Africa’s sovereign credit outlook is improving as economic growth stabilizes and fiscal reforms take hold across several countries, according to recent sovereign rating assessments. S&P Global Ratings shows African sovereign ratings at their highest level since 2020. The improvement comes as some governments reduce fiscal deficits and strengthen foreign reserves. The outlook improves after several…
Ruthenium, a minor metal in the platinum-group metals (PGMs), has surged to an all-time high as supply constraints and growing demand linked to artificial intelligence tighten the market, analysts and producers said. A block with the symbol, atomic number and mass number of Ruthenium (Ru) element in this illustration. Image credit: Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Used in…
Hybrid roles combine automation oversight with human judgement and increase employment opportunities for young people. (Image source: 123RF) South Africa’s rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming entry-level work, creating hybrid and higher-value roles, rather than eliminating jobs. This is one of the key findings of new research conducted by the Harambee Youth Employment…
Alastair Otter, co-founder of The Outlier. People have access to enough quality data and relevant insight, but this is of little benefit unless it leads to decision-making and action. This is according to Alastair Otter, co-founder of The Outlier, an independent publication that specialises in using data to create public service stories and visualisations. Speaking…
Tech giants spent trillions securing AI capabilities in 2025. (Graphic by Nicola Mawson) Artificial intelligence (AI) was a key driver of global deals in 2025, with Time Magazine naming “The Architects of AI” as its person of the year. Meanwhile, South Africa saw two stock exchange listings. Bain & Company says “technology mergers and acquisitions,…
Dr Jannie Zaaiman, CEO of the South Africa Information and Communication Technology Association. Within the next five years, companies in the artificial intelligence (AI) game are going to need enough power to light up New York City 17 times over, and Goldman Sachs tells us that less than 10% of the needed power will be…
Heidie-Mari Middel, Production Print Team Lead at Kyocera Document Solutions South Africa. Heidie-Mari Middel, Production Print Team Lead at Kyocera Document Solutions South Africa, believes the commercial printing industry is undergoing a profound transformation, with inkjet technology at the forefront of this evolution. Inkjet continues to solidify its role in 2025 as a pivotal driver…
The relationship between inequality and economic growth is a complex one, especially in Africa. Inequality is the result of a host of factors, including policy choices, institutional legacies and power structures that favour elites. Professor Imraan Valodia, director of the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies spoke to Ernest Aryeetey, emeritus professor of Development Economics at…
The Foschini Group (TFG) is reporting a significant surge in its online sales, thanks in large part to the strong performance of its e-commerce platform, Bash. In a trading update for the three months ended June 28, 2025, TFG announced that its Africa online sales jumped by 40.2% year-on-year. This growth has lifted the contribution…
