global

1 September 2023

eXp Realty celebrates milestone of exceeding 1,000 agents in South Africa by hosting a unique Rock The Comma Virtual event with guest speakers from around the globe

Location: MyPR

eXp Realty®, “the most agent-centric real estate brokerage on the planet™” and the core subsidiary of eXp World Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPI), recently announced it had exceeded 1,000 agents across South Africa, representing an over 74% increase from the 574 total agent count in July 2022. In celebration of the 1,000 South African agent count, …

1 September 2023

Deputy President concludes working visit to South Sudan

Location: News

Deputy President concludes working visit to South Sudan

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has concluded a successful working visit on Thursday to South Sudan.

The purpose of the visit was to assess the latest developments and progress in the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

This is where they discussed challenges to the peace process, and discussed solutions with all stakeholders.

“A second, but critical objective of the Deputy President’s visit was to strengthen long-standing bilateral relations between South Africa and South Sudan,” the Deputy President’s Office said.

During his visit, the Deputy President, as President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Special Envoy to South Sudan, met with President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

“President Salva Kiir raised concern regarding the implications that the ongoing conflict may have in neighbouring countries and the region at large.”

He outlined the challenges hindering the implementation of the R-ARCSS and reemphasised the need for South Africa to be more involved in the peace process by assisting the various parties to resolve their disputes.

Deputy President Mashatile also held talks with four of South Sudan’s five Vice Presidents.

“In the main, the Vice Presidents acknowledged remaining gaps and challenges to the full implementation of the R-ARCSS including lack of required financial resources, the arms embargo and sanctions imposed on the government of South Sudan by the United Nations (UN).”

Despite this, the Vice Presidents also appreciated that notable milestones had been achieved on the road to lasting peace.

“A key milestone to the achievement of peace in South Sudan is the holding of the country’s first democratic elections since its independence in 2011.

“Holding this founding election is a goal whose importance is acknowledged by all the participants in South Sudan’s ongoing national dialogue.”

The Deputy President had engagements with various Ministers in charge of critical portfolios and also spoke to Cabinet Affairs and the High-Level Standing Committee for the Implementation of the R-ARCSS.

The country’s second-in-command also held extensive consultations with regional and global multilateral formations with a role to play in resolving the conflict in the country.

Among these were the African diplomatic corps in Juba, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development-East Africa Regional Economic Community (IGAD), Troika- Ambassadors of the USA, United Kingdom and Norway, the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

“Deputy President Mashatile commended South Sudan on the progress made thus far and reaffirmed South Africa’s support for the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU).”

Additionally, he called on strengthened commitment by the RTGoNU and all other relevant parties to the R-ARCSS to implement its outstanding provisions, particularly the security arrangements.

These include community disarmament, demobilisation of ex-combatants and their reintegration into peaceful civilian life, and the integration of remaining combatant forces into a national force with a single command structure.

“Failure to find common ground on these and other contentious points will keep South Sudan in limbo, and its economic development as well as the development of its people will be stillborn.”

During his three-day stay, the Deputy President also took time to lay a wreath at the Dr John Garang Mausoleum in honour of South Sudan’s founding leader, and bestowed medals on the South African Police Service (SAPS) contingent stationed in the country as part of the UN Peacekeeping Mission.

In his last act before departure, the Deputy President paid a courtesy call on two of South Sudan’s Elders and veterans of liberation.

“In conclusion, Deputy President Mashatile made a call to all parties to adhere to the revised deadlines of the roadmap to a peaceful and democratic end to the current transitional period and the holding of national elections by December 2024 as envisaged.” – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Fri, 09/01/2023 - 09:27

117 views

31 August 2023

Pandor undertakes a working visit to the Comoros

Location: News

Pandor undertakes a working visit to the Comoros

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, will pay a working visit to Moroni, Comoros, where she will meet with her counterpart, Dhoihir Dhoulkamal on Friday.

In a statement on Thursday, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said the two Ministers will assess the status of the bilateral relations between South Africa and the Comoros.

“They will also share information and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

“The two Ministers will also sign a General Cooperation Agreement, meant, among other objectives, to establish a Joint Commission at the Senior Official’s Level.”

Through the Joint Commission, the department hopes that an increased level of cooperation across various sectors between the two nations will occur.

Pandor will also use the opportunity of her visit to pay a courtesy call to Comoros President Azali Assoumani, the current Chair of the African Union (AU).

