Author: Staff Writer
China’s Ministry of Commerce announced on Tuesday that it will impose counter-tariffs on various U.S. products while also launching a trade-related investigation into Google. The new measures include a 15% tariff on coal and liquefied natural gas, as well as a 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery, and large-displacement vehicles. “The U.S.’s unilateral tariff hikes seriously violate World Trade Organization rules,” the ministry stated. “Rather than resolving its own issues, these actions disrupt normal economic and trade cooperation between China and the U.S.” The tariffs come in response to the 10% levy ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump on…
Eskom Board today announced that Leslie Mkhabela has been appointed as the Lead Independent Director, effective 31 January 2025. Mkhabela joined the Eskom Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director on 01 October 2022, when the new board was appointed by the late Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan. “In our quest to strengthen governance and leave behind an organisation with structures that have the necessary robust checks and balances, the Board deemed it necessary to appoint Mr Mkhabela as a Lead Independent Director. We are happy that Mr Leslie Mkhabela has accepted this important role which he will occupy for the…
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) wishes to announce that to date it has received 2,664 279 applications for tax directives for withdrawals from the Savings Withdrawal Benefit of the two-pot system. Of the total number of applications, 2 403 379 tax directives were approved for funds to be released. The remainder were declined for a variety of reasons, including incorrect Identity Numbers, incorrect tax numbers, amongst others. A total gross lumpsum of R 43.42 billion has been paid out to date. In line with SARS’ intent for taxpayers to use digital channels, SARS is happy to announce that the simulated…
From surging cargo volumes to sophisticated sorting tech, here’s how logistics providers are gearing up to tackle the busiest times of the year. Peak seasons in logistics bring intense activity for retailers, with delivery volumes surging significantly. As e-commerce continues to gain popularity with consumers, these busy periods demand innovative solutions to ensure smooth operations and on-time deliveries. Growth and trends Recent industry data highlights the scale of peak season activity, with logistics providers reporting significant increases in cargo volumes during periods of heightened demand. City Logistics, for example, transported 8% more cargo between September and November 2024 compared to the…
Property technology – or PropTech – is not new to South Africa, with the majority of real estate companies by now having adopted technology or software in some guise since it was first introduced in the 1990s. The post-pandemic landscape has not been without challenges for the real estate sector with high interest rates, loadshedding, escalating municipal costs and failing public infrastructure being the most prevalent issues it has had to deal with. PropTech has emerged as a critical tool for property developers and landlords as they look to enhance operational efficiency and profitability. A surge in demand for advanced…
The Volvo EX30 has been announced as a finalist in the prestigious South African Car of the Year competition sponsored by Old Mutual Insure. The all-electric crossover, which is enjoying substantial global sales success, is one of 17 finalists and the only fully electric vehicle vying for the crown in 2025. The announcement comes after the latest round of voting by the SACOTY jury. “We’re delighted to see the EX30 is a finalist in the South African Car of the Year competition sponsored by Old Mutual Insure,” commented Felipe Yagi, Head of Marketing & Communications at Volvo Car South Africa. “Having racked…
Volvo’s flagship luxury SUV, the all-electric EX90, will join the local lineup in the first half of 2025. Engineered to be the safest Volvo ever, the EX90 introduces the marque’s invisible safety shield. This innovative system combines advanced sensing technology, including cameras, radars, and LiDAR, to protect the vehicle’s occupants and other road users. These components are seamlessly integrated with the EX90’s cutting-edge vehicle computers, powered by Volvo’s proprietary software and NVIDIA DRIVE technology. The EX90 is built on Volvo’s advanced SPA2 platform and joins the brand’s growing lineup of battery-electric vehicles, which includes the EX30, C40 Recharge, and XC40…
Tarsus Distribution has joined forces with Darktrace, a global leader in AI for cybersecurity, to bring enhanced cybersecurity solutions to Africa. This partnership will leverage the existing capabilities of both companies, making Darktrace’s innovative Self-Learning AI technology more accessible to Africa’s enterprises. The collaboration will empower Tarsus’s reseller network across Africa to combat the growing cybersecurity threats effectively, offering network security, email security, and OT (operational technology) protection. Andrew Potgieter, Business Unit Manager for Security and Software at Tarsus Distribution, commented, “Darktrace has consistently demonstrated its leadership in the AI security space. “The synergy between Darktrace’s ActiveAI Security Platform and…
Stellenbosch, South Africa, has been named the country’s surprising up-and-coming technology powerhouse boasting the highest number of tech jobs per capita. With an average of 36 tech-related jobs per 100,000 people, it has surpassed major cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town as a leading destination for tech talent. Midrand followed closely with an average of 30 tech-related jobs per 100,000 people while Johannesburg ranked third with 24 vacancies per 100,000 people. Quickbooks analysed 16,000 job listings on Indeed to reveal the regions with the highest concentration of technology-related job opportunities in South Africa. The report also highlighted the average salaries…
JUWI Renewable Energies today announced plans to begin construction on three major private solar projects in 2025. Representing investments of over R6 billion and totaling 340 megawatts (MW) of capacity. The projects will make a major contribution to South Africa’s clean energy transition while serving key players in the mining, data centre, and energy sectors, including Glencore, Teraco, Sasol, and Air Liquide. Together, the projects will generate over 1 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of clean energy annually, enough to power 200,000 South African households, and offset nearly 1 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year. These projects will also create over…