The Electricity Regulation Amendment Act signed into law in August is predicted to lead to a rapid growth of renewable energy sources – and an increase in solar waste which has the potential to damage the environment if not correctly disposed of. The law allows independent power producers to supply the power grid with electricity, leading to growth in renewable energy sources. The International Renewable Energy Agency, in their End-of-life management: Solar photovoltaic panels report, predicted that recycling solar PV panels at the end of their roughly 30-year lifetime could unlock an estimated 78 million tonnes of raw materials and
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Monthly Archives Aug 2024
Johannesburg advocate takes the wheel to drive his start-up company to success
Being an admitted advocate didn’t stop Ntika Maake from spending 18 months in the driver’s seat of his fledging company’s bakkie delivering toilet paper products to stores. Maake is proof that you shouldn’t underestimate a South African’s entrepreneurial spirit, and he was not going to let a factor like not being able to afford a driver stop his Mothersoft tissue paper company from growing. He left his legal practice to finish his doctorate in law, but that plan was put on ice in June 2022 after he spotted a gap in the market to invest in a business that would
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Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking makes inroads into the Côte d’Ivoire market with an innovative €18.5 million sustainability-linked loan for Cosmos Yopougon
Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) is pleased to announce the successful first property and sustainable finance transaction in Côte d’Ivoire, marking a milestone in its expansion into the West African market. This landmark deal involves an €18.5 million sustainability-linked term loan and revolving credit facility in collaboration with HC Capital Properties, sponsor of Cosmos Yopougon shopping mall. This deal consolidates Cosmos Yopougon’s position as the leading sustainable retail destination in the region and underscores both companies’ commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible finance. Cosmos Yopougon, a flagship development of HC Capital Properties, has consistently demonstrated its leadership in green
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FROM RURAL ROOTS TO NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT – YOUNG DESIGNER LAUNCHES RANGE IN 40 PICK n PAY CLOTHING STORES
Yamkela Mahlelehlehle joins Pick n Pay Clothing Futurewear as the first 2024 designer Growing up in the Eastern Cape, becoming a clothing designer was not a prominent career path, but Yamkela Mahlelehlehle still dared to pursue it. Her creative potential showed quite early through repurposing things she found in her childhood house. Her fondest moment is turning her mother’s bra into a bag. “I really thought I was into something,” says the designer. Now aged 27 and living in Cape Town, Mahlelehlehle has been named the first 2024 designer for Pick n Pay Clothing’s Futurewear, an incubator programme dedicated to
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Silulo Foundation and Astron Energy Development Fund unveil walk-in business and career centre in Dunoon
In efforts to help address the pressing challenges of unemployment, the Silulo Foundation has launched a new walk-in business and career centre in Dunoon, near Milnerton in Cape Town. The centre, made possible through the support of the Astron Energy Development Fund (AEDF), is a significant milestone in the foundation’s ongoing commitment to create hope and a path to economic independence for under-resourced communities like Dunoon. The Silulo Foundation was established in 2023 to help bridge the digital divide so that disadvantaged communities and individuals are not left behind by the digital transformation. The foundation seeks to empower communities through
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FRESH TAKE ON SELLING MILK AND BREAD
A New Era in E-commerce: Pick n Pay asap! Hosts SA’s First Live Grocery Shopping Show, trends on X Pick n Pay asap! breaks new e-commerce ground as the first local supermarket retailer to host a live shopping show, transforming how South Africans shop online for everyday essentials like toilet paper, IQF chicken, cheese, and nappies. Hosted by some of South Africa’s favourite influencers – including comedians, chefs, and lifestyle personalities – the event combined the entertainment of live interaction with the convenience of real-time shopping via the app. The event was streamed on pnp.co.za, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok on
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISABLED WITH PICK n PAY E-WASTE BINS
Newly designed bigger e-waste bins in selected Pick n Pay stores across Cape Town will help create meaningful employment for people with disabilities through specialised training in repairing, refurbishing, and recycling e-waste. An enterprise development programme facilitated by National Economic Empowerment for the Disabled (NEED) is among the beneficiaries of this initiative, as Pick n Pay rolls out 210 new e-waste bins nationwide. These bins, capable of holding items ranging from cables and kettles to mobile phones and large appliances like washing machines, represent a significant expansion of Pick n Pay’s original e-waste program, launched over 15 years ago with
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Small businesses must adopt AI and machine learning to transform our economy
In the evolving landscape of technology, businesses are continuously innovating to stay competitive. Nedbank Group Chief Information Officer, Ray Naicker, shared his insights on how businesses, particularly small and micro-enterprises, can leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to transform and thrive. Naicker says that technology is advancing faster than ever. He mentions that businesses are now interested in how AI can change the way they operate and interact with customers. The transformative potential of AI extends beyond business operations to enhancing customer experiences. He adds that it is crucial for small businesses to keep up with the changing world
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Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) continues to grow membership base and sustains robust financial performance in 2023
The Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) membership base has grown by 4.65% from 2022 to 2023 (8.5% for the three years 2021 to 2023), sustaining its membership growth in a medical scheme sector where membership has largely been stagnant. GEMS ended the 2023 reporting year with over 844,000 principal members and just over 2.3 million beneficiaries. Speaking yesterday at the GEMS annual general meeting, the Scheme’s Chairperson, Dr Nomzamo Tutu, said GEMS’ financial performance is a testament to the astute management and discharging of fiduciary responsibilities demonstrated by the GEMS Board assisted by the Executive Management Team led by the
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