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Capitalising on the anxieties and fears caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the past several months have seen cybercriminals increasingly target home networks to steal personal data. International research shows that there has been a 350% increase in the number of phishing attacks from January to March, the period most countries started entering lockdown conditions.

The High Court in Pretoria recently ruled that taxpayers have a right to be notified before SARS appoints an agent to collect ‘outstanding tax debt’. ALTHEA SOOBYAH, Tax Consulting Director at Mazars explains why this is a victory for both taxpayer rights and the wider cause of administrative justice.

Contracts are about customer service - and in a COVID-19 world, customer service has been pushed into the spotlight as businesses struggle with lockdowns, social distancing requirements and other (varying) regulations. 

Sleep - a critical aspect of overall wellbeing, and essential for a healthy heart, is impacted predominantly by stress and financial pressures, as indicated by 58% of South Africans, according to a new survey by 1Life with over 5 000 respondents. 

In the pre-Covid-19 world, Industry 4.0 was driving automation and data exchange trends in manufacturing technologies and processes at an exponential rate. Now, as manufacturers across the globe face the immense challenges posed by the virus, lockdowns and economic pressure, Industry 4.0 has been accelerated even more.

Covid-19 has seen a marked rise in investment scams targeting unsuspecting South Africans. The latest scam involves a method of fraud known as ‘identity hijacking’ where a prominent individual’s identity is used fraudulently by criminals posing as well-known financial institutions to extract money from individuals.

It is officially time to put electronic signatures on the agenda. Many organisations needed to embrace operating remotely overnight and they now recognise the importance of electronic signatures, even as lockdown measures are relaxed and lifted. As eSignatures have proven key to keeping businesses running during these uncertain times, a new appreciation has developed for the convenience, security, and reliability of electronic signatures – whether operating remotely or not.

To help students stay on track to successfully complete the 2020 academic year despite not being on campus, Vodacom has partnered with the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) in Johannesburg to keep students connected to higher learning activities.  

With the world in disarray and bad news around every corner, it’s easy to believe that nothing good has come from this new world we all find ourselves in. Despite the impact of the global crisis, some businesses, like Newsclip Media Monitoring, have come out stronger than ever before.

Koch Industries, Inc. recently announced that it has completed the acquisition of the remaining portion of Infor from Golden Gate Capital. Infor, a global leader in business cloud software specialised by industry, has been a key component of Koch Industries’ technological transformation. Koch Industries’ companies have made more than $26 billion in technology-related investments in the past six years, transforming a global portfolio of businesses spanning multiple industries.

The month of May has come with a lot of change. Not only a change in seasons, but a national one as South Africa moves from level 5 to level 4 of the lockdown period. From a health and wellbeing perspective, May celebrated World Hand Hygiene Day on May 5 as well as World Nurses Day today, on May 12. 

There has been a recent surge of businesses utilising eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) for their financial reporting. Globally, millions of organisations in over 50 countries are successfully running with XBRL.

With the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions moving to Level 4, many South Africans are inevitably going to be exposed to more risk of exposure and transfer. This is already apparent when looking at the increase in cases since 5 May 2020. It is imperative that South Africans battle these heightened risks by keeping their homes and facilities not only clean, but sanitised too.

The banning of alcohol sales during lockdown was initially intended to help protect communities but reality is, the illicit trade of alcohol is bigger than it has ever been and it is syphoning millions of Rands from our economy in a time when it really needs it. 

With Covid19 and the resultant lockdown, South African industries, and the world at large, are in a very uncertain place. The closure of businesses and facilities has, as predicted, led to an economic backlash within many (if not all) industries. In order to succeed and overcome, it is imperative that organisations take hold of technological advances to aid in lead conversion and the boosting of sales and growth.

Let's be honest, we’ll never know if Covid-19 was manufactured, merely a common flu, an airborne zombie creator, or a convenient excuse for politicians to change legislation and increase their power. I am sure you are as saturated with conspiracy theories, data confusion and frustration as I am.

Information technology’s speed of evolution offers vast opportunities for all. Managers within the IT environment face a particularly unique challenge; staying ahead of rapid advancement brought on by Industry 4.0. This has been further accelerated with technological support needed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Local manufacturing is key for a vibrant economy

Sealy South Africa looks back on 50+ years of operation
A global presence dedicated to sleep technology

Many of us aspire to own our own property.  Whether it is to have a place to call home or simply for investment purposes. Raising the funds to buy property, especially for young individuals, can be challenging. 

When the President announced the COVID-19 Lockdown by end of March, I got worried about how best I could reach out to children around the world and motivate them. As a Literacy Activist I came up with a plan to read my books to children. 

In a two-speed world, businesses across the globe are often faced with one crippling dilemma: outgrowing legacy technology systems. Facing an outdated, ill-fitting Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, local ship repair and marine engineering company, Dormac began the search for a digital journey partner.

There is no denying that the world is currently in a state of economic uncertainty. Companies are bracing themselves for the economic backlash of the Covid-19 pandemic. Many have already felt the repercussions seeping through their crumbling company structure. In times such as this, earnings are becoming more volatile. Technological advances have become imperative to function and progress.

Historically, malaria is still considered one of the world’s deadliest diseases. In the midst of a global pandemic, efforts by healthcare sectors to curb the spread of malaria now has to face off with COVID-19 in a desperate struggle for adequate resources and public attention. 

In the long-forgotten pre-COVID world, electronic signature solutions were considered a “nice to have” by many South African businesses. Why not print and hand deliver documents for signature? After all, this is more secure… isn’t it? In a locked-down economy, the value of innovative technology has certainly come to the fore as remote workforces endeavour to ensure that it’s business as usual. This is not only convenient, but essential to survival.

Bringing some much needed good news to these uncertain times, international wildlife charity Born Free is delighted to announce its most recent successful rescues and rehoming projects - two cheetah cubs from the illegal wildlife trade in Ethiopia, and two leopards from the failed Bloemfontein Zoo in South Africa.

Amidst a pandemic, Investec is warning businesses and consumers to be on the lookout for online fraud and phishing scams as fraudsters try to take advantage of Covid-19. 

Cash may have been king for centuries, but its reign has ended. As much as we may not want to believe it, the world is swiftly migrating to a cashless environment. It’s time to ditch the germ infected R50 notes and start utilising technology.

As South Africa adjusts to lockdown, many of us are finding that we have more time on our hands. While things feel uncertain, it can be reassuring to create a routine and find activities to slot into your day to pass the time.

Countries, cities, businesses and schools across the world face quarantine and closures, in the wake of COVID-19. While this global panic will doubtless have far-reaching economic consequences, the need to remain in touch, engaged and in communication with the world remains essential.

SABRIC, the South African Banking Risk Information Centre, on behalf of the banking industry, would like to warn bank clients about protecting their mobile devices. 

Security, and particularly internal security, is vital to the wellbeing of any organisation and industry. Internal security plays a crucial part in the company structure. This is due to internal threat often being an organisation’s highest risk. Esteemed company leaders and managers are often aware of this liability.

18 March 2020 marks 'Global Recycling Day', and unfortunately too often the most neglected resource in the recycling process is food waste, which is also the most valuable resource. 

With the outbreak and rapid spreading of COVID-19, understanding the correct handwashing protocol is now more crucial than ever. By implementing the proper protocol, along with the use of the correct types of cleansing products, it is possible to flatten the curve and help protect yourself and your loved ones.

Today’s consumers are faced with a range of social and environmental challenges that bring more germs, bacteria and allergens into their everyday lives. With consumers becoming more and more concerned about health and hygiene, LG is continually developing new solutions to enable them to live healthier and more comfortable lives.

Fresh from successful years with legendary independent record label Kalawa Jazmee Records, two albums and a few awards later, Candy Tsamandebele releases a new album titled Still Here independently.

SWEDISH PRINCESS HRH SOFIA TO VISIT ARTSCAPE 25 FEBRUARY AT 13:00

Whether you’re travelling for work or leisure, take extra care to guard against cyber risks  
By Doros Hadjizenonos, regional sales director at Fortinet 

In the digital age, the world is innovating at an exponential rate. As 4IR drives digital transformation, electronic signatures are becoming ever more prevalent. Now the question arises; how does one prove consent?

The Polygraph Test has become both famous and infamous through the popularity of its presence in crime dramas, dramatised on TV and in movies. The result of this increased attention and exposure is that there seems to be a rise of scepticism about the validity and value of taking or administering a polygraph test.

With all the hype around cyber-attacks and every single cyber security enterprise talking about cyber resilience to improve a business’ security posture, nobody really knows what to do once they've been hacked. 

