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Ready.. Steady.. Race! Volspoed now on Showmax

LnT Desk
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Ready.. Steady.. Race! Volspoed now on Showmax

Volspoed is now streaming exclusively on Showmax, with new episodes every Tuesday. The adrenaline-fuelled reality series takes viewers straight into the demanding world of endurance racing, following Antonie Marx as he chases podium finishes at full speed. At his side is his wife, Ronette Marx, a former Miss South Africa finalist who keeps everything running smoothly off the track and holds the fort when the pressure peaks.

Spanning eight episodes, Volspoed goes beyond the roar of engines and the thrill of the race. It offers an inside look at a world where every second counts, where one wrong call can derail everything, and where success demands far more than horsepower. This is a story about commitment, resilience and what it really takes to keep pushing when the stakes are at their highest.

We recently caught up with Antonie, the man at the helm of the team, who gave us a front-row seat into his life, the reality show, and why this first-of-its-kind series is a must-watch.

Trailer: https://youtu.be/LlbIqt6yFzg?si=vDOwAEvM7FUiA1cP

Why did you decide to join the show?

I initially did not want to do the show, but realised that it’s a good opportunity for myself, and an even better opportunity to promote the sport that I love. Endurance racing is one of the last places where you can fake anything, not the car, not the team, not yourself. You either show up prepared or you get exposed.

We’re a novice team. We don’t have the biggest budget, we don’t have a truck full of spare cars, and we definitely don’t have a safety net. But what we do have is a belief that if we work harder than everyone else, we can punch way above our weight. A big part of why I wanted to do this is to bring people in South Africa into a world they never get to see. Motorsport in South Africa is not a popular mainstream sport and looks closed-off from the outside, like it’s only for certain people. I want the public to see what it’s really like. If this show can get even a few people to care about motorsport, to understand what it takes just to get to the grid, then it’s worth it.

What are you hoping viewers gain from watching the show? 

I want people to see that you don’t need to be born into it or have a huge budget, the barrier to entry isn’t as high as most think. Even a small, novice team can compete and enjoy the sport.

I also want to show that every team, even a novice one like ours, has many roles, it’s not just the driver in the car. It’s a great family sport and there’s so much more involved. In a novice team, most of these roles are filled by family and friends. Ultimately, I want the show to spark interest and curiosity in the sport. There are so many South Africans who’ve never been to a race or seen what goes on behind the scenes.

How is this show different from other reality shows?

I don’t watch too many of these reality shows… But I would guess that it’s a bit different to Kom Ons Braai.

What is the motor racing culture like in South Africa? 

Motor racing culture in South Africa is passionate and inviting, but at the same time surprisingly close-knit. It’s not just about the cars or the trophies, it’s about the people, the community, and the shared love for the sport. Even at the grassroots level, there’s a huge level of commitment from everyone involved.

What is it like working with your family?

Difficult! I can’t fire anyone.

What is the most surprising thing about being in the motor racing industry?

The most surprising thing about being in motorsport is just how alive and healthy the industry really is. The promoters, the track staff, supporters, the crews and the volunteers: it’s a whole network that keeps the sport moving.

What differentiates your team from other teams?

What sets our team apart is that we’re completely novice, and we’re not afraid to show it. Even though we are new to the endurance racing format, we have a very methodical approach to everything that we do, which helps us learn and understand things a lot quicker than competitors. Even though we are a small team that works like a family,  every role, everyone’s input and everyone’s opinion matters.

What has racing taught you about yourself?

You learn quickly that nothing goes perfectly, engines break, strategies fail, and mistakes happen constantly. But you also learn that you can adapt, push through and keep going even when things don’t go your way. Ultimately, racing has shown me that persistence, resilience, and willingness to take risks are bigger assets than talent or experience alone.

How important was it to keep the racing and motorsport culture authentic?

This sport is built on real people putting in real work, and we did not want to present a fake version of it. We wanted to show the grease, the stress, the late nights, the arguments, the mistakes, all of it, because that’s what motorsport actually looks like at all levels. We wanted to honour it, so people watching can feel like they’re actually standing in the pit lane with us, not watching some made-up version of it.

How do you balance real racing risks with the demands of filming?

At the end of the day, the risks involved are real, the speeds are real, and the consequences are real, both financially and physically. So in our case, the cameras did not change what we normally do, they just followed it. If anything, you know people are watching, not just for entertainment, but to see how this sport really works. At the end of the day, you’re representing your team, your family, and South African motorsport.

2026: The Year of AI Execution for South African Businesses

Dean Wolson
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2026: The Year of AI Execution for South African Businesses

As we start 2026, artificial intelligence in South Africa is entering a new era defined not by experimentation, but by execution. Across the region, the conversation is shifting from “how do we build AI?” to “how do we power, govern, and scale it responsibly?”

The next twelve months will bring a significant convergence of three forces: energy constraints, nascent or evolving regulatory fragmentation, and the rapid industrialisation of AI. Together, they will outline how enterprises plan, deploy, and extract value from AI at scale in the South African context. Here are five key ways we can expect the impact to be felt.

  1. Every Watt Matters: Power Becomes the First Design Principle

In 2026, energy will undoubtedly overtake compute as the primary design constraint for AI infrastructure across South Africa. The nation’s grid systems, primarily managed by Eskom, remain under strain, with some improvements recently, with intermittent load shedding posing a critical challenge to businesses and infrastructure. This volatile power supply often necessitates significant investment in uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), generators, and alternative energy sources, directly impacting operational costs and the feasibility of large-scale AI deployments. Organisations are simultaneously approaching ambitious sustainability commitments set pre-pandemic, forcing Chief Information Officers (CIOs) to treat energy not as an operational cost, but as a strategic limitation. Every watt now matters, especially when uninterrupted power is not guaranteed.

