Author: Staff Writer
Following the launch of the all-electric EX90 seven-seater, Volvo Car South Africa (VCSA) is reiterating its commitment to the local market with the announcement of four electrified vehicles, set to arrive over the coming months. Under the leadership of newly appointed Managing Director Grant Locke, VCSA is accelerating its electrification plans locally while reaffirming that South Africa remains a key part of its global vision. “Our focus is clear: we are committed to offering South African motorists more choice as they make the transition to electric driving,” says Grant Locke, Managing Director of VCSA. “These new vehicles, paired with our ongoing investment in…
AI Campus is on the move, and this Saturday, 26th July, we’re bringing Orcaa.ai to the learners of Tembisa and surrounding schools as part of a vibrant Career Expo, hosted at Tembisa High School in collaboration with Champions Drive. This activation is focused on equipping Grade 9 to 12 learners with fresh insights into future careers, personal growth, and the power of AI in learning. For AI Campus, it’s another step in our commitment to bring technology to the people, especially where it matters most. What We’re Bringing to Tembisa This isn’t just a presentation, it’s a full learning experience. We’ll…
With the new and fully electric ES90, which starts production later this summer and is produced with climate-neutral energy, Volvo Cars launches a car designed with sustainability in mind. This is reflected by the new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) report for the ES90, which describes which materials and processes contribute to the car’s carbon footprint over its life cycle. The total carbon footprint of the ES90 is 31 tonnes when using a European energy mix to charge it. When using wind energy to charge the ES90, that figure falls to 26 tonnes. With a European energy mix, the ES90’s footprint…
The South African Competition Tribunal has approved the Proposed Transaction by CANAL+ to buy MultiChoice Group, subject to agreed conditions which include the implementation of the structure announced on 4 February 2025. As previously disclosed, the agreed conditions include a robust proposal of guaranteed public interest commitments proposed by CANAL+ and MutltiChoice. The package supports the participation of firms controlled by Historically Disadvantaged Persons (HDPs) and Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMME”) in the audio-visual industry in South Africa. This proposal will maintain funding for local South African general entertainment and sports content, providing local content creators with a strong…
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Buti Kgwaridi Manamela, Minister of Higher Education and Training. In a statment on Monday, 21 July 2025, the Presidency said Manamela was appointed in “terms of Section 91 (2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa”. Until this appointment, Manamela was serving as Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, a role he held from the 7th administration. “Consequently, President Ramaphosa has in terms of Section 93 (b) of the Constitution appointed Dr. Nomusa Dube-Ncube, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training. Dr. Dube’s long government leadership experience includes serving as MEC for…
Mining is tough and so are its communication challenges. Traditional systems fail when infrastructure gets damaged, risking safety and profits. But now, Gijima and Q-KON have cracked the code with Twoobii-LEO, a satellite-powered voice solution that never drops a call—even in the deepest, harshest mines. Why it matters: Life-saving connectivity – Workers stay linked, no matter what. Zero downtime – Mines keep running, avoiding costly shutdowns. Crystal-clear calls – Double-hop satellite? Still flawless. Gijima, and Q-KON recently announced the successful implementation and testing of a Voice over Satellite (VoS) solution for a multinational mining and metals processing group in South Africa. The…
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.…
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…