Author: Staff Writer

COVID-19 has accelerated the inevitable. Before the pandemic, the world had been moving on an unavoidable path toward a new digital age, despite many businesses failing to invest in the requisite technologies. However, as the COVID-19 meteor hit global markets, companies in sectors like retail that failed to recognise the encroaching new virtual age were brutally impacted in the market sell-off. What is undeniably clear in the post-COVID-19 age is that companies that do not leverage on new technologies might not remain competitive relative to new entrants. The sheer pervasive reach of tech across industries is challenging traditional valuation frameworks.…

Global beauty and personal care brand company Avon Justine has joined nationwide relief efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus by pledging 1.5 tons of hand sanitisers to the South African Police Services (SAPS). The hand sanitizers will be handed over to senior officials of the SAPS and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation for distribution among law enforcement officials. “We are delighted for this kind gesture which will go a long way to help in bolstering our defences against this pandemic. Our members are exposed to this pandemic daily, risking life and limb in the exercise of their duties.…

In an effort to weed out corruption in its ranks, the South African Police Service (SAPS) on Wednesday nabbed eight of its own in a pre-dawn operation across the country. Eight were among the 14 arrested by the Anti-Corruption Task Team during the operation. Among those arrested were senior police officers and six company owners and directors. In a statement, police spokesperson Vish Naidoo said among the arrested senior officers was a former SAPS Lieutenant General. “[They were arrested] on warrants of arrest issued on multiple charges, including fraud, corruption, theft and money laundering,” he said. The Special Anti-Corruption Task…

Almost 5 000 Wits students have received laptops, delivered by the South African Post Office (SAPO), to enable online learning during the nationwide lockdown. Through its Speed Services Courier Unit, SAPO delivered the laptops to the homes of disadvantaged Wits students across South Africa, including in rural areas. Due to the national COVID-19 lockdown, Wits University suspended contact teaching and commenced with emergency remote teaching and learning on 20 April 2020. In its transition to online learning, Wits established a mobile computing bank, which granted qualifying students access to a mobile device for online learning purposes. A partnership with the SAPO ensured…

FNB is distributing 100 000 cloth masks to SASSA beneficiaries who collect their social grants across the Bank’s branches. The masks are distributed through 200 FNB branches in provinces which include Gauteng, Western Cape, Limpopo, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and Free State. The allocation in each branch is dependent on the volume of beneficiaries per branch, however, each branch has been allocated between 400 to 1000 masks to distribute during the days that grants are paid-out. “Our measures are designed to support the country’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and we are playing our part by prioritising…

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has expressed confidence that the aviation industry and the country’s airports will adhere to COVID-19 regulations and directives, as the sector reopens. The Minister made the declaration on Wednesday at the O.R Tambo International Airport, where he was inspecting the airport’s adherence to lockdown regulations and directions. “These regulations and directives are there for the protection of all people and we expect absolute compliance,” said Mbalula. He said government understood the need for a balanced gradual reopening of the economy and safety and good health. “I am confident that our airports will play a central role…

For many, every month seems to be the start and end of a year, as locals adjust to the “new normal”. In January, it was about a ‘new year, new me’ and choosing to ignore those 2020 memes, the start of the nationwide lockdown was the beginning of new lifestyle choices by South Africans, according to data by Uber Eats. Self-isolated Savourness  While the most ordered healthy meal is the Poke bowl and the many iterations and flavour combinations of it, Uber Eats reports that healthy orders overall spiked at a 71% increase since the beginning of April as compared…

The Ministry of Transport wishes to notify road users that the national rollout date for the Administrative Adjudication of the Road Traffic Offences  (AARTO) Act had been delayed as a result of the outbreak of Coronavirus. In August 2019, the AARTO Bill was signed into law and although no date was officially promulgated, it was intended to take national effect by mid-2020. “However, the capacity of the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA), which is the entity responsible for the rollout of AARTO, has been severely compromised by the COVID-19 outbreak,” the transport department said in a statement. “The entity has…

The new BMW 4 Series Coupé is ready for launch. The latest generation of the sporty two-seater for the premium midsize segment underscores its distinctive character profile, with both a vehicle concept focused squarely on delivering dynamic driving pleasure and the clear differentiation of the coupé from the new BMW 3 Series. This is the next chapter in a coupé tradition shaped by numerous legendary BMW models. Global market launch from October 2020. Global sales begin with five model variants; the BMW M440i xDrive Coupé (fuel consumption combined 7.1 – 6.8 l/100 km [39.8 – 41.5 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined:…

A Pretoria company is in hot water after implementing excessive price hikes during the COVID-19 pandemic. In South Africa’s first contested excessive pricing case in the context of COVID-19, the Competition Tribunal has found Babelegi Workwear and Industrial Supplies CC (Babelegi) guilty of excessive pricing. “In its order and reasons issued today, the Tribunal has found that Babelegi contravened section 8(1)(a) of the Competition Act by charging excessive prices for face masks that it sold to customers between 31 January 2020 and 5 March 2020 (the complaint period). The contravention relates to the sale of face Dust Mask FFP1 Pioneer…