng, Western Cape, Limpopo, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and Free State. The allocation in each branch is dependent on the volume of beneficiaries per branch, however, each branch has been allocated between 400 to 1000 masks to distribute during the days that grants are paid-out. “Our measures are designed to support the country’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and we are playing our part by prioritising…

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has expressed confidence that the aviation industry and the country’s airports will adhere to COVID-19 regulations and directives, as the sector reopens. The Minister made the declaration on Wednesday at the O.R Tambo International Airport, where he was inspecting the airport’s adherence to lockdown regulations and directions. “These regulations and directives are there for the protection of all people and we expect absolute compliance,” said Mbalula. He said government understood the need for a balanced gradual reopening of the economy and safety and good health. “I am confident that our airports will play a central role…

For many, every month seems to be the start and end of a year, as locals adjust to the “new normal”. In January, it was about a ‘new year, new me’ and choosing to ignore those 2020 memes, the start of the nationwide lockdown was the beginning of new lifestyle choices by South Africans, according to data by Uber Eats. Self-isolated Savourness  While the most ordered healthy meal is the Poke bowl and the many iterations and flavour combinations of it, Uber Eats reports that healthy orders overall spiked at a 71% increase since the beginning of April as compared…

The Ministry of Transport wishes to notify road users that the national rollout date for the Administrative Adjudication of the Road Traffic Offences  (AARTO) Act had been delayed as a result of the outbreak of Coronavirus. In August 2019, the AARTO Bill was signed into law and although no date was officially promulgated, it was intended to take national effect by mid-2020. “However, the capacity of the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA), which is the entity responsible for the rollout of AARTO, has been severely compromised by the COVID-19 outbreak,” the transport department said in a statement. “The entity has…

The new BMW 4 Series Coupé is ready for launch. The latest generation of the sporty two-seater for the premium midsize segment underscores its distinctive character profile, with both a vehicle concept focused squarely on delivering dynamic driving pleasure and the clear differentiation of the coupé from the new BMW 3 Series. This is the next chapter in a coupé tradition shaped by numerous legendary BMW models. Global market launch from October 2020. Global sales begin with five model variants; the BMW M440i xDrive Coupé (fuel consumption combined 7.1 – 6.8 l/100 km [39.8 – 41.5 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined:…

A Pretoria company is in hot water after implementing excessive price hikes during the COVID-19 pandemic. In South Africa’s first contested excessive pricing case in the context of COVID-19, the Competition Tribunal has found Babelegi Workwear and Industrial Supplies CC (Babelegi) guilty of excessive pricing. “In its order and reasons issued today, the Tribunal has found that Babelegi contravened section 8(1)(a) of the Competition Act by charging excessive prices for face masks that it sold to customers between 31 January 2020 and 5 March 2020 (the complaint period). The contravention relates to the sale of face Dust Mask FFP1 Pioneer…

South Africa’s Confirmed COVID-19 cases have now reached 35 812 — an increase of 1 455 in the last 24 hours. According to Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, the Western Cape still has the majority number of cases with 23 583, followed by the Eastern Cape with 4 324, Gauteng with 4 276, and then KwaZulu-Natal with 2 637. Free State has a record of 299, North West 271, Limpopo 193, Mpumalanga 132, Northern Cape 91 and six are unknown. Speaking in the Western Cape, where he was assessing the readiness of intervention teams in the province, Mkhize said he believes the community is…

During alert level 3 of the nationwide lockdown, lovebirds can officially tie the knot at Home Affairs offices following the resumption of marriage services. Under level 3, the department will also receive late registrations of birth. These services will be provided by appointment. This is in addition to the services rendered in level 4, namely: Issuance of uncollected Identity Documents; Issuance of temporary identity certificates; Registration of births and deaths; Reissue of birth and death certificates and Issuance of passports to those in export and cargo transport. Home Affairs offices will continue opening Monday through Friday from 08h30 to 15h30.…

Having already paid out R16.5-billion in Covid-19 Temporary Employee/Employer Relief Scheme (TERS), the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has vowed to ensure that outstanding payments are promptly processed. In a statement on Monday, the Department of Employment and Labour, of which the UIF is an agency of, reiterated that the Fund is making good progress on its promise to capture and process May COVID-19 relief benefit applications. “Payments this time around should be a lot quicker as the UIF already has the details for most of the claimants,” said the department. On Monday, a total R1 billion had already been processed…

