Tech-based NPO, Kwanele - Bringing Women Justice is at the forefront of innovative technology for social change in South Africa. In a tech-driven world of AI and chatbots, operators typically represent the affluent and elite of South African society. However, Kwanele’s chat bot challenges this, by working to make AI technology accessible to everyone. The Kwanele Mobile Application which is free to download and uses no data costs, explores ways to use technology to increase reporting rates for Gender Based Violence. The range of functions include ‘find help near me’, a vault to store evidence, and integration with armed response. This makes it a game changer for women in communities plagued by violence. In line with the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day, the Kwanele App looks to ensure technology for gender equality in the pursuit of justice. The latest addition to the app, expected to go live by June, is the Kwanele chatbot. The chatbot takes legislation associated with GBV and breaks it down into easy-to-use language. With the help of young people in Gugulethu and Oscar Mpetha High School in Nyanga, Kwanele picks apart the law and looks at the specific language young people as well as women use when trying get help. This language is then built into the chatbot and the answers are broken down similarly. The bot is retrained to ensure its solutions resonate with the users. By doing this Kwanele aims to humanise the technology and minimise the occurrences or algorithmic bias. “All technology, especially AI technology, is built for a certain audience, making it inaccessible to many of the most vulnerable of society – who, if built correctly, it could serve. With the Kwanele App we look to rectify this harm and represent that voice in our technology,” said Leonora Tima, founder of the tech-based NPO. Ivan Webb from JVK attorney believes simplifying the legal language is a must. “’Legalese’ is not an actual language, but merely a fancy term coined …
ECOM Africa to Tackle Cybercrime After Soaring Levels Rock Southern Africa
Over the last two years, South Africa has recorded one of the biggest spikes in cybercrime globally. This increase has thrust the country into being the sixth highest country to be impacted by digital crime. With continued growth in the digital space, as well as the knock-on effects of COVID-19, cybercrime is impacting the country more than ever before. A shocking 97 people per hour fell victim to cybercrime in 2021, with phishing topping the list of the biggest threats to online security. While personal cybercrime stats trump the number of attacks on businesses, corporate brands are not immune to online attacks. In fact, in recent years, TransUnion South Africa made headlines when it suffered a large-scale cyber-attack. 54 million records of personal data were stolen in a data breach that sent the company reeling. Personally identifiable information (PII) including ID numbers, employment information, email addresses and even passport numbers, was stolen by hackers. And this is just one example of companies being impacted by digital attacks. Over the last three years, corporate companies have become increasingly vulnerable to online crime. With COVID-19 forcing employees to work remotely, critical company data has become more accessible. Penetration points into the company have increased significantly as communication and access points become more remote. Businesses around South Africa and further abroad have had to remain vigilant and be on the lookout for technology to protect themselves against the attacks. However, with the constant evolution of attacks, many have expressed frustration in not being able to keep up with what is needed. With over 2500 delegates and 60 speakers, ECOM Africa 2023 is the ideal platform for these solution providers to connect with the top South African brands. The event brings together heads of security, online and e-commerce to discuss and unpack answers for their individual brands. Industry leaders like Worldpay, …
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South Africans flock to solar, thanks to load-shedding
In January, Versofy Solar received over 1500 enquiries from Cape Town alone. The company offers a range of solar solutions, including rent-to-own and solar subscriptions, ranging from an entry-level system priced at R1 999 a month. The intense interest was in no small part due to Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis’s announcement of his cash-for-power programme. From June businesses and, soon thereafter, residents with City-approved generation capacity will be paid to feed their excess energy back into the grid. Further fuelling national interest in solar, in his State of the Nation Address, President Ramaphosa declared the energy crisis a State of Disaster, and announced that businesses and households that install solar panels would benefit from tax incentives. (In July 2022 the President stated that “those who can and have installed solar panels in their homes or businesses will be able to sell surplus power they don’t need to Eskom”. This feed-in tariff was not mentioned in the SONA address but may still be in play.) “We strongly support these moves,” says Ross Mains-Sheard, Director at Versofy. “The biggest problem that Eskom faces currently is their inability to generate sufficient energy to meet demand. Allowing those with embedded generation systems to feed their excess into the grid effectively increases generation capacity using private capital. By paying these solar customers for their excess power, the City of Cape Town will create a virtuous cycle, as will the government’s proposed tax breaks. The case for solar is even more appealing, incentivising more people to invest in solar, which further drives adoption and subsequent economies of scale.” Hill-Lewis had previously announced the City’s Power Heroes programme, where residents are offered an incentive for voluntary energy savings at peak times. “We are very excited about the development of time-of-use tariffs,” said Mains-Sheard. “Our Versofy systems will give our customers the ability to take …
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Top food trends for 2023, and a healthy dose of yum!