This shift will fundamentally redirect infrastructure strategy. Data-centre planning will begin with energy availability, efficiency, and location, not server density. Power-aware design encompassing low-footprint systems, advanced cooling, and intelligent workload placement will become essential, particularly in secondary markets and edge locations with limited grid capacity. Regions in EMEA with favourable energy profiles, such as the Nordics with abundant renewables, will continue to attract AI investments, while Southern and Eastern Europe accelerate innovation in colocation and micro-grid development. Local initiatives, such as the increasing adoption of corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs) for renewable energy and the development of energy-efficient modular data centres, are becoming crucial design considerations. Hybrid and on-site generation models, including solar PV and battery storage, will move from experimental to mainstream as South African enterprises seek to stabilise and scale AI operations amidst power instability.

As compute demand accelerates faster than utilities can expand capacity, energy access becomes the new competitive differentiator. Colocation facilities will shift to the centre of AI deployment, robust power backup solutions, high-density rack support, and scalable interconnects. Decisions across the infrastructure stack – hardware, cooling, network architecture, and workload placement – will increasingly revolve around power availability, efficiency, and compliance.

In 2026, South Africa’s AI leaders will be those who design for energy adaptability from the start, gaining speed, resilience, and regulatory confidence in an increasingly power-constrained world.

2. Inference Takes Centre Stage as AI Moves to Where the Data Lives

By 2026, the AI landscape across EMEA will undergo a fundamental shift: the centre of gravity will move from training massive models to running and refining them at scale through inference. As organisations deploy AI deeper into their operations, a powerful data-gravity effect will take hold, pulling compute closer to the point where data is generated, regulated, and consumed.

For South Africa, this trend is amplified by the nation’s stringent Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) requirements, which necessitate careful consideration of data residency and processing. The need to keep personal information within South African borders, particularly for sensitive sectors like healthcare and finance, means that AI models processing such data must be deployed on infrastructure located nationally. This also extends to concerns about data transfer to cloud providers outside of SA, making local hyperscale cloud regions or on-premise solutions more attractive for AI inference workloads. Enterprises will increasingly rethink infrastructure placement, moving away from centralised training environments toward edge and near-data-centre deployments that keep sensitive information within national or regional boundaries, ensuring compliance and data sovereignty.

Inference will become the dominant workload, driving demand for distributed, efficient, and compliance-aware infrastructure capable of delivering real-time insight. In sectors such as mining, financial services, retail, and public administration – all of which rely heavily on local data – this shift will unlock faster decision-making, better responsiveness, and greater operational resilience. The demand for immediate insights in environments with varying connectivity, from urban centres to remote industrial sites, further accelerates this trend.

In 2026, South Africa’s competitive advantage will come not from building the biggest models, but from deploying intelligence exactly where it creates the most value: at the edge, close to the data, and deeply integrated into everyday operations.

3. Regulation and Sovereignty Reshape the AI Map

As energy and power become the physical constraints, regulation is emerging as the digital one.

By 2026, while a comprehensive South African AI Act may still be in its developmental stages, the principles of POPIA will be fully entrenched, establishing a critical framework for data governance that directly impacts AI implementation. Instead of a single overarching AI Act like the EU’s, South Africa is likely to see AI governance emerge through a combination of existing legislation (like POPIA), sector-specific guidelines, and voluntary ethical frameworks. This, combined with existing industry-specific regulations, will create a compliance landscape where what is permissible for data processing and AI model deployment requires careful navigation.

The infrastructure strategy will therefore double as a compliance strategy. Organisations must decide where models are trained, where data resides, and how inference workloads are deployed. The rise of local-cloud and edge architectures reflects this shift, enabling enterprises to keep data and compute within national boundaries while still benefiting from AI-driven insight. Furthermore, ongoing discussions and potential guidelines from bodies like the Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) are actively shaping these conversations, emphasising responsible innovation and addressing potential societal impacts. Enterprises will need to navigate this evolving regulatory landscape, potentially drawing on international best practices while ensuring local compliance. Proactive engagement with ethical AI principles and transparency will be key to building public and regulatory trust.

In this environment, transparency becomes currency. Businesses that can clearly articulate model origins, data provenance, and decision logic will be far better positioned to earn trust from customers and regulators alike. Responsible AI frameworks, once considered optional, are now becoming as fundamental as cybersecurity policies.

4. AI Moves from Experimentation to Execution

Organisations across SA are moving past proof-of-concept fatigue as macro-pressures, from economic volatility to tightening regulatory timelines, demand technology that delivers measurable outcomes, not theoretical potential. With talent shortages intensifying in critical digital skills and operational efficiency rising to the top of executive agendas, AI that simply tests an idea will no longer be enough. In an economy grappling with high unemployment and a demand for inclusive growth, AI deployments are increasingly scrutinised for their potential to create new jobs, upskill the workforce, and improve public services, rather than simply replace human labour.

At the same time, competition between Europe’s mature digital economies and the fast-scaling innovation hubs of the Middle East and Africa is sharpening the expectation for impact. CIOs will increasingly be evaluated not on how many pilots they launch, but on the business value their deployed AI models create – in customer experience, supply-chain performance, service responsiveness, and revenue growth. The need for measurable Return on Investment (ROI) is particularly acute in South Africa, where investment capital can be scarcer and economic pressures more pronounced. This drives a pragmatic approach, favouring AI solutions that deliver tangible business value quickly. As early adopters demonstrate clear ROI, reinvestment will accelerate, creating a multiplier effect across sectors.

With the region also navigating complex regulatory requirements, diverse market needs, and evolving expectations for responsible technology, enterprises will prioritise AI that can be operationalised quickly, trusted fully, and governed consistently. Even alongside growing concerns about power availability, energy costs and infrastructure efficiency, the dominant driver will be the need for AI systems that work at scale and integrate seamlessly into daily operations.

In 2026, AI becomes a true business engine for SA, strengthening resilience, boosting productivity, and elevating competitiveness for organisations ready to move from ambition to action.

