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While it is a relief to have a local government partner who takes the initiative in accelerating the delivery of services, it can also be discomforting when these initiatives are not within legislated policy framework. Previous instances have shown how costly such actions can be in the delivery of vital services to residents. I refer …
This week, Ticketmaster, a popular ticket sales and distribution company, faced a significant data breach that could have far-reaching consequences for its business operations. The breach has raised concerns about the security of customer data and the potential impact on Ticketmaster’s reputation and customer trust. Up to 560 million Ticketmaster customers globally may have been […]
First results start trickling in at IEC's results centre
The atmosphere at the Electoral Commission’s national Results Operations Centre (ROC) in Midrand is lively this morning as the first results in the National and Provincial Elections start to trickle in.
Tens of thousands of South African citizens made their way to polling stations to exercise their right to vote in the 7th democratic elections on Wednesday.
As polling stations across the country officially closed last night, all eyes have turned towards the critical process of counting votes and the leaderboards at the ROC.
As at 9:00 am on Thursday, 2 648 of 23 293 (or 11.37%) of the voting districts of the vote-counting nationally had been completed.
According to data at the same time, the African National Congress (ANC) was leading with a total of 414 292 (42.83%) votes, followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) with 247 280 (25.56%), and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) with 80 129 (8.28%) votes had been casted national.
Results continue to come in and the leaderboards continue to be updated. - SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Thu, 05/30/2024 - 09:04
Auditor-General says it did not recommend changes to the funding process
First results start trickle in at IEC's results centre
The atmosphere at the Electoral Commission’s national Results Operations Centre (ROC) in Midrand is lively this morning as the first results in the National and Provincial Elections start to trickle in.
Tens of thousands of South African citizens made their way to polling stations to exercise their right to vote in the 7th democratic elections on Wednesday.
As polling stations across the country officially closed last night, all eyes have turned towards the critical process of counting votes and the leaderboards at the ROC.
As at 9:00 am on Thursday, 2 648 of 23 293 (or 11.37%) of the voting districts of the vote-counting nationally had been completed.
According to data at the same time, the African National Congress (ANC) was leading with a total of 414 292 (42.83%) votes, followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) with 247 280 (25.56%), and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) with 80 129 (8.28%) votes had been casted national.
Results continue to come in and the leaderboards continue to be updated. - SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Thu, 05/30/2024 - 09:04
Cape Town, South Africa – May 21, 2024 : Against the backdrop of alarming youth unemployment rates in South Africa (SA), ALX, a leading career accelerator and tech training provider, is transforming youth employment and pioneering digital transformation by providing young individuals across the continent with access to cutting-edge technical skills. ALX’s impact was recently …
The Vodacom Bulls, DHL Stormers and Emirates Lions will have everything to play for in the final pool round of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship on Saturday – when the SA Shield winner will also be determined – as they attempt to book the best possible log positions heading into the quarter-finals and attempt to …
As South Africa stands on the brink of its upcoming elections, the tail-end of May which is also Africa month, serves as an apt time for reflection. The Africa Month theme “The Year of Education: Educating an African Fit for the 21st Century” resonates more profoundly than ever. In a rapidly evolving global landscape, the …
Centurion, South Africa, 29 May 2024 – Calling all fitness fanatics and fun-loving walkers to join the annual Race of Gratitude taking place at Centurion Mall on Saturday, 29 June 2024, starting at 7am. The Race of Gratitude is about connecting the community by creating a social experience. This initiative provides an opportunity for tenant …
South Africa faces a critical challenge in integrating adults who have not completed high school into the workforce. The 2022 Census indicates that 50% of the adult population in South Africa has not completed Grade 12, a staggering statistic that highlights the urgency of finding viable pathways to employment for these individuals. Rajan Naidoo, the …
The hybrid event will bring together startup founders and pioneers from across Africa; Microsoft's startup partners and customers will take to the main stage to share their stories of success; Up to 10,000 startups will be given access to industry-specific expertise and insights on how best to take their business to the next level with the help of AI
Microsoft announced the introduction of its first African Startups AI Fest at GITEX Africa in Marrakech, Morocco today. Spearheaded by the organisation's Africa Transformation Office (ATO), the event promises to inspire and support startups to accelerate their journey to market with the right AI-powered tech solutions. The event, scheduled for 6 June 2024, will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, with virtual access available to attendees across the continent.
The African Startups AI Fest will bring together founders, entrepreneurs, business decision-makers, engineers and developers in the startups space from across the continent. This inaugural event aims to showcase the transformative power of AI and how startups can use this revolutionary technology to drive innovation and take their ideas not only to local markets but a global stage.
