Features

The end of year exams has concluded for students at South Africa's largest university. Here's what students can do if they are unsatisfied with their Unisa exam results. 

In today's dynamic work environments, the open-plan office is both celebrated for fostering collaboration and criticized for its propensity to distract. 

In today’s challenging economic environment, many South African nonprofit organisations (NPOs) face significant financial uncertainties. 

With a constrained national power grid and a global move towards greener energy, many South Africans are considering installing solar electricity solutions at home. However, they are often faced with a tough choice: paying a premium for high-quality products (often imported from Europe) or opting for more affordable products (often from China) and compromising on quality.

Planning an overseas trip? Many countries require you to have a visa – a document that’s either physically attached to your passport, or in the case of an e-visa, linked electronically – that entitles you to enter the country you plan to visit. This is issued by the relevant embassy or consulate.

International Day of Charity is celebrated worldwide on 5 September every year, to encourage individuals, companies and organisations  to support those in need. However, the impact of your generosity is profoundly influenced by the organisation you choose to support.

Over the past few decades, there has been a significant increase in women in the workforce, with an estimated 47% of the labour force now being female. And while there has been growing recognition of the importance of and support for women’s wellbeing in organisations – including on issues such as maternity leave, for instance – one taboo remains: menopause.

Women, especially women entrepreneurs, are imperative in a country’s economic and social development. Globally, research shows that women reinvest 90% of their incomes in their families and communities, compared to just 30-40% for men. In South Africa, the most recent Old Mutual Savings & Investment Monitor (OMSIM) highlights that women bear more family responsibilities, with 52% supporting adult dependents versus 44% of men, and 81% supporting children compared to 71% of men.

While many organisations strive for diversity and inclusion, breaking the glass ceiling remains difficult for women. According to a recent study, 58% of women in entry-level positions aspire to take up leadership roles, but only 39% have mentors to help them achieve this goal. As we observe Women’s Month, Old Mutual Insure’s Palesa Ntoagae - Human Capital Executive urges organisations to invest in mentorship to advance women’s careers, but she says mentees also have a responsibility to pay it forward.

The Top Empowerment Conference held in Johannesburg this last week saw Yuneal Padayachy, Chief Support Officer at the BEE Chamber, deliver a compelling message on the imperative need for organisations to adopt a Transformative approach to Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE).

Despite the ongoing focus on gender diversity in the workplace, including fair remuneration and representation, the numbers continue to reflect glacial progress at best.

Decades ago, when marketing first emerged as a coined phenomenon and went on to become a major profession, the aim of the discipline was to understand consumers deeply, and use this understanding to apply effective principles and practices to create compelling messages. The model was straightforward: marketers give, consumers take.

Bringing a pet into your home is exciting, but it’s a significant commitment. You need to plan and budget carefully to ensure the wellbeing of your newest family member, and your own peace of mind.

While increased jobs, more social grants, and a lower cost of living are all key focus areas of addressing poverty in one of the world’s most unequal countries, an often-neglected part of poverty is the concept of the working poor. These are employed and hardworking South Africans who do not earn enough wages to maintain a dignified standard of living for their families despite earning the legislated minimum wage.
 

The Run for Rosa Foundation was born as a heartfelt tribute to Rosa Carlyle Mitchell, the late cousin of its founder, Stu Rayner. Rosa's life was cut tragically short on her 21st birthday. Inspired by her memory, Rayner embarked on an extraordinary journey in 2017 – running 10 marathons in just 13 days.

In August of 2022, UCT Online High School became the most affordable, fully accredited online school in Africa to offer the Amended Senior Certificate (ASC) matric qualification. In their tireless quest to innovate and be at the forefront of creating an equitable and innovative education system on the continent, the online high school announced the launch of an 18-month Adult Matric Preparation programme (ASC) delivered entirely online at a then cost of R2,195 per month. 

A report published by market research specialist In On Africa in August last year presented some interesting insights about AI adoption in South Africa.

As AI technologies become more integrated into our daily lives, the need for ethical development and deployment has never been more critical. Ethical AI not only ensures that the benefits of AI are maximized but also mitigates potential risks and harms associated with its misuse. This article explores the principles of ethical AI and highlights the commendable efforts of NewsGPT, a company that uses large language models to create AI-generated news articles, in pioneering responsible AI practices.

The recent Africa Public Service Day on 23 June, and Nelson Mandela Month throughout July, are reminders of the importance of community service and helping people in need. This support is often channelled through non-profit organisations (NPOs), which can take various legal forms, and are usually dedicated to advancing social causes.

A major shakeup for South Africa's ride-hailing industry arrived on June 11th with President Cyril Ramaphosa signing the National Land Transport Amendment Bill.