5. Agentic AI Redefines Businesses

By 2026, organisations will shift from traditional automation into the era of agentic AI – intelligent systems capable of taking autonomous actions to personalise experiences, streamline operations, and augment employees in every sector. In retail, this means deeper customer engagement and more adaptive service across diverse customer segments, perhaps leveraging unique payment methods like informal lay-by systems. In manufacturing, particularly within the automotive and mining sectors, agentic systems will optimise production flows, anticipate disruptions, and reduce downtime. For instance, in South African mining, agentic AI could autonomously optimise blast patterns, manage ventilation systems based on real-time air quality, or predict equipment failure in remote, dangerous environments. In financial services, they will support advisors with real-time insights while strengthening fraud detection across a complex and often high-risk landscape, offering hyper-personalised financial advice to diverse customer segments, from high-net-worth individuals to those in previously underserved communities. And in the public sector, agentic AI will help deliver faster, more citizen-centric services at scale, addressing critical service delivery gaps by streamlining the processing of grant applications, automating the distribution of public information, or improving resource allocation for critical infrastructure maintenance.

The ROI from earlier AI investments – from computer vision for loss prevention to predictive maintenance and workflow automation – will become reinvestment capital fuelling this next phase of transformation. As EMEA organisations navigate diverse customer needs and complex regulatory environments, agentic AI will become a strategic advantage, enabling them to operate with greater responsiveness, efficiency, and empathy.

In 2026, agentic AI won’t replace the human element; it will elevate it, enhancing every interaction where people and processes meet.

Building the Future Responsibly

By the end of 2026, AI will be a core business capability: deployed, governed, and operationalised with far greater maturity than ever before. The organisations that thrive will be those that intentionally design for balance: between performance and constraint, innovation and oversight, automation and human accountability.

As power, policy, and people converge, the real question shifts from whether AI will transform the enterprise to whether enterprises have built the physical, ethical, and operational foundations to sustain that transformation. Success will belong to those who treat responsible AI not as a compliance exercise, but as a strategic advantage. In 2026, the smartest enterprises won’t simply adopt AI. They’ll understand it deeply, govern it transparently, and power it responsibly, ensuring that intelligence becomes an enduring driver of trust, resilience, and growth.

What Lies Beyond South Africa’s 88% Matric Pass Rate

LnT Desk
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What Lies Beyond South Africa’s 88% Matric Pass Rate

South Africa’s record-breaking 88% matric pass rate is progress worth acknowledging. It reflects the resilience of learners, teachers, and schools operating under immense pressure. But progress without context risks misleading us and, worse, fostering complacency.

As the country celebrates improved matric results, we must ask an uncomfortable yet necessary question: What do these headlines really reveal about the state of our education system?

On the surface, this is the best matric performance South Africa has ever recorded. Yet when we look beyond the headline figure, a far more complex and troubling picture emerges.

Who Are We Counting, and Who Are We Losing?

The official matric pass rate tells us how many learners passed among those who wrote the exams, not how many made it through the schooling system from Grade 1 to Grade 12.

For the Class of 2025, approximately 1.2 million learners entered Grade 1 in 2014. By Grade 10 in 2021, enrolment stood at 1,152,000 learners, suggesting relatively strong retention in the early and middle phases. However, between Grades 10 and 12, the system begins to experience an alarming rate of learner dropout.

Of those 1,152,000 Grade 10 learners, only 715,000 reached matric and wrote the final exams and 437,000 learners, that is 37%, dropped out before writing

Of the learners who did write, 656,000 passed, producing the celebrated 88% pass rate. But when measured against the original cohort, the so-called “real pass rate” drops to 56.9%, only a marginal improvement from 56% in 2024.

This matters because a system cannot be considered healthy if more than a third of learners fall out before the final hurdle.

A Pass Is Not the Same as Preparedness

South Africa’s matric pass mark of 35% may meet the technical definition of success, but it raises hard questions about readiness for further study, employment, or participation in a modern economy. A certificate is not the same as capability. This is particularly evident in Mathematics, where declining outcomes continue to undermine learner progression into scarce skills pathways such as engineering, technology, and the sciences. These gaps do not suddenly appear in Grade 12 they accumulate over the years.

The Crisis Begins Early

The roots of our matric outcomes lie in the foundation phase. The PIRLS study revealed a devastating truth: 81% of South African Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning in any language. This is not merely a literacy issue; it is a systemic failure. Learners who cannot read for meaning by Grade 4 are unlikely to catch up without targeted intervention. By the time they reach high school, many are already locked out of academic success, even if they remain physically present in classrooms. When we celebrate matric results without confronting this reality, we risk masking the very weaknesses that need urgent attention.

Equity, Effort, and What’s Working

There is, however, an important equity story that deserves recognition. 66% of bachelor’s passes came from no-fee-paying schools, a powerful reminder that poverty does not define potential. This achievement reflects the commitment of educators, school leaders, learners, and support partners working under challenging conditions. It also highlights the impact of intentional leadership and partnership models.

Programmes such as Leaders for Education, a leadership development initiative of Citizen Leader Lab, show what becomes possible when public school leaders are meaningfully supported through collaboration with business, civil society, and communities. Under the leadership of Principal Cheryl Jacobs, Crestway High School in the Western Cape, long impacted by violent gang activity recorded its highest matric pass rate in a decade, achieving an impressive 84.5% despite being classified as underperforming. Similar gains were attained across the country: Hans Kekane High School in Tshwane achieved a 98% pass rate, while Dr MJ Madiba Secondary School in Polokwane and Cedar Secondary School in the Free State celebrated a 100% matric pass rate.

Meanwhile, initiatives implemented by the Western Cape Department of Education, such as Back On Track, have delivered remarkable results: the highest matric pass rate ever in the province at 88.2%, a 73.7% pass rate, the best in South Africa, a 91.9% pass rate for learners with special needs, and a 70% learner retention rate, the highest in the country.

These successes go beyond academics, building leadership capacity, systems thinking, and sustainable change, the very elements our public education system needs to replicate success across South Africa.