Throughout the month of June, Paxful will be hosting a series of free virtual sessions to showcase how you can maximize opportunities in the current bitcoin economy. You’ll be hearing insights from leading Africa-focused crypto entrepreneurs, social enterprises, and other industry professionals. “Join us to learn more about the crypto industry and get a chance to win 20 USD worth of bitcoin after each session!” Here’s what we’ll be discussing:

Volkswagen’s major vehicle launch for 2020 will be streamed via a digital event. The T-Roc will premiere in South Africa on Thursday, 17 June 2020. “Covid-19 has necessitated our brand to find new and innovative ways to communicate with our customers as well as launch our exciting range of products. We are very excited to debut the T-Roc in South Africa through a digital event which will be a first for the South African automotive industry,” said Martina Biene, Head of the Volkswagen Brand. The sporty, stylish and contemporary T-Roc will complete Volkswagen’s T-SUV range in South Africa which currently…

The South African car sales declined by 65, 4 in May 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as consumer and business sentiment remain severely depressed. The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) said new vehicle sales for May 2020 reflects a substantial decline of 27 496 units or 68,0% from the 40 428 vehicles sold in May last year compared to the aggregate domestic sales of 12 932 units in May 2020. Domestic sales of new light commercial vehicles, bakkies and mini-buses at 3 073 units during May 2020 had recorded a huge decline…

The country’s media fraternity and civil society have been called on to play an active role in eradicating Ponzi and pyramid schemes that are devastating families and societies. In recent times, member companies have reported to the DSA-a spike in both local and cross-border pyramid schemes of all manner of shapes and sizes intent on seizing scarce financial resources from the unsuspecting public. Mthunzi Mbali, the vice-chairman of the Direct Selling Association of South Africa (DSA) says: “We are extremely worried about the proliferation of pyramid schemes in South Africa”. He says the DSA has been at the forefront of…

Millions of South African women have every reason to celebrate the 47th anniversary of Justine, South Africa’s premier cosmetics company, which turned the beauty industry on its head in 1973 when it created the iconic formula – the original and real tissue oil. This marked a turning point in the fight against the appearance of scars and stretch marks in improving the smoothness of the skin. In addition to the iconic Tissue Oil, Justine is also renowned for developing and introducing to market some of its popular products that have become household names in South Africa, namely the Tabasheer and…

Today, ProfitShare Partners launches an exciting year-long initiative designed to get small businesses working and creating jobs. In partnership with award-winning local community radio station, Hot 91.9FM, and the all-new ‘getlion’ mobile app designed to support SMEs in managing and growing their businesses, the disruptive FinTech provider will invest R100 million in capital to support SMEs to deliver on their contracts this year. The sweetener is a prize of R1 million for the small business that has created the most net jobs during the period of the campaign from 1 June 2020 to 31 May 2021. The Get South Africa…

Schools will reopen on 8 June 2020 for grade 7 and 12 learners to allow for the orientation and training of teachers. The Council of Education Ministers (CEM) took a decision to continue to reopen schools on 01 June 2020, but with School Management Teams (SMT), teachers and non-teaching staff only arriving to prepare for the arrival of learners. “Provincial and district officials should ensure that health, safety, and social distancing requirements, are strictly adhered to when teachers arrive. This whole coming week must be used for the proper orientation and training of teachers, the mopping and ramping of all…

South African drugstore chain Dis-Chem Pharmacies has partnered with crowdsource delivery company Picup to enable on-demand delivery. Picup has introduced non-contact deliveries, which allows for social distancing between its drivers and customers. Drivers will now sign on behalf of the customer and will practice heightened hygiene, according to a statement issued by the company. The pharmaceutical giant is now using Picup’s innovative technology and crowdsource driver network to optimise its deliveries. At the beginning of the lockdown, Dis-Chem approached Picup to assist with its delivery strategy. Within four business days of initial contact, Picup could provide Dis-Chem with a last-mile fulfilment…