International Press Release Submissions

The Fleet Owners’ Choice – New Generation Isuzu N & F-Series Trucks

Vehicle selection – choosing the best truck for a transport task – is a key function of fleet management. And it all starts with the availability of the correct Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) within a range of trucks. Nothing could be easier than selecting from South Africa’s widest truck range. The New Generation Isuzu N & F-Series trucks with 23 N-Series models offer GVMs from 4,200kg to 8,500kg and 24 F-Series models offer GVMs from 11,000kg to 26,000kg. When it comes to towing and trailer operations, Isuzu N-Series includes Gross Combination Masses (GCM) ranging from 7,050kg to 12,000kg with the F-Series GCMs ranging from 16,000kg to 36,000kg. Vehicle selection does not stop at GVM & GCM – a wide range of transmissions includes the class-leading Automated Manual Transmission (AMT). There are four N-Series models equipped with AMT and six F-Series models with AMT technology. Allison torque convertor transmissions are available in the Isuzu FV1400 while the New Generation Model FVM 1200 moves up from a 6-speed ZF -to a 9-speed ZF transmission. Cab configuration – a critical choice for crew transport Again, Isuzu leads in the safe transfer of driver and crew. It is a legal requirement that goods and passengers must be separated by a partition. The new N-Series has five crew cab models with GVMs ranging from 5,500kg to 7,700kg, with the new F-series at 14,000kg GVM two models. Isuzu’s New Variable Warranty Enhances Fleet Owner Choice The first of its kind in South Africa, Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSA) is now offering an innovative aftersales solution in the form of Variable Warranty plans. These are specifically tailored to fit the needs of short, medium, or long-haul operators and will enhance Isuzu truck customer experience. The Isuzu Variable Warranty Plan allows greater flexibility for truck customers. In addition to the standard two-year unlimited kilometre warranty, customers and operators can opt-in on a Variable Warranty plan, …


Source: MyPR International

DearSA Launches Public Participation Campaign On Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill

19 May 2022: The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education invited stakeholders and interested individuals to comment on the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill. According to the Portfolio Committee, the bill’s purpose is to amend the South African Schools Act and the Employment of Educators Act to ensure that systems of learning are put in place to give effect to the right to basic education enshrined in the constitution. Amongst others, the bill seeks to: Make attendance of Grade R compulsory. Provide for system improvements regarding the admission of learners to public schools. Provide for additional Regulatory powers of the Minister, and enhance decision making and oversight powers of Heads of Departments and Members of the Executive Councils. Stakeholders and civil society organisations have voiced concern about the bill. According to Rebekka Liebenberg of the Homeschool Association SA, “This Bill will infringe on children's rights and freedoms. And instead of protecting their education will likely hamper it. Among numerous contentious issues is the criminalisation of the administrative fault of not registering for home education before starting the practice. During the last eight years, role players and stakeholders never asked for or agreed to this stipulation.” “What is especially worrying is that the proposal removes the final say regarding decisions on schools’ language and admissions policies from parent governing bodies. Instead, those decisions are transferred to provincial heads of education.” said Alana Bailey of AfriForum. “DearSA has launched a public participation campaign on the BELA Bill and encourage all South Africans to have their say. The constitution protects and demands public input in such legislative processes. Public participation is a fundamental part of our democracy, and members of the public have until 15 June 2022 to submit their comments.” Said DearSA CEO Gideon Joubert on Thursday. The public can access the campaign at the …


