Sunday Independent 2022-01-16

Wesley Diphoko wesley@fastcompany.co.za There was a time when Telkom was struggling, along with many of the country’s other state-owned enterprises (SOEs). At some point, however, those in charge applied their minds, faced reality and started looking at Telkom like a business. Led by Lunga Siyo, who is innovating from within – and taking Telkom from the past to the future. This was not always the case; there was a time when the company was struggling. The changes that followed included the leadership. It was a difficult time for Telkom, which was dealing with rapidly- evolving market forces; the telecommunications provider was in danger of being left behind. A big part of Telkom’s business was once landline telephones in people’s homes. Nowadays, such devices are hard to find. There was…

“BIG things have small beginnings.” The line from Lawrence of Arabia might be a good way of characterising the coming year in tech. Tech that will be very important to the future will begin graduating from R&D labs and enter the marketplace. More self-driving automobiles will traverse the roadways. Augmented reality glasses may start showing up in public. The US government will probably begin regulating Big Tech in such areas as antitrust and privacy. The industry will continue talking about, and, in some cases, building for, the metaverse. And some of the foundational technologies underpinning Web3 might begin to take hold. Fast Company asked start-up founders, Big Tech execs, VCs, scholars, and other experts to speculate on the coming year within their field of interest. Here’s what they had…

Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za THE economy could struggle to recover to pre-pandemic levels if it fails to deal with climate change and environmental risks in the next five to 10 years, pushing resources to be diverted elsewhere. The World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Risk Report 2022, released this week, flagged “climate action failure” as the number one long-term threat to the world and the risk with potentially the most severe impacts over the next decade. The report was compiled by the WEF’s Global Risks Advisory Board, together with risk management firm Marsh McLennan, SK Group and Zurich Insurance. Climate change is already manifesting rapidly in the form of droughts, fires, floods, resource scarcity and species loss, among other impacts. Thousands of people were left homeless as floods battered the Buffalo City…

ONE OF THE biggest responsibilities small and medium enterprise (SME) owners are faced with is hiring their first employee and building their first team. It can be a daunting task. But if tackled with solid research, clear communication and a dash of human intuition, it can be the most fundamental step you, as a small business owner, take towards achieving your business vision. Here are three tips you may not yet have considered when hiring your first recruits. 1. Don’t skimp on the job description For many small businesses, especially at start-up stage, employees are required to wear many different hats in order to make a long-lasting and meaningful impact on the company. On the other hand, some small businesses, at the growth stage, will consider hiring specialists…

KARL MARX, in defining the social relations of production, says that “in the social production of their existence, men inevitably enter into definite relations of production appropriate to a given stage in the development of their material forces of production”. How apt is this in the case of US consultancy firm Bain and Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA). This says to us that state capture is dead, long live state capture! Hardly has the ink of the first report of the all-important Zondo Commission dried up than BLSA embraced the infidelity-infested Bain, which bribed its way, leading to the destruction of the SA Revenue Service (Sars). BLSA was part of the vocal movement for bringing about the Commission of State Capture and its president, Busi Mavuso, did a sterling job.…

Yoga provides you with various physical, mental health and well- being benefits and luckily it requires a tiny investment in equipment compared to other forms of exercise. A yoga mat is one of the most versatile essentials you need, especially in these challenging times with gyms opening and closing. Practising on a yoga mat allows you to properly perform different poses while remaining safe and free from unnecessary stresses such as slipping or experiencing pain from uncomfortable body support. Whether you are a hardcore yogic or someone about to embark on your fitness journey, a yoga mat will help elevate your performance and keeps pains and aches at bay. Pallav Bihani, Founder Of Boldfit, shares some tips on how to select the best mat for your home workouts: Thickness There…