In addition, she will have an engagement with the Comorian business community, women leaders and youth entrepreneurs during lunch.

The meeting will focus on women and youth as active African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) participants.

The engagement will be hosted by the Governor of Ngazidja, Madam Sitti Faroutta and be attended by the Comorian Minister of Economy and Investment, Ahmed Ali Bazi, and other dignitaries. – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Thu, 08/31/2023 - 12:47

546 views

31 August 2023

The Best Way to Sell Gold and Jewellery: A Comprehensive Guide

Location: MyPR

In today’s fluctuating economy, many people are looking for ways to get the most out of their assets. One of the most valuable assets that many of us possess is gold and jewellery. Whether it’s an heirloom piece passed down through generations or a recent purchase, there comes a time when you might consider selling …

31 August 2023

Understanding the Krugerrand Market: A Comprehensive Guide to Buying and Selling in South Africa

Location: MyPR

Introduction The Krugerrand, a gold coin that has its roots in South Africa, has been a symbol of wealth and a solid investment opportunity for decades. Whether you’re an investor looking to sell Krugerrand or a potential buyer exploring the market, understanding the intricacies of this gold coin is crucial for making informed decisions. …

31 August 2023

Recognising women in science and technology

Location: News

Recognising women in science and technology

By Dimpho Mogale

The South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA), which recognises and rewards excellence by women in science and technology, will take place in September.

The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) will host a two-day celebration from 8 September in Durban.

Themed, ‘Harnessing technological change and innovation to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls,’ the awards recognises younger women who are starting their careers as researchers and scientists, as well as registered master's and PhD students.

Participants will be awarded in the following categories:

Distinguished Woman Researchers: winner receives R90 000, first runner-up: R65 000, second runner-up: R40 000;
Distinguished Young Woman Researchers: winner receives R80 000, first runner-up: R55 000, second runner-up: R30 000;
DSI-Ndoni Mcunu Fellowship: six participants will receive R70 000 for a master’s degree and six participants will receive R90 000 for a PhD degree.

The category DSI Fellowships was renamed to DSI-Ndoni Mcunu Fellowships in honour of Mcunu’s memory and legacy as a young brilliant scientist and phenomenal woman.

The late Mcunu was one of South Africa's leading young scientists in climate change, a social entrepreneur, and the founder of Black Women in Science (BWIS).

BWIS has provided developmental training to over 400 postgraduate fellows in business, entrepreneurship and research skills, scientific writing, project leadership, science communication skills and research career preparation.

During her lifetime Mcunu achieved numerous accolades including being named a 2017 Mandela Washington Fellow, receiving an honorary award at the KZN Young Achievers Awards in the Science Research and Entrepreneurship category, winning the Gagasi FM Shero award in the Science and Technology category and recognised as one of the 40 under-40 African Leaders for Climate Resilience in 2019.

The DSI and 2023 SAWiSA has 26 finalists and one of the finalists selected is Gizelle Roque Van Niekerk from the University of Pretoria, who is a second year MSc student.

In 2022, she attended the 14th Green Chemistry Postgraduate Summer School (GCPSS) in Venice, Italy.

“I am grateful to Pietro Tundo for seeing potential in me as a young scientist by selecting me to attend the in-person event on scholarship.

“The 14th Green Chemistry Summer School was a life-changing experience and instrumental to my future career as a chemist. It was an honour to present my research at such a prestigious international summer school.

“The opportunity reinforced my belief that green chemistry solutions are a fundamental course of action for sustainable development in the Global South,” Van Niekerk said in a statement.

She said it was a privilege to engage with postgraduate students from a broad spectrum of countries and found the talks given by highly influential scientists very inspiring.

Networking with people who share the same common goal encouraged her to fervently continue the ground-taking field of green chemistry. – SAnews.gov.za

seshnee
Thu, 08/31/2023 - 14:14

225 views

31 August 2023

Pandor undertakes a Working Visit to Moroni, Comoros

Location: News

Republic of South Africa: Department of International Relations and Cooperation
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The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, will pay a Working Visit to Moroni, Comoros, tomorrow, 1 September 2023, to have a bilateral meeting with her Comorian counterpart, His Excellency, Dhoihir Dhoulkamal, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The two Ministers will, among others, assess the status of the Bilateral relations between South Africa and Comoros.