“There is a need to provide startups on the continent with the resources to take their concepts from the drawing board to customers,” says Lillian Barnard, Microsoft Africa President. “From AI-enabled tech solutions to advanced digital skills, startups need to be given every opportunity to thrive in a highly competitive global market because they are the catalysts for job creation and economic growth in Africa.” Overcoming mounting economic pressures
Recent research from The African Tech Startups Funding Report (http://apo-opa.co/3KlSzQs) has found that funding for tech startups in Africa has declined after a highly successful 2022 when 633 tech startups raised over $3 billion in funding.
“In the face of a challenging economic climate, startups across Africa have demonstrated remarkable resilience,” Barnard says. “Despite the tough conditions, they have ignited a wave of innovation. Empowered with the right tech tools, startups can scale their solutions, enhance productivity, and drive growth. At Microsoft, we believe that technology, particularly the transformative power of AI, holds the key to a more empowered future in Africa.”
Finding the right tech partner
Over the years, Microsoft has supported startups on the continent to grow and develop. These success stories include the likes of RE Legal Interact, M-KOPA, Omnisient, Zen Dawa, Deepecho and Terragon.
Legal Interact (http://apo-opa.co/3yDXE45) is an Independent Software Vendor that has integrated Microsoft AI into its software and recently launched the first AI lawyer in South Africa. The solution is automating certain tasks by providing quick answers to legal questions, freeing up time for attorneys to address more complex legal queries. Thanks to IoT tools and AI-powered automation in the cloud, M-KOPA (http://apo-opa.co/3yMX8jX) is providing inclusive financial services such as insurance and loans to people across East Africa. The fintech business has gone on to provide millions of families and entrepreneurs with the financial support they need to purchase solar systems, motorbikes and smartphones.
Attendees of the inaugural African Startups AI Fest will be introduced to these and other startup success stories on the continent. In addition, Microsoft, its partners and customers will introduce and demonstrate how AI tools can be leveraged by entrepreneurs in ways that give their businesses the extra edge in a competitive landscape.
The organisation aims to reach 6,000 to 10,000 of these businesses and provide them with customised support through the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub programmes. Founders and entrepreneurs will be primed for growth through industry-specific webinars designed to help startups scale, pitch coaching sessions that will help investors enhance their pitching skills and navigate common challenges, investor community sessions that will connect startups with top investors from the Continental investor community to glean key insights on securing their first investments, integration with the Microsoft Independent Software Vendor programme and insights on how to best use AI technologies to propel their businesses forward.
To register for the African Startups AI Fest, participants can register HERE by June 5th, 2024.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Microsoft.
About Microsoft:
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) creates platforms and tools powered by AI to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. The technology company is committed to making AI available broadly and doing so responsibly, with a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
The opportunity in Africa is immense, but there is a pressing need to adopt digital platforms to accelerate Africa's economic growth and better enable Africans to participate in the global digital economy. Through the Africa Transformation Office, Microsoft focuses on four essential development areas – digital infrastructure, skilling, SMEs and start-ups, supported by strategic partnerships with industry alliances and coalitions, to fuel investment in Africa and further establish the continent's export of digital services. Read more about Microsoft's Africa Transformation Office HERE: apo-opa.co/3Kib6gu.
3 Ways to improve your gut health Struggling with gas, bloating, or constipation? Feeling tired, or anxious? Suffering from inflammatory skin conditions like eczema All these could be signs of an unhealthy gut. According to Bianca Jonischkeit, FUTURELIFE® dietitian, if the bacterium in your gut is unbalanced, you could experience several symptoms that can disrupt …
Dear Editor Today was an important day for our democracy as millions of South Africans turned out to exercise their right to vote. As the polls close at 9pm, we acknowledge the thousands of voters still standing in long queues, some of whom have been waiting for many hours without yet being able to cast …
Residents have to each pay R6,000 over six months, otherwise they won’t be reconnected, says the power utility
Delivery Ka Speed, an app-based service that delivers food from local vendors, fast-food chains, and retailers to township communities in Gauteng, Limpopo and North West provinces, is set to service communities in Mpumalanga from June. The name means ‘speedy delivery’ in Sepitori. Founded in 2021, Delivery Ka Speed aims to provide convenience to township consumers …
By Kinola Pather, CEO of bespoke customer, incentive and employee rewards company Randgo. In today’s challenging business landscape, where success hinges on employee engagement as much as it does on customer satisfaction, staff incentive programmes have emerged as pivotal tools for fostering engagement, rewarding transformation, driving productivity, and nurturing both individual and organisational growth. Here’s …
SpaceSalad Studios, a multi-award-winning indie game studio, has collaborated with renowned editorial cartoonist Zapiro to launch Point of Order (P.O.O) Weekly, a groundbreaking presidential decision-making simulator game. Scheduled to be released ahead of South Africa’s upcoming general elections, P.O.O Weekly aims to educate, engage and empower young people while addressing the concerning trend of low …
SA needs you to stand up and vote
All systems are in place to ensure that South Africans will have an opportunity to exercise their democratic right to vote on Wednesday, 29 May 2024.
