Author: Editor
Laborie, the proudly South African wine brand with an affinity for French traditions because of its established French roots, is reflecting on an exceptional year. By being inspired by beauty and those who exemplify the brand’s ethos of ‘La Grande Vie’ – the great life – Laborie has managed to attract a loyal following from wine lovers and respect from even the fiercest wine critics. This month, it is the words of French author Annie Ernaux, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2022, which resonates with Laborie’s energetic spirit – notably this line from one of the author’s…
By Tania van Wyk de Vries, Chief Product Officer at Obsidian Systems Modern businesses rely on digital technology to survive and thrive. Just as a power failure or dry taps can halt operations, companies rely on digital systems as a utility. But unlike other utilities, these systems have continual and complex demands that IT teams must administer. Managing servers, databases and applications alongside costs, security, and compliance place enormous demands on the time of IT professionals. And these demands grow more complex as digital business systems evolve and expand. Yet many administrators who oversee several, hundreds, even thousands of servers…
CRS Technologies offers companies some advice on how to deal with this emerging phenomenon. Quiet quitting is a new phenomenon in the workplace that threatens to overwhelm already pressured business leaders. It refers to employees who are doing the very least they can get away with or are ‘disengaged’ from the job. Human resource capital experts believe it is one of the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown. Employees have either deliberately or inadvertently become ‘quiet quitters’ as they look to return to ‘normalcy’ and work-life balance in the workplace. Leading human capital management services and solutions specialist CRS Technologies says…
“Time is running out, but we can help you.” That in a nutshell is Remote Metering Solutions (RMS) EPC Inspection Body’s message to the thousands of property owners that haven’t yet taken any measures to obtain energy performance certificates (EPCs) for their buildings. An EPC is a certificate that shows the energy performance of a building as a rating from A to G, with A being the most efficient and G the least efficient rating. Property owners who fail to obtain and display an EPC (and submit a certified copy of the EPC to SANEDI) before the 7 December 2022…
By Howard Feldman I would argue that it is the saddest story of the South African year. In a year that “gifted” South Africa with the highest number of days of loadshedding on record, of increasing unemployment and of international humiliation in terms of the country’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it is not easy to find a winner. And yet, a story that quietly entered and exited the headlines, for me, is one that bags first prize. “Northwest government blows R780 000 on donkey carts to alleviate challenges in rural communities.” Here are some details for anyone…
Diabetes prevalence in South Africa has doubled in the last decade with more than 4.2 million people now suffering from the condition – that’s one in nine adults – making it the leading cause of death in women, and the second largest cause for the entire population. A pharmaceutical company with a focus on preventative care is urging the public and government ahead of World Diabetes Day (14 November) to do more to reverse this predictable, yet preventable health crisis. Nicole Jennings, spokesperson for Pharma Dynamics, says South Africa is the epicentre of type 2 diabetes on the continent, because…
South Africa’s labour law is generally considered to be substantial and in-depth, covering a broad spectrum of rules and regulations. Legislation is now even more significant because of the importance placed on data use and protection, and the significance of the Protection of Personal Information (PoPIA) Act. So what happens in the event of a labour dispute and the use or misuse of confidentiality agreements? Leading human capital management services and solutions specialist CRS Technologies says digitalisation has had a profound impact on businesses, with data acknowledged and intellectual property considered to be the among the most prized assets. Today,…
By Yunus Scheepers, Chief Technology Officer at SilverBridge Holdings The global smart contracts market is expected to top the $8.3 million mark by 2030, growing annually by 21.4% from this year. The blockchain and smart contracts allow insurers to automate the execution of an insurance product agreement without any involvement from mediators. Not only does this speed up claims processing it also lowers administrative costs and reduces the risk of fraud. The potential of smart contract technologies in South Africa was highlighted as far back as 2016, with experts stating it could have a transformative impact on the insurance market.…
This Mental Health Awareness Month, a leading provider of central nervous system medication is encouraging adults of ADHD children to have themselves tested for the condition. Abdurahmaan Kenny, Mental Health Portfolio Manager for Pharma Dynamics says ADHD is highly familial. “Research shows that 40% of ADHD children have at least one parent with clinical ADHD symptoms, which influences family functioning, parenting and the quality of life of their children. “Much of the success of the treatment outcomes for ADHD-diagnosed children depends on the commitment of their parents. For many the responsibility can be overwhelming, let alone a parent who is…
According to the most recent Statistics South Africa report, the SA tourism industry shows positive signs of income with tourist accommodation increasing by 86.6% for the year ending May 2022. The hospitality industry saw a significant increase in its revenue for the year-on-year period, accounting for the bulk of the income from accommodations such as hotels, guesthouses, villas, and distinct offerings. Additionally, Google Trends reports that in the past year, South Africans have increasingly been searching online for “game reserve”, “nature reserve”, and “south coast” — over 100%, 140%, and 90% respectively — when comparing the period of March to…