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Luke Fraser ·15 Jan 2026 British American Tobacco (BAT) is closing its sole manufacturing plant in South Africa, as the company struggles due to the rise of illicit cigarettes. BAT South Africa said that it will cease all local production of factory-manufactured cigarettes (FMC) and close its only South African manufacturing facility by the end …
British American Tobacco South Africa (Batsa) announced on Thursday, 15 January that it would lose its Heidelberg manufacturing facility in Gauteng and cease local production of factory-manufactured cigarettes by the end of 2026. The decision brings the curtain down on a facility that has been operating in the Heidelberg community since 1975. Batsa said the …
In a break from tradition, Ramaphosa was forced to bypass the traditional handover ceremony, leaving it to be handled behind closed doors. Tensions resurfaced when South Africa learned it had been excluded from this year’s G20 forum in Miami. The latest flashpoint involves South Africa’s naval drills with warships from U.S. adversaries China, Russia, and Iran, a …
Teachers should be able to work well in different contexts.
AI in the Workplace Training Helps South African Organisations Move from AI Hype to Governed, Practical Use Johannesburg, South Africa – Many South African organisations are already using tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot in day-to-day work. However, without clear governance, policies, and accountability, this informal AI adoption is increasingly exposing businesses to operational, …
Understanding the Myths That Delay Life-Saving Action According to experts at Roche, early detection remains one of the most effective tools in the fight against breast cancer. Still, across Africa, many women delay or avoid screening because of misconceptions that have become all too common. These beliefs often stem from fear, cultural expectations, financial pressure …
By Merilynn Steenkamp, Managing Director, Southern Africa, Multi-Country Network, Roche Diagnostics As a nation, South Africans have proved consistently that we are willing to enable meaningful change. This is a significant point of pride for many of us, and unique to the national mindset. Cervical cancer is the second-most common cancer affecting women in South …
England and Liverpool football legend, Michael Owen, has strengthened his ties with South African sport after being appointed as the newest Brand Ambassador for leading sports betting and entertainment brand, Hollywoodbets. Hollywoodbets, deeply rooted in horse racing and major sports, boasts the “Purple Family” — a team driving its promotional and community initiatives. International star …
Cape Town, South Africa: South African based entrepreneur Moise Kobokiba has launched CoStacked, a new online platform designed to help founders and developers collaborate on startup projects in a more structured and secure way. Many early-stage startups fail due to misalignment between business and technical partners, unclear expectations, and lack of trust. CoStacked addresses this by …
At 81, President Yoweri Museveni is seeking yet another term after nearly four decades in power. By plunging the nation […]
The South Africa under-19 Women maintained their perfect record in the Youth T20 Tri-Series, securing their fourth consecutive victory with a five-wicket win over Zimbabwe under-19 Women in the fifth match at the Chatsworth Oval in Durban on Thursday.
The post SA U19 WOMEN MAKE IT FOUR FROM FOUR WITH WIN OVER ZIMBABWE IN YOUTH T20 TRI-SERIES first appeared on Cricket South Africa.
Johannesburg, 15 January 2026 – HEINEKEN Beverages has once again been recognised as a Top Employer for 2026 in South Africa by Top Employers Institute and, for the first time, has achieved Top Employer certification for Africa. The company has remained in the national Top 10 ranking. The certification reflects HEINEKEN Beverages’ continued focus on …
Kogelberg centre says thousands of animals may have died
Things are looking up for South Africa’s property market with the latest interest rate cut placing homeowners on a firmer financial footing. The Monetary Policy Committee’s unanimous decision to reduce rates by 25 basis points brings the repo rate down to 6.75% and the prime lending rate to 10.25%. This means more property investments are …
Cape Town, South Africa – 15 January 2026 – Space Ranger Fred, the children’s book series known for its humour-driven adventure stories, has announced an expanded vision aimed at helping children aged six to twelve build confidence, curiosity, and problem-solving skills through storytelling and real-world experience. The expansion positions Space Ranger Fred as a literacy-led …
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) is justifiably concerned about the extremely vulnerable state of the Witbank and Doornpoort electricity network. Even though it is a critical situation and the Municipal Manager of the Emalahleni Local Municipality, Sizwe Mayisela, has repeatedly been contacted for clarity and urgent action, no satisfactory feedback or plan of action […]
The post Witbank and Doornpoort’s electricity network on the brink of collapse appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
The South Africa Under-19 Women have enjoyed a perfect start to the ongoing Youth T20 Tri-Series against Zimbabwe Under-19 Women and the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Youth XI, currently taking place in Durban.
