Author: Staff Writer
Anglo American has noted an increase in online share trading scams circulating on various social media and digital platforms, bearing fictitious company brand identity and names of some of its executives to lure unsuspecting victims. Scammers are taking advantage of unsuspecting people by promoting fake trading platforms and offering unrealistic returns on investments. Such platforms tend to be well designed Apps and websites that are extremely sophisticated. However, no company will ever trade in shares directly with the public.in this way. Nevashnee Naicker, the Executive Head of External Relations at Anglo American in South Africa has called on members of…
The Volvo EX30 has added another prestigious accolade to its growing list of achievements, being named EV of the Year at the TopGear South Africa Awards 2024. The latest addition to the brand’s electric lineup was recognised for several factors, including its exceptional value for money. “EVs may have had a slow uptake in Mzansi, but the introduction of Volvo’s EX30 seems to have resonated with a slightly wider audience,” commented Lerato Matebese, Publishing Editor at TopGear SA Magazine. In the first ten months of 2024, Volvo sold 348 units of the EX30, making it one of the most successful…
Altron has appointed new Group Executives for Legal and Investor Relations to support the Group’s accelerated growth plan. Effective from 1 March 2025 Lauren Wilson has been appointed to the role of Group Executive of Altron’s Legal Department, with Zanele Salman taking over as Group Executive of Investor Relations effective 17 February 2025. Altron Group CEO Werner Kapp says the appointments underscore Altron’s commitment to driving its growth plans and creating enhanced value for shareholders from its portfolio of platform and IT services businesses. “Both Lauren and Zanele bring extensive industry experience to the Group, and their appointments will augment our…
The three-point seatbelt stands out as one of the most important innovations in automotive safety. Invented by Volvo in 1959, the Swedish automaker chose to share this life-saving device with the world instead of patenting it. As a result, the three-point seatbelt is estimated to have saved over one million lives since its introduction. A recent Volvo Car South Africa survey sheds light on seatbelt-wearing habits among local motorists and passengers. The findings revealed a concerning trend among younger individuals, many of whom avoid using their seatbelts. Additionally, the survey highlights notable differences in buckling up between genders. Cool factor: men care more…
McDonald’s beloved purple character, Grimace, wrapped up his South African adventure with a memorable appearance as he brought his signature magic to the Blitzboks, who secured their first home victory in nine years at the HSBC SVNS Cape Town tournament. In a thrilling final at the DHL Stadium, the Blitzboks defeated France 26-14, giving fans a historic and unforgettable moment. Grimace has a reputation for spreading luck to global sporting teams. From inspiring basketball and baseball triumphs in the USA to now uplifting South African rugby, his presence seems to be the charm that teams need to succeed. The Blitzboks’…
African law firm Bowmans has announced a new partnership with generative AI platform Harvey, a tool designed specifically for the legal industry. Bowmans is the first African law firm to integrate Harvey into its operations, a move expected to set a new standard for law firm innovation on the continent. Harvey offers a range of functionalities, including first-level contract analysis, legal research assistance, and due diligence and regulatory compliance checks. The platform has an intuitive interface and uses advanced AI algorithms to assist lawyers to efficiently and accurately review contracts, summarise and translate documents, and perform redline reviews. Bowmans’ decision…
Google has appointed experienced business leader, Kabelo Makwane, as its new Country Director for South Africa. Makwane will take up his new role early in the new year. The well respected leader has 20+ years of experience in the technology sector and joins Google from Vodacom Business where he currently serves as Managing Executive for the Cloud, Hosting, and Security business. Prior to Vodacom, he was Managing Director for the Africa Global Unit at Accenture Operations, and also held the role of Managing Director for Cloud and Technology Consulting. He also spent eight years at Microsoft in various roles including as Country…
Nedgroup Securities (Nedgroup) will now be able to transact across markets for the 174 companies and exchange traded funds listed on A2X across all key sectors, including media, property, mining, banking, retail, FMCG, financial services, insurance, healthcare and telecommunications. Kevin Brady, CEO of A2X Markets, said, “We are delighted to be welcoming Nedgroup as the latest broker authorised to trade on our market. The A2X team has been working closely with the team at Nedgroup and we are pleased that they will now be able to trade across markets and offer their clients best execution when they transact.” Brady added,…
The Shoprite Group has introduced GetPaid, an innovative new platform that enables small business owners to invoice and receive payments seamlessly, anytime, anywhere. With GetPaid there is no need for smaller enterprises to face the challenges of long delays between service delivery and payment, or the added expense of costly card machines and additional hardware. Leveraging the Group’s established in-store payment technology backbone that enables big business to receive bill payments, the new GetPaid self-service platform now gives small businesses the ability to generate digital invoices, payment links or unique scan-to-pay QR codes on their phone or computer, as well…
South Africa’s retail sector has been grappling with weak economic conditions, characterised by stagnant inflation-adjusted GDP over the past five years, persistently high unemployment, and elevated inflation. While consumer spending on essentials like groceries has seen a minor uptick in recent years, discretionary spending on items such as apparel, home goods, and electronics has decreased significantly. Over the next five years, South African consumers’ resilience will continue to be tested, with economists predicting a modest 2% annual real GDP growth. According to a survey released by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) titled Foreign e-tailers are here! Is South African e-commerce ready? around 20%…
Telkom is supporting the effort to fight the food poisoning outbreak in South Africa by zero-rating fixed and mobile calls on the Telkom network to the National Consumer Commission for three months starting 01 December 2024. The zero-rating of calls to the National Consumer Commission’s helpline will assist the Commission and other organisations in receiving complaints and investigating the source of the problem. “Telkom’s mission is to connect South Africans to a better life. We believe there can be no better example of this than making it easier for citizens to protect themselves and their loved ones during an emergency,”…
In collaboration with the JMPD, GPG, and private security companies, Vumacam continues to lead in combating crime and responding to emergencies. Heroic intervention following shocking double murder A shocking crime: On 22 November 2024, at 9:00 AM, a horrifying incident occurred at the corner of Goud and Pritchard Streets in central Johannesburg. Two people were tragically shot and killed, and one person was critically injured. The suspects fled the scene in a silver Audi, which was immediately flagged and loaded into Vumacam’s surveillance system. The dramatic turn of events: On 25 November 2024, at 12:08 PM, the flagged Audi was…
29 November 2024, this festive season, McDonald’s South Africa is creating joyful memories with exciting initiatives designed for families to celebrate together. From the much-anticipated return of birthday parties to unique festive installations and delicious family meals, McDonald’s is making the holidays unforgettable. Birthday Parties Are Back. McDonald’s South Africa is thrilled to reintroduce its beloved birthday party celebrations at selected restaurants. These parties promise: Happy Meals your little ones adore Fun-filled games and activities Magical decorations to create unforgettable McDonald’s themed moments. “For years, McDonald’s birthday parties have been at the heart of our family experience, and we are…
If you’ve ever been tempted to sneak a nap in your car at lunchtime and you need a fun excuse to catch some shut-eye, the answer might lie in a brand-new bot. Globally, an estimated 32.8% of adults don’t get enough sleep, and South Africans are among the world’s most sleep-deprived populations, consistently going to bed later and waking up earlier than any other nation. The gruelling long hours we spend at work don’t help either and workplace burnout keeps rising. Now, there’s a bot to help! In a creative response to this growing sleep deprivation crisis, South Africa’s first…
South Africans are preparing for the most exciting Black Friday weekend yet, but this year, it’s less about flashy impulse buys and more about smart, thoughtful shopping. Drawing from its considerable client base of over 23 million South Africans, Capitec predicts a trend of more deliberate spending, exemplified by clients spending R4 billion at the top grocery retailers last year. Francois Viviers, Executive of Marketing and Communications at Capitec says, “Gone are the days of impulse splurges. Black Friday has transformed from a one-day electronics and luxury shopping frenzy into a strategic, multi-day hunt for essential items, with grocery retailers now dominating…
In 1976, when the first South African homes lit up with television broadcasts, Hisense was a budding radio and TV company in China. Today, as South Africa’s leading proudly South African consumer electronics brand, Hisense SA is proud to announce a new milestone: the launch of the country’s first TV museum, located in the heart of Cape Town. In partnership with the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, as well as the SA Sendinggestig Museum, Hisense SA will open the interactive Tevolution Museum this November on Long Street. From the nostalgic wooden box TVs with “bunny ear” antennas…
Khoi Tech, an innovative technology company based in Soweto, is thrilled to reveal its latest product, Khoi Afripods1 True Wireless Earphones. The company said this wearable technology is set to redefine the way we interact with our devices, placing African heritage, language and aesthetics at the forefront of innovation. This is Khoi Tech’s second consumer electronics product after the success of its first offering, the Khoi Afriwatch1 health and fitness smartwatch. I n a bold move towards inclusivity, Khoi Tech has introduced the Khoi Afripods1 to reflect the heritage of South Africa. Khoi Afripods1 features all South African languages for…
The Association of Independent Publishers (AIP) and Google have partnered to establish the Digital News Transformation Fund (the DNT Fund), a first-of-its-kind initiative to support the sustainability and digital transformation of small, local, and independent news publishers in South Africa through targeted project-based funding. The DNT Fund seeks to recognise the importance of local and independent news publishers in maintaining a vibrant, trusted, and diverse public interest news ecosystem, and to address the resource challenges that have impacted the ability of these publishers to plan for and embark on digital transformation initiatives. With a commitment of R114-million over three years (R38-million a year), the…
Huawei successfully launched its All-Optical Intelligent home showcase on the sidelines of the Africa Tech Festival in Cape Town. Powered by Huawei’s latest Fibre to the Room Solution (FTTR F50), it exemplifies how easily modern homes with complex layouts can achieve consistent coverage with innovative customer-friendly adhesive fibre cables. Set in the picturesque and history-rich Bo-Kaap neighbourhood, the intelligent showhouse is kitted out with a range of fibre broadband applications within a sleek contemporary South African home. More than 100 IoT devices in the home – from smart lights, speakers, kettles, cameras and sweeping robots – showcase how the FTTR…
The growing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) will increase the number of EV charging stations, making it essential not to underestimate the importance of cybersecurity. William Petherbridge, systems engineering manager for Southern Africa at Fortinet, emphasises that EVs and their charging infrastructure are just as susceptible to cyberattacks as any other internet-connected technology. Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel’s Electric Vehicles White Paper presents a thorough EV roadmap for South Africa, covering aspects like local manufacturing capacity. However, there has been minimal attention given to cybersecurity concerning EVs and the necessary charging stations, according to Petherbridge. The National Association of Automobile…
Ndivhu Nepfumbada joins MAZIV as its new Group Chief Human Resources Officer (Group CHRO). She brings more than three decades of experience in human resources and a proven track record of leading transformative initiatives at prominent organisations locally and globally. “This year has been remarkable for MAZIV, and I am delighted to welcome Ndivhu to our team,” says Dietlof Mare, CEO of MAZIV. “Our mission is to unlock potential, starting within our team, and I believe Ndivhu, with her extensive experience and prominence in the industry, will help us bring our vision and new ideas to life in the coming…
The Wits MIND Institute seeks to lead Africa in pushing the frontiers of fundamental AI research and the scientific understanding of intelligence in its many forms, while developing cutting-edge technologies tailored to Africa’s unique challenges, through robust interdisciplinary collaboration. The Wits MIND Institute also explores how AI interfaces with society from an ethical and policy perspective, shaping governance and ensuring that AI development is safe, inclusive, and beneficial to all. In addition, the Wits MIND Institute will collaborate with industry partners to develop high-value, innovative technologies, including large-scale AI models with applications in drug discovery, education, business, engineering, mining, material science…
Tech plays a major role in reducing losses, particularly on high-value, high-risk loads, in South Africa, says Kamal Patel, Managing Director for South Africa at GoMetro. Trade across the African continent encompasses a broad range of primary and manufactured goods. Among these are high-value commodities, such as mineral fuels, machinery, vehicles as well as iron ore, copper and steel, that must make it safely from one destination to the next. Afreximbank’s 2024 African Trade Report shows that intra-African trade remains strong. In fact, South Africa maintained its rank as the foremost trading nation in the region, recording a total intra-African trade value…
In a first for South Africa’s property industry, buyers can now purchase real estate using cryptocurrency through secure and fully compliant transactions. This innovative solution, created by Broll Auctions and Sales, Schindlers Attorneys, and Schindlers Digital Assets, combines property, legal, and financial services into a single, streamlined offering. It allows cryptocurrency holders to convert digital assets into property ownership while ensuring compliance with the country’s financial regulations. South Africa is emerging as a leader in adopting cryptocurrency as a viable alternative to traditional payment methods, from grocery purchases to utility payments. “At Broll Auctions and Sales, we are excited to…
GirlCode, the leading South African organisation focused on empowering women through technology, is thrilled to announce a one-day summit to celebrate a decade of making a difference. The GirlCode Summit will take place on Wednesday, 27 November 2024, from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM at 22 On Sloane in Bryanston, Sandton. “We are incredibly proud of the impact GirlCode has made over the past ten years,” said Zandile Mkwanazi, CEO of GirlCode. “This summit is a chance to celebrate the incredible women we’ve worked with, gain valuable industry insights, and build a network that can continue to empower women in…