The prospect of technology start-ups in Africa
Recently, I have been reflecting on the viability of creating Africa’s own Silicon Valley. This was mainly inspired by the book I recently read,Africa Business Revolution, by Leke, Chironga and Desvaux. Silicon Valley is a technology hub in the United States which houses some of the world’s blue-chip start-ups such as Facebook and Google.
WCED project of prejudice
Violent videos on social media these days are popular. The videos of the racist attacks on people at Brackenfell High School were no different. Soon these videos were flooding our phones and our social media timelines. According to media reports, the Economic Freedom Fighters were marching on the school after a matric function was attended by only White learners and their parents.
Covid-19 should be a wake up call for Africa’s oil and gas industry
Today, the economic winds are at our backs. There is so much we can do this year and beyond to make Africa more prosperous and hopeful—and this time, for everyone. Covid-19 should be a wake-up call that it can no longer be business as usual. The African Energy Chamber is setting the stage for a strong fight in 2021 for a push for Africa’s fiscal and tax reform and, regulatory relief for the energy sector that will help usher in a post-covid-19 recovery and a new era of growth.
Is Africa’s biggest oil producer finally within reach of a new oil law?
This week, the African Energy Chamber will publish a report outlining its short-term predictions for the continent. That report, Africa Energy Outlook 2021, identifies Nigeria as the country with the most potential for increasing hydrocarbon production. But it also points out that Nigeria faced certain challenges with respect to realizing this potential.
Church and the fourth industrial revolution
As a young boy who was raised in the Lutheran Church, one of the things I had to contend with was the determination of my parents to assimilate me into the Christian religion. When I was 13 years old, I was supposed to be confirmed. As with many other forms of Christianity, confirmation is the coming of age for all Lutherans.
Diabetes is not just about sugar levels
For well over a generation, the management of diabetes-focused, primarily on bringing blood sugar levels within the normal range to prevent a huge list of complications like blindness, kidney disease and amputations. The fasting sugar should be about 6mm and less than 11 after a meal. It was presumed that getting the sugar well-controlled will to prevent major complications like heart attacks and strokes.
Emotional connection masked by Emoji's
One of the greatest privileges in life is having the freedom-of-expression-choice to feel as our minds set. It is also our greatest indicator enabling us to chime in on or discern the pain of another; even a close friend or family member. However, relationships and life experiences can encourage or hinder our ultimate freedoms in expression.
Experiences are even more important in a socially distant world
It would be easy to conclude that the hype surrounding the Experience Economy is over, following the world-changing events of 2020. Physical distancing has been mandated by governments across the globe, consumers are hunkering down in the safety of their homes, rarely venturing out and digital engagement, along with touchless technologies, have exponentially increased.
Immigrant relations in South Africa, a melting pot bound to boil over
For the past few months, social media has been filled with discussions about foreign nationals residing in South Africa. The resentment over their presence in the country seems to be growing, or at least, becoming more evident. Some blame the prevalence of crimes such as drug trading, violent crimes and even human trafficking and prostitution on foreign nationals – especially those from fellow African countries.
Africa calls on world leaders for International Fund to end hunger and poverty
Ten African Heads of State have issued a strong call to other world leaders to increase their funding to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) (www. IFAD. org) or risk jeopardizing Sustainable Development Goal targets for eradicating poverty and hunger, particularly in Africa. “We share IFAD’s vision of vibrant rural communities where people live free from poverty and hunger,” wrote the leaders of Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, the Gambia, Kenya, Senega. . .
ANC Youth League’s spring of Lembedism!
Central heating, warmer blankets, thicker clothes, and thermal underwear will become part of life again as we prepare for what will hopefully be our last winter here in Beijing. Beijing winters, like winter in any other part of China, can be fierce compared to the winters we experience in Ivory Park in Johannesburg; every winter evening being defined by smoke from burning coal.
Ethics in business
Confusion is starting to creep in. The Zondo commission has spotlighted what can be construed as ethical by a board member; this was after awkwardly hearing responses from a former SAA board member Yakhe Kwinana. The former board member's answers gave rise to Mr Zondo's Deputy Chief Justice’s concern, especially when considering the board's fiduciary duties, level of education, and trust given to the board members in South Africa.