The post SA U19 WOMEN’S CLASS OF 2027: MEET 13-YEAR-OLD NOBUBELEBESISA ZWANE first appeared on Cricket South Africa.
South Africa Under-19 Men’s head coach, Malibongwe Maketa, has expressed unwavering belief in his squad as they prepare to take on the world at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, hosted in Namibia and Zimbabwe.
The post BELIEF BEYOND AGE: MAKETA CONFIDENT SA U19 MEN ARE READY FOR THE CHALLENGE first appeared on Cricket South Africa.
GOOD supports the call from the National Minister of Transport, the Honourable Barbara Creecy, to amend Section 65 of the National Road Traffic Act so that driving after any drinking of alcohol is totally prohibited.
The post GOOD SUPPORTS THE CALL TO AMEND THE NATIONAL ROAD TRAFFIC ACT TO PROHIBIT DRIVING AFTER DRINKING appeared first on For Good.
Vodacom Group (www.Vodacom.com) has once again been certified and recognised as Africa's number one employer by the Top Employers Institute, marking its third consecutive win and reinforcing the company's commitment to delivering an exceptional employee experience.
This prestigious certification and first place ranking have been awarded to Vodacom Group, alongside separate certifications for Vodacom Mozambique, Vodacom South Africa, Vodacom Tanzania, and Safaricom Ethiopia and Kenya.
Vodacom Group Chief Executive, Shameel Joosub says, “Being certificated as Africa's Top Employer for a third consecutive year marks an important milestone in our Vision 2030 journey. Not only is this testament to our consistency in leading with purpose but it also shows that our people centric approach and focus on talent development and workplace culture is impactful”.
The Top Employer certification is a critical benchmark for assessing Human Resources (HR) practices, evaluating how effectively companies align HR frameworks, culture, and employee experience with international standards of excellence. The certification spans 20 HR domains, including People Strategy, Talent Acquisition, Learning and Development, Leadership Development, Performance Management, Employee Wellbeing, and Diversity and Inclusion.
"We are incredibly proud to maintain our position as Africa's Top Employer for the third consecutive year. This achievement demonstrates that creating an exceptional employee experience is a sustained commitment to our people. We believe that the well-being and empowerment of our employees contributes directly to our ability to fulfil our purpose of connecting for a better future," says Matimba Mbungela, Chief Human Resources Officer at Vodacom Group.
Vodacom Group achieved an exceptional overall Top Employer score of 99.56%, with Vodacom Mozambique recording the highest Group score at 99.96%, Vodacom South Africa achieving 99.88%, and Vodacom Tanzania achieving 99.76%, maintaining its standing among the highest-rated employers globally. Safaricom Ethiopia and Safaricom Kenya each secured first place rankings in their respective countries. These results reaffirm Vodacom Group's consistent delivery of world-class HR practices.
Driving Innovation and Ethical AI Integration
This year, the Top Employers Institute expanded its evaluation criteria to reflect evolving global priorities in people management and organisational ethics, with new questions focusing on three critical themes: empowering workforce innovation and creativity, evaluating the human impact of AI in organisational processes, and embedding ethics and integrity across HR and technology integration.