The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said several measures have been put in place so that citizens can safely and securely cast their vote in the year that the country celebrates 30 years of freedom.
“The right to vote was fought for during our country’s liberation struggle and came at an extremely high price as many of our countrymen and women sacrificed their lives for us to have this right,” the statement read.
GCIS said voting is about the future and putting in place a government, which builds a better life for its people, a life materially better than in the years before democracy.
As a nation, government believes that every citizen should rightfully be proud of the democracy, which gives a voice to everyone.
The government agency also thanked all South Africans who cast their vote for their special votes.
Those who were approved for special votes but did not have the opportunity to cast their ballot can still do so on the official Election Day.
The GCIS called on all South Africans, especially young and first-time voters, to exercise their democratic right to vote.
In the run-up to the elections, there has also been a massive civil education drive by the Department of Basic Education in partnership with the Electoral Commission (IEC).
This has resulted in almost all 539 000 young people aged 18 and 19 years old registered to vote.
In collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs, all eligible youth in school have been provided with their identity documents (IDs) to ensure they can participate in this national milestone.
Meanwhile, the same department extended its operational hours and will be opened until open until 9pm tonight to allow eligible voters to collect their smart ID cards or green ID books.
“We thank all South Africans who have already taken up the opportunity at various Home Affairs branches across the country to collect their IDs.”
Temporary identification certificates can also be obtained for R70 and will be issued immediately for use.
Voters can call the Home Affairs toll-free number 0800 60 11 90 for more information.
Government said it was grateful to all its stakeholders, including the media and civil society organisations, who have played a crucial role in actively advocating for a free and fair campaigning process.
The GCIS thanked traditional and Khoi-San leaders for the role they have played in ensuring voters exercise their democratic rights.
“Since 1994, these leaders have been instrumental in our society and we call on them to continue to encourage all eligible voters to participate in the elections tomorrow.”
GCIS said the seventh democratic election was a turning point in the history of the country’s democracy due to the expansion of electoral participation, which broadened the pool of leadership choices for national and provincial elections.
“We believe that this is a testament to the vibrant and inclusive democracy the country has built over the past three decades.”
In addition to polling stations being opened throughout the country, voting will also take place in prisons. A total of 14 753 inmates at correctional facilities have registered to vote in the elections, and they will get a chance to cast their ballot.
Government said it was ready to combat and prevent any threats to the election such as intimidation, public violence, clashes, or community protests, and we remain convinced that citizens will be free to make their mark for democracy.
Law enforcement agencies have made the necessary plans to safeguard the election process. This includes securing voting stations through static deployments, along with escorting voter material and IEC staff.
Government strongly condemned the illegal demonstrations that sought to undermine the democratic process.
GCIS described the actions as unacceptable and assured citizens that necessary measures are in place to prevent such occurrences.
“Citizens with legitimate grievances are encouraged to constructively raise these within available channels.”
Meanwhile, the agency calls on communities to be vigilant and to avoid being manipulated by those bent on committing criminal acts under the guise of a legitimate protest.
South Africans were also encouraged to demonstrate tolerance by respecting each other’s right to vote and uphold the democratic principles that our country stands for.
The GCIS urged the public to conduct themselves peacefully and allow the IEC to do its work freely without any intimidation.
“We call on all eligible voters to go out in their numbers and vote to strengthen our democracy and determine their future.”
GCIS described elections as a collective voice that has immense power to build the South Africa we all want.
“As South Africa proudly celebrates 30 years of freedom and democracy, let us celebrate our democracy by exercising our right to vote and ensuring a better future for all.”
Acting GCIS Director-General, Nomonde Mnukwa said: “Voting is one of the most visible means to be an active citizen and to make your voice heard, let us therefore come out in our numbers and renew our democracy”. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Wed, 05/29/2024 - 10:28
A recent addition to the LG refrigerator lineup reflects the latest kitchen trends, combining style and convenience in a modern way. When it comes to selecting the perfect refrigerator, the colour and finish hold more significance than one might think. Beyond the worry of investing heavily in a kitchen renovation only to regret the colour …
By Clive Butkow, Managing Partner of Conducive Capital In today’s dynamic business environment, building a successful business requires a unique blend of vision, agility, visibility of unit economics, strategic planning and flawless execution. By nature, venture capitalists are constantly evaluating new ventures and identifying the key ingredients that lead to long-term success. Having grown and …
Citizens make their mark in 2024 Elections
Voting stations have now officially closed and Election Day 2024 in South Africa has drawn to a close.