A renewed health focus is top of most people’s lists of new year resolutions. But healthy doesn’t have to mean boring. Have a look at the food trends for 2023 and take some inspiration from a restaurateur whose offering ticks all the boxes. The Speciality Food Association (SFA) Trendspotter Panel comprises professionals from diverse segments of the culinary world, from restaurant owners to food and sustainability consultants, from chefs to academics, representatives of industry bodies and food stylists. They predict the following trends for 2023: 1. Convenience Is King ? Melanie Bartelme of Mintel, a global award-winning market intelligence agency. “The coming year will pave the way for curated meal kits with specialty foods that one can make and serve at home without sacrificing authenticity, convenience, and taste,” says the panel’s report. 2. Environmentally Friendly Foods ? “If convenience is top, sustainability and environmental concerns are a close runner up. Visionary entrepreneurs are creating seed-to-shelf future supply chains, restoration of more localized, biodynamic food systems, and indigenous farming practices, soil fertility, and seed diversity.” 3. Alt Seafood ? “As consumers are lured by more sustainable options, they are catching on to seafood alternatives.” 4. Health In Balance ? “Consumers will seek more balance between their desire for health and indulgence … Following stringent healthful routines can also be stressful and the past several years have jump-started the need for joy.” 5. Pantry Without Borders ? “Globally inspired condiments, sauces, oils, and seasonings will champion approachable everyday adventure… this wave of texture and flavour offers complex, nuanced blends of herbs, spice, speciality chillies, fruit, rich nuts and seeds, and punches of umami.” 6. Nuanced Heat ? “For 2023, the desire for boldness and intensity in flavour experiences will increase … The flavours are more nuanced, far from the days of hot …
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Tips for Liquor Industry | How to make it through this December
How to drive category consumption by focusing on the shopper: 6 recommendations for success Communication is key for liquor suppliers facing stock challenges With liquor shortages expected over the festive season, the Advantage Group has some suggestions for suppliers. There have been unprecedented supply challenges for the liquor industry over the past three years. These range from the war in Ukraine and other global geo-political issues to international logistics headaches, from the economic crisis to poor harvests, and still looming large in the South African consumer’s memory are the Covid lockdowns and alcohol bans. At the same time there exists in South Africa what some refer to as the “revenge party” phenomenon - where one might expect consumers to tighten their belts over the festive season due to financial constraints, the opposite often occurs. There are indicators that consumers will continue to desire premium but look for value, and the dichotomy in the market will highlight escapism and excess versus pennywise celebrations. Premiumisation continues, while the value consumption market also continues to grow. What does this mean for B2B partnerships and engagement in the SA liquor industry? “South African firms are good at rising to face a crisis and working together to find collaborative solutions,” says Dylan Piatti, Managing Director of Advantage Group Africa. “The ability to be agile and respond to changing needs and environment comes through as an overall strength of the market. Global socio-political and economic conditions will continue to put a strain on trade terms as suppliers and retailers navigate stock availability, increasing costs, discerning consumers, and price vs value competition. While there is a strategic play beyond the festive season, this is still going to be a critical time for liquor trade. “From our conversations with liquor suppliers and retailers, they identify managing stock availability is their primary …
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Emergency response in as little as 7 minutes
