Author: Staff Writer
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…