They will also share information and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. The two Ministers will also sign a General Cooperation Agreement, meant, among other objectives, to establish a Joint Commission at the Senior Official's Level. Through the Joint Commission, it is hoped that an increased level of cooperation across various sectors between the Comoros and South Africa will take place.

Minister Pandor will also use the opportunity of her working visit to Comoros to pay a courtesy call to His Excellency, President Azali Assoumani, the President of Comoros, who is also the current Chair of the African Union.

On the sidelines of the visit, Minister Pandor will also have an engagement with the Comorian Business Community, Women Leaders and Youth Entrepreneurs during lunch, under the theme: Women and Youth as active participants in the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The engagement will be hosted by the Governor of Ngazidja, Madam Sitti Faroutta and be attended by the Comorian Minister of Economy and Investment, His Excellency, Ahmed Ali Bazi, and other dignitaries.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

31 August 2023

Bata SA’s strategic creep to Durban North’s Corporate Hub

Location: MyPR

After five decades at its Pinetown facility, Bata South Africa, a leading footwear manufacturer in South Africa, and a subsidiary of the respected global Bata Group, has relocated its head office to the vibrant corporate hub of La Lucia, situated north of Durban. This strategic move aligns with Bata South Africa’s future growth strategy. Renowned …

30 August 2023

SA to commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day

Location: News

SA to commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day

Social Development Deputy Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu in partnership with the Central Drug Authority (CDA) and the South African Network for People Who Use Drugs will on Thursday join the global community in commemorating International Overdose Awareness Day.

Observed under the theme: “Recognizing those people who go unseen”, the commemorations will be held at the JB Marks Rehabilitation centre in Potchefstroom in the North West province on Thursday.

International Overdose Awareness day seeks to raise awareness around the silent killer that is overdose and the stigma that surrounds overdose fatalities, and that overdose deaths are preventable.

The observance of the day is part of the department’s implementation of the National Drug Master Plan 2019-2024, which is the country’s blueprint to combat the scourge of alcohol and substance abuse that has exponentially risen to epidemic proportion.

According to Harm Reduction International “overdose is a risk when using many psychoactive drugs, but is much common for some drugs such as opioids. It is especially common for people who use a combination of substances and those who inject drugs”.

Naloxone is known to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose by helping breathing return to normal, and return a person to consciousness but is sadly underused.

From 1 September 2023, for nine consecutive days across all nine provinces, the Deputy Minister will be educating South Africans about the dangers of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD).

FASD is a leading source of non-genetic developmental and intellectual disability globally and is usually associated with primary and secondary disabilities. South Africa has been identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to have the highest reported prevalence of FASD in the world. – SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM
Wed, 08/30/2023 - 09:56

614 views

30 August 2023

Minister calls for rethinking of stereotypes towards a gender-equal society

Location: News

Minister calls for rethinking of stereotypes towards a gender-equal society

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, says the rethinking of stereotypes and norms, and reshaping of the relationships between women and men, is a step in the right path towards a gender-equal society.

“Conventionally, issues about gender equality have often mainly been placed in the public arena by women. However, it is difficult to reform social structures towards equality without a broad social consensus and ownership between men and women,” Nzimande said on Tuesday.

Nzimande emphasised that men and boys must become active and positive advocates for gender equality, to rectify the discrepancy in power relations.

He said, with an increasing awareness of men and boys as a necessary part of the solution, there is an urgent need to chart a clear road ahead for their involvement as change agents for gender equality.

Nzimande made the remarks during Transforming MENtalities Summit, aimed at engaging men and boys to address the root causes of violence against women.

The Transforming MENtalities Summit is based on United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) Transforming MENtalities initiative, launched in 2015 in Latin America and the Caribbean, to promote positive redefinitions of norms of masculinity and meaningful engagement of men and boys, alongside women and girls, in the global pursuit for gender equality.

The initiative was later spread to a number of other countries.

The objectives of Transforming MENtalities in South Africa are informed by UNESCO’s global initiative, which includes gathering context-nuanced and feminist evidence and building knowledge to inform gender-transformative policymaking; countering and uprooting harmful gender norms to promote positive and healthy alternatives with the support of role models; and strengthening the structures to engage men and boys as accountable allies for gender equality alongside women and people of diverse gender identities.

As “Transforming 'MEN'talities” postulates, Nzimande said, a holistic approach is essential in facilitating women’s empowerment, and ultimately the realisation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the objective of leaving no one behind.

