Author: Staff Writer

As matric results are released, the country will celebrate the vanity metrics presented by the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga. However, these do very little to reflect the true picture of education in South Africa. Instead, what should be looked at is how many learners who entered Grade One in 2012 completed Grade 12 last year. Figures showing how many young South Africans have completed the treacherous journey from Grade One to matric will reveal the actual state of education in South Africa. The matric results presented annually simply mask the true state of education received by most learners…

TikTok is currently testing a new feature that taps into the realm of AI to enhance users’ songwriting endeavours, according to The Verge. Known as AI Song, this feature utilises the extensive language model, Bloom, to generate musical compositions based on text prompts provided by users. When crafting a post, individuals can input their own lyrics into the text field, prompting TikTok to suggest incorporating AI Song to complement the content with sounds. Additionally, users have the flexibility to select the desired genre for the generated song. Although the feature hasn’t been rolled out universally, some TikTok users have already…

Telkom today announced its recognition as the Top Employer in South Africa for 2024 by the distinguished Top Employers Institute. This prestigious accolade underscores Telkom’s steadfast commitment to cultivating an environment that prioritises and invests in its most valuable asset – its people. On 18 January 2024, Telkom was honoured to receive the prestigious Top Employer Award – for a second year in a row – a testament to the Company’s dedication in achieving a harmonious balance between investing in its workforce, refining operational processes, enhancing the physical work environment, and embracing cutting-edge technology. This distinction further solidifies Telkom’s position…

Vodacom Group has been ranked by the Top Employers Institute as the continent’s number one employer. This prestigious certification and first place ranking has also been awarded to Vodacom South Africa and Vodacom Mozambique. Each year, the Top Employers Institute certifies organisations who are focused on putting their people first through exceptional Human Resource (HR) policies. The Top Employers Institute programme certifies organisations based on the participation and results of its HR Best Practices Survey. This survey covers six HR domains consisting of 20 topics including People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Diversity & Inclusion and Wellbeing.  While Vodacom…

Roedean School (SA) proudly celebrates the Class of 2023 Matriculants for their stellar performance, achieving an impeccable 100% pass rate. Every student has triumphed, unlocking the golden opportunity to embark on their journey of tertiary education. Known for a rich history of academic excellence and creating future leaders, Roedean is proud of the Class of 2023 for upholding this tradition through their dedication, focus, and enthusiasm. Key Achievements: Achieved a 100% Bachelor Pass rate. Attained an overall average of 78%, with an impressive 3.8 distinctions per candidate. Over 40% of students achieved an A average. Over 50% of students achieved…

While parking her car in a bustling shopping mall, Susan Haroldson (not her real name) received a call from someone who claimed to be from her bank. The caller mentioned that there had been unusual activity on her account. Initially, Susan did not find the first transaction (a purported purchase from Takealot) suspicious. However, when the caller mentioned a payment of R10,000 to an overseas account she became not only convinced that the caller was truly from her bank but also that she wanted to stop this fraudulent transaction immediately.     Because he was so convincing and because she was distracted,…

McDonald’s South Africa today announced that it has been recognised as a Top Employer in South Africa, by The Top Employers Institute. Being certified as a Top Employer showcases an organisation’s dedication to a better world of work and exhibits this through excellent HR policies and people practices. The Top Employers Institute programme certifies organisations based on the participation and results of their HR Best Practices Survey. This survey covers six HR focus areas consisting of 20 topics including People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Wellbeing and more. CEO of McDonald’s South Africa, Greg Solomon…

German startup Vay has launched its inaugural commercially accessible mobility service in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the simple click of a button. This cost-effective rental, charged per minute, facilitates a smooth experience from the “driverless” delivery of the vehicle to its hassle-free return, eliminating the need for parking. Vay’s teledriving technology presents an alternative strategy to autonomous driving, employing automotive-grade technology developed and validated in accordance with industry standards to ensure safe operations on public streets. The launch is a major milestone for Vay, the leading teledriving company. Co-founder and CEO Thomas von der Ohe, says: “After five years of…

Spare a thought for educators. Artificial intelligence has made their jobs harder, particularly when spotting plagiarism and corner-cutting among learners. Yet, artificial intelligence also offers new opportunities for educators to do more with less and create new engagement within their classes. Educators are not anti-AI. Many of them see its potential. According to a survey among US teachers by Quizlet, 62 percent of respondents have used AI, and 50 percent of educators are excited or optimistic about AI in education. Four in ten teachers expect to use AI in their classrooms this year, reports Education Week. AI in education is already starting to…

Topco Media, a B2B media, digital and events company, is set to host the 2024 sustainability conference, focusing on successful, sustainable principles, practices, funding and ESG. The event, scheduled for March 19-20, 2024, in Johannesburg, aims to connect, celebrate and profile sustainable, ethical, and green companies to a local and global audience of global sustainability experts. In a bold move towards greening economies and promoting sustainable practices, the conference will underscore the three pillars of sustainability: environment, social, and governance. Topco Media is proud to announce Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) as a platinum partner for the Future of Sustainability…