Innovative startup secures funding to boost growth and drive EV adoption in South Africa

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7 February 2025

Innovative startup secures funding to boost growth and drive EV adoption in South Africa — Wesley van der Walt, Ndia Magadagela and Paul Plummer – Founders of Everlectric

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global electric vehicle (EV) stock surpassed 16 million vehicles in 2022, marking a 60% increase from the previous year, with another 35% increase in 2023 and 25% in 2024. The growth of EVs is also gaining momentum in South Africa, as the country shifts toward more sustainable transportation solutions. EVs form part of the broader category of new energy vehicles (NEVs), which also include hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) reports that 2023 was a record year for NEV sales in South Africa, with significant growth continuing into 2024. In the third quarter of 2024, NEV sales increased by 88% compared to the same period in 2023.

With EVs offering a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to internal combustion engine vehicles, an innovative startup is embracing the increasing popularity, technological advancements, cost-effectiveness and environmental benefits of EVs. Everlectric, based in Pretoria, provides full maintenance leases of commercial Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) panel vans to South African businesses, particularly tailored to service providers in the logistics space.

Recognising the significant untapped market opportunity afforded by this trailblazing enterprise, supported by a pioneering and scalable solution and an outstanding management team, Everlectric has secured venture debt funding from the Vumela Fund.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Vumela on this venture debt transaction. This is a testament to Vumela’s commitment to providing innovative growth finance mechanisms, to enable rapid scaling of South African start-ups. The venture debt is the right catalyst, at the right time, with the right debt provider, enabling Everlectric’s growth,” says co-founder Ndia Magadagela.

The Vumela Fund was established in 2010 as a collaboration between by FNB Business Banking and business development specialist, Edge Growth to provide growth capital to black-owned SMEs.

The objective of this pioneering fund in South Africa is to invest in high-growth small, and medium enterprises and support their development and growth.

Developing alternative funding solutions is crucial for addressing the problem of access to funding for SME businesses, the venture debt offering/solution is designed to meet the funding needs of venture capital-backed scale-ups requiring non-dilutive capital to fund growth between funding rounds.

Investment Principal at Edgegrowth, Philippa Lloys Ellis, says that Everlectric has developed an innovative solution to assist South African businesses with their transition to EV fleets, addressing most of the concerns that exist around the adoption of EVs as a solution, which presents a potentially very large and untapped market in South Africa.

“We have been impressed by Everlectric’s innovative, organised and ambitious management team. We look forward to partnering with the team and supporting them as they grow and expect that the Venture Debt funding will be catalytic in helping the business unlock further capital for growth,” she says.

Founded by Magadagela, along with Paul Plummer and Wesley van der Walt, Everlectric provides a risk-free and cost-effective route to the adoption of commercial EVs in South Africa. Their service offering includes the leasing of leading internationally manufactured BEV panel vans, along with the access to a network of charging infrastructure and an enabling smart device platform.

“We are incredibly excited to provide funding to assist Everlectric’s growth. Everlectric is pioneering the transition of business fleets onto EV platforms which we believe creates longer term sustainable outcomes,” says Mike Sage, FNB’s Investment Capital Head and a Vumela Trustee.

Investing in electricity instead of fuel results in a decoupling of operational costs from unpredictable fluctuations in fuel prices. Everlectric’s charging solutions solve for fleet range anxiety and charging needs. As part of their commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, a leading South African multinational retail company is already using EVs provided by Everlectric for customer deliveries.

With an “early action leads to opportunity” attitude, Everlectric has been able to dispel the misconception that EVs are not commercially viable in South Africa. Their holistic service offering minimises the barriers to EV adoption and paves the way for a painless EV transition.

DJ Maphorisa and Tira Drop the Beat for the #HONORX9cOpenVerse Challenge

By

HONOR

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7 February 2025

DJ Maphorisa and Tira Drop the Beat for the #HONORX9cOpenVerse Challenge — DJ Maphorisa and DJ Tira

Unleash Your Flow and Win R20,000 with HONOR

South Africa’s music scene just got a thrilling new anthem. Global tech brand HONOR has partnered with the legendary DJ Maphorisa and the iconic DJ Tira to launch the electrifying HONOR X9c Open Verse Challenge on TikTok, igniting a wave of creativity across the nation.

This isn’t just any challenge—it’s a golden opportunity for aspiring musicians and content creators to showcase their lyrical prowess and rhythmic genius. With an irresistible beat crafted by Maphorisa and Tira, participants are invited to drop their freshest verses and compete for a mind-blowing grand prize: R20,000 in cash, the cutting-edge HONOR X9c smartphone, and an exclusive studio session with DJ Maphorisa himself.

Known for his knack for spotting raw talent, DJ Maphorisa was blown away by the HONOR X9c’s unbreakable design, hailing it as the perfect gadget for creators who live life on the move. “Whether you’re vibing in the studio or capturing spontaneous moments, the HONOR X9c is your ultimate sidekick,” says Maphorisa.

The challenge is more than a competition; it’s a celebration of South Africa’s diverse musical landscape. From amapiano beats to hip-hop flows, every voice has a place in the HONOR X9c Verse Challenge. Ready to make your mark? Grab your phone, hit record, and let your creativity soar!

How to Enter:

Follow HONOR’s official TikTok account @honorza.
Use the official #HONORX9cOpenVerseChallenge.
Record your verse, showcasing your unique style.
Tag #HONORX9cOpenVerseChallenge and stand a chance to win!

