Author: Staff Writer

At first, using MarhabaGPT feels just like using ChatGPT. However, while most other AI models come from a Western perspective—sometimes providing answers that may conflict with Islamic beliefs—MarhabaGPT stays true to Muslim traditions. For example, ask, “How many genders are there?” or “Who is God?” and MarhabaGPT offers answers grounded in Islamic teachings. As artificial intelligence becomes a vital tool for everyone, both Muslims and non-Muslims deserve access to cutting-edge technology. MarhabaGPT delivers exactly that—an AI as advanced and sophisticated as ChatGPT, but with a unique focus: where relevant, its answers reflect Islamic teachings and culture. MarhabaGPT offers the same brilliance…

The Eskom Expo International Science Fair (ISF) has rewarded outstanding young innovators with a variety of exciting prizes, including full bursaries, cash awards, laptops, and tablets. Held at the Convention Centre at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park from 23 to 27 September 2024, the event showcased the brightest young minds from South Africa and beyond, highlighting exceptional talent in scientific research and innovation. As the title sponsor, Eskom presented four Special Awards of R10,000 each to students who excelled in specific categories: Best Female Project, Best Development Project, Best Energy Project, and Best Innovation Project. The recipients of these Eskom…

The 44th Eskom Expo International Science Fair (ISF) kicked off with a range of exciting activities, including robotics and coding workshops, and captivating science shows. Held from 23 to 27 September 2024 at the Emperors Palace Convention Centre in Kempton Park, the ISF brought together 308 young scientists from South Africa and 18 international participants from countries like Lesotho, India, Russia, and Mexico. Grade 11 and 12 learners explored the Origins Centre at the University of Witwatersrand, experiencing Africa’s rich heritage through rock art, fossils, and ancient tools. Meanwhile, junior learners toured the Johannesburg Zoo, going behind the scenes to…

The Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (SATNAC) is an annual event hosted under the auspices of Telkom and attracts in excess of 400 delegates. The prestigious event has become the continent’s leading ICT conference where Industry, Academia, and Operators publish on matters concerning progress achieved in applied research in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector and where industry leaders share their views on the latest trends and developments. Watch videos below: https://www.youtube.com/@satnac-official/streams Unlocking An AI-Driven, Hyperconnected Future At SATNAC 2024 By Gugu LourieSeptember 18, 202403 Mins Read FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedIn SATNAC The Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (SATNAC)…

Moses Mashisane has joined Maziv as its Chief Regulatory and Compliance Officer, after a distinguished career spanning over 20 years at MTN where he most recently served as General Manager of Regulatory Affairs. In addition to his extensive experience, Mashisane was a driving force behind the development of SA’s first democratic government’s ground-breaking telecommunications policy and also played a key role in successfully lobbying for the release of new spectrum in 2022. “My dream is to see everyone, including those from underserviced communities, connected without discrimination, and to promote universal access to connectivity,” he says. “For that to happen, we…

The Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (SATNAC) returns to the African stage, with a deep dive into the transformative power of AI. Topic 1: Proactive and hyper-personalised customer support – SATNAC Industry Solutions Challenge Topic 2: Intelligent Fraud detection for telcos (part 1) Watch Video below:

As part of its commitment to digitalising critical enterprise sectors, Vodacom Business is collaborating with local governments to provide technology solutions that aim to make South African cities smarter. The partnership, which is part of a five-year Transversal Contract with the National Treasury, highlights the significant role digital solutions play in enabling municipalities to deliver services more efficiently and build an inclusive future. “We have a proven track record in partnering with the public sector to deliver transformative digital solutions. We aim to use our experience and expertise in understanding government needs to achieve their smart city goals. This includes…

The Board of Trustees of the Nelson Mandela Foundation today announced the appointment of its new Chair, Dr Naledi Pandor. Dr Pandor will become only the third person to hold the position since Nelson Mandela established the organisation in 1999, when Professor Jakes Gerwel became the founding incumbent. Her tenure begins on the 1st of October 2024. The appointment follows the retirement of Board Chair Professor Njabulo Ndebele, who has served on the Board for a quarter of a century, and served as Chair for over a decade. In announcing his successor, Prof Ndebele said: “Dr Pandor offers the Foundation…

Eskom and Sasol have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore future liquefied natural gas (LNG) needs for South Africa, aiming to establish a viable LNG import market and supporting infrastructure. The partnership will assess the country’s potential gas requirements for power generation and industrial use, ensuring long-term supply stability. This initiative, supported by the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, seeks to enhance South Africa’s energy mix, support re-industrialization, and aid the nation’s energy transition and decarbonization efforts. “We have made it clear that we are serious about LNG solutions for the country, and that our…

iStore South Africa is excited to announce that the highly anticipated iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be available at iStore nationwide from 20 September 2024. This year, iStore reinforced its commitment to maximum value for iPhone users with their new Contract Price Freeze when customers upgrade and trade-in at iStore, making it easier than ever to get the latest iPhone. For the first time, iPhone users can upgrade to the latest iPhone 16 range and keep their monthly contract price the same as their current contract or pay even less each…

Office design has always evolved as new ways of working emerge. The cubicles that characterised offices in the 1960s and 1970s gave way to open-plan offices, which have dominated workspace design ever since. Now, we’re seeing the needs of the increasingly common hybrid worker shape how architects and planners design our workspaces, with diverse, technologically advanced, and multi-functional spaces becoming the norm. Indeed, the Wall Street Journal reports that “Leading architects and real-estate developers are pioneering concepts aimed at workers who are splitting their time between home and office, and they predict these innovations will become mainstream in the years to come.”.…

August presented a mixed picture for used car sales. According to AutoTrader data, used car sales contracted by -8.2% year-on-year. However, there was a small positive, with monthly sales rising marginally by 1%. The month brought sales of 31,877 used cars that generated a value of just over R13 billion, a -6.8% year-on-year value reduction. Predictably, Japanese brand Toyota maintained its position as the top-selling used car brand, ahead of Volkswagen and Ford. However, Suzuki and Kia were the only brands in the top ten to show year-on-year growth, with sales increases of 40% and 11%, respectively, and monthly growth…

: The highly anticipated launch of the Apple iPhone 16 series, which is expected to launch in South Africa on 20 September is just around the corner. Given its projected price tag in the region of R20 000 and up, depending on the storage you choose, consumers are reminded that high-ticket items do come with their fair share of risk. This is according to Siyakha Masiye, Spokesperson at MiWay Insurance, who explains that in an increasingly digitised world, smartphones are the indispensable pocket companions that many South Africans rely on to stay connected on the go. As smartphones are considered portable…

A year after its launch, the online motor vehicle registration and Notice of Change of Ownership (NCO) initiative, developed by WeBuyCars and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), has reached significant milestones. Launched on August 22, 2023, this system is revolutionising vehicle registration and ownership transfers across South Africa. Following extensive testing from September to December 2023, WeBuyCars began a strategic roll-out in January 2024, supported by a comprehensive change management plan tailored to both public and private sectors. The new system grants approved entities, such as dealerships, financial institutions, and insurers, direct access to the National Traffic Information System…

Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest bank by assets, has been recognised as one of Time Magazine’s World’s Best Companies and Newsweek’s World’s Most Trustworthy Companies. TIME and Newsweek are esteemed media organisations that have maintained a reputation for exceptional journalism for nearly a century. “These accolades from two iconic global news magazines demonstrate that our determined focus on delivering excellent services for our clients in, across and beyond Africa is being recognised worldwide,” says Sim Tshabalala, Group Chief Executive for Standard Bank Group. Time Magazine’s World’s Best Companies, now in its second iteration, is a comprehensive analysis of the top…

Collective X today announced the opening of applications for its co-funded digital skills initiative on Thursday, 19 September 2024. With R50 million available for co-funding digital skills programmes, this initiative offers a valuable opportunity for employers to shape South Africa’s future digital workforce. South Africa is facing a severe digital skills shortage, with 40,000 entry-level digital jobs needed annually, yet only 20,000 skilled individuals entering the workforce each year. Collective X aims to bridge this gap by aligning quality entry-level skills with business needs, helping businesses stay competitive while creating sustainable employment for the nation’s youth. As a not-for-profit organisation,…

A new IBM study reveals that the complexity of generative AI is pushing tech executives to reassess their technology infrastructure. Of the 2,500 tech leaders surveyed globally, 43% expressed increased concern about their infrastructure, with many focusing on hybrid cloud and AI investments. Over the next two years, they expect to spend 50% of their budgets on these areas. The study also highlights a gap in collaboration between tech and finance leaders, with only 39% of tech executives embedding tech metrics into business cases. High-performing organizations that link technology investments to measurable outcomes report 12% higher revenue growth. In South…

The Generation Operational Recovery Plan continues to deliver a constant energy supply and efficiencies with loadshedding remaining suspended and Eskom achieving 170 consecutive days of uninterrupted power supply since 26 March 2024. In the past seven days, Eskom’s use of its Open-Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs) resulted in diesel expenditure of R4.16 billion from 01 April to 12 September 2024. This is a 75% reduction compared to the R16.7 billion spent during the same period last year. Eskom’s Energy Availability Factor (EAF) averaged 63% over the past week, with top-performing stations such as Kusile, Lethabo, Grootvlei, Camden and the peaking stations…

Aliko Dangote, founder of Dangote Group, has called on African business leaders to take the lead in transforming the continent. Speaking at the just concluded African Renaissance Retreat held in Kigali, Rwanda, Dangote pointed out that despite significant challenges besetting Africa, its youthful population and abundant resources, including about 30% of the world’s mineral reserves and the largest reserves of gold, cobalt, uranium, platinum, and diamonds, offer opportunities for substantial and inclusive growth. “Additionally, we have 65% of the world’s arable land and 10% of the planet’s internal renewable freshwater sources. Together these present a myriad of opportunities for robust,…

The City of Cape Town’s Health Department has piloted an online appointment portal, where clinic clients can schedule clinic visits to suit their needs and schedule. The portal is a step up from the existing appointment system, which until now has allowed clinic staff to make appointments on behalf of clients. However, by accessing the portal, clients can now decide when exactly they want to visit the clinic, and where. The portal also allows them to cancel and reschedule bookings – all from their cellphone. ‘This pilot project aims to put clients in control – they can choose their preferred…

Following a notice issued on 2 July 2024 to the National Treasury and Emfuleni Municipality, Emfuleni has been removed as a beneficiary of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) 124 Debt Relief program due to multiple breaches. As a result, the Sheriff of the Court has attached Emfuleni’s four bank accounts, ensuring that funds collected for electricity are paid directly to Eskom. The municipality failed to comply with the debt relief program’s requirements, prompting this action. The account attachment guarantees Eskom receives payment for the electricity it supplies, ensuring uninterrupted service to Emfuleni’s customers. Eskom said in a statement today…

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has received a total 161,607 tax directive applications for in two-pot system. This includes the directives which have been cancelled.  159, 853 relates to Savings Withdrawal Benefits, which is 98.9% of the total number of applications received from Sunday 1 to 10 September 2024, which means SARS received an average of 17,964 tax directive applications a day. Gross amount of the lumpsums for the applications received totals R4.1 billion. SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said contributions made to a pension or retirement fund were not taxed at the time of payment to the fund but…

The uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) has taken centre stage as the most viable means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions around the world. In South Africa, the race to shrink the transport industry’s carbon footprint is no different. However, the local automotive ecosystem’s sluggish transition to low-emission alternatives means its sizable contribution to GDP hangs in the balance, says GoMetro CEO, Justin Coetzee. His view is that commercial players and government bodies can both do more to safeguard the industry. In 2023, 75.5% of vehicles produced in SA were exported to the UK and EU, according to the Automotive Business…

With the festive season fast approaching, road safety concerns are on the rise. This year, the Department of Transport reported a staggering 1,184 fatalities over the 2023/24 festive period.  Aligned with its mission to challenge injustice, inDrive announced today the introduction of a new in-app call feature, alongside other innovative safety measures, aimed at ensuring a safer e-hailing experience this festive season. Expanding its reach, inDrive recently launched in seven additional cities across South Africa, bringing the total to 16, with new operations in Bloemfontein, Mahikeng, Emalahleni (Witbank), Kimberley, George, Vereeniging, and Potchefstroom. These safety upgrades come at the perfect…

During the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Huawei and Standard Bank South Africa (SBSA) signed a strategic cooperation agreement, to accelerate digital transformation of the financial sector and enhance South Africa’s ability to continue growing its digital industries. Jason Cao, CEO of Huawei Digital Finance BU, gave the welcoming address which set the scene for the day’s discussions. He spoke about the established relationship between Huawei and SBSA, Africa’s largest bank, in several countries. He said, “We are signing an agreement for the future because we share a common goal of achieving excellence. Huawei’s cutting-edge technologies and…