Nzimande said, through engagement at the summit, the delegates have another opportunity to come up with sustained methods to engage and empower men and boys on existing societal norms of masculinities and challenge negative gender stereotypes and behaviours.

The Minister emphasised that Transforming MENtalities is about transforming the way men and boys build relations with women and girls, the liberation of men and boys from anachronistic and dominant positionalities.

“It is about men and boys unlearning reactionary habits and embracing emancipatory values, norms, roles and practices in the multiplicity of relationships they enjoy with women and girls. This relational perspective is important as it requires men and boys to an active part in co-creating new ways of relating to women and girls in private and public, domestic and professional, economic, social and political life.

“It means constructive and respectful dialogue, willingness to be vulnerable and open to embracing a new pathway, an ability to listen, learn and unlearn in multiple relational settings with women and girls. MENtalities is therefore a campaign to establish the cocreational responsibilities of men and boys in the struggle for gender equality,” Nzimamde said.

He also argued that the term MENtalities should not be an idealistic perspective of gender transformation that is, the notion that a “mere appeal to changing the mentality of men and boys will, by itself, liberate women from gender inequality and oppression”.

“This would be naïve. It is for this reason that we cannot delink this campaign from the wider struggles aimed at transforming the structural relations of power that define and reproduce gender inequality in society and economy.

“My view is that one can only provide a proper explanation of the roots of the psychosocial oppression of women and girls in the unequal distribution of economic and political power in society, and specifically, the capitalist economy – women are structurally located at the bottom of the economy – if measured by pay, investment income, land, fixed property,” the Minister said.

"Unless we root out the structural inequalities of capitalist gender exploitation and oppression, we will not provide the material bases upon which gender power relations can be reset in society at large and provide a foundation for the psycho-social and cultural emancipation of women and by definition men and boys in society."

He said the campaign to transforming the MENtalities of men and boys must also be fought in conjunction with the struggles to radically alter the structural position of women especially Black working-class women in the economy. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Wed, 08/30/2023 - 11:49

341 views

30 August 2023

MANCOSA shows its value as the South African tertiary education landscape navigates a value debate

Location: MyPR

The South African tertiary education system is currently the subject of significant scrutiny, with the future value proposition offered by its tertiary education providers taking centre stage in many household debates and family discussions. Paresh Soni, the Director of the MANCOSA School of Information and Digital Technology (SIDT), points out that this debate started during …

30 August 2023

The insurance industry comes under fire as the cost-of-living crisis increases

Location: MyPR

The world is currently facing one of the harshest economic climates experienced since the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, one of the worst financial crises in modern history. This raises concerns that more people may turn to fraud to address the financial pressure they are experiencing. “Rising inflation and the current war in Ukraine are two …

30 August 2023

Progress made in fighting GBV in higher learning institutions

Location: News

Progress made in fighting GBV in higher learning institutions

Higher Education and Training Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, says good progress has been made to implement sustainable and impactful measures to address the scourge of gender-based violence (GBV) in higher learning institutions.

The country’s Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector is home to more than 2.5 million youth with 51% being females.

According to the Minister, 10% of all reported rape cases originate from young women in the higher education sector and only one in ten women report a rape case.

“My Department of Higher Education and Training through Higher Health, has done so much over the past few years to implement sustainable and impactful systems, controls, infrastructure, and safety nets to address the scourge of GBV within the PSET sector.”

The Minister was speaking during the inaugural Transforming MENtalities Summit, which is aimed at engaging men and boys to address the root causes of violence against women.

He said that since launching the GBV Policy Framework in 2020, Higher Health has been putting systems, controls, capacity in institutions to respond to GBV issues.

Higher Health developed a Technical Task team which various PSET stakeholders as well as technical experts who are together developing a multi-sectoral response to issues of GBV in the PSET system.

“In 2021, the Task Team released procedural guidelines on how to respond to cases of GBV on campus; protocol on rape; and protocol on code of ethics. As part of our Women’s Month celebration this month, the Task Team released the Protocol on Campus Safety and Security Minimum Standards; the Protocol on Safety in Private Accommodation, the Protocol on Safety in Residences; and Protocol on Staff-Student Relationships,” he said in his address on Tuesday.

“Higher Health is currently working with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in developing Protocols on Statement of Complaint, whistleblowing and other legislature requirements for our system.”