Watch the video here.

Don’t miss out on this epic chance to shine. The beat is set, the stage is yours—drop your verse and make history.

FB: https://www.facebook.com/honorsouthafrica
INS: https://www.instagram.com/honorza/        
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/honorafrica        
YT:  https://www.youtube.com/c/honorsouthafrica

Comments from ASATA – SONA 2025

By

LnT Desk

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7 February 2025

Comments from ASATA - SONA 2025 — Otto de Vries, ASATA CEO

ASATA is encouraged by the government’s commitment to strengthening South Africa’s trade and international relations, which has direct implications for outbound travel.

The investment in efficient digital identity systems and visa process enhancements will positively impact not only inbound but also outbound travel. Air access and the facilitation of easier business and leisure travel for South Africans remain critical, particularly in strengthening trade connections and ensuring that South Africans can move across the globe with greater ease.

We welcome the focus on modernising South Africa’s airports and increasing flights to key destinations, both of which are essential to improving connectivity for travellers. We look forward to further engagement on how these developments will support and expand outbound travel opportunities for both corporate and leisure travellers.

Infobip recognized as a worldwide CPaaS Leader by IDC MarketScape for the third time

By

LnT Desk

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7 February 2025

Infobip recognized as a worldwide CPaaS Leader by IDC MarketScape for the third time — Silvio Kutic-Chief Executive Officer at Infobip

Global cloud communications platform Infobip has been named as a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) 2025 Vendor Assessment. This is the third time that Infobip has been named a Leader in this report.

According to the report, “Infobip is a key player in the CPaaS market with a global footprint and strong capabilities underpinned by its broad portfolio for enterprises as well as a carrier-grade service offering.”

Courtney Munroe, Research Vice President, Worldwide Telecommunications Research at IDC, said: “Infobip has an agile organization structure and appetite for innovation to meet evolving enterprise requirements that stimulates continued expansion of its capabilities and global presence. The firm’s strong breadth and depth of services has enabled it to grow rapidly while maintaining a strong financial position.”

Silvio Kutić, CEO at Infobip, said: “Over the last year, Infobip has continued to invest in innovative new services. For instance, our AI Hub and RCS Business Messaging Solution enable businesses and brands to provide instant, personalized responses and deliver exceptional conversational experiences for their customers. We believe our recognition by the IDC MarketScape as a Leader in the CPaaS market for the third time reflects our commitment to helping businesses transform their customer relationships, increase loyalty, and grow.”

See the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) 2025 Vendor Assessment (doc #US52039625, February 2025) excerpt here: https://www.infobip.com/analyst-reports/infobip-recognized-as-a-global-leader-by-idcs-cpaas-marketscape-for-third-time

The rise of autonomous data recovery in the face of escalating cyber threats and attacks

By

Modeen Malick

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7 February 2025

The rise of autonomous data recovery in the face of escalating cyber threats and attacks — Modeen Malick, Principal Systems Engineer at Commvault

Escalating cyber threats and attacks constantly put businesses under pressure, increasingly prompting organisations to shift their mindsets towards ensuring continuous operations and thus avoiding downtime and revenue loss.

When the inevitable cyberattack happens, organisations must be able to rapidly rebuild, reconstruct and recover to ensure business continuity. As such, the concept of being able to recover data autonomously after a cyberattack is transforming how businesses manage their cyber resilience.

Autonomous data recovery combines automated validation, live data replication and rapid recovery and is designed to automate disaster and cyber recovery processes. It relies on Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven automation, continuous replication and automated failover to ensure that data is clean, complete and always available, even if it resides at a secondary site.

AI-based threats have the potential to be more sophisticated, adaptive and damaging than traditional attacks. To counteract this evolving threat landscape, organisations must adopt a cyber resilience strategy that embraces innovative approaches, which is why AI-driven automation is a key component of the rapid restoration of data in autonomous recovery.

Better efficiency, fewer resources

AI allows tasks to be automated to derive better efficiency, essentially enabling businesses to be more efficient with fewer resources. It also enables organisations to use their data-driven insights to automatically understand what customers or employees need and then generate the right result at the right time.

This means that AI-driven automation also makes mass recovery simple, enabling companies to scale it up. So, whether an organisation needs 100 servers to be restored or 100 applications to be recovered, AI-driven automation provides this capability.

Another main advantage of autonomous recovery is that it reduces recovery time and therefore downtime. After all, time is money and with the increased importance of data in business operations, workloads are becoming more complex and more distributed, so the traditional ways of doing backup and recovery are no longer sufficient. For instance, traditional backup and recovery solutions can require additional fees or provide less coverage.

On the other hand, autonomous recovery typically provides everything a company would need, including previous requirements such as backup, archive replication and disaster recovery, and also now built-in ransomware protection for all workloads, irrespective of where they are on-premises, in the public cloud or a hybrid multi-cloud environment.

Comprehensive coverage

Autonomous recovery provides comprehensive coverage, including for file systems, applications, databases, virtual machines, containers, Software-as-a-Service (including Microsoft 365 and Salesforce) and endpoints. It also provides cost-optimised cloud data mobility with support for Azure, AWS and Google Cloud Platform, as well as the verifiable recovery of data, applications and replicas.

Additionally, autonomous recovery enