The well-attended 3rd Quarter Automechanika Johannesburg CEO Breakfast on Friday 30 August 2024 at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit revealed the spectrum of explorable business opportunities for the automotive aftermarket and the commercial vehicle sector in Africa. The event no doubt stimulated entrepreneurial thinking among attending industry leaders who were presented with illuminating facts and figures to whet the appetites of positive thinkers. Leading the way with his opening address was Deputy Head of Mission of the German Embassy in SA Enrico Brandt who attested to the strong German business presence in South Africa and particularly, the motor industry, at…
Author: Staff Writer
Qlik®, a global leader in data integration, analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI), today announced the global launch of its AI Reality Tour, which will span over 27 cities across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions. This includes an event taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa on 17 September 2024. Sponsored globally by AWS, this tour highlights Qlik’s commitment to helping enterprises worldwide integrate AI into their operations with real, scalable solutions. Central to this initiative are the newly available Qlik Talend Cloud and Qlik Answers, designed to empower businesses to seamlessly leverage AI for meaningful data-driven decisions and operational value. “At Qlik, we’ve invested heavily to help our…
The T-Cross is the smallest member of Volkswagen’s all-important “T” family of SUVs and the best-selling SUV for the brand in South Africa. Sharing its MQB A0 platform with the sixth-generation Polo hatchback, T-Cross has also been the best selling imported model for Volkswagen in South Africa with over 36 000 units sold. The new T-Cross is set to redefine the compact SUV market in South Africa with its fresh design and new technology. From the outside, the updated T-Cross is immediately recognisable by the new design of its front and rear with new integrated LED headlights, LED daytime running…
OMODA pays tribute to the crucial role that women play in South Africa’s broader automotive space this Women’s Month, while also highlighting the contributions made by the many female individuals involved with the success of the fast-growing brand. While National Women’s Day is celebrated on 9 August – commemorating the 1956 march of more than 20 000 women to the Union Buildings – Women’s Month provides an extended opportunity to consider the empowerment of females and the importance of gender equality. “At OMODA, we’re strong advocates for the empowerment of women in general, a fact that’s clear from the number of…
According to the South African National Development Plan, 90% of new jobs must be created through entrepreneurship by 2030. There are no places more in need of these jobs than in the country’s townships. This means that South African townships are possibly the places offering the most potential for the country’s most innovative and successful entrepreneurship and economic development. Newly released research from The Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) Entrepreneurship Development Academy (EDA), Township Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: The Entrepreneurs’ Lived Experiences reveals the unique characteristics of the entrepreneurs in South Africa’s townships. This study is particularly significant as there is a notable lack of…
Naspers, Africa’s largest company by market capitalization, anticipates that e-commerce and digital platforms will contribute R91.4 billion ($5.2 billion) to the South African economy by 2035. This growth is projected to account for 1.38% of the country’s gross domestic product over the next decade, according to a research report by Naspers and the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (Mistra). Naspers, which owns Takealot, South Africa’s leading online retailer, has been enhancing its service offerings, including the introduction of one-hour delivery for a range of products from phone chargers to toys. This move is intended to boost its competitive edge against…
John James “Jim” Volkwyn will step down from MultiChoice’s board of directors effective Wednesday, adding to the series of recent exits among directors with consulting arrangements with the company. MultiChoice, Africa’s largest pay TV provider, has faced scrutiny from investors over governance issues linked to consulting relationships held by several current and former board members. As the group navigates a takeover bid from French broadcaster Canal+, it announced that Volkwyn chose not to stand for re-election at the annual general meeting (AGM) on August 28, leading to his retirement effective the same date. Volkwyn’s association with MultiChoice spans over 33…
Vodacom South Africa announced on Tuesday that the Constitutional Court will hear its application for leave to appeal in the protracted Please Call Me case. This legal battle, which has been ongoing for 16 years, involves a dispute with former employee Nkosana Makate, who is seeking a substantial payout. According to Vodacom, the Constitutional Court has issued a directive to consider its application for leave to appeal alongside the company’s appeal against the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruling. This latest development comes after Vodacom’s February filing for leave to appeal the SCA’s decision, which required the company to make…
Sanlam, a leading financial services group, has overcome the last regulatory challenge in its R6.5 billion acquisition of Assupol, as it aims to solidify its position in South Africa and expand further across the continent and into India. On Tuesday, the Competition Tribunal approved the merger with conditions, although specific details of these conditions have yet to be disclosed. This approval follows the Competition Commission’s recommendation two weeks prior, which advised the deal proceed with the stipulation of a three-year moratorium on retrenchments. Once finalized, Assupol will join Sanlam’s retail mass cluster but will continue to operate under its own…
Australian mining powerhouse BHP has announced its intention to continue expanding its copper production, despite the setback of its failed bid for Anglo American earlier this year. The Melbourne-based company, which withdrew its offer for Anglo in May following the Anglo board’s rejection of its third attempt in an all-share proposal, has indicated it will not resort to overpaying for acquisitions. Since the failed bid, Anglo American’s share price has risen by over 10%, while BHP’s has similarly declined. This raises questions about whether BHP might reconsider pursuing Anglo once the six-month “put up or shut up” period concludes later…