Author: Staff Writer

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.…

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has taken the decisive step of dissolving the Board of the Road Accident Fund (RAF), marking a critical intervention to address what she described as “persistent governance and operational challenges” that have severely compromised the entity’s ability to fulfill its mandate. The move comes after months of escalating crises that have undermined public confidence in the RAF’s leadership and financial management. The decision follows a comprehensive review that revealed multiple systemic failures within the RAF’s governance structures. Among the most pressing concerns was the Board’s engagement in protracted and costly litigation regarding accounting standards, which placed…

The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) has announced that Monde Bala, Group Executive: Eskom Distribution, will be seconded to the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer (ICEO), NTCSA, effective from 1 August 2025, succeeding Segomoco Scheppers. The accelerated process of recruiting and appointing a permanent chief executive officer for the NTCSA is currently underway.   “Bala is a seasoned executive with solid experience of the power sector and the NTCSA Board is looking forward to working with him and the team as we drive our strategic deliverables. This leadership appointment ensures that we maintain and accelerate the execution of our strategy…

In a shocking revelation, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has uncovered that President Cyril Ramaphosa has known for months that his appointed “Special Envoy,” Mcebisi Jonas, is not recognised by the United States government. With just two weeks remaining before South Africa faces devastating 30% US tariffs, the DA confirms the following: The US denied Jonas a diplomatic visa in May 2024. Washington formally rejected his credentials, refusing to recognize him as South Africa’s official representative. The Ramaphosa administration was repeatedly advised to appoint an alternative envoy but chose to ignore these warnings. Despite these clear rejections, President Ramaphosa publicly insisted…

Vodacom Business has teamed up with the National Vehicle Intelligence Cloud (NAVIC) to harness technology for public safety as part of a move to curb criminal activity and aid law enforcement in South Africa. Powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) via Vodacom Business, NAVIC’s real-time cloud-based vehicle intelligence platform enables security organisations to access and act on critical vehicle data, with verified alerts processed in seconds. Navic.Cloud integrates Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera data, cross-referencing it with Vehicle of Interest (VoI) databases and third-party sources like the South African Police Services. Alerts are verified through the NAVIC Alert Room,…

 Life Healthcare has completed the sale of its Life Molecular Imaging (LMI) business to US-based Lantheus Holdings. All required conditions for the deal have been met. This follows last year’s sale of Alliance Medical Group, marking another step in Life Healthcare’s plan to focus on healthcare services in Southern Africa. The company will still manufacture and distribute LMI products in Africa. Shareholders could earn more money in the future based on LMI’s performance until 2034. CEO Peter Wharton-Hood said, “We are pleased to unlock further value for our shareholders while refocusing our portfolio to grow returns, market share and revenue in…

Takealot and Pick n Pay are rolling out more convenient Pickup Points in Pick n Pay supermarkets as a growing number of South Africans collect their Takealot orders while doing their grocery shopping. What began with just two pilot locations in 2023 has expanded to 30 Takealot Pickup Points in Pick n Pays across the country. Plans are already underway to increase this number to 36 by the end of 2025, covering the length and breadth of South Africa’s cities and towns. Shoppers from Greenstone Mall to Gonubie are embracing the simplicity of collecting their online orders while running their errands. Between…

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Sunday, 13 July 2025, address the nation on developments arising from a public statement by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, that details allegations against senior political and South African Police Service leadership. President Ramaphosa was attending the BRICS Summit in Brazil on Sunday, 6 July 2025, when General Mkhwanazi outlined numerous allegations at a media briefing. The President undertook to attend to this development on his return from Brazil, in view of the implications for national security. President Ramaphosa has been seized with this matter in recent days and will, following various consultations, take the…

As the country commemorates Mandela Month, the 37th edition of the Kasi Pitching Challenge is breathing new life into Madiba’s vision of a fair and just society through real investments towards township entrepreneurs. Launched in 2022 in Daveyton, the Kasi Pitching Challenge has already empowered over 40 township business winners, injecting more than R2.5 million in direct funding and support into the township economy. With over 2,030 entries, 216 township business finalists, and 36 workshops hosted across South Africa, the mission is clear: to restore economic dignity through grassroots entrepreneurship and to unlock opportunity where it is needed the most.…

Volvo Car South Africa (VCSA) has announced the appointment of Grant Locke as its new Managing Director (MD), effective 1 July 2025. Locke brings a wealth of experience from his previous role as Global Head of Financial Services at Volvo Cars, where he led a 60-person team and was instrumental in shaping the brand’s worldwide financial services strategy. Prior to this, he served as Head of Commercial for Volvo’s Mobility and Financial Services division, further solidifying his expertise in the automotive and financial sectors. His leadership is expected to drive VCSA’s strategic growth and reinforce its commitment to innovation and customer-centric mobility solutions in the South…

McDonald’s South Africa is spicing things up with the triumphant return of the Big Tasty, now available nationwide for a limited time. More than just a burger comeback, this is a full-blown cultural event. The Big Tasty makes a bold statement with its rich, smoky sauce and irresistible flavor, back by popular demand. And this time, it’s paired with an exclusive collaboration with South Africa’s iconic streetwear brand, GALXBOY, making it a must-try for food and fashion fans alike. “This year, we wanted to give our fans more than just the burger they love,” says Krean Maistry, Marketing Director at…