The Real Measure of Success

If we are serious about transformation, we must move beyond celebrating annual headlines and start measuring what truly matters, such as completion, not just participation, capability, not just certification and outcomes, for every learner, not only those who make it to matric. The biggest test of the system is not the pass rate alone, but how many learners make it all the way to Grade 12 with the skills they need to thrive.

As education leaders and policymakers have rightly noted, where there is low retention alongside high performance, we must ask difficult questions. If learners are being discouraged, filtered out, or left behind, then the system must find them, support them early, and keep them learning.

An Honest Conversation, and a Higher Bar

South Africa has made progress. That should be acknowledged. But progress without honesty will not deliver results. The task ahead is clear: strengthen foundational learning, support teachers and school leaders, intervene earlier, and ensure that more learners not only reach matric but are prepared for life beyond it.

Only then will our matric success story reflect not just numbers but real, lasting opportunity for all learners.

 

Mattel Brick Shop™ and Hot Wheels® Expand Line and Introduce Collector Builds of Two Iconic Honda Models

LnT Desk
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Mattel Brick Shop™ and Hot Wheels® Expand Line and Introduce Collector Builds of Two Iconic Honda Models

Mattel, Inc., a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world, announced today the launch of two new Mattel Brick Shop™ Hot Wheels® building sets in collaboration with Honda. The new releases expand the Mattel Brick Shop Speed Series™ with two Japanese performance icons.

The new Honda collection includes the Custom ’90 Honda Civic EF and the ’07 Honda S2000, both authentically recreated in buildable 1:32 scale. Designed for adult collectors, car enthusiasts and building fans alike, the sets celebrate Japanese automotive performance and ’90s tuning culture through highly detailed builds, real metal parts and customisation options.

To mark the debut of Honda within Mattel Brick Shop, the builds were showcased alongside full-size vehicles, highlighting their accuracy and true-to-scale detailing—from recognisable body shapes to headlights, window elements and exterior lines. The ’07 Honda S2000 also features an authentic windshield and spoiler, faithfully mirroring the real-world design.

Both the Custom ’90 Honda Civic EF and the ’07 Honda S2000 feature opening doors that reflect the functional access points of the full-size cars, while interchangeable wheel covers and custom decal sheets echo the real vehicles’ wheel options and customisation culture. Finished with a Hot Wheels signature metal plate and an exclusive matching 1:64 scale die-cast car, each set reinforces the connection between the buildable models and the Honda icons that inspired them.

“Mattel Brick Shop continues to expand how adult fans and collectors interact with legendary vehicles,” said Ted Wu, Global Head of Vehicles and Building Sets at Mattel. “The Honda Civic EF and S2000 are true icons of Japanese performance culture, and through Hot Wheels and Mattel Brick Shop, builders can now celebrate these vehicles by recreating them with their own customisation to display on their shelves.”

 “Honda vehicles have long been celebrated for their performance, design and connection to car culture around the world,” said Rebecca Adamson, Head of Automobile at Honda Motor Europe – UK. “Seeing icons like the Civic EF and S2000 reimagined through Mattel Brick Shop gives fans a new, hands-on way to engage with the engineering and spirit that define the Honda brand.”

The Mattel Brick Shop Hot Wheels Honda sets will be available at select retailers across South Africa.

  • Mattel Brick Shop™ Hot Wheels® Custom ’90 Honda Civic EF
    1:32 Scale | Speed Series™
    Ages 10+
    A true icon of ’90s tuning culture, the Custom ’90 Honda Civic EF is recreated in detailed 1:32 scale. The build features opening doors, authentic window pieces and headlights, and includes a custom decal sheet and two sets of wheel covers for personalisation. The set includes 248 pieces, an exclusive matching 1:64 scale metal car and a Hot Wheels signature metal plate, available first with Mattel Brick Shop sets.
  • Mattel Brick Shop™ Hot Wheels® ’07 Honda S2000
    1:32 Scale | Speed Series™
    Ages 10+
    Celebrated as a modern Japanese performance legend, the ’07 Honda S2000 comes to life with authentic styling details, opening doors, windshield and spoiler. Builders can customise their model using included decals and two sets of wheel covers. The set includes 257 pieces, a matching 1:64 scale metal car and a Hot Wheels signature metal plate.

Both building sets are designed for frustration-free building, using smooth resin bricks that click together easily, with clear step-by-step instructions.

Beyond the blackboard: How education must be reinvented

Shaun Fuchs, CEO and Founder of Centennial Schools
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Beyond the blackboard: How education must be reinvented

South Africa’s education system stands at a crossroads. Like the rest of the world, we are no longer debating whether education must change. The challenge now is to transform at scale and speed, to enable Gen Alpha students to shape a working world driven by automation and AI, and to carve out careers that do not yet exist. The traditional schooling model – built on information recall and standardised testing – no longer prepares them for what lies ahead. To stay relevant, education must evolve to nurture creativity, digital fluency, entrepreneurship, resilience, and empathy.

Here are the seven trends I see redefining how schools will teach, learn, and lead in 2026 and beyond:

  1. Making AI-driven personalisation the new standard: AI is shifting from an add-on to a foundational tool for both students and educators. With job-ready machine-learning and other ICT skills being in short supply, schools that integrate AI meaningfully will prepare students to meet a growing demand. For educators, using adaptive technologies to personalise learning journeys and automate routine tasks frees up more time to focus on higher-order guidance and socio-emotional support – the elements that machines cannot replicate.
  2. Moving entrepreneurship from elective to essential: With our youth unemployment rate sitting at 62.2% among 15-24-year-olds and 40.5% among those aged 25-34, the future depends on job creators, not just job seekers. There is an increasing need for young people to solve real-world problems and build ventures with purpose, but a schooling model that, essentially, has not evolved for decades does not adequately prepare them to do so – contributing to an SMME failure rate that is among the highest in the world. When schools embed entrepreneurship as a practice-based core subject rather than a side project, students can learn the skills that develop a good idea into a sustainable business.
  3. Replacing four walls with digital-native rooms: The ‘rows of desks’ model has become obsolete. Instead, we are seeing the benefits of flexible learning hubs and immersive simulations that encourage collaboration in a tech-first environment that could otherwise be isolating.
    Before this approach can be implemented, access to technology must be addressed. A 2025 report pegs internet access at 79% across the country, but this still means that one in five people are not connected. Schools must design for inclusivity, ensuring that no student is left offline. Laptops, tablets and cloud-based collaboration are not luxuries anymore; they are the baseline of modern learning.
  4. Putting wellbeing and belonging centre stage: Since the pandemic, the biggest barrier to learning is not cognitive; it is emotional. Rising levels of anxiety, loneliness, and burnout are eroding students’ ability to engage and perform. In fact, 2023 UNICEF research shows that 60% of South African young people felt they needed  mental health support. To counter this, schools must embed wellbeing into their offering, with on-site counselling and peer support networks. They must also prioritise belonging by ensuring that every student feels seen, valued, and safe to be themselves. In the future, success will be measured as much by resilience and emotional growth as by marks and metrics.
  5. Replacing old assessments with skills-based credentials: Employers are rethinking the value of traditional transcripts, shifting the focus from ‘what you know’ to ‘what you can do’. In our ICT sector, for example, companies are increasingly looking for experience, practical skills, and micro-credentials in addition to degrees. The net result is that the sector is under-resourced despite 12.2% of tertiary education graduates remaining unemployed as at Q2:2025. By definition, a well-rounded education must move beyond the parameters of the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) that South African schools are required to adhere to.
  6. Making cyber-security and digital ethics core literacies: As classrooms and workplaces go digital, so too do the risks. Information- and cyber-security are listed among the top technology priorities and shortage areas for South African firms, making it critical for schools to impart a deep understanding of compromising behaviour and mitigating factors. Ethical AI usage is an equally important learning area. Schools should be teaching students how to use technology responsibly and meaningfully. Students must learn that AI is a tool; not the solution to every task.
  7. Driving systemic change with public-private innovation: Despite allocating 6.9% of 2025’s GDP to education, government cannot evolve the education system fast enough without additional private investment. Partnerships between independent schools, edtech companies and industry players have the potential to enable faster provision of infrastructure and technology for schools, large-scale teacher training and skills development, and experimentation with new learning models.

The future of education is not just about keeping pace with technology. It is also about reimagining relevance. Gen Alpha has the talent, creativity, and potential to thrive in complexity but enabling them to do so demands collective courage: from policymakers willing to modernise, from educators prepared to rethink their models, and from the private sector ready to invest in scalable innovation. If we can align these forces, we will do more than prepare students for the future. We will empower them to create it.

Motlanalo Sets the Mood for Love with an Intimate Valentine’s Gala Concert at Meropa Casino

LnT Desk
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Motlanalo Sets the Mood for Love with an Intimate Valentine’s Gala Concert at Meropa Casino

Nothing planned for Valentine’s Day? Don’t worry: Motlanalo has you covered.

This Valentine’s Day, award-winning Afro-soul songstress Motlanalo invites lovers and music connoisseurs to immerse themselves in an evening of romance, elegance, and soulful music at the Intimate Gala Concert with Motlanalo, taking place on Saturday, 14 February 2026, at Meropa Casino and Entertainment World.

Designed as a premium live music experience, the concert promises to be a celebration of love, connection, and timeless Afro-soul, wrapped in a luxurious All-Black Masquerade theme that sets the tone for a night of sophistication and sensuality.

An Unforgettable Valentine’s Experience

From the moment guests arrive at 18:00 for 19:00, they will be transported into a world where music meets romance. The Intimate Gala Concert is more than just a performance, it is a curated Valentine’s experience featuring live Afro-soul performances, fine wine, and exquisite dining, creating the perfect atmosphere for couples and music lovers alike.

Motlanalo, known for her rich vocals and emotionally resonant storytelling, will deliver a deeply personal and intimate set, bringing her music to life in a way that connects directly with the heart.

Azana

Azana Joins Motlanalo on Stage

Adding to the magic of the evening, Motlanalo will be joined by Azana, one of South Africa’s most celebrated Afro-soul voices. Renowned for her soul-stirring performances and timeless hits, Azana’s presence elevates the concert into a must-attend Valentine’s Day affair.

“I’m excited to announce that Azana will be performing live with me at the Intimate Gala Concert,” says Motlanalo. “Make your Valentine’s Day special, spoil your lover, and thank me later. This is going to be an unforgettable night of soulful, sensual music.”

Dress Code: All-Black Masquerade

Guests are encouraged to embrace the All-Black Masquerade theme, adding an element of mystery, glamour, and romance to the evening. Masks, elegance, and bold black fashion will define the visual identity of this exclusive Valentine’s celebration.

Motlanalo

Ticket Information

Tickets are available via Computicket, with limited packages designed to enhance the Valentine’s experience:

  • Early Bird (Per Person): R950
  • Couples Package: R1 700
  • At the Door (Per Person): R1 200
  • At the Door Couples Package: R2 500

Tickets available here:
https://computicket-boxoffice.com/e/intimate-gala-concert-with-motlanalo-7oUXJ8

Event Details at a Glance

Date: Saturday, 14 February 2026
Venue: Meropa Casino & Entertainment World
Time: 18:00 for 19:00
Experience: Live Afro-Soul | Wine & Dine
Theme: All-Black Masquerade

 

Vanessa Jarvis-Findlay launches The NEKED Food: Plant-Based Gourmet Edition for Veganuary 2026

LnT Desk
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Vanessa Jarvis-Findlay launches The NEKED Food: Plant-Based Gourmet Edition for Veganuary 2026

A love letter to South African soul food through a fine-dining lens.

Veganuary 2026 arrives with a distinctly South African accent and a generous touch of fine dining flair, as award-winning restaurateur and vegan chef Vanessa Jarvis-Findlay officially launches her flagship cookbook, The NEKED Food: Plant-Based Gourmet Edition.

Part cookbook and part personal memoir, the book brings together Vanessa’s South African heritage, her classical technique, and her cheeky sense of humour, resulting in plant-based food that feels at once familiar and sharply original.

“I didn’t write a ‘vegan cookbook’. I wrote a love letter to South African flavour, then dressed it in couture and served it with a wink.” — Vanessa Jarvis-Findlay

What sets The NEKED Food: Plant-Based Gourmet Edition apart is how proudly it wears its roots. The dishes are technically impressive and visually striking, but they begin with South African staples and nostalgic flavour notes that Vanessa pushes into unexpected territory.

It’s thoughtful, heritage-driven cooking with technique, personality and a sense of fun.

Vanessa’s work in food is deeply tied to a personal journey. She is a cancer survivor and nationally recognised advocate for plant-based living, known for the Lady Godiva Freedom Ride, a symbolic and widely covered personal act of healing and sovereignty. This moment, equal parts defiance, humour and reclamation, has become part of her public story and informs her approach to food: bold, personal, and unapologetically original.

Expect bold creations like:

  • Toffee Cocktail Tomatoes with Smoked Salt & Thyme

  • Sea Salt & Fynbos ‘Honey’ ‘Panna Cotta’ with Kelp Caramel & Rooibos Sand

  • Fermented Mealie Mousse with Cashew Cream in Phyllo Nests & Burnt Tomato Dust

  • Braaied Mushroom & Black Bean ‘Bunny Chow’ with Tamarind Date Chutney Pearls

  • Wild Mushroom & Amarula Cream Pap with Caramelised Shallot Petals & Foraged Herb Oil

These Michelin-star-worthy dishes are elegant, inventive and deeply rooted in a sense of place.

Beyond the food, the book is sure to live beautifully on coffee tables and kitchen counters. Vanessa is not only the author and chef, but also the photographer, styling and shooting every dish herself. The result is a visual style that’s clean, intimate and tasteful.

The writing is equally distinctive, warm, dryly funny in places and unexpectedly vulnerable in others; the tone invites the reader into her kitchen rather than lecturing from a distance.

The book features glowing forewords from some of South Africa’s most respected culinary voices, including Jenny Morris and Justine Drake, who both commend Vanessa’s originality and her refusal to make plant-based cuisine feel apologetic or niche.

About Vanessa Jarvis-Findlay

Vanessa Jarvis-Findlay is a multi–award-winning restaurateur, celebrity vegan chef, author and creative producer. She founded NEKED Food, a 5-star vegan restaurant in Clarens that earned a place among the Top 100 Restaurants in South Africa, in 2023 and 2024, as ranked by the Restaurant Association. The ranking was awarded against more than 35,000 registered restaurants nationwide, and not within a vegan or vegetarian category, but across the entire restaurant landscape.

NEKED Food has also received a number of international and local honours, including:

  • Hidden Gem of the Year 2024

  • Best Vegan Restaurant Globally (Lux Life Magazine)

Vanessa has appeared as a celebrity chef at The Good Life Show (sponsored by Woolworths), has been the focus of a dedicated episode of Karakters (hosted by Riaan van Heerden) on DStv and Showmax, and is a South African Music Award (SAMA) winner for her work as Executive Music Producer on Impossible Machines by Ard Matthews.

Vanessa has expanded the NEKED Food universe with the launch of a plant-based retreat in Clarens, offering immersive culinary experiences in a slow-living setting. She also released a personal and witty audio-book, giving listeners a candid and entertaining look into her world both on and off the plate.

The NEKED Food: Plant-Based Gourmet Edition is available nationwide from January 2026.

This Veganuary, South Africa doesn’t just go vegan, it goes gourmet.

Early Praise

“Vanessa turns plant-based cooking into art, every plate a statement.”

— Jenny Morris, The Giggling Gourmet

“Proof that vegan cuisine can be luxurious, local, and laugh-out-loud fabulous.”

— Justine Drake, Masterchef Judge, Culinary Director & TV Host

Book Details

Title: The NEKED Food Plant-Based Gourmet Edition – Extraordinary & Delicious Plant-Based Cuisine

Author: Vanessa Jarvis-Findlay

Publisher: NEKED Publishing (South Africa)

Format: Hardback • 208 pages • Full colour • ISBN 978-1-0492-3432-8

Retail Price: R 695

Also available in soft cover R495

Or E book R295

Available now at www.nekedfood.co.za and selected retailers.

December 2025 used car sales show strong year-on-year growth despite monthly dip

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December 2025 used car sales show strong year-on-year growth despite monthly dip

The Ford Ranger remains the best-selling model, with used car sales generating R12.89 billion in revenue. 

December 2025 was a positive send-off for the South African used car market, with sales easing after a very strong showing in October and November 2025. While month-on-month (MoM) declines were noted, year-on-year (YoY) sales saw a notable increase, reinforcing the overall strength of 2025’s performance.

Per AutoTrader, South Africa’s most trusted marketplace for buying new and used cars, 30,742 used vehicles were sold in the final month of the year. This followed particularly impressive performances in November (33,697) and October (36,042), translating to an MoM decline of -8.77%, but a YoY increase of +16.34% compared to December 2024, when 26,424 used vehicles were sold.

On a brand level, Toyota remains the strongest-performing brand on the used car market, with 5,039 vehicles sold in December 2025. While this is slightly down from November 2025’s figure of 5,741 units (-12.23% MoM), YoY sales increased by an impressive +11.14%. As has been the case for the last few months, Toyota holds a 40% share of the top 10 best-selling used vehicles, highlighting its dominance in the local automotive market. Volkswagen followed with 4,299 units (-9.99% MoM, +7.66% YoY), and Ford came in third (-9.78% MoM, +10.14% YoY).