Deep sleep is essential for good health

 

2020 trends: Good sleep and mattress tech go hand-in-hand

la différence combines elegant design, state-of-the-art engineering, exacting craftsmanship

In most industries, efficient supply chain collaboration is essential to success. It’s not only the key to profitability and operational excellence, it’s also becoming a prerequisite for building lasting relationships with customers who essentially become the distributors and resellers of the products manufactured.

In a fast-paced world, data changes by the minute. Most business struggle to keep up. Whether managing debtors, handling queries, or dealing with customers via a call centre or service desk, it is essential that companies have access to the most current, complete and accurate information about their customers.

Winter in the South African bush is safari heaven. The days are mild and the nights just cold enough to want to indulge in delicious, unpretentious food and snuggle into cosy blankets for those refreshing early-morning game drives.  The aromas of your early morning safari coffee break will blend with the heady scent of the verdant bush and all its wonderous creatures, big and small.

In a digital world it is critical that industries move beyond traditional asset management. In 2020, it’s time to embrace predictive analytics to strategise capital investments more effectively.  

Jurgens Van Loggerenberg has been named Africa Head of Operations at BlueGreen Water Technologies, Ltd as the global water cleantech company expands its toxic algae treatment for drinking water into Africa. 

Over the past 127 years both PPC and South Africans have worked in unison to fulfil our home development ambitions. PPC has evolved its customer engagement efforts to include edutainment that takes place in a fictional city in South Africa called Dikagong. 

In the wake of the highest matric pass percentage recorded in the last 25 years, learners are faced with trepidation surrounding the future of their education. Of the 790,405 candidates who wrote the 2019 NSC examination, only 186,058 matriculants obtained a bachelor’s pass. 

Recent South African news reports have reflected an influx of gender-based crimes targeting women. Heartbreaking and harrowing accounts have flooded the media depicting these unjust attacks, murders and acts of violence. South Africans are called to raise their awareness and their defences to counter these crimes. This raised awareness also applies to the world of cybercrime.

The world’s first online digital accountant, Osidon, focused on supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners through affordable, reliable and efficient accounting/tax/payroll and company registration services, recently won a huge victory for small business owners and entrepreneurs in South Africa. 

“The youth are looking for change. History continues to weigh heavily on their potential to succeed….Political freedom has not resulted in economic freedom. The playing field has not been levelled and realisation of some dreams are often related to resources in hand to enable fulfilment of that dream.”

Sun International is pleased to announce that it has appointed Brett Hoppé to the position of General Manager for its Sun City resort. 

Across the globe, competitive organisations in all industries are transforming every aspect of their operations through a commitment to digitalisation. Transformation in the hospitality industry is proving to benefit the businesses, as well as the guests, as innovation drives superior guest experiences, greater profitability and enhanced property and asset management.

An estimated 290 0001 South Africans could become blind as a result of untreated cataracts, with government facilities in most provinces unable to meet the demand for eyesight-saving surgery and waiting lists stretching well over a year.

“As a leading insurer with more than 175 years of experience of enabling positive futures for customers, Old Mutual is a proud sponsor of For Better or Worse. The show airs on Mzansi Magic Channel 161 every Tuesday at 21:30 and celebrates the unity of marriage while sharing insights into the trials and tribulations of couples who have stuck together through various challenges," says John Manyike, Head of Financial Education at Old Mutual.

The concept of strikes is not new to South African employers and employees alike. However, within the realm of striking and strike protection there are certain rules and regulations that may be unknown. This is particularly true when it comes to the repercussions of carrying a weapon during a strike.

The Wedding Expo in partnership with Old Mutual is all about bringing the magic of weddings to life and to take the pain out of planning. Come and tick stationery, flowers, table decor, photographers, caterers, financial and legal advice off your to-do list. Peruse the dreamy wedding gowns, sit down with talented jewellery designers and design your engagement ring or wedding finery. Find your perfect honeymoon at the expo and get discounts on the day.

The eSignature market is highly regulated with a plethora of choices when it comes to vendor solutions. Organisations are often overwhelmed with a vast range of possibilities when implementing electronic signatures into their business processes, and this often stifles the adoption. Key to any eSignature solution selection is understanding what standards have been established to ensure that the organisation’s investment is protected

According to a YouGov survey commissioned by YouTube on New Year’s Resolutions, fifty-nine percent of South Africans want to save money during the coming year. Eating healthier and exercising more are also popular resolutions. 