Add a Panic Button to Your Phone When you need it most, get emergency response in as little as 7 minutes with Home+ and AURA Crime is a worry for every South African, especially at this time of the year when we are out and about, visiting unfamiliar areas and often returning home late. Police Minister Bheki Cele recently noted that during the festive season “criminals tend to be brazen as they try to undermine the rule of law.” Minister Cele promised that “more boots will be on the ground” and that “escalated crime prevention and crime-combating operations will be a daily occurrence until the end of January 2023.” But there is an important step we can take to ensure our own safety, too. “One of the advantages we have against criminals is our ability to leverage technology. Every South African with a cell phone has the ability to summon help at the touch of a button,” says Shannon Mackrill, COO of Home+, a revolutionary home-management app. He explains that the ground-breaking AURA emergency services solution has been added to the list of Home+ services. This adds a panic button to any phone with the Home+ app, and gives customers the peace of mind that help is at hand almost anywhere, at any time of the day or night. Safety at the tap of a button The AURA security and medical response services platform connects users in distress to a network of responders across all nine provinces in South Africa. It aggregates over 2 500 private and public emergency response providers and dispatches the closest responder to any distress signal received, using artificial intelligence and machine learning. When every second counts (as it always does in an emergency) ensuring that the closest responders are dispatched can make all the difference. We all know that the constant challenges our state emergency services face, means that response times can be very high. AURA’s average response time in South Africa for 2021 was just 7 minutes and 41 seconds. “With …
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12 tips on how to take it slow this holiday season
More and more South Africans choose to keep their cool as the party season hots up Diaries are filling up and while this time of the year is still all about getting out and having fun, recent studies show a rise in hybrid partying, and that a growing number of South Africans are looking for a healthy, great-tasting and sophisticated alcohol substitute. In his 2022 thesis, Markus Filter notes that this shift can be credited to “health-consciousness and a greater focus on wellness and mental well-being, particularly by Generation Y consumers”. Lulie Halstead, CEO of global market research and strategy consultancy Wine Intelligence, told delegates at the Nedbank Vinpro Information Day in January 2022 that Millennial and Gen Z South Africans are driving the trend towards drinking in moderation. Add those segments of the population together, and that’s a lot of people looking for a great tasting alternative. Filter notes that Gen Y consumers “place importance on how they appear to others” and “purchase certain products, in this case, beverages, as a form of self-expression”. Taste, he found, was the “significantly more important” consideration for respondents when choosing a drink. The challenges these consumers face in finding a non-alcoholic drink to meet these needs include “a lack of awareness, a lack of availability, a lack of appeal to male consumers and a general stigma attached to not drinking alcohol”. The good news Along with the trend towards moderation in alcohol consumption comes global interest in the benefits of THC-free CBD. There IS a healthy and delicious, home-grown solution for those who prefer to abstain completely or occasionally with non-alcoholic drinks that still align with their youth, their vibe and their personal choices. Goodleaf sparkling CBD drinks are made with pure water, botanical flavours and no calories or sugar. The 100% naturally sourced flavours include peach & geranium, berry & hibiscus and mango. …
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How to manage gaming and preteens
With the proliferation of devices and apps and platforms, parents are understandably very concerned about the effects of gaming on their children. Craig Verdal-Austin, Headmaster of Somerset College Preparatory School in Somerset West, believes it is important to educate and empower parents around the pros, cons, and best-practice ground rules. “The screen time debate has raged since our own parents told us we’d need glasses from sitting too close to the TV. It escalated once video games entered the scene and is a whole freakin' thing in the smartphone era. But is it as bad as all that?” asked a post recently on The Dad, a Facebook community. The post went on to reference the recent results of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, the largest long-term study of brain development and child health in Canada. The study analysed brain scans from thousands of school-age kids and found that those who gamed for three or more hours per day performed better with impulse control and memory tests. “That may well be,” says Verdal-Austin, “but the effects were clear - and concerning - when our students returned to school after lockdown, when gaming had been their only way to socialise and many parents, understanding this, possibly relaxed their rules.” Verdal-Austin said the manifestations of increased gaming were clear - children wanted darkened classrooms, they didn’t want to go out to break, devices were open while teaching was happening, and some children were covertly gaming in class… “It was noticed across all schools, and while manageable, it was concerning,” he says. Parents are also clearly concerned - at a recent online safety webinar, held by Somerset College Preparatory, 50 out of 70 parents in the grade attended. Here to stay “We can’t get rid of gaming,” Verdal-Austin acknowledges, “but we need to manage it.” He highlights the fact that from Grade 5 to Grade 9, children feel an urgency around belonging and identity. “A lot of …