Greater growth can be seen further down the list, with Hyundai (4th) and Suzuki (5th) gaining significant market share over the year, posting YoY increases of +52.59% and +48.09%, respectively. Kia (9th) and Renault (10th) grew by +16.85% and +19.44%, while premium brand Mercedes-Benz saw a YoY decrease of -7.37%. Nissan recorded a minor decline of -0.60%, and BMW saw the lowest growth among the top brands at +13.65%.

The king of the South African used vehicle market, the Ford Ranger, remains undefeated, with 1,744 units sold in December 2025. While slightly lower than November’s near-2,000 figure of 1,952 units, this still represents a YoY increase of +6.28%. The Toyota Hilux, in second place, experienced even greater YoY growth at +7.54%, yet still trailed the Ranger with 1,312 units sold.

The Polo and Polo Vivo have been vying for third place, with the models switching between third and fourth positions several times over the past year. In December 2025, the Polo Vivo narrowly beat the Polo by just 1 unit, with 1,262 Vivos sold compared to 1,261 Polos. In fifth place is the Fortuner, with 622 units sold, and the only YoY decline of -0.96%.

In the final month of the year, the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class—once stalwarts of the Top 10 used best-sellers list—are nowhere to be seen, replaced by practical crossovers and affordable budget hatchbacks. The Suzuki Swift posted a YoY increase of 39.77% in December, securing sixth place, while the Hyundai Grand i10 (8th place) saw the largest increase, with a staggering YoY growth of 95.35%.

“After two very strong months, it’s not surprising to see sales ease slightly in December,” commented George Mienie, CEO of AutoTrader. “What really stands out is the year-on-year growth. Volumes are up, the total value of used cars sold is higher, and demand for popular models like bakkies and hatchbacks remains strong. It’s a solid way to end the year and points to a used car market that stayed resilient throughout 2025.”

In December 2025, the used car market showed the following key figures:

  • The cumulative value of used cars reached R12.89 billion in December 2025, representing a MoM decrease of -6.93% from November 2025 (R13.85 billion) and a YoY increase of +19.46% from December 2024 (R10.79 billion).

  • The average price of a used vehicle sat at R419,537 in December 2025, up from R411,084 in November 2025 and R408,516 in December 2024.

  • The average mileage increased to 72,433 km in December 2025, compared to 72,329 km in November 2025 and 75,779 km in December 2024.

By variant, the Polo Vivo 1.4 leads the used car market with 969 sales in December 2025, ahead of the Polo 1.0 TSI at 824 units. The Hilux 2.8 GD-6 (554), Ranger XL (536), and Hilux 2.4 GD-6 (449) complete the rankings.

Bakkies and compact hatchbacks dominated South Africa’s used car market in December 2025, with the Ford Ranger retaining its top position, the Toyota Hilux showing strong year-on-year growth, and the Polo Vivo narrowly edging out the Polo as urban buyers’ favourite.

Top 10 sold used models in December 2025

Ranked by most sold

Model

Sold Count 

Price (R) Average 

Mileage (km) Average

Registration year Average

1

Ford Ranger

1,744

R497,960

83,958 km

4 years-old

2

Toyota Hilux

1,312

R476,873

110,049 km

5 years-old

3

Volkswagen Polo Vivo

1,262

R212,272

50,168 km

3 years-old

4

Volkswagen Polo

1,261

R273,289

66,742 km

5 years-old

5

Toyota Fortuner

622

R491,842

104,173 km

6 years-old

6

Suzuki Swift

615

R209,612

35,494 km

2 years-old

7

Toyota Corolla Cross

550

R378,859

30,486 km

2 years-old

8

Hyundai Grand i10

504

R192,654

49,704 km

3 years-old

9

Isuzu D-Max

489

R441,165

74,537 km

3 years-old

10

Toyota Starlet

427

R238,299

37,460 km

2 years-old

Source: AutoTrader Used Car Sales Data: 1 – 31 December 2025

The State of Pay in 2025: Payfast by Network unpacks the digital payment landscape

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The State of Pay in 2025: Payfast by Network unpacks the digital payment landscape

Payfast by Network, part of Network International, a leading fintech company in Africa and the Middle East, has launched the fifth edition of its State of Pay report, providing an in-depth look into South Africa’s digital payments landscape.

Under the theme of ‘Powering Economic Growth Through Evolving Payments’, the 2025 edition explores how digital payment methods and solutions have enabled merchants and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to grow their businesses. This is based on key insights and anonymised data collected from the Payfast platform and annual merchant and consumer surveys.

Mpho Sadiki, Managing Director of Merchant Services, Africa at Network International and Payfast, reflected on how advancements in payment technologies are influencing business growth. “Next-generation payment rails have forever transformed how South African consumers and merchants engage in commerce. Digital payments are not just something nice to have; they are the starting point of their digitisation and modernisation efforts, a means to access new markets and ultimately grow their businesses in a resilient, secure and sustainable way.”

Central to the report are the findings of Payfast by Network’s annual merchant survey, through which entrepreneurs and business owners share insights into the nature of their businesses, their operations related to transactions and payment methods, and their overall outlook and sentiment towards the role of digital payments.

The survey gathered unique insights into the digital activities of South African businesses across a diverse range of industries, including clothing and accessories, recreation and travel, and general merchandise. One of the most notable results from the survey is the impact of adopting digital payments. When asked whether digital payments had led to an increase in business sales and revenue, almost 70% of respondents reported increases of up to 50%, while just over 35% reported increases even higher than that.

“Payfast has always been guided by the goal of supporting entrepreneurs with investments in new technologies and promoting financial inclusion. By deploying simple product design and onboarding principles and a competitive pricing strategy, we make it as easy, convenient and secure as possible for merchants to engage in in-person and e-commerce business,” Sadiki explained.