The Minister said that Higher Health is continuing to implement various programmes and support structures for students and frontline staff at institutions of higher learning. Programmes are offered on 420 campuses across South Africa including urban and rural areas.

Civic and Health Education Skills Programme

Another important achievement in addressing GBV in PSET institutions, include the launch of an online National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 5 Civic and Health Education Skills Programme in July 2023, which is first of its kind in the Global South.

The programme will cover modules that include gender-based violence, and will be offered in all 12 South African languages.

The Minister said the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) will be one of the institutions that will be playing a pivotal role in the sector’s efforts to deepen the fight against GBV.

He said the HSRC will forge a nexus of academics and researchers from South African public universities and various organisations to harness the power of collective insights, rallying men and boys as “staunch allies in our campaign to reduce violence, bolster human rights, and realise gender parity.”

The council will conduct studies that will pinpoint communities at risk. These studies will examine intricate layers of perception, aspiration, and change across KwaZulu Natal, the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, and Limpopo. These provinces bears the brunt of reported rape cases.

“Our journey will not be solitary. It will be a collective effort of research networks, embracing institutions such as Nelson Mandela University, University of the Western Cape, University of Venda, and [the] University of KwaZulu-Natal,” Nzimande explained.

He said, the PSET institutions will also be engaged, through seminars and workshops in order to have inclusivity and impact, and the sector’s outreach programme will sensitise young minds to gender issues.

The Transforming MENtalities Summit is based on United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) Transforming MENtalities initiative, launched in 2015 in Latin America and the Caribbean, and later spread to a number of other countries. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Wed, 08/30/2023 - 12:42

169 views

30 August 2023

Winners announced at the Angostura Bar & Beverage Awards 2023

Location: Entertainment, MyPR

28 August 2023: The ANGOSTURA® Bar & Beverage Awards 2023, announced its winners at a gala ceremony held at The Westin Hotel in Cape Town. 200 guests from industry attended this inaugural awards ceremony from all over the country. “South Africa is one of the world’s top destinations for gastronomy, leisure and hospitality,” says Paul …

30 August 2023

Behind Apple’s Strong Results And What The Future May Hold

Location: MyPR

Johannesburg, 30 August 2023: Apple’s meteoric rise to prominence is nothing short of exceptional, with its impressive performance in 2022 carrying over to 2023. Fred Razak, Chief Trading Strategist at CMTrading, delves into the factors underpinning this sustained success and the road ahead. A Resilient Position “Apple’s unrivalled streak of non-negative quarters since 2009, spanning …

30 August 2023

Lottery looter is living the jet set life

Location: News

“When life gives you lemons, buy a freaking jet” - Lesley Ramulifho

30 August 2023

President Ramaphosa meets with SOE chairpersons and CEOs

Location: News

President Ramaphosa meets with SOE chairpersons and CEOs

Implementing reforms will serve to enhance the ability of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) not only to adapt to industry developments but also to serve South Africans into the future.

This is according to President Cyril Ramaphosa who met with chairpersons and chief executives of SOEs on Tuesday.

“It is quite clear that the success of our economic recovery relies on the effective functioning of state-owned entities. We are implementing reforms to ensure that SOEs are able to adapt to new economic conditions, including rapid developments in technology, their respective operating environments and changing global trends, and to serve the country well into the future,” President Ramaphosa said.

In a statement, the Presidency said the meeting sought to “discuss the implementation of measures to stabilise their financial and operational performance and harness their economic potential”.

“Government has, since 2018, embarked on a process of reform to address the legacy of state capture in SOEs, including through the appointment of capable leadership, the recovery of stolen assets and the pursuit of those responsible for perpetrating acts of corruption.

“In addition, as part of Operation Vulindlela, fundamental reforms are being implemented in the energy, logistics and water sectors to address structural challenges and reposition SOEs for the future.

“President Ramaphosa called on the management and boards of SOEs to accelerate this reform agenda and fulfil their developmental mandate. He emphasised the importance of SOEs, as strategic national assets, in driving inclusive growth, investing in infrastructure, and creating jobs. President Ramaphosa will continue to prioritise the turnaround of South Africa’s SOEs in order to drive economic growth and transformation,” the statement read.

Also at the meeting, the Presidential State Owned Enterprises Council tabled a report while the National Treasury presented an update on its review of the procurement system of SOEs.

