Durban, South Africa - South Africans have long embraced outdoor living, but the modern home is taking the connection between inside and outside a step further. Rather than treating the patio, braai area, pool deck or garden as separate spaces, homeowners are increasingly designing homes where the boundaries between indoors and outdoors can be opened, closed and adapted to suit how the space is being used. It is a natural fit for the South African lifestyle. A favourable climate encourages people to spend more time outside, while entertaining is often centred around the braai, garden or pool. Large openings, stacking or folding doors and open-plan layouts allow living areas to expand into these spaces, creating a sense of light, air and additional room. But the more a home opens up, the more important it becomes to consider how that openness can be balanced with security. “Indoor-outdoor living is about flexibility. Being able to open your home up when you want to enjoy the weather, the views and company, and close it down when you need privacy or security,” says Damian Judge, Group CEO at Trellidor. “The challenge is making sure security is considered as part of that design rather than added afterwards as an obstruction.” This is where the evolution of physical security becomes important. Traditional burglar bars and gates still have an important role to play, but homeowners are looking for solutions that provide a physical barrier without undermining the openness they have deliberately created. Security screens are one example. Using a clear mesh that allows natural light, airflow and views to remain largely uninterrupted while creating an additional barrier across doors, windows and patio openings. The screens can also help keep insects and other unwanted visitors out, making it possible to leave areas open to fresh air while maintaining a degree of separation. For larger entertainment areas, retractable security gates and roller shutters offer …
What Happens When AI Does the Work That Used to Train Tomorrow’s Leaders?
For decades, the early stages of a career have been built around doing the groundwork. Junior employees researched, prepared reports, drafted documents and handled administrative tasks, gaining experience along the way. AI is beginning to change that learning curve. Many of those tasks can now be completed in minutes, raising a bigger question for employers: if technology removes some of the work people traditionally learnt through, how do businesses ensure the next generation still develops the skills needed to lead? The missing first rung “The first rung of the career ladder was never only about completing relatively basic work. Junior employees sat in on customer conversations, made mistakes, watched how more experienced colleagues responded to them and gradually learnt which details mattered,” said George Mienie, CEO of AutoTrader. “Over time, that exposure helped build the context and judgement required to make more consequential decisions.” “The question, then, isn’t just whether AI will replace junior jobs. It’s how we develop the managers and leaders of tomorrow if AI is doing much of the work they traditionally learnt through.” This is a question shaped by experience. He has led AutoTrader through several fundamental shifts in technology and business structure, from its origins in print classifieds to a digital marketplace, then to a data-led business, and now to pioneering AI-powered automotive intelligence. Each transition changed more than the product AutoTrader offered its customers. It changed the work people did, the skills the business needed and where people added value. “Organisational structures were built, at least partly, around the fact that information was historically slow and expensive to gather, interpret and move. Junior employees gathered it, managers interpreted it and senior leaders made decisions from it. AI can now do some of that work almost immediately, shortening the chain and changing the role people play within it,” …
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Hair Clinic International Spotlights Women’s Hair Loss
Women in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban now have a clearer picture of what Hair Clinic International can offer them, following the company's outline of the hair loss assessments and treatments available at its clinics. Having treated men and women alike since it first opened its doors in South Africa, the company is using the arrival of spring to shine a light on the types of hair loss that specifically affect women, a number of which are common across the country yet seldom talked about openly. There is a practical reason spring suits this topic. September tends to be the month when South Africans switch up their hairstyles, retire their winter protective styles and begin thinking ahead to summer, and it is frequently the moment a thinning parting, a broadening hairline or a retreating edge becomes impossible to overlook. According to Hair Clinic International, the query it fields most from women during this stretch of the year is whether what they are noticing