Source: MyPR International

SA stays on the recovery path as interest rates normalise, says FNB

19 May 2022 - Following the South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB’S) decision increase its repo rate by 0.50%, FNB will lift its prime lending rate by 0.50% with effect from Friday, 20 May 2022. Jacques Celliers, FNB CEO, says, "The SARB is normalising interest rates following the emergency rate cuts it implemented during the height of Covid-19 and the lockdown. The gradual normalisation of interest rates supports the ongoing economic recovery, particularly in light of global growth concerns and local events such as the KZN floods. The adjustment should also be viewed as a response to rising inflationary pressure as well as record-high fuel and food prices. As a business, we are committed to providing ongoing support to our Retail and Commercial clients by facilitating their economic participation and helping local communities." Mamello Matikinca-Ngwenya, FNB Chief Economist, says “After substantially reducing the repo rate level to 3.50% during the pandemic in 2020 (from 6.50% at the end of 2019) to provide monetary policy support, the SARB started hiking the repo rate in November 2021. At that time, the SARB’s inflation forecast was 4.3% for 2022 and 4.6% for 2023. The growth forecast was 1.7% for 2022 and 1.8% for 2023. Our view (when we called for the start of the rate hiking cycle in November last year) was that the peak impact of interest rate cuts had passed and that the SARB needed to start normalising interest rates and build monetary policy space. Since then, inflationary pressures have swelled, and recently worsened by the war in Ukraine, which has seen oil prices settle above $100 per barrel and food inflation has also heightened. As such, to preserve credibility and avoid a de-anchoring of inflation expectations, the SARB has hiked rates by 0.50%. Since the MPC meeting in March, our inflation forecast has increased from 5.6% to 6.0% for 2022 and from 4.5% to 5.0% for next year. The 1Q22 BER survey results showed that average two-year-ahead inflation …


Source: MyPR International

Autogas Conversions Can Provide Ideal Transformation Away From Petrol And Diesel Fuel

AutoGas, which, in South Africa, is usually liquid petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG) or methane obtained from biomass, is being punted as a viable and affordable alternative fuel for petrol and diesel vehicles in an industry that is slowly transforming towards electrification. Using gas as a fuel source also has the benefit of making substantial reductions in harmful exhaust emissions – a reduction of as much as 25%. This message came through clearly at the recent Automechanika online seminar “Powered by Gas: Why AutoGas is a viable alternative energy source,” which was presented with the full support of the RMI and in association with Absa. This seminar was part of an ongoing programme of seminars relevant to the upcoming Automechanika Johannesburg trade fair for the automotive aftermarket, which will be held at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec, from June 7-10. Speakers at the local online seminar were Eddie Cooke, an industrial gas consultant, Attie Serfontein, National Director of the Automotive Remanufacturing Association (ARA), Frank MacNicol, ARA Chairman, and Justin Schmidt, Head of New Sector Development at Absa. Eddie Cooke, who participates in international AutoGas projects and works with the South African Bureau of Standards on this subject, says the country is well positioned to use gas as a vehicle fuel because the relevant regulations are already in place, while both LPG and CNG are readily available locally. “Contrary to what some people may think, gas as a fuel is safe because the fuel tanks are 20 times stronger than those used for petrol or diesel fuel, while safety valves cut off the gas flow in the case of a collision,” explained Cooke. Cooke said that there was five times more gas than oil in the world and a greater number of countries had gas than oil, so it was not only a fuel source available globally, but it is also considerably less expensive than petrol or diesel fuel – as much as 50% cheaper in terms of petrol and 30% …


Source: MyPR International

Reimaging technology strategies for a digital-first world

Jyoti Lalchandani, Group Vice President & Regional MD (META) at IDC examines the digital transformation imperative and its value to the organisation The 14th Edition of IDC South Africa CIO Summit 2022 was a landmark event for several reasons. The first after the global pandemic, it emerged into a landscape that has been transformed by innovation, digital transformation and informed CIOs. Organisations have radically transformed with the majority bringing digital transformation projects forward by at least two years. As a result, they’ve benefitted from newfound efficiencies, products and services as digital transformation improves decision-making and drive value. It has also derived customer, partner and employee satisfaction. Over the past two years, most digital transformation initiatives have focused on building robust ecosystems that enable new revenue streams, and that allow for richer integration into industrial ecosystems, and improved time to market and revenue. These mandates are very likely to continue to evolve over the next two to three years as CIOs increase their emphasis on investment and driving value across the enterprise. This also means that the key performance indicators (KPIs) of the CIO and head of IT have been evolving. Over the past few years, most have been focused on managing cost and risk in terms of operational functionality, managing downtime, provisioning services, and making sure the lights stay on. Around 65% of CIOs are focused on IT operational metrics such as system uptime and downtime and maintenance, while cybersecurity metrics (56%), digital transformation metrics (52%), and organisational metrics (41%) have taken up percentage points. Digital transformation, security and other digital imperatives lead the mix in terms of KPIs, particularly in South Africa, with cost management metrics (52%) and compliance metrics (40%) remaining a priority. The second broad trend that has emerged over the past two years is digital resilience. …