Medical Scheme premiums are about to increase by CPI + 5% in January for most medical schemes. These increases are a result of an ageing, sicker population using more services, and not by medical schemes affording doctors excessive tariff increases.  

Kagiso Trust congratulates the Free State’s class of 2019 for yet another outstanding achievement which saw the province attaining the best pass rate in the 2019 National Senior Certificate academic year. 
The 2019 pass rate of 88,4% has seen the Free State get the top spot– and means the province has now managed to stay at the top of the results consistently. 

A recent Kaspersky survey has discovered that two-thirds (67%) of industrial organisations do not report cybersecurity incidents to regulators. Though remaining compliant in modern industrial business is a necessity and a driver for investment, there are many factors that influence how companies follow compliance rules. 

As the world gets more crowded and temperatures rise across the board, our car engines, most of which do not run on clean fuels or technologies continue to belch out dirty emissions causing the very air we breathe to grow dangerously polluted.

In a digitally driven world, every operational unit in every organisation across the globe is faced with the need to innovate. As the world evolves, so roles transform and employees at every level need to keep pace to maintain their place of importance in the organogram. This extends even to the finance department, where modern CFOs are required not only to act as the traditional “bean counters” but strategic organisational leaders too.

Johannesburg, December 12, 2019 – GMO GlobalSign (www.globalsign.com), a global Certificate Authority (CA) and the leading provider of identity and security solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT), today announced that Johannesburg, South Africa-based Impression has become a GlobalSign Certified Regional Partner (CRP), addressing the critical security needs of its customers with a highly scalable managed Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) service

Miscommunication often starts with the assumption that those we are speaking to are receiving the information as we intended them to. 

Werley Nortreus is known as a Musical Artist, Author, Entrepreneur, and CEO of Ceraphin Corporation. He was born in Limbé but he was raised in Port-au-Prince, the Capital of Haiti. He believes in Humanism and he wants to be a contributor for a better Haiti before the year 2045. 

Keeping the holidays eco-friendly may seem like a daunting and perhaps, at times, even a somewhat impossible task. However, there are entirely manageable strategies to ensure that you can celebrate the Festive Season fully while also achieving sustainability.

Pink Power, a women empowerment platform will host the inaugural Pink Power Star Awards on Friday, 22 November  2019 at Chartwell Castle in Fourways. 

In today’s technological business market, starting an organisation has become easier than ever. Entrepreneurs have every advantage at their disposal. From formulating ideas through to execution and marketing; everything has become almost as easy as simply pushing a button. The result of this is that the market is flooded with options for consumers to choose from.

So, you’ve been waiting for Black Friday, South Africa’s biggest sale day of the year.  This is the day you’re going to shop for the best deals.  In fact, stats from BankServAfrica, Africa’s leading automated clearing house, show that South Africa’s card transactions  reached R3bn on Black Friday 2018, up 16% from 2017.

Consider yourself a word fundi?  Need to test your Scrabble skills against new people?  The Benoni Scrabble Club competition to be held on 07 December 2019 at the All Souls Anglican Church Hall may be for you.  There will be a social competition for all new players and beginners.

In the fast-paced supply chain industry, most efforts to outpace disruption are ultimately limited by the physical and financial constraints inherent to moving goods around the globe. Whether it is a strike or factory fire, new trade regulation or an unexpected supplier bankruptcy, much of how products are made and moved happens outside of our control.

It was President Cyril Ramaphosa who, in his 2018 SONA speech, was quoted as saying, “If we are to break the cycle of poverty, we need to educate the children of the poor.” 

In an ever more competitive industry, hospitality establishments are hard pressed to ensure increased profits, optimised operations and enhanced customer satisfaction. Hoteliers have a lot of challenges in their day-to-day jobs, and these teams face fluctuating variables that often create uncertainty in pricing decisions.

South Africans should brace themselves for more social and economic hardships following the medium-term budget policy statement (MTBPS). Today, the Finance Minister quoted from the Bible where he said, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously”. As far as the poor are concerned the Minister sowed nothing. 

It’s that time of the year again when final exams are approaching and study timetables need to be set up. Staying calm and focused during this time is the best way to approach your exams, and Future Nation Schools has some great tips on how to keep your cool during these stressful times.

On the eve of Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s second mid-term budget speech in office the writings on the wall.

To lead with data in the digital age, today’s businesses must blaze trails daily. The key is to break away from archaic and static business reporting, favouring predictive, prescriptive analytics. The result is end-to-end data management and analytics solutions built to transform the entire organisation. In an era driven by information, the ability to explore the hidden relationships within data is a key differentiator in every market, leading to insights that ignite great ideas.

