Author: Staff Writer

Today the Shoprite Group opened its 100th Petshop Science store, with the opening of its newest location in Glen Marais, Kempton Park. It became the first local retailer to launch standalone pet shops in April 2021 in response to the country’s booming pet economy. With over 22 million pets in South Africa, consumers spend an estimated R8 billion on pet food and accessories annually, a number which is expected to increase by 2.5% by 2026. “Petshop Science’s rapid expansion accentuates the increased demand for specialised pet care, complemented by expert advice from knowledgeable employees,” comments Willem Hunlun, Chief Operating Officer…

Airtel, a leading telecommunications provider, is celebrating Customer Service Week with a renewed commitment to delivering exceptional customer experience. The weeklong annual celebration highlights Airtel’s dedication to recognizing and appreciating its customers, who are at the heart of the company’s operations. Speaking at the launch of Customer Service Week, during a groupwide Employee Townhall, Airtel Africa CEO, Sunil Taldar, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to providing superior experience and enhancing the customer journey across all touchpoints. “At Airtel, our customers are at the heart of everything we do; they are the reason we exist. Our commitment to delivering excellence in customer…

Comic Con Africa 2024 wrapped up on a high note, and  AXE, South Africa’s leading male fragrance brand, delivered a show-stopping experience that left fans buzzing with excitement. The AXE activation, which ran from Thursday, 26 September to Sunday, 29 September at the Joburg Expo Centre (NASREC), proved to be a highlight of the convention. Attendees were captivated by a blend of live performances, immersive VR zones, and a star appearance by AXE’s ambassador, Robot Boii (Mzwakhe Mbuli Jr.). Feedback from the activation has been overwhelmingly positive, with attendees expressing their enjoyment of the dynamic, multi-sensory “Axe-pierance.” Robot Boii’s live…

StarSat, operated by OnDigital Media (ODM), confirms that earlier today, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), accompanied by the South African Police Service (SAPS), entered its Midrand offices and disconnected services. During this process, not only were ODM’s services impacted but also those of StarTimes Media’s pan-African broadcast. As the service provider to ODM and a subsidiary of the larger StarTimes Group, StarTimes Media holds a valid individual electronics communication network service (ECNS) licence for transmissions across Africa. “While we acknowledge ICASA’s mandate to shut down ODM’s South African services, we are appalled by the manner in which…

Last-mile delivery services depend on reliable vehicles to deliver precious cargo all across South Africa. These vehicles must traverse bustling urban environments as well as challenging rural roads. The Trusted Trio 3 main vehicles are favoured for last-mile delivery, two of which are from the Japanese brand, Nissan. The brand makes up 37.6% of Fastway Couriers’ delivery fleet, with the NP200 ranking first on the list of top 3 vehicles used for last-mile delivery. A 19.5% slice of the pie belongs to this workhorse while its stablemate, the NP300 gets 14.8%, followed by the Toyota Hilux in third place with…

South Africa’s first electric minibus taxi model, eKamva, was launched by a consortium led by GoMetro, alongside an integrated new electric vehicle (EV) business model and charging infrastructure product called flx EV at the Smarter Mobility Africa summit. eKamva was launched by a partnership of companies and research institutions, led by GoMetro, a transport technology platform. The partnership kicked off in 2023 to investigate and advance the feasibility of an electric minibus taxi in South African conditions by testing production vehicles in South Africa. The project team, consisting of GoMetro, Powerfleet (formerly MiX Telematics), HSW, ACDC Dynamics, and various entities…

OPPO recently released the newest member of its A series smartphones, the OPPO A60, in South Africa. Housed in a premium and functional design, the OPPO A60 features a 950-nit Ultra-Bright Display and Dual Stereo Speakers for next-level audio-visual experiences in every daily scenario. With more extensive storage and memory, a longer-lasting 5,000mAh battery with 45W SUPERVOOCTM Flash Charge, and more, the OPPO A60 offers smooth and stable performance with exceptional efficiency, making it the ultimate summer accessory to get into the #KeDecember spirit! Trendy, Practical, and Durable Design In keeping with the iconic thin and lightweight design of the…

The International Bar Association (IBA), the global voice of the legal profession, has formally endorsed the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law. The Framework Convention is the first ever international legally binding treaty for the governance of artificial intelligence (AI). The Convention aims to ensure that activities within the lifecycle of AI systems are fully consistent with human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Almudena Arpón de Mendívil Aldama, President of the IBA, commented: ‘The Council of Europe’s AI Convention establishes a necessary foundation to protect human rights,…

JSE-listed Growthpoint Properties has partnered with 1ai, a leader in intelligent automation, to develop a bespoke solution that streamlines the processing of municipal invoices while unlocking critical sustainability data. This initiative is part of Growthpoint’s broader efforts to leverage technology for operational efficiency and to reduce its environmental impact in line with its sustainability goals. With a portfolio of around 350 buildings in South Africa, Growthpoint handles over 1,100 municipal invoices monthly, a process that used to require about 160 hours of manual work. This manual handling made it difficult to extract and apply crucial data on utility consumption, such…

Anchor Stockbrokers (Anchor) have commenced trading on A2X Markets joining eleven other brokers who are connected and trading on A2X. Anchor can now transact across markets for the 173 companies and exchange traded funds listed on A2X. Anchor Stockbrokers is a niche focused stockbroker providing equity brokerage services and research into sectors in which it has a competitive advantage. It aims is to become a market leading niche focused South African stockbroker that provides clients with unparalleled market intelligence and insights into various sectors and investment markets. Kevin Brady, CEO of A2X Markets, added, “We are delighted to have Anchor…