“Since its establishment, the Council has undertaken in-depth analyses at 21 SOEs to inform its recommendations. It has proposed changes to the governance framework and shareholder ownership model to enhance oversight, separate the ownership, policy and regulatory functions of the state, and leverage the combined balance sheet of SOEs.

“In addition, the National Treasury provided an update on its review of the procurement system to implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture while enabling SOEs to operate in an efficient and competitive manner. Legislative and regulatory reforms are underway to strike an effective balance between preventing corruption and abuse and allowing innovation, agility and responsiveness in procurement,” the Presidency said. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Wed, 08/30/2023 - 09:38

65 views

29 August 2023

Ghanaian chocolate targets South Africa’s health and wellness market

Location: News

International Trade Centre
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Ghanaian artisanal chocolate brands went to The Plant Powered Show in Johannesburg to explore new African commercial linkages for their plant-based chocolate and cocoa.

About 70% of the world's cocoa is produced in Africa – mostly Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. But in the global chocolate industry, their market share is less than 6%.

Fairafric Ghana aims to change this narrative by adding value to Ghanaian cocoa beans at origin and to offer ‘made in Ghana' chocolate to European and African markets, boosting local job creation and incomes along the way.

Meanwhile, Amonu Chocolates is working hard to develop the demand for locally produced chocolate in Ghana. Their products are proudly wrapped in traditional Ghanaian Akan Adinkra symbol designs to promote choco-tourism and honor the role Ghana has historically played in the cocoa sector.

It is in this spirit that the two brands travelled to The Plant-Powered Show in Johannesburg, South Africa, earlier this month with support from the Ghana Export Promotion Authority and the International Trade Centre's Alliances for Action, under the Netherlands Trust Fund V programme in Ghana. Some 5,000 people attended the event, offering a key visibility opportunity to the growing brands.

The goal? To tap into the health and wellness market and bring Ghanaian products to a new African market.

Aimed at those looking to live and enjoy a healthier, more conscious and sustainable lifestyle with a smaller environmental footprint, the three-day Plant Powered Show features top chefs and mixologists hosting live cooking demos and masterclasses. Health and wellness experts also spoke, while a marketplace filled with plant-based food, drink and lifestyle products were available to test, sample and buy.

Leveraging the ‘made in Africa' movement to enter the South African market

Chef Greg Henderson, executive chef of the Royal Portfolio Collection, specializes in indigenous foods and the culinary heritage of African products. At the show, he gave a masterclass on product development and was excited to have the opportunity to work with Ghanaian chocolate. Fairafric and Amonu Chocolates' plant-based products were successfully integrated into his recipes, with 30 class participants looking on.

‘The question I've been asking myself throughout this event is, why didn't we do this a long time ago?' said Michael Marmon-Halm, managing director of Fairafric Ghana. ‘South Africa is clearly a great market for Fairafric, and we're gearing up to establish our made in Africa brand there soon.'

Both brand representatives attending the event mentioned that the show opened their eyes to the demand for African origin chocolate products. They received encouraging feedback from consumers at their stand, which attracted marked interest from the show's crowds. A highlight of the event was the Chefs Association of South Africa expressing interest in potential collaborations.

Amonu Chocolates is well-established in Ghana, and currently stocked in London by My Runway Group (Black in Carnaby). They aim to increase their export ranges and activities. Attending The Plant Powered Show will go a long way in extending their export footprints in South Africa, said Lucia Acheampong, Amonu's general manager.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.

29 August 2023

How financial institutions can safeguard against deepfakes

Location: News

In a matter of seconds, it is possible to hold your phone up to your face and see what you will look like in 40 years. Or you could fuse the image of your face with that of a celebrity. You could even record a birthday song for a friend in the voice of their favourite artist. With deepfake technology, it is simple and possible to edit a person's facial and vocal likeness with alarming accuracy. For the most part, this can be seen as harmless entertainment. But what if your likeness was used to drain your savings or commit fraud? As the technology to create deepfakes becomes easier and cheaper, the need to guard against these cybercrimes have come to the forefront.

A deepfake is a video, visual, or audio recording that has been distorted, manipulated, or synthetically created using deep learning techniques to present an individual, or a hybrid of several people, saying or doing something that they did not say or do. These deepfakes are often used in digital injection attacks which are sophisticated, highly scalable, and replicable cyberattacks that bypass the camera on a device or are injected into a data stream.