amounts to ordinary shedding or something that warrants a proper look. Why women's hair loss deserves its own conversation Because hair loss is so often framed as a male concern, plenty of women have no obvious place to turn when it starts. The company points out on its website that losing hair can be profoundly distressing for women, and that emotional weight goes a long way toward explaining why the issue tends to sit unaddressed for extended periods. So much identity and social meaning rests on hair that the natural reaction for many women is to disguise the problem through styling instead of getting it examined. Delay is the outcome. Caught early, a condition can be understood and planned around; concealed for a long time, it may have advanced well beyond that point. Hair Clinic International's stance is plain: the first move should be an assessment rather than a product, and identifying which type of hair loss is at play counts for far more than working through remedies one after …
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Balwin Maps the First-Time Buyer Path to Umhlanga Apartments
For first-time buyers along the KwaZulu-Natal coast, Balwin Properties has entered September 2026 with a simple piece of advice: run the figures before you fall for the finishes. Spring tends to be the season when many South Africans reopen their housing plans, and renters who have sat through a few winters paying someone else's bond often begin asking what ownership would really cost them. Among that group, the developer's Izinga Eco-Estate on Izinga Ridge keeps turning up as an early port of call, largely because the way its purchase is structured is unusually transparent from the outside. Balwin Properties is a South African residential developer whose business is apartments and lifestyle estates rather than standalone houses, and its stock is sold across three ranges: the Green Collection, the Classic Collection and the Signature Collection. For a first-time buyer, that arrangement carries more weight than it first seems. Since the developer constructs and sells its own inventory, the figure shown on a development page is the price of a brand-new, never-occupied apartment with a set specification behind it, not a starting point for haggling with a private owner. On a first bond application, that strips away a great deal of uncertainty at precisely the moment uncertainty costs the most. Starting With the Price, Not the Finishes The most sensible way to look at apartments in Umhlanga is to begin with the figures the estate itself publishes. Izinga Eco-Estate belongs to the Signature Collection, which Balwin Properties describes as apartments built to higher specifications with luxurious finishes, and its two-bedroom units are listed from R2,349,900 with three-bedroom units from R3,099,900. Sitting alongside it is Izinga Eco-Estate Classic, part of the Classic Collection, listed from R1,339,900. The Classic Collection is the developer's four-storey walk-up range pitched at middle-income buyers, and nationally it runs from roughly R769,900 to R2,439,900, while …
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With Record Petrol Prices Looming, Do the Sums Favour a Hybrid?
Higher petrol prices make an already expensive car purchase harder to get right. Buyers trying to keep their monthly costs manageable have to weigh the repayment against what they will spend driving the car, and a more economical petrol engine is only one of the options. Where a hybrid or plug-in hybrid is available for similar money, the choice becomes as much about running costs as it is about the car itself. October could make that decision more pressing. Early Central Energy Fund data reported by BusinessTech points to potential petrol increases of R1.81 to R1.93 a litre. If those conditions persist, South Africa could face its highest petrol prices on record, exceeding June’s peak. The figures are provisional, with the rest of September’s oil-price and exchange-rate movements still to be reflected in the final adjustment. A record price is worrying enough for the next fill-up. Someone buying a car has to think about fuel bills over the next four or five years, without knowing where petrol will trade during that time. A vehicle that uses less fuel leaves the owner less exposed to each increase. The extra cost of buying a hybrid has often meant waiting years for fuel savings to make up the difference. That remains a concern where the premium is substantial. But some hybrids now cost roughly the same as their petrol equivalents, while a buyer comparing different brands may find a plug-in hybrid within the budget they had already set. Lexus offers a particularly clear example. Its NX 350 F Sport is listed at R1,276,500 and the NX 350h F Sport at R1,277,500. The petrol model offers more power, but the hybrid’s claimed combined consumption is 5.0 L/100 km against 8.1 L/100 km. A buyer choosing the hybrid pays only R1,000 more upfront. Over 1,500 km a month, those claimed figures imply a difference of 46.5 litres. At an illustrative R25 a litre, that amounts to approximately R1,163 a month in fuel savings. Each further R1 increase in petrol would widen …
