Author: Staff Writer

With the United States’ decision to impose a 30% tariff on South African imports, the country must adapt quickly to a “turbulent trade environment”. “The decision by the United States to impose a 30% tariff on South African imports highlights the urgency with which we have to adapt to increasingly turbulent headwinds in international trade. “The US is South Africa’s second largest trading partner by country and these measures will have a considerable impact on industries that rely heavily on exports to that country and on the workers they employ, as well as on our fiscus,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said…

KPMG in South Africa today announced the appointment of Joelene Pierce as the new CEO of the firm in South Africa, effective 1 March 2026. The appointment is made as a result of current CEO Ignatius Sehoole’s imminent retirement, which will take place on 1 March 2026. Partners of the firm voted for the appointment on the 31st of July 2025, signaling not only the strength of expertise that Pierce brings to the firm, but also that the newly elected CEO offers unparalleled expertise in both leading the business, as well as understanding the unique and dynamic nature of the client…

South Africa’s leading crypto platform* Luno has launched tokenised stocks and ETFs, offering South Africans easy access to 61 of the world’s most valuable US-listed companies and indices (44 available today, with the remainder launching shortly). Users can invest directly using rands through the Luno app without transferring funds offshore, having to use a complicated exchange, or waiting for US trading hours.  Luno customers can invest in the largest listed global equities like Apple, Amazon, Google, Intel and the S&P 500 for as little as R20 with a simple buy or sell action.  “Until now, access to global financial markets has been…

The term “conspicuous consumption” has been around for decades, but it gained particular traction in the late 1980s and early 1990s, an era when greed was good, the stock market was booming, and yuppies were snapping up BMWs and Porsches in droves. While trends have evolved rapidly since then, many still equate wealth with flashiness, a stereotype fuelled by celebrity culture and social media influencers. With flashy jewellery and Lime Green Lamborghinis dominating our feeds, classic good taste often seems like a thing of the past. But a new trend, quiet luxury, is making a comeback. It prioritises quality, sophistication and subtlety…

 Following its exciting unveiling at Annecy International Animation Festival last month, Marvel Animation’s “Eyes of Wakanda” will now be available for fans to enjoy on Disney+ earlier than anticipated. The all-new series, which features four episodes, will debut on 1 August, 2025. The new action-adventure series, which was produced in partnership with Proximity Media’s Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian and Kalia King, follows the adventures of brave Wakandan warriors throughout history. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Disney+ (@disneyplusza) In this globe-trotting adventure, the heroes must carry-out dangerous missions to retrieve Vibranium artifacts from the enemies…

Altera Biosciences, Africa’s first dedicated cell and gene therapy biotech company, has announced the successful close of a groundbreaking R29 million pre-seed funding round. Led by founders Alexandra Miszewski and Professor Michael Pepper, this milestone positions Altera at the forefront of biotech innovation on the continent, with a mission to revolutionise healthcare through the development of a universal donor cell platform. The investment, secured from prominent venture capital firms including OneBio Venture Studio, and E Squared Investments, marks a turning point for Africa’s biotech industry. Their pioneering work on universal donor cells holds transformative potential for global healthcare, with the…

admyt, South Africa’s ticketless parking company, today announced the acquisition of SHôPING, an in-mall engagement platform, from Attacq – the developer of Waterfall City,and owner of Mall of Africa. This marks a significant step in admyt’s vision to create a seamless shopping experience that connects digital convenience with real-world retail environments. As part of this transition, SHôPING will be rebranded to mallpass and its functionality expanded to add more value to shoppers, retailers and landlords. mallpass will be a mobile-first platform offering features such as, digital vouchering, loyalty, navigation and personalised shopping experiences to malls across South Africa. Driving this…

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…