A major highlight of this year's certification is the recognition of two Vodacom South Africa best practices for global benchmarking:
"The Top Employers Institute's increasing focus on fostering innovation, ethical leadership, and prioritising the human impact of technology, reflects where the world of work is heading. We're proud that Vodacom Group continues to set the standard in these areas by championing forward-thinking, employee-centric approaches and being recognised globally for these best practices," adds Mbungela.
Employee-Centric Approach
Vodacom Group's success is underpinned by continued investment in digital HR enablement, digital learning, future-fit skills, leadership capability, and holistic wellbeing. The organisation's Employee Value Proposition, built on principles of Compassion, Acceptance, Respect and Empathy (C.A.R.E.), includes enhanced wellness initiatives supporting all stages of life and a comprehensive family responsibility leave policy.
The company's commitment to talent development extends beyond its workforce to the broader African tech ecosystem. Through initiatives like the Vodacom Digital Skills Hub, CodeLikeAGirl, Discover Graduate, and Spirit of Vodacom, the company continues to drive empowerment and create opportunities across the continent, preparing the next generation for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Looking Ahead
"As we look ahead, Vodacom Group remains dedicated to creating a workplace that inspires excellence, supports growth, and connects every employee to our shared purpose. Our third consecutive year as Africa's Top Employer is testament to our people-first approach and our commitment to fostering innovation and ethical technology adoption that puts people at the center of the organisation," concludes Mbungela.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Vodacom Group.
What Dakar 2026 Stage 10 Bike ReportWhere Bisha, Saudi ArabiaWhen Wednesday 14 JanuaryCommunity International Sanders crashes, Branch, Cox fight to the finish Argentinian Luciano Benavides benefited KTM teammate Daniel Sanders crashing to jump into a slender Dakar 2025 Bike lead over Honda rider Ricky Brabec on Stage 10 Wednesday. French Honda rider Adrien van Beveren …
Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) (www.CCBAGroup.com) is proud to announce its recognition as a Top Employer in Africa for 2026 by the Top Employers Institute (https://apo-opa.co/45b21Rr). In addition to this regional accolade, seven countries in the CCBA footprint – Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda – have been certified as Top Employers at a country level.
This marks the second consecutive year that CCBA has achieved regional-level certification, with its operations in Ethiopia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda also certified at a country level. Notably, all these countries have improved their performance compared to last year. Furthermore, this year represents the first certification for CCBA's operations in Botswana, Kenya, and Mozambique.
The Top Employers Institute, active in 125 countries/regions, is considered to be the global authority in HR certification, benchmarking and advisory. Its programme (https://apo-opa.co/4sI5vF7) certifies organisations based on the results of its HR Best Practices Survey which covers six domains including People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Wellbeing.
“This certification demonstrates our commitment to unparalleled professional growth for our people, providing an exciting journey of learning and development within a passionate, caring team,” said Natasa Prodanovic, CCBA Chief People and Culture Officer.
“We thrive on delivering beloved Coke brands, making a positive impact on communities, and achieving market success together. We invest in our people to foster an inclusive and thriving workplace that accelerates our growth.”
Prodanovic added: “At CCBA, we don't hand you a role, we create an opportunity, give you the tools and we challenge you to build a career, to make it yours.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa.
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About CCBA:
CCBA is the eighth largest Coca-Cola authorised bottler in the world by revenue, and the largest on the continent. It accounts for over 40% of all Coca-Cola ready-to-drink beverages sold in Africa by volume. With over 14,000 employees in Africa, CCBA group services more than 800,000 customers with a host of international and local brands. CCBA group operates in 14 countries: South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi and the islands of Comoros and Mayotte.
Learn more at www.CCBAGroup.com
Repressive regimes should have no place in our military strategy
Luke Fraser ·14 Jan 2026 South Africa has been removed from the European Union’s list of High-Risk third-country jurisdictions after it was taken off the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF’s) grey list. South Africa was added to the EU list in August 2023 as an automatic consequence of its greylisting earlier that year. The country …