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Thomson Wiks Builds Stronger Connections Across Global Markets
Johannesburg - Thomson Wiks is strengthening its position as a business-focused organisation supporting meaningful connections between companies, professionals and international markets. With an approach centred on business relationships, strategic engagement and cross-border opportunities, Thomson Wiks recognises the importance of creating stronger links between organisations operating across different markets. Its work reflects the growing need for businesses to identify credible opportunities, build relationships and engage effectively within an increasingly connected global economy. Thomson Wiks brings an international perspective to business engagement, with a particular focus on opportunities connecting South Africa with wider global markets. The organisation has previously participated in South Africa-UAE business and investment discussions, contributing to conversations around trade, investment and commercial cooperation. For businesses looking beyond traditional boundaries, effective relationships can be an important foundation for sustainable growth. Thomson Wiks continues to focus on creating opportunities for constructive engagement and helping businesses navigate an increasingly interconnected commercial environment. Image: Boilerplate: Released on behalf of: Thomson Wiks Company Web site: https://www.thomsonwilks.co.za Link to More Information: https://www.thomsonwilks.co.za/practice-areas Submitted by: Stephen Thomson Contact Stephen Thomson: info@thomsonwilks.co.za CLICK HERE to submit your BUDGET FEATURED Press Release to MyPR.co.za. …
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Balwin Apartments Span Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Cape Town
Think of Balwin Properties less as a catalogue of estates and more as a map, and September 2026 makes more sense. The developer operates across three South African provinces, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, and its own listings sort every development into four regional buckets: Pretoria, Johannesburg, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. Trace the portfolio region by region instead of estate by estate and one thing becomes clear: the company has chosen to distribute its apartment stock across the country's three biggest residential markets, rather than piling it into a single one. That distribution counts for more than it first appears. In South Africa, apartment hunters tend to stay within one suburb, and the estates they weigh up come from rival builders working to different standards, with their own security setups, their own finishes and their own on-site facilities. Balwin buyers occupy a rarer position: they can cross provincial lines without ever leaving one product family. Whether someone is heading from Pretoria East toward the Cape Winelands edge of Cape Town, or from Sandton up to the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, they get to compare like with like, because the collections that define each apartment stay constant no matter where the estate stands. Three collections, applied across every region Every Balwin estate falls into one of three tiers, the Green Collection, the Classic Collection and the Signature Collection, and all three show up in each of the three provinces rather than being confined to a single corner of the country. The Green Collection anchors the affordable end, the Classic Collection accounts for most of the portfolio, and the Signature Collection covers the larger, more highly specified apartments. Since the collection follows the buyer, the choice breaks neatly into two independent questions: which collection fits the budget and the household, and which region fits the job, the schools and the commute. Most developers roll …
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Surfing: Lepront and Wiersma Form South African Contingent for Rip Curl GromSearch International Final
South African surfers Leah Lepront and Carl Wiersma will compete at the 2026 Rip Curl GromSearch International Final covered by Sun Bum. The prestigious event will take place in Narrabeen, Australia, from 7 to 10 November 2026. It will bring together 16 of the world’s best under-16 surfers. Lepront, from Scottburgh, and Wiersma, from Port Alfred, earned their places by winning the Rip Curl GromSearch presented by the Royal St Andrews Hotel. The South African event took place during the 2026 Port Alfred Easter Festival. Both surfers are currently in El Salvador as members of the South African team competing at the 2026 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Junior Surfing Championship. The event has given them valuable international competition experience ahead of Narrabeen. Rip Curl GromSearch International Final "Carl and Leah are two outstanding South African junior surfers, and we wish them all the luck in Narrabeen," said Rip Curl South Africa CEO Stuart Daykin. "We are immensely proud of their achievements and are confident