Author: Staff Writer

The Lexus coupe is now available as the Lexus LC 500h hybrid and benefits from a series of improvements and innovations since the previous model year sold. The result is an evolution in the model’s luxury motoring qualities, from its ride, handling and responsiveness to its comfort and multimedia functionality. At the heart of the LC 500h is its advanced hybrid powertrain, delivering an impressive blend of power and efficiency. The combination of a 3.5-liter V6 engine and an electric motor results in a thrilling driving experience with reduced environmental impact. The LC 500h features a multi-stage hybrid system that…

The foot has certainly not come off the gas in the used car market. In 2023 the number of used cars sold rose by 4.6% year-on-year. Overall, 367,075 used cars with an average selling price of R399,163 were sold, according to AutoTrader data.   Sales of an additional 17,000-odd units in 2023 and increased average selling price helped drive up the total value of used cars sold by 7.7% year-on-year. Amounting to a whopping R146.5 billion, 2023’s figure outperformed the previous year’s by some R10.5 billion. The Toyota brand continued to fuel car shoppers’ passions. Like it did in 2022, the Japanese brand…

inDrive, a global mobility and urban services platform operating across 46 countries globally including 9 countries in Africa has been named  was the world’s second most downloaded ride-hailing app in 2023, retaining this accolade for a second consecutive year, according to data.ai. The company stated that South Africa is one of the fastest growing markets in Africa. Total downloads of the inDrive app amounted to 66.6 million in 2023, based on Google Play and App Store (China is iOS only) data.ai said. inDrive also achieved a notable milestone, ranking as the fourth most downloaded application worldwide in the Travel category.…

Most of us are used to waiting 30 minutes or more when we order something on a delivery app, but one Uber Eats user had to wait just 69 seconds for their order in 2023. The order, for a Fanta Orange, was delivered from a restaurant just 16 metres from the customer’s house. That’s just one of the insights to emerge from Uber Eats’ 2023 Annual Cravings Report released by Uber Eats. The report provides a snapshot of the most popular, the most unusual, and some of the most unique orders on the platform. The data has revealed some seriously…

MTN South Africa on Monday announced that it has accepted the resignation of independent non-executive director Thabi Leoka, effective immediately. Leoka has been embroiled in a scandal over her claim to have a PhD in economics that many media houses have failed to prove exists. The University of London, where she claimed to have received the PhD, denied giving her such a qualification in economics or even having such a programme. Leoka has blamed a mix-up in her names, which she said she changed, as the reason for the difficulty in confirming her PhD. MTN said Leoka joined the board…

Economist and entrepreneur Thabi Leoka, whose alleged fabrication of a doctorate from the London School of Economics (LSE) has stirred controversy, reportedly cost her the opportunity to be considered as a successor to Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Kuben Naidoo, according to the Sunday Times. Leoka, initially listed among potential candidates following Naidoo’s resignation, was removed early in the selection process last year after revelations surfaced about her dishonesty on her CV. This discovery occurred before Business Day exposed the questionable doctorate, dealing a significant blow to her aspirations. Business Day disclosed that Leoka became embroiled in a scandal surrounding the…

American rapper Meek Mill appears to be caught in a situation that echoes the themes found in one of his own songs, unfolding as his day unravels into an unexpected downturn. The backdrop to this sudden twist in his narrative centres around an innocuous inquiry he made on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. This widely recognised rapper, hailing from the vibrant city of Philadelphia, chose a Saturday morning to connect with his followers. His question sought to explore the extent of his global influence, with a specific focus on the African continent. In what initially seemed like a…

Eskom today announced that Mr Dan Marokane will assume office as the Group Chief Executive on 01 March 2024. When making the announcement of Mr Marokane’s appointment on 08 December 2023, Eskom indicated that he would join the organisation no later than 31 March 2024.  “On behalf of the Eskom Board, I officially welcome Dan to the organisation. Eskom employees were excited to hear that Dan will rejoin the company. They remember his hands-on leadership style that is needed right now,” said Eskom Board Chairman, Mteto Nyati.  “The Board wishes him well as he steers Eskom in the right direction…