A standard feature of every failing and under-performing organisation is a lack of comprehensive policies and procedures matched with the appropriate internal controls. 

The luxurious 5-star safari lodge was the only Diners Club Winelist Award winner in Limpopo province this year. 205 Restaurants from around the country submitted wine lists for judging by a select panel led by the publisher of the Platter’s by Diners Club Wine Guide, Jean-Pierre Rossouw.

Rudi Jagersbacher will step down after 40 years of service for Hilton, and Jochem-Jan Sleiffer will oversee growth strategy as new area president for MEA&T 

Across the retail sector, there are three fundamental shifts that need to occur in the digital transformation journey. The first is the rise of the empowered consumer. The second is the omni-channel development of the agile supply chain. The third is the changing role of the store, which must focus more on engagement and creating an experience for customers. 

Following the recent Constitutional Court decision in Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and Others v Prince and Others 2018 (6) SA 393 (CC), the Trade Marks Office has updated its policy on the registration of cannabis-related trade marks, effective 7 August 2019. 

Birkenstock, established in 1774 in Germany, is a world-renowned brand that has taken the world by storm with its ground-breaking footwear. Much like the iconic global brand Luke Dale Roberts, founder and creative genius behind The Test Kitchen restaurant, has stood the test of time and thus completed the beauty of a partnership between two strong likeminded brands.

Since its launch in May 2019, the world’s first online digital accountant Osidon has grown in leaps and bounds.

South Africa is destined to become the Silicon Valley of Africa. 

In the wake of Industry 4.0 there is no doubt that technology – both its advancements and shortcomings – is dictating the speed of change across the globe. As emerging technologies innovate, so customer expectations evolve, requiring even more innovation. This is a never-ending cycle.

Choosing the right career can be tough, especially for an 18-year-old who has just completed high school and is suddenly faced with a mountain of new life decisions and career options. While the decision ultimately lies with the teen, parents play an important role in guiding them to make good career choices. Guardians should take an active role in this process when the time comes to choose the right qualifications and institutions.

In recognition of International Day for Universal Access to Information 2019, the Access to Information Network (ATI Network) releases its 9th shadow report. The report documents the outcomes and experiences of  ATI Network civil society and media organisations in South Africa, using the Promotion of Access to Information Act of 2000 (PAIA), between 1 June 2017 - 31 July 2018.

South Africa has seen a surge of fraud related crimes happening within white-collar business sectors of the country. Fraud constitutes a serious economic crime and should not be treated as a normal theft issue. Company leaders must become more vigilant than ever to ensure that their company does not fall victim to the ever-present threat of fraud.

Infor, a leading provider of business applications specialised by industry and built for the cloud, announced a planned leadership transition on 21 August 2019, effective immediately. Through this transition, Kevin Samuelson, who has served as Infor’s CFO, has been named Chief Executive Officer. Charles Phillips, who has served as CEO since 2010, has been named Chairman of Infor’s Board of Directors. Samuelson will also join Infor’s Board of Directors.

A unique collaboration that brings together conservationists, entrepreneurs and the community was launched at a festive evening in Cape Town on Thursday 26 September.

Hack the human. This is a growing trend understood very clearly by the well-funded and organised cybercrime landscape.  The cyber-syndicate and criminal know that it is far easier to access systems through people than it is to go through the technology. 

The June 2020 meeting will focus on connecting, innovating and transforming. The next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) has been officially launched in a video message from the President of Rwanda and the Commonwealth Secretary-General.

South Africa has recently seen a huge spike in criminal behaviour. This has particularly been evidenced by the recent gender-based violence incidents, xenophobic attacks, looting and rioting. This spike has led many South African citizens to decide that they will no longer stand by silently with the belief that the time has come to fight back.

The J&B Hive is both a catalyst for creative entrepreneurs wishing to accelerate their business endeavours as well as a space facilitating creative collaboration has taken up residence at 81 De Korte Street in trendy Braamfontein with a view to accommodate its growing community. 

Across the entire value chain, manufacturing organisations are under constant pressure to innovate products and services. To remain competitive, greater customer intimacy must be established, and more must be achieved with less resources. This is no easy feat. These complex trends, when harnessed correctly, are making the modern plant more efficient, productive and aware of the data required to perform better.