Author: Staff Writer
In a surprising declaration during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House, former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that the United States should “take over” Gaza and assume control of the war-torn territory. Trump’s remarks, which effectively implied U.S. ownership of Gaza, drew immediate scrutiny, with critics warning that such a move would amount to an endorsement of the displacement of Palestinians. Expanding on his vision, Trump likened Gaza’s potential to that of a luxury coastal destination, calling it the “Riviera of the Middle East.” He also declined to rule out the possibility of deploying U.S. troops…
Since the first proposal was made in 2022, discussions about decreasing speed limits have repeatedly arisen as a means to reduce the high road fatality rate in South Africa. Would decreasing current speed limits by 10km/h reduced the 414 arrests for speeding made over the festive season or stopped one driver from clocking 245km/h? Unfortunately, this is highly unlikely. The CEO of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, says this is not because a reduction of 10km/h will not reduce the severity of crashes but because of the nature of speedsters in South Africa. “If 120km/h speed limit provided little deterrence to the 245km/h driver, the…
Just past midnight on February 3, Elon Musk took to X to justify his sweeping overhaul of the federal government. Speaking over the chatter of his four-year-old son—also named X—Musk declared that the U.S. bureaucracy had become a rogue “fourth branch of government,” one he described as “arguably the most powerful.” Turning his attention to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Musk branded it a tool for funneling taxpayer money to “Marxists and criminals.” Despite its existence being mandated by Congress, he boasted of his plans to shut it down, claiming full support from President Donald Trump. Hours later,…
Billionaire Elon Musk is rapidly consolidating power over key sectors of the U.S. government, fueling alarm among Democrats and constitutional experts who warn of a looming crisis. In the two weeks since President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Musk—who heads the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—has aggressively reshaped federal operations with little to no oversight from Congress. His rapid moves have halted the work of the country’s main foreign aid agency, flagged millions of federal employees as redundant, gained access to classified intelligence, and seized control of the system that manages trillions in government spending. Despite wielding unprecedented authority, Musk…
Paycorp, an international payments provider has acquired Pilot Software, a provider of cutting-edge point-of-sale software and hardware solutions for the restaurant and hospitality industry. This strategic move strengthens Paycorp’s market presence and enhances its product offering, enabling businesses to benefit from a diverse range of payment solutions. Wayne Abramson of Paycorp, commented: “We are thrilled to welcome Pilot Software to the Paycorp family. Their expertise in point-of-sale technology, combined with our deep-rooted presence in global payments, creates an exciting synergy. “By combining forces, we will offer restaurant and hospitality businesses seamless, efficient, and value-driven solutions that simplify operations and enhance customer experience. “This acquisition reaffirms…
A coalition of civil society organisations has strongly criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump over his unsubstantiated claims about South Africa. Trump alleged, without evidence, that the South African government is seizing land and mistreating certain groups of people. He further threatened to withdraw future U.S. funding to the country. Among the organisations condemning his remarks are the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, the Desmond Tutu Foundation, and Defend Our Democracy. They described Trump’s statements as “absurd and dangerous.” His comments prompted a swift response from the South African government and led to a significant drop in the value of the rand.
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…