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Advice for Liquor Industry | How to Survive the Festive Season
How to drive category consumption by focusing on the shopper: 6 recommendations for success Communication is key for liquor suppliers facing stock challenges With liquor shortages expected over the festive season, the Advantage Group has some suggestions for suppliers. There have been unprecedented supply challenges for the liquor industry over the past three years. These range from the war in Ukraine and other global geo-political issues to international logistics headaches, from the economic crisis to poor harvests, and still looming large in the South African consumer’s memory are the Covid lockdowns and alcohol bans. At the same time there exists in South Africa what some refer to as the “revenge party” phenomenon - where one might expect consumers to tighten their belts over the festive season due to financial constraints, the opposite often occurs. There are indicators that consumers will continue to desire premium but look for value, and the dichotomy in the market will highlight escapism and excess versus pennywise celebrations. Premiumisation continues, while the value consumption market also continues to grow. What does this mean for B2B partnerships and engagement in the SA liquor industry? “South African firms are good at rising to face a crisis and working together to find collaborative solutions,” says Dylan Piatti, Managing Director of Advantage Group Africa. “The ability to be agile and respond to changing needs and environment comes through as an overall strength of the market. Global socio-political and economic conditions will continue to put a strain on trade terms as suppliers and retailers navigate stock availability, increasing costs, discerning consumers, and price vs value competition. While there is a strategic play beyond the festive season, this is still going to be a critical time for liquor trade. “From our conversations with liquor suppliers and retailers, they identify managing stock availability is their primary …
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Introducing Cape Town’s Newest Art Gallery
Tucked down a side road off Bree Street, is a breathtaking constellation of spaces where white walls, punctuated by vivid, inspiring artworks, segue into the street aesthetics of a curated collection of couture fashion. As a whole, it yields that uncommon phenomenon where one is at once observer and participant – intrinsic to the moment, the art, the couture and the ink (yes, there’s a micro tattoo parlour too). While the gallery is certainly drawing the cognoscenti, influencers, the hot and the cool, it is far more than a destination. It is a rare visual experience, a sensorial delight. And appropriately, it is named Rare Gallery. Founder Henry explains: “Rare Gallery is a collective of different worlds. We have combined high-end art with luxury couture to bring a whole new rare experience, something neither Cape Town nor South Africa has seen yet.” It opened on 17 June 2022 and is an extension of Henry’s passion for expression and his unique sense of style. The art The current exhibition, showing until early January showcases artists such as Gavin Thomson, Nicola Roos, Fhatuwani Mukheli, Buqaqawuli Nobakada. New artists are showcased every two months. “One of our goals is to support upcoming arcane artists who don’t have the platform to get their work and name out there,” says Henry. “We have the perfect platform to help young, creative individuals with a lot of potential garner experience and bring their work to the attention of the world.” The couture Upstairs, you’ll find Rare Luxury. “High-end couture is sought after all over the world and what better place to bring this type of clothing to than Africa?” asks Henry. “The brands that we choose to resell in our store are all high-end, big names.” He’s not overstating things. Alongside Rare’s own creations, you’ll find those of Balenciaga, Cartier, Dior and Palm Angels, Lanvin, Amiri, Off-White and Catalina. It’s a sleek, desirable eclectic fusion that works. Rare Mode is Henry’s …