Murray Collyer, Chief Operating Officer of iiDENTIFii (http://www.iiDENTIFii.com/), says, “Digital injection attacks present the highest threat to financial services, as the AI technology behind it is affordable, and the attacks are rapidly scalable. In fact, a recent digital security report by our technology partner, iProov (http://www.iProov.com/), illustrates how, in an indiscriminate attempt to bypass an organisation's security systems, some 200-300 attacks were launched globally from the same location within a 24-hour period. As more and more South Africans embrace digital banking, deepfake technology is a serious threat.”

Recent research (https://apo-opa.info/3L09o3T) by Discovery Bank and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) into the future of retail banking in South Africa found that most (86%) South Africans are ready to do all their banking digitally, particularly via an app. Much of this trend stems from previously unbanked people. The Covid-19 pandemic naturally accelerated the trend.

As more South Africans set up digital accounts and do their banking online, financial crime and cybercrime have become more inextricably linked than ever before. Interpol states that financial and cybercrimes are the world's leading crime threats and are projected to increase the most.

Collyer adds, “Deepfake technology is one of the most rapidly growing threats within financial services, yet not all verification technologies are resilient to it. Password-based systems, for example, are highly susceptible to fraud. South Africa needs to strengthen their technology to outwit cyber criminals.”

While deepfakes are a severe threat, the technology and processes exist to safeguard financial services companies against this method of fraud.

A growing percentage of face biometric technology incorporates some form of liveness checks - such as wink and blink - to verify and authenticate customers. Liveness detection uses biometric technology to determine whether the individual presenting is a real human being, not a presented artefact. Therefore, this technology can detect a deepfake if it were to be played on a device and presented to the camera.

While many liveness detection technologies can determine if someone is conducting fraud by holding up a physical image (for example, a printed picture or mask of the person transacting) to the screen, many solutions cannot detect digital injection attacks.

Collyer says, “Specialised technology is required to combat deepfakes. Within iiDENTIFii, we have seen success with the use of sophisticated yet accessible 4D liveness technology, which includes a timestamp and is further verified through a three-step process where the user's selfie and ID document data are checked with relevant government databases. This enables us to accurately authenticate someone's identity.”

Collyer will be part of the speaker panel that will present to delegates at the 8th instalment of the AML, Financial Crime Southern Africa Conference (https://apo-opa.info/3KYm7Ec), that also includes representatives of companies such as Financial Intelligence Centre South Africa, Investec, Sanlam, Stanlib, Albaraka Bank, Standard Bank Mozambique, iiDENTIFii, Nice Actimize, SABRIC, Rand Merchant Bank, S & P Global Intelligence, FirstRand Namibia, Corruption Watch and many more.

The high-level conference will be hosted on 6 & 7 September at the Indaba Hotel Fourways South Africa and is attended annually by professionals from banks, insurance and investment companies, service providers, government, and MLCO's from non-designated financial service providers.

“With the right technology, it is not only possible to protect consumers and businesses against deepfake financial crimes but also create a user experience that is simple, accessible and safe for all,” Collyer concludes.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of iiDENTIFii.

About iiDENTIFii:
iiDENTIFii is a world-leading remote face authentication and automated onboarding technology platform. It fulfills the needs of customer-focused organisations that are required to authenticate and onboard customers. Using a frictionless and non-invasive automated proven process that meets customer intelligence and risk and compliance goals, iiDENTIFii ticks all the boxes from a governance and legislative perspective. https://iiDENTIFii.com/

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29 August 2023

Inextrix Technologies Unveils Cutting-Edge VoIP Solution Development Services

Location: MyPR

Catering to Global Businesses, Inextrix Technologies Sets New Industry Standards with Innovative VoIP Solutions Inextrix Technologies Pvt. Ltd, a trailblazer in the unified communication development landscape, proudly announces the expansion of its service portfolio with the introduction of state-of-the-art VoIP Solution Development services. With a rich history dating back to 2010, Inextrix Technologies has consistently …

29 August 2023

Economic reforms to create growth, jobs

Location: News

Economic reforms to create growth, jobs

Through economic reforms implemented through Operation Vulindlela, President Cyril Ramaphosa says government is steadily laying the foundation for a revival of economic growth.

In his weekly newsletter, the President noted the release of a progress report, which highlights a number of key milestones that have been reached during the past quarter.