Source: MyPR International

Buying your first car? There’s an app for that…

17 May 2022: If you are a recent graduate or young professional entering the workplace this year, you might be looking to buy your first car too. More companies and organisations are starting to return to the office after an extended work from home period and, if your company is among these, a set of wheels could be on your big items wish list for 2022. While deciding what car to buy can be a daunting experience, the country’s leader in innovative vehicle and asset finance solutions has just the solution for that – the WesBank App. Downloading the app and managing all the transactions involved in buying a car on your smartphone is quick, easy and, most importantly, secure. Designed as a complete, end to end vehicle finance platform, it enables you, the customer, to easily apply and check for vehicle finance, customise your deal according to your budget, manage your account online and even sign off on the finance contracts – all under one app on your phone, in the comfort of your home or workplace. “Online solutions have streamlined many of the touchpoints along the car buying journey. In fact, the more steps you complete from the comfort of your home, the better. The app will guide you through the car-buying process step by step, starting with the most important decision you need to make – what vehicle you can afford. The easiest way to check that is to use the online vehicle repayment calculator to help you calculate the monthly repayments you'd have to make for your chosen vehicle, including the loan terms,” says Kutlwano Mogatusi, WesBank Motor Communications Specialist. “Remember too that our Graduate Finance programme also makes allowance for young professionals without a credit history because the finance packages we offer are exclusively structured for you. We understand your situation as you start out on your career path and enable you to access the necessary finance to purchase your first car even if you don’t yet have a credit score.” New cars, used cars, …


Source: MyPR International

New Baleno joins jam-packed Suzuki stand at NAMPO

First viewing of all-new Baleno Swift – SA’s best-selling passenger car - on show New Suzuki GSX-S1000 GT also on display Visitors to this year’s Nampo Harvest Day in Bothaville, Free State are in for a treat when they visit the Suzuki Auto stand. The Japanese brand has announced that it will reveal the all-new Suzuki Baleno for the first time to the public at NAMPO. The Baleno will take pride of place alongside a near-complete range of Suzuki vehicles and an exciting selection of motorcycles and boating lifestyle products from the group’s Suzuki Motorcycles and Suzuki Marine divisions. The new Baleno arrives at Nampo fresh from its global reveal at the end of February. It is scheduled to arrive on South African showroom floors soon. The 2022 Baleno introduces a new design language for Suzuki and brings modern technology, such as a head-up display, 9” infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, climate control and up to six airbags to the segment. “We are proud to display the new Baleno to the thousands of visitors at NAMPO, especially so soon after its global launch. Its appearance at NAMPO is testament to the importance of the South African market the agricultural community and for Suzuki globally,” says Brendon Carpenter, Brand Marketing Manager for Suzuki Auto South Africa. Suzuki is one of the fastest growing vehicle brands in South Africa, thanks in part to its exceptional customer service – as recognised in the Cars.co.za Consumer Awards and various industry competitions – and its range of value-for-money products that prove that you do not have to sacrifice quality, or luxury, when buying an affordable family car, 4x4 or workhorse. The Baleno will join a range of popular models on the showstand, including Suzuki’s new Celerio. The Celerio is considered one of South Africa’s most fuel-efficient vehicles, with an average consumption of less than 5 litres per 100 km in a combined cycle. Other models that will make an appearance on the Suzuki stand …


