Author: Staff Writer

WeBuyCars, South Africa’s leading vehicle trading platform, is embracing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to revolutionize how cars are bought and sold. “We’ve got two big AI drivers in WeBuyCars, called blue and orange,” Wynand Beukes, chief digital officer at WeBuyCars, says. “Orange is the customer facing Large Language Model (LLM), and that’s on our website, also with agentic AI functionality for internal use. Blue is a collection of machine learning models that contains all the propriety information and pricing models of WeBuyCars, where we take a lot of factors into account like our historic data, purchasing and selling history, market…

New York, United Nations Headquarters: The Chairperson of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Dr Naledi Pandor delivered an address at the United Nations, calling on people everywhere to honour Madiba’s legacy by making “good trouble” in the pursuit of justice and equality. Speaking on behalf of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Dr Pandor reflected on Mandela’s life, his values, and the kind of world he fought for; one where justice, dignity, and shared humanity guide our actions. “Mandela was a troublemaker. The kind of good troublemaker that we need more of in the world today,” said Dr Pandor. “He pushed for a kind of…

Ten years ago, in March 2015, Kasi Business Workshop was born out of a simple yet powerful idea, to create an inclusive space where township entrepreneurs could be seen, heard and supported. Shortly after, on 15 July 2015, the very first Kasi Business Workshop was held in a local community hall in Tembisa. What began as a bold dream by entrepreneur and township advocate Bulelani Balabala, has since grown into a national force of transformation and a blueprint for township economic inclusion. The Kasi Business Workshops have directly impacted over 100 000+ township entrepreneurs in South Africa who contribute to…

From record production volumes to strong export performance, Volkswagen Group Africa’s (VWGA) first year as the Home of Polo has been a year of achievement. Though VWGA’s Plant Kariega has been building the popular Polo since 1996 and the Polo Vivo since 2010, it has only been the self-proclaimed Home of Polo since 1 July 2024. This was when the plant officially became the sole exporter (for left- and right-hand drive European and Asia-Pacific markets) of the Polo in the Volkswagen Group, sending this hatchback to 38 markets around the world. In fact, Polos account for 88% of exported vehicles…

Fans of smart, high-stakes global thrillers can tune in to 20th Century Studios’ The Amateur on Disney+ starting 17 July whenever and wherever they want the rush of espionage and striking visual effects mounted on a worldwide scale. The Amateur portrays the gripping journey of CIA codebreaker Charlie Heller (Rami Malek) as he channels his intellect into a relentless pursuit of justice after his wife is killed in a terrorist attack. Under the tactical guidance of seasoned CIA operative Henderson (Laurence Fishburne), Heller evolves from analyst to avenger in a riveting story of love, loss, and retribution. Set against a visually striking international backdrop, The Amateur is brought…

Volvo Car South Africa (VCSA) is expanding its footprint in the Eastern Cape with the opening of a new full-service dealership in Gqeberha. Located within the Moffett Retail Park, the facility will officially open its doors on 1 October 2025, offering Volvo owners in the region a comprehensive sales and after-sales experience. Grant Locke, Managing Director of Volvo Car South Africa, says the Gqerberha-based full-service dealership demonstrates Volvo’s ongoing commitment to its customers in the region. “We know that for our customers, having access to dedicated sales and after-sales support is essential to their ownership journey. This new dealership ensures that…

LEPAS will officially debut in South Africa in 2026, introducing a fresh perspective on what a premium SUV can be – elegant, expressive, and tailored to a contemporary lifestyle. LEPAS made its global debut in April 2025, aimed at younger, style-conscious drivers seeking more than just mobility, the brand combines design-led thinking with advanced technology in a range of vehicles that reflect individuality, modern luxury, and purpose.  To lead the rollout of LEPAS in South Africa, Chery South Africa has appointed Letitia Herold as National Brand & Marketing Manager. Her appointment marks a bold step in shaping the identity of LEPAS in the local…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, as Acting Minister of Police with immediate effect. “Minister Mantashe will serve in this capacity until Prof Firoz Cachalia, who will retire from his position at the University of the Witwatersrand at the end of this month, assumes his position at the start of August,” the Presidency said in a statement. “Minister Mantashe will retain his responsibilities as Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources.”

Two South African scientists are doing such internationally trailblazing research that the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust has granted each of them its most prestigious honours: the R2.5-million Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship Award.  “Each of our awardees made such a strong case that we found it impossible to choose between them – so we decided to double down in a time when our country needs it most. We’re very excited to be supporting their quests to make our world a better place for all who live in it,” says OMT chair Rebecca Oppenheimer. The prize rewards high-calibre scholars who are “engaged in cutting-edge…

The Presidency has issued a strong statement refuting the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) claims that Special Envoy Mcebisi Jonas was denied a US visa, calling it a deliberate attempt to spread disinformation. In a statement, the Presidency said: “The Presidency cautions South Africa against treating Democratic Alliance (DA) disinformation on matters of international relations and diplomacy as official Government policy.” The DA had alleged that the US rejected Jonas’ credentials, hindering his role as President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Special Envoy to North America. The Presidency dismissed these claims as sensationalist, particularly amid ongoing US-SA trade negotiations following President Donald Trump’s recent tariff announcements.…