Author: Staff Writer
Interest rates have been reduced, petrol prices saw multiple declines in 2024, and South Africa has achieved more than 300 consecutive days without loadshedding. These factors are contributing to a sense of optimism as 2025 begins. According to the Ipsos 2025 Predictions Survey, 84% of South Africans believe this year will be better than the last. Early indicators suggest 2025 is shaping up to be a turning point for South Africa’s economy and automotive industry. Economists speaking to Bloomberg forecast a growth rate of 1.7% for 2025, a notable improvement compared to the country’s average growth of under 1% over the past decade.…
Last year, Volvo Car South Africa revealed impressive sales figures for its electric vehicle (EV) lineup. The remarkable EX30 crossover led the charge and is converting many long-time combustion engine enthusiasts to the world of electrification. Compact, efficient, and sustainable, the EX30 is ideally suited for today’s demands and owes part of its success to a little-known electric Volvo that came decades earlier. While the XC40 Recharge marked the brand’s first electric production car, Volvo has been investing in electrification for much longer. In 1976, it debuted the Elbil concept car. In the ’70s, Volvo began experimenting with electric drivetrains,…
McDonald’s South Africa has been certified as a Top Employer for 2025 by the prestigious Top Employers Institute, highlighting the company’s exceptional HR practices and its commitment to employee development and well-being. The certification follows an independent and comprehensive evaluation of McDonald’s South Africa’s human resources policies, assessed across critical areas such as leadership, employee engagement, talent acquisition, and organizational culture. The process included an extensive review of six key HR pillars: Steer, Shape, Attract, Develop, Engage, and Unite. McDonald’s South Africa successfully completed the rigorous HR Best Practice Survey, Validation, and Audit process, meeting global benchmarks and earning the…
Eskom has reached 296 consecutive days without implementing loadshedding since 26 March last year. On Monday 20 January at midnight, Eskom will reach 300 days of loadshedding suspension for the South African economy, a milestone not seen since June 2018. This performance has also resulted in year-to-date diesel savings of R16.42 billion (on a year-on-year basis), which is about 62.9% less than the R26.09 billion spent during the same period last year, as a result of the continued execution of the Generation Operational Recovery plan. Operational Highlights: Koeberg Unit 2: Eskom’s Koeberg Nuclear Power Station has seen Unit 2 sending 930MW…
In 2024 breakthroughs in technology like AI, redefined industries and how we work. As these technologies advanced sustainability also became a core focus as the need to develop greener, more efficient solutions became clearer. These advancements laid the groundwork for a new era and 2025 promises to build on this momentum, ushering in trends that will further revolutionise industries, enhance personalisation, and simplify complexity across the board. In the new year, the technology landscape will likely be defined by a blend of regulation, innovation, resilience, and a drive for inclusivity and sustainability, addressing both the opportunities and challenges of the…
In an exciting announcement, Lesaka is thrilled to extend the deadline for submitting innovative proposals for its BEE, CSI, Enterprise, or Supplier Development initiatives to 31 January 2025. This is your golden opportunity to access a share of R10 million in funding that could breathe new life into your business or community project. “As Lesaka embarks on its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) journey, we are committed to raising awareness and supporting initiatives that align with these principles. Many of you may already be engaging in activities that fall under the ESG umbrella, even if you use different terminology. We…
Small businesses are key contributors to the South African economy – driving innovation as well as job creation. These organisations are fertile ground for skills development initiatives to take root, giving career-advancing opportunities to a diverse range of workers. Huawei works hand in hand with over 50 South African Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME) suppliers and is a committed partner that empowers these organisations by providing access to everything from materials to training opportunities. Last year Huawei’s Supplier Development programme delivered over R13 million in support to selected partners. Thozama Matlhapa, Senior BEE Manager at Huawei South Africa says,…
As momentum grows in the shift towards e-invoicing, it’s clear that the benefits of adopting this technology extend far beyond simply achieving compliance with SARS’ planned rollout of its VAT modernisation programme by 2028. The growth of the e-invoicing industry itself is evidence of this, with the global sector anticipated to grow to $45.44 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.3, according to The Business Research Company E-invoicing is the process of digitally exchanging documents with a strictly structured or machine-readable data format, which means that they can be sent, received, and processed without any manual…
Vodacom and Orange have joined hands to form, a first of its kind, rural towerco partnership in Africa. Through this partnership, the companies will collaborate to build, own, and operate solar-powered mobile base stations in underserved areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The initiative will extend network coverage and enable access to telecommunications and mobile financial services to up to 19 million people in less densely populated rural communities, reinforcing their commitment to bridging the digital divide and driving inclusive growth. “With a footprint serving over 210 million customers across Africa, we have the opportunity to significantly contribute…
As TikTok faces a potential shutdown in the U.S. on January 19 due to ownership concerns, pending a Supreme Court decision, another Chinese app has started gaining significant traction. According to TechCrunch, American users are flocking to Xiaohongshu, known in English as RedNote. The app recently climbed to the No. 1 spot on the U.S. App Store’s free apps chart and also ranks as the top Social Networking app among free iPhone downloads. The surge in popularity is being driven in part by TikTok creators promoting Xiaohongshu on their accounts, encouraging their audiences to consider it as a viable alternative.…