Source: MyPR International

Architecting the South African organisation for innovation and growth

Unpacking how organisations can dig into cloud architecture to transform productivity and empower employees At the 14th IDC South Africa CIO Summit 2022, Mark Walker, Associate Vice President, Sub-Saharan Africa, IDC, sat down with Niral Patel, Director Africa, Google Cloud and Michael Yolland, Head of Digital Transformation, Pepkor, to discuss how a radical shift in compute approach and collaborative technology can change how an organisation approaches growth and innovation. “Innovation is a form of creativity,” says Patel when asked how Google approaches the environment, product development and customer engagement. “What stands out for me is that Google does things at scale. To put that into perspective, out of the thousands of products we provide, nine are consumed by more than one billion people every day.” It is this ubiquity that framed the engagement between Google and PepKor, a company that was laser-focused on building a digital-first company capable of handling and managing its data effectively. “We took on digitisation pre-COVID-19, but it was an enabler for us to push the business harder,” says Yolland. “We had to find a way of bringing together our 18 brands and 18 data silos from a data product perspective so we could improve the value we delivered to our customers and the company. This was the challenge we had to take on when it came to digitisation. We started with Google four years ago, and have since then seen a shift in workplace culture that has empowered employees and productivity.” PepKor wanted to build a more innovative internal culture while also managing data more effectively. Google offered the tools, expertise and skills that PepKor required to overcome its legacy hurdles and to ensure that it was building a foundation that was both futureproof and relevant. “Organisations are grappling with acquisition and retention,” says Patel. “They want access to their data and to drive valuable insights that will allow them to retain and acquire new …


Source: MyPR International

How to establish an online presence for your business

16 May 2022: In an age of connectivity where consumers are increasingly buying more online, you can ill afford to neglect your business’ online presence. Since early 2020, Covid-19 lockdown regulations coupled with store closures resulted in thousands of consumers turning to online shopping for essential products and services. As a result, the adoption of e-Commerce has been exponentially accelerated, making it essential for businesses to have an online presence. Your business’ online presence could encompass several factors including a company website to drive e-commerce or online sales, social media marketing, email marketing, social media and a blog. A business website is usually the first port of call. You can use a website developer or you can use free online tools to create a simple website. Remember to keep your design user-friendly and visually appealing. As much as you may want to share all the details of your business, less is more and a pleasing layout is more likely to keep visitors on the page for longer. Once you have a website established, you want to look at search engine optimisation (SEO). “It may sound intimidating but SEO is really just about improving the traffic to your website by improving your search engine results,” says Andiswa Bata, co-head of SME at FNB. For example, if you run a plumbing service in Lenasia, you want to know that when a potential client types “plumber” and “Lenasia” into their search bar, your company will come up as one of the top hits. While having an online presence is key, businesses need to find a way to manage deliveries and return purchases. It is also important for businesses to have as many payment mechanisms as possible like card, EFT and many more so that customers are not inconvenienced. “Businesses can also consider online’ or ‘digital’ services such as nav» marketplace on the FNB App. The digital marketplace effectively provides SMEs with access to a new market by allowing them to move from being a …


Source: MyPR International

Volkswagen celebrates best performing dealers at annual Grand Prix Awards ceremony

Dealer of the Year awarded to Lemmy Dolezal from Alan Hudson Motors Lowveld Group won Micro Dealer Group of the Year For the fifth year in a row, the Hatfield Group won the Macro Dealer Group Award Johannesburg, 16 May 2022 – Volkswagen’s 29th annual Grand Prix Awards ceremony was hosted at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit on 12 May 2022, to celebrate and recognise the dealers who have out-performed throughout the year. The annual Grand Prix Awards ceremony was presented this year as a hybrid-style event where dealer teams from around the country were hosted both physically and virtually in order to honour their hard work and accomplishments. In anticipation of the imminent launch of the new Volkswagen Taigo compact SUV, the prestigious gala evening was themed, “Taigo – Let’s Go”. “The 109 teams that make up our dealer network are a vital part of the Volkswagen business. As the ‘People’s Car’, it is crucial that we acknowledge the people who contribute significantly towards our annual sales and who’s ongoing hard work and loyalty help drive the Volkswagen brand. Their accomplishments and dedication should never go unnoticed,” said Steffen Knapp, Head Volkswagen Passenger Cars. The Grand Prix Awards ceremony recognised 86 dealer network colleagues across 15 awards categories, including the two most sought-after awards, the Micro and Macro Group of the Year. Juraj Dolezal of the Lowveld Group won this year’s Micro Dealer Group of the Year. To be considered for the award, the Group is required to have a minimum of two dealerships contributing a minimum of 2% towards the overall Volkswagen Dealer sales result. The Macro Dealer Group of the Year award was won by Brad Kaftel of Hatfield Group. The Hatfield Group can be very proud of this achievement as it is the fifth consecutive win in this category for the group. To qualify for this category the dealership must contribute at least 8% towards the overall Volkswagen Dealer Sales result. The coveted Dealer of the Year award …


Source: MyPR International