As matric results are released, the country will celebrate the vanity metrics presented by the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga. However, these do very little to reflect the true picture of education in South Africa. Instead, what should be looked at is how many learners who entered Grade One in 2012 completed Grade 12 last year. Figures showing how many young South Africans have completed the treacherous journey from Grade One to matric will reveal the actual state of education in South Africa. The matric results presented annually simply mask the true state of education received by most learners…

TikTok is currently testing a new feature that taps into the realm of AI to enhance users’ songwriting endeavours, according to The Verge. Known as AI Song, this feature utilises the extensive language model, Bloom, to generate musical compositions based on text prompts provided by users. When crafting a post, individuals can input their own lyrics into the text field, prompting TikTok to suggest incorporating AI Song to complement the content with sounds. Additionally, users have the flexibility to select the desired genre for the generated song. Although the feature hasn’t been rolled out universally, some TikTok users have already…

Telkom today announced its recognition as the Top Employer in South Africa for 2024 by the distinguished Top Employers Institute. This prestigious accolade underscores Telkom’s steadfast commitment to cultivating an environment that prioritises and invests in its most valuable asset – its people. On 18 January 2024, Telkom was honoured to receive the prestigious Top Employer Award – for a second year in a row – a testament to the Company’s dedication in achieving a harmonious balance between investing in its workforce, refining operational processes, enhancing the physical work environment, and embracing cutting-edge technology. This distinction further solidifies Telkom’s position…

Vodacom Group has been ranked by the Top Employers Institute as the continent’s number one employer. This prestigious certification and first place ranking has also been awarded to Vodacom South Africa and Vodacom Mozambique. Each year, the Top Employers Institute certifies organisations who are focused on putting their people first through exceptional Human Resource (HR) policies. The Top Employers Institute programme certifies organisations based on the participation and results of its HR Best Practices Survey. This survey covers six HR domains consisting of 20 topics including People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Diversity & Inclusion and Wellbeing.  While Vodacom…

Roedean School (SA) proudly celebrates the Class of 2023 Matriculants for their stellar performance, achieving an impeccable 100% pass rate. Every student has triumphed, unlocking the golden opportunity to embark on their journey of tertiary education. Known for a rich history of academic excellence and creating future leaders, Roedean is proud of the Class of 2023 for upholding this tradition through their dedication, focus, and enthusiasm. Key Achievements: Achieved a 100% Bachelor Pass rate. Attained an overall average of 78%, with an impressive 3.8 distinctions per candidate. Over 40% of students achieved an A average. Over 50% of students achieved…

While parking her car in a bustling shopping mall, Susan Haroldson (not her real name) received a call from someone who claimed to be from her bank. The caller mentioned that there had been unusual activity on her account. Initially, Susan did not find the first transaction (a purported purchase from Takealot) suspicious. However, when the caller mentioned a payment of R10,000 to an overseas account she became not only convinced that the caller was truly from her bank but also that she wanted to stop this fraudulent transaction immediately.     Because he was so convincing and because she was distracted,…

McDonald’s South Africa today announced that it has been recognised as a Top Employer in South Africa, by The Top Employers Institute. Being certified as a Top Employer showcases an organisation’s dedication to a better world of work and exhibits this through excellent HR policies and people practices. The Top Employers Institute programme certifies organisations based on the participation and results of their HR Best Practices Survey. This survey covers six HR focus areas consisting of 20 topics including People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Wellbeing and more. CEO of McDonald’s South Africa, Greg Solomon…

German startup Vay has launched its inaugural commercially accessible mobility service in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the simple click of a button. This cost-effective rental, charged per minute, facilitates a smooth experience from the “driverless” delivery of the vehicle to its hassle-free return, eliminating the need for parking. Vay’s teledriving technology presents an alternative strategy to autonomous driving, employing automotive-grade technology developed and validated in accordance with industry standards to ensure safe operations on public streets. The launch is a major milestone for Vay, the leading teledriving company. Co-founder and CEO Thomas von der Ohe, says: “After five years of…

Spare a thought for educators. Artificial intelligence has made their jobs harder, particularly when spotting plagiarism and corner-cutting among learners. Yet, artificial intelligence also offers new opportunities for educators to do more with less and create new engagement within their classes. Educators are not anti-AI. Many of them see its potential. According to a survey among US teachers by Quizlet, 62 percent of respondents have used AI, and 50 percent of educators are excited or optimistic about AI in education. Four in ten teachers expect to use AI in their classrooms this year, reports Education Week. AI in education is already starting to…