In addition to the merchant survey, the 2025 State of Pay report features insights from Payfast’s consumer survey. The findings reveal that card payments remain the top choice for online purchases. Meanwhile, Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options are gaining traction, with usage doubling from 2024 to 2025. Credit facilities like Mobicred are also making their mark, with nearly a third of respondents reporting usage—highlighting a growing demand for flexible, affordability-driven payment tools.

Security continues to be a non-negotiable factor in digital transactions, with over 65% of consumers prioritising data protection and encryption when choosing how to pay online. Clothing and accessories remain the most purchased category online, accounting for nearly half of all transactions—suggesting a strong appetite for fashion and lifestyle products in the ecommerce space.

The report also features input from Payfast’s executive team and success stories from key payment partners, Mobicred and TymeBank. Their integrations with the Payfast payment platform enable merchants to offer retail store credit facilities to customers and access capital for business funding.

“We would not be where we are today were it not for the collaborative input of our industry partners and our shared drive to deliver added value to merchants and their customers. With products such as Mobicred and Easy Advance in partnership with TymeBank, we enhance our solutions offering and help businesses fully embrace electronic commerce,” Sadiki added.

Shoneez Magan, Head of Marketing at Payfast by Network, commented on the role that the State of Pay report plays in reporting on current payment trends and industry developments. “The 2025 State of Pay exemplifies Payfast’s ambition to go beyond reporting numbers and share South Africa’s story of digital commerce. Resources such as the State of Pay are critical for all stakeholders, including consumers, businesses, industry regulators and policymakers. And in the five years since it first debuted, the report has evolved, providing the proof points of an economy that shows so much potential and laying out the path towards continued, sustainable growth.”

The 2025 State of Pay report is now available to view and download at https://payfast.io/resources/reports/. For more information about Payfast by Network, visit www.payfast.io

Future on the line as South Africa’s Class of 2025 receives pivotal NSC matric results

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Future on the line as South Africa’s Class of 2025 receives pivotal NSC matric results

The announcement of the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) matric results on 13 January marked a defining moment for South Africa’s Class of 2025, as thousands of learners across the country received the outcomes of their final year of schooling. This milestone once again highlighted the hopes, pressures and ambitions of young people, as well as the crucial role played by families, educators and communities in supporting them through their matric journey.

On the day, the national pass rate was 88% with approximately 345 000 candidates achieving Bachelor passes, around 184 000 diploma passes and just under 89 000 Higher Certificate passes. KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest provincial pass rate at 90.6%, while Gauteng achieved a pass rate of 89.06%, reflecting a modest improvement on its 2024 performance and marking the highest matric pass rate in the province’s history.

For many matriculants, these results have opened doors to universities, TVET colleges and training institutions, while others are now charting alternative pathways such as learnerships, skills programmes or entering the job market. This period remains highly emotional, with joy and celebration for some and disappointment or uncertainty for others, reinforcing the need for ongoing academic, emotional and practical support for young people at this critical transition point.

Parents and guardians have shared in the weight of this moment, helping their children interpret their results and make informed decisions about what comes next. Teachers and school leaders, who have walked alongside these learners for years, are using the results to reflect on areas of progress in the education system and where additional support and resources are still needed.

As part of the 2025 Matric Results Announcements the Telkom Foundation sponsored the provincial and national segments with prizes for top achievers and also hosted the Gauteng segment of the 2025 NSC Matric Announcement in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Education, creating a high-level platform to celebrate achievement and recognise learners from across the country. The Gauteng segment was hosted by Premier Panyaza Lesufi and MEC Matome Chiloane at the Telkom head office in Centurion.  During the event, top achievers from Gauteng schools, including LSEN learners (Learners with Special Educational Needs) were honoured for outstanding performance, including the overall top learner in Gauteng. learners who excelled in key gateway subjects such as Science, Technology, English and Maths (STEM) , and those who achieved despite significant socio‑economic adversity were also awarded bursaries.

In a context where young people continue to rely on digital platforms for information, guidance and study support, access to credible digital tools remains critical beyond results day. Educational content, exam preparation resources and career guidance available through digital learning platforms are now helping matriculants understand their next steps, whether that means enrolling in further study, upgrading subjects or pursuing alternative routes.

At the heart of this support ecosystem is the Telkom Foundation, which, through its holistic education-focused programmes, including Telkom Learn, is working to make digital learning resources more accessible to high school learners, particularly those in underserved communities. By combining connectivity, ICT infrastructure, Teacher Development and Training academic and psychosocial support, the Telkom Foundation aims to ensure that the Class of 2025 and future cohorts are better equipped to navigate life after school with confidence.

“Every matriculant deserves to feel seen, supported and hopeful about their future, no matter what their results sheet says,” says Judy Vilakazi, Executive: Corporate Social Responsibility at Telkom Foundation. “By sponsoring the 2025 Gauteng Matric Results Announcement and continuing to invest in education, we want young people to know that there are real pathways available to them, and that this is just one step in a much bigger journey. For those that did not succeed this year we want them to know that this setback does not define their future.”

The Telkom Foundation also supports support learners’ grit and psycho-social well-being by offering counselling, coaching and mentoring. We also extend the psycho-social support services to teachers, parents and guardians who are part of the learners’ support structure by working closely with Chillie SA (116) and Lifeline (0800-012-322). For learners who may feel emotionally distressed they may contact their toll-free numbers.

The 2025 matric results moment has also provided an opportunity to celebrate resilience, particularly among learners who have overcome significant personal, financial or community challenges to complete their schooling. During the ceremony, stories from nine learners from under-resourced schools across Gauteng and other provinces were highlighted, showcasing how determination, community support and access to resources helped them succeed.

Beyond the results themselves, there is a growing focus on empowering young people with the mindset and tools to adapt, upskill and keep planning for “what’s next”, even when their paths do not follow a traditional route. Through its education and youth-focused programmes, Telkom and the Telkom Foundation remains committed to backing young South Africans’ ambitions with practical, long-term support that helps open doors to new opportunities.

For more information about Telkom Foundation follow their social media channels: Instagram, Facebok, and Twitter

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