Huawei eKit officially launched a full suite of more than 20 new products tailored to empower South Africa’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the tools they need to scale, innovate, and compete in a rapidly evolving digital economy. Announced during the Huawei eKit Forum at Huawei South Africa Connect 2025, the expanded portfolio includes next-generation Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 networking products, high-performance storage devices, MiniFTTO optical access solutions, and intelligent collaboration tools such as the flagship IdeaHub S3. These launches reinforce Huawei’s commitment to building accessible, intelligent infrastructure that supports real-world business growth. Held under the theme “Empowering…

As South Africa looks to modernise its public services and close digital gaps in health, education, governance, and safety, Huawei used the platform of the 2025 Public Service Forum – held during Huawei South Africa Connect in Johannesburg – to highlight how intelligent technologies are reshaping service delivery and improving lives. Held under the theme “Accelerating Public Service Intelligence”, the forum brought together government officials, public sector representatives, and technology experts to explore how digital platforms, AI, and data-driven tools can solve entrenched service challenges and build more inclusive, responsive institutions. “South Africa stands at a pivotal moment in its…

Parks Tau, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, has welcomed the agreement reached between the merging parties and the Competition Commission in the Vodacom-Maziv merger deal. The Competition Commission announced on Tuesday that it has reached an agreement with Vodacom and Maziv – owner of Dark Fibre Africa (DFA) – that could allow the deal to proceed. This comes despite earlier rulings by both the Commission and the Competition Tribunal blocking the merger over competition concerns. “The substantial public interest commitments made by the merging parties will significantly improve access to affordable internet for underserved communities, thus enabling easier…

Huawei held the Huawei South Africa Connect 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Themed Accelerate Industrial Digital Intelligence for South Africa, this event attracted over 2,900 participants, including South African government representatives, industry customers, and partners organizations. At the event, Huawei Cloud experts presented the company’s AI strategy and product innovations to South African industry customers, while also sharing globally leading AI practices across various sectors. Building an AI-Native Cloud to Accelerate South Africa’s Intelligent Transformation Cloud and AI are a key driving force for industry innovation and economic growth. Joy Huang, Vice President of Huawei Cloud, delivered a keynote speech…

Some stories don’t end when the credits roll. Shaka iLembe is one of them. Season 2 has captivated audiences with its sweeping drama about the origin story of King Shaka and the rise of the Zulu nation. Now, fans have a new way to stay connected with the Match Challenge, launching in the MyDStv App and free for DStv subscribers.  Match Challenge is a casual match-three puzzle game that brings the Shaka iLembe universe to life through fast rounds, strategic combos, and visual storytelling. Players match symbols like spears, drums and shields to score points, unlock power-ups and earn Rewards…

In response to rising demand and the accelerated adoption of Agentic AI across multiple industry verticals, 4Sight Holdings Limited is investing R20 million over the next two years to develop relevant industry solutions.  Generative AI focuses on creating new content (text, images, code, etc.) based on learned patterns, while agentic AI acts as an autonomous agent, making decisions and taking actions to achieve specific goals without constant human oversight. The company’s advisory panel, led by CEO Tertius Zitzke, evaluates ideas to determine which to focus on. It has already identified six key projects from a pipeline of 150 concepts, with…

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) is escalating its opposition to the City of Johannesburg’s contentious new by-law requiring residents to register CCTV cameras monitoring public spaces. The group has now taken the matter to court, challenging the regulation introduced in February. Outa said the legality of the City of Johannesburg new by-law on privately owned CCTV, which sets up convoluted rules requiring registration and City access to private data. OUTA’s case is against the City of Johannesburg, and the City’s municipal manager and mayor, and was filed in the Johannesburg High Court on 18 June. Currently the acting municipal…

The Democratic Alliance (DA) can confirm that the criminal complaint it lodged against ANC Minister Nobuhle Nkabane is now under investigation by the Priority Crimes Investigation Unit, the Hawks. This development marks a critical step in holding the ANC accountable for systemic corruption. Karabo Khakhau MP, DA National Spokesperson and Member of the Committee on Higher Education and Training, stated: “The DA welcomes the Hawks’ decision to investigate Nkabane’s alleged fraud and statutory offences. While President Ramaphosa turns a blind eye to ANC corruption, the DA is ensuring that no one is above the law. This investigation is a victory…

The chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on police integrity, Ian Cameron, has called for an urgent investigation into systemic corruption within the South African Police Service (SAPS). This follows damning allegations by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, exposing deep-rooted rot in the police force. Cameron stated, “The allegations are not only damning to a few individuals but allege a systematic weakening of the police to enable corruption and undermining of the rule of law. The revelations paint a picture of a weak system, corruption-riddled institution, and a system that can be manipulated at the whims of a connected…

The Public Protector has found that former SASSA CEO Busisiwe Memela-Khambula was irregularly appointed in 2019 by then-Minister of Social Development Susan Shabangu, who approved an inflated salary of R2.65 million per year, far above the prescribed R1.88 million. DA Deputy Spokesperson on Social Development, Alexandra Abrahams, stated: “This is a blatant abuse of power and a betrayal of South Africa’s poor. The DA will demand that the Portfolio Committee urgently table this report to ensure accountability.” The Public Protector’s report, dated 30 June 2025, revealed that Shabangu ignored directives from then-Finance Minister Tito Mboweni and Public Service Minister Senzo Mchunu, who had warned against excessive…