Topco Media, a B2B media, digital and events company, is set to host the 2024 sustainability conference, focusing on successful, sustainable principles, practices, funding and ESG. The event, scheduled for March 19-20, 2024, in Johannesburg, aims to connect, celebrate and profile sustainable, ethical, and green companies to a local and global audience of global sustainability experts. In a bold move towards greening economies and promoting sustainable practices, the conference will underscore the three pillars of sustainability: environment, social, and governance. Topco Media is proud to announce Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) as a platinum partner for the Future of Sustainability…

inq., a Convergence Partners company, has announced the launch of an extensive Edge Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and the Edgedock data insights value proposition to transform business operations across various sectors. The integrated offering combines edge computing with AI to bring real-time data processing and intelligent decision-making to the forefront of South African businesses.  The inq. Edge AI & IoT suite includes: Vision AI: To provide advanced video analytics powered by AI and machine learning. Video AI Platform: Leveraging AI for advanced video analytics, improving security and customer insights. Video AI Compliance as a Service: This empowers organisations to easily convert…

Huawei has officially announced the local availability in South Africa of its latest laptop, the Huawei MateBook D 16, featuring a High-Performance 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12450H processor. The new iteration of the Huawei Matebook D16 laptop delivers an immersive viewing experience and excellent performance in a slim and lightweight design at an attractive price. An expansive 16-inch display with ultra-narrow bezels delivers an incredible 90% screen-to-body ratio. Its large screen in no way adds to its weight, the Huawei MateBook D 16 weighs just 1.68kg. It also features Huawei Metaline technology, delivering stronger and more stable WiFi connections of…

TymeBank, one of the world’s fastest growing digital banks, today announced that it reached its first month of profitability in December 2023, less than five years since launching in February 2019. This makes it the first digital bank to break even in South Africa and on the continent. This milestone marks a pivotal moment for South Africa’s only black-controlled bank, making it one of the fastest growing digital banks globally, and the first African digital bank ever, to reach this milestone. “We are extremely proud of our achievement, particularly when you consider that globally, less than half of the top…

Microsoft is introducing Copilot Pro, a new premium subscription for individuals that provides a higher tier of service for AI capabilities, brings Copilot AI capabilities to Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers, and new capabilities, such as the ability to create Copilot GPTs. Copilot app is now widely accessible for iOS and Android phones. Additionally, Microsoft is extending the availability of Copilot for Microsoft 365 to a broader range of commercial customers, encompassing businesses of all sizes, including small- and medium-sized enterprises, effective immediately. You can subscribe to Copilot Pro today for $20 per month/per user. Copilot Pro provides: A single AI…

The last-mile delivery market is going through the roof – not just here in South Africa but all over the world. How can courier companies deliver the goods reliably while, at the same time, treading lightly on the planet? Responsible companies are eyeing futuristic technologies that will propel deliveries into the next decade… Courier companies across the globe are exploring various tech tools to streamline the delivery process, reduce costs, and improve overall efficiency. Robots, for instance, can undertake a number of tasks very efficiently – from picking, packing, and sorting packages to navigating pavements and delivering parcels directly to…

The much anticipated public hearings on South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice over its actions in Gaza will be heard at The Hague on Thursday morning. The Israeli Defence Forces have killed more than 23 000 Palestinians in retaliation to the October 7 surprise attack in which Hamas killed 1 139 Israelis and took over 200 hostages. To follow the matter live simply click here: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k11/k11gf661b3 

EIB Global reveals a $30 million commitment to Seedstars Africa Ventures I, a venture capital fund dedicated to supporting innovative entrepreneurs across Africa. The fund will invest in companies developing and implementing  digital technologies, in particular those addressing basic needs such as education, healthcare and utilities,  or enhancing goods, services and value-chain efficiency.  “Encouraging and promoting innovation and digitalisation is crucial to developing strong and sustainable  economies,” said EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle. “African entrepreneurs hold the key to the  continent’s future, creating jobs, reducing inequality and improving quality of life. The EIB, as part of Team  Europe, is committed to…