that the Rip Curl GromSearch International Final will be another important step in their development as surfers". Narrabeen Confirmed as Host Venue The Rip Curl GromSearch International Final moves to a new destination each year. Narrabeen follows Hossegor, France, which hosted the event in 2025, and Canggu, Bali, in 2024. The return to Australia marks the first time the country has hosted the International Final since Bells Beach in 2023. “We’re so stoked to bring the International Final back to Australia, and Narrabeen couldn’t be a better stage to showcase the world’s best up-and-coming talent,” said Rip Curl Sports Marketing Manager Angus Forrest. “The Rip Curl GromSearch has been a launching pad for some of surfing’s biggest names, with former champions going on to win World Titles and Olympic medals. “It’s a huge opportunity for these young surfers to compete on the international stage while sharing an unforgettable …
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OMODA & JAECOO Brings Hybrid Power to the J5 With the All-New J5 SHS
OMODA & JAECOO South Africa has expanded the local J5 line-up with the introduction of the J5 SHS, adding a hybrid option alongside the existing ICE and the recently launched BEV models. The J5 SHS pairs a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine with electric assistance to deliver 165 kW and 295 N.m, with claimed fuel consumption of 5.3 L/100 km and a theoretical range of up to 980 km from its 51-litre fuel tank. The new hybrid offers family-focused practicality, a strong safety specification and comprehensive warranty cover. OMODA & JAECOO South Africa is pleased to announce the local arrival of the J5 SHS, the new-energy variant of the J5 crossover introduced in September 2025. Its arrival follows the recent introduction of the fully electric J5 BEV, JAECOO’s first EV in South Africa. The addition of the hybrid derivative expands the J5 line-up to three distinct powertrains, giving South African consumers greater choice and providing an accessible entry point into electrified motoring. The J5 SHS is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor, delivering combined outputs of 165 kW and 295 N.m of torque. A 1.83 kWh battery enables electric propulsion at low speeds and in traffic, contributing to a fuel consumption figure of 5.3 L/100 km. Paired with a 51-litre fuel tank, the J5 SHS is theoretically capable of covering up to 980 km on a tank of fuel. Power is sent to the front wheels via a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT). The J5 SHS uses MacPherson struts at the front and a multilink configuration at the rear, contributing to a composed, supple ride and responsive handling. Braking is handled by disc brakes all round, with ventilated discs fitted to the front wheels. The J5 SHS carries over the refined styling of its ICE sibling, with minimalist detailing giving the crossover a clean and premium appearance. It is fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic moonroof and automatic LED …
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Can AI Detect Heart Disease Earlier Than Traditional Screening?
Affinity Health, a leading provider of high-quality health cover, is raising awareness of how artificial intelligence (AI) could help identify heart disease earlier during Heart Awareness Month. Heart disease can develop quietly, with conditions such as high blood pressure, narrowed arteries, and abnormal heart rhythms causing few early symptoms. For some people, the first clear warning may be chest pain, severe breathlessness, a stroke, or a heart attack. Routine heart screening remains essential and may include checks for blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and other risk factors. Further tests, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram, stress test, or heart scan, may also be recommended. “AI isn't a replacement for healthcare professionals or routine screening, but it could help pick up on things that might otherwise be missed,” says Murray Hewlett, CEO of Affinity Health. “Used the right way, it has the potential to help detect symptoms of concern earlier and aid more people with the care they need sooner.” How Can AI Examine the Heart? AI learns to spot patterns by analysing large amounts of medical data. Once a system has been properly developed and tested, it can compare a patient’s results with signs linked to certain heart conditions. An electrocardiogram (ECG) records the heart’s electrical activity. Doctors use it to detect abnormal heart rhythms, signs of a heart attack, and other problems. When used alongside an ECG, it may pick up tiny changes linked to a weakened heart muscle, even when the results appear normal at first glance. AI can also support the reading of echocardiograms, which use ultrasound to show the heart’s structure and movement. It can help measure the heart’s chambers, check how well the heart is pumping, and draw attention to areas that may need further investigation. On more detailed scans, AI may help detect calcium build-up or changes in the blood vessels that could point to a higher risk of …