Citizens who were still in line at 9pm will be served by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), and will still be allowed to make their mark.
In some areas – particularly metropolitan hubs – long, snaking queues of voters could be seen, with millions of South Africans making their way to voting stations to exercise their hard won right to vote.
In a media briefing on Wednesday evening, Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo, said the commission had put in place plans to service those areas with more speed.
“Part of the measures that we implemented…was to call on the counting officers, who were due to join later. But we called them earlier to assist with dealing with the queues,” Mamabolo said.
He explained the process that will now unfold as counting commences.
“Ballots are counted at the voting station where they are cast. Party agents and independent candidate agents and observers will monitor the entire counting process as well as the results compilation.
“Sealed ballot boxes will be opened and emptied in front of everybody at the voting station, and each ballot is then unfolded face down and checked for the Electoral Commission’s security stamp. All valid ballot papers are grouped according to their colours representing the different tiers of the election.
“The ballots will then be sorted into piles according to votes for each party or candidate. They will [then] be packed into bundles of 100 until a count is confirmed in respect of a party or candidates. Then results slips are completed by the Presiding Officer and party agents as well as agents representing independents will be expected to counter sign the results slips to confirm the correctness of the count attributed to their party or to their candidate,” he said.
From there, the slip will be taken to the Commission’s local office.
“At the local office of the IEC where the local party structures will be present, it will first be scanned into the results system to create an image of that result. It will then be available for political parties that are [at the Results Operations Centre].
“After that, it will be captured… and after capturing then it will be audited. Once the captured result is audited and there are no exceptions related to that result, you will begin to see the votes reflecting on the leader board [at the Results Operations Centre],” he said.
Mamabolo explained that results may take longer to filter through than in the past because ballots papers are now three instead of two.
Counting is expected to commence at each voting station as soon as the last voter has been served. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Wed, 05/29/2024 - 21:15
Withholding tax plays a crucial role in Australia’s tax system, impacting both residents and foreign investors. This tax is deducted at source on various types of income, including dividends, interest, and royalties, necessitating a clear understanding for effective management and potential reclaim. However, the process of reclaiming withholding tax is fraught with challenges, often leaving …
In the complex world of international finance, withholding tax holds a significant place within Germany’s tax framework. This form of tax, deducted at source on income such as dividends, interest, and royalties, is a fundamental aspect of the German tax system, ensuring that taxes are collected efficiently from foreign and domestic entities alike. As the …
Election Day: IEC stays the course to ensure right to vote
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has assured voters, who arrive at voting stations before 9pm tonight, that they will be allowed to vote, even if the process stretches beyond the closing time.
Voting stations opened at 7am today for South Africans to cast their votes in the 2024 National and Provincial Elections, with special votes (for those who applied for various reasons) and voting abroad already having taken place.
“We are pleased that our efforts are yielding results, with the length of the queues substantially reduced,” said IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo on Wednesday.
Addressing media at the National Results Operations Centre (ROC) in Midrand this evening, Mamabolo said voting stations are experiencing a late surge and are processing a large number of voters in certain areas, particularly the metropolitan areas in Gauteng, the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape.
“The Commission is pleased that most glitches reported earlier have been overcome, allowing electoral officials to service voters timeously,” Mamabolo said.
Mamabolo said every citizen who has made an effort to be at a voting station must be allowed to vote.
There are 23 292 voting stations, with over 27.79 million registered voters.
“We urge those who have not voted to use the remaining time to go and make their mark. Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) will remain deployed at the voting stations to ensure the safety of voters.
“The Commission is pleased with the high turnout at many voting stations across the country and thanks voters who have exercised patience in the queues while waiting for their turn to vote,” Mamabolo said.
Mamabolo explained that once the counting processes have been completed, the Commission will start a process to remove all voting materials, including ballot boxes and used ballots, to storage facilities.
“This process will be handled with the utmost care,” Mamabolo said, urging members of the public to report any irregularities to the authorities.
Mamabolo said to improve the quality of vote counting and the completion of results slips, the Commission has instituted a new category of staff, who will support the presiding officer with the counting effort.
“The recruitment criteria for this staff was slightly different from the rest, as high levels of numeracy are mandatory. Three such staff were appointed for each voting station and each sub-station where we operate a voting centre,” Mamabolo said.
Mamabolo said according to the Electoral Act, the Commission has seven days within which to announce the results.
“We have always been able to declare and announce the results well within this period and will endeavour to do so with these elections,” he said.
With regard to voting at Correctional Service centres, Mamabolo said voting has been completed at all correctional facilities across the country.
“We remain grateful to the Department of Correctional Services for its ongoing assistance in ensuring that inmates exercise their democratic rights,” Mamabolo said. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Wed, 05/29/2024 - 19:56