“Since Operation Vulindlela was established, we have built significant momentum in economic reforms to create growth and jobs.

“Through these reforms we are steadily laying the foundation for a revival of economic growth. By restructuring our network, industries like energy, telecommunications, ports and rail, we are opening the space for investment and a renewal of our nation’s infrastructure,” the President said.

The President highlighted that the first of the reform milestones was the digital migration process which government implemented by switching off analogue transmission for all frequencies above 694 MHz on 31 July 2023.

“This marks a significant step in migration from analogue to digital signal. This means that radio frequencies that were being used for television broadcasting can now be used for mobile telecommunications, which will make network communications more accessible and increase the speed and reduce the cost of data. The implementation of this reform will bring new investment in the telecommunications sector,” he said.

President Ramaphosa told citizens that work is underway to implement necessary reforms in the logistics sector to address the challenges that have held back the growth of South African exports.

He highlighted that the lack of investment and the increased cost of doing business have added to the many challenges that need to be addressed.

Another key milestone was reached with the selection of an international terminal operator to partner with Transnet at the Durban Pier 2 container terminal. This terminal handles close to half of South Africa’s port traffic.

“This partnership will increase investment for upgrading equipment and expanding terminal capacity. A key aspect of this partnership is that port infrastructure will remain state-owned and all jobs will be protected,” he said.

The President further highlighted that two critical pieces of legislation were tabled in Parliament this month, that will advance economic reform.

The Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill will support the restructuring of Eskom into three separate companies owned and controlled by Eskom Holdings, including an independent grid operator.

“Through this bill we will introduce competition in electricity generation, enabling a number of independent generators, alongside Eskom, to produce electricity to meet our country’s demand. This reform will fundamentally transform, modernise and improve South Africa’s energy sector to ensure energy security into the future.

“Meanwhile, the reforms we have implemented through the Energy Action Plan have unlocked new investment in renewable energy sources, both to end load shedding and to use our unique wind and solar resources to power economic growth,” he said.

One of key reforms that government has prioritised is in the water sector. Government has introduced the South African National Water Resources Infrastructure Bill to establish a dedicated national water agency to design, plan and finance water resource infrastructure.

This agency will enable significantly greater investment in bulk water infrastructure to guarantee water security in the years and decades to come, while creating jobs and unlocking new agricultural potential.

“We are implementing a range of other reforms to unlock economic growth, from creating an enabling regulatory environment for hemp and cannabis production to eradicating the backlog of title deeds for subsidised housing,” he said.

Despite difficult global conditions, the President said investors continue to see value in the South African economy and the benefit of the reform agenda government is pursuing.

He added that he is pleased that the BRICS Business Forum held last week was attended by 1 500 investors and business people from all five member countries.

The President said the Summit was able to showcase the potential of South Africa and the African continent as the next frontiers of productivity and growth.

“Many of the participants remarked on the enormous potential of our economic reform agenda to drive growth in the green economy, the digital economy and other key sectors.

“In all of the work that we do, our ultimate goal is the same: to build an inclusive, fast-growing and dynamic economy and thereby create a better life for all South Africans,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Tue, 08/29/2023 - 09:57

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28 August 2023

Dealing with disruption: Rhenus South Africa shares best practices for maintaining smooth supply chains

Location: MyPR

Dealing with disruption: Rhenus South Africa shares best practices for maintaining smooth supply chains Monday, 28 August 2023 – Disruption has become the norm in today’s global supply chains with various challenges impacting the efficiency and reliability of logistical operations. South African organisations must embrace a proactive mindset and develop robust strategies to deal effectively …

28 August 2023

Meat without slaughter – Advance up to the lab and see what’s on the slab

Location: MyPR

Worried about population growth and the pressures of feeding a hungry planet? Don’t have a cow, cultivate one rather says, Maxcine Kater, marine biologist and environmental officer at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Johannesburg – August 2023: The global human population is expected to top 9.8 billion by 2050 (from the current …

28 August 2023

What to expect: FAME Week Africa wizardry and a galaxy of industry innovators

Location: Entertainment, MyPR

Cape Town, August 2023 – FAME Week Africa has carved its place as the preeminent event for African creatives, providing a platform for their deep-rooted talent; their ancient and contemporary stories; and their ingrained culture to flourish. By bringing together collaborative events focusing on the major creative economies – these being film, television, animation as …