Can’t attend university? No problem! There are other ways to succeed
As thousands of matric learners across the country start writing their final exams, many are wondering what their next steps will be. After surviving one of the most challenging academic years in decades, matriculants will also be entering one of the toughest job markets of our time. The impact of Covid-19 on the economy has seen South Africa’s expanded unemployment rate rise to 42%.
Foreign investment has a vital role to play in Africa’s economic growth
Look at Uganda’s oil and gas industry. Following multiple petroleum discoveries in Uganda’s Albertine Graben, foreign investments there have reached nearly $20 billion. The resulting projects include a refinery being built by the Uganda National Oil Company in joint partnership with four Italian and Mauritian companies.
Black girls should be next in line, but not battered and killed
The recent unanimous recommendation in the National Assembly for Tsakani Maluleke to be appointed as the next Auditor-General of South Africa (dare I say first female and black); together with the crowning of Miss SA Shudufhadzo Musida couldn’t have come at a better time. In a country where Gender-based violence (GBV) is widespread and impacting on almost every aspect of life, Tsakani and Shudufhadzo’s milestones are worth celebrating.
A tale of two worlds and high-tech feudalism
It is arguably one of the most popular phrases to come out of literary works. Politicians, business people, scholars, and ordinary folks alike have, at some point, quoted it, often with misrepresentations when they seek solace from particular crises or when they wish to inspire others. Charles Dickens probably had no idea how the opening lines in his novel,A Tale of Two Cities, would become such a classic quote.
Macron's defiant support for Charlie Hebdo is tantamount to a declaration of war on Islam
Misreading and deliberately so, the causes for the fury across the Muslim world and remaining defiant in challenging Islam, French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to "fight to the death". In a memorial to honour the teacher who was slain in the wake of Charlie Hebdo's provocative and offensive lampooning of Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings be upon him), Macron militantly gave vent to his emotional diatribe.
What needs to happen for an SOE turnaround
The SOE turnaround is an urgent matter that needs to be sorted and given the necessary attention by our government. Government finances are not in sound financial health, and this requires all the SOEs captains to be on board revitalizing all those entities. Let the SOEs drive the South African economic recovery.
Digital transformation will change manufacturing as we know it
Even prior to the global pandemic, manufacturing was experiencing a shift in operations. Large production plants and long assembly lines, where goods were mass-produced in hundreds and thousands, no longer meet the needs of consumers, and in a Covid environment, are not practical for social distancing regulations.
Why SMEs, fair competition must go hand-in-hand
South Africa’s economy is reeling amid the pandemic, and the year 2020 has prompted many discussions around why now is the time for the country to take inclusive growth more seriously. President Cyril Ramaphosa in mid-October presented his economic reconstruction and recovery plan that has received both good and more circumspect reviews.
Elucidating the reality of human trafficking in South Africa
Whereas most crimes are generally reported to the police, trafficking is not, mainly because victims fear retaliation. Thus, exact statistics on human trafficking are not available anywhere in the world. But one thing is for sure; trafficking is an indisputable and systemic reality in South Africa.
The trauma of violence on communities
On a daily basis, South Africans read of murders that happened in their communities. Any South African citizen can become a victim of a brutal crime. According to the Global Peace Index of 2020, South Africa is ranked as the 24th most unsafe country in the world, with the cost of violence being 13% of the GDP.
A new and emerging second and third wave
The early advent of Covid-19 in January 2020, was a curtain-raiser for humanity. As a second wave emerges in many parts of the country, it’s stealthy sweep will engulf the unwary, the complacent, the ignorant and the defiant. A third wave which is bound to follow will be the grand finale. The global death toll will reach 3 million by the end of 2021; global infections could reach 60 million before the plague is under control.
Adultery and the South African legal system
The trending video of Katlego Maboe has sparked much social debate on gender-based violence, divorce, anger management, resolving marital issues and adultery. From these debates, it has become apparent that there is a need to remind the South African public on what the law says about adultery. Adultery and malicious dissertation are for the most part, the only ultimate acts which indicate that a marriage has broken down.
Post Covid-19 world needs new approaches to tobacco taxes
As South Africa prepares to hear Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s medium-term budget speech this week, it is becoming increasingly clear that the country needs a new post-Covid-19 approach to the tobacco industry and the growing illicit tobacco sector. If drastic action is not taken soon, the more than 150 black tobacco farmers who are struggling to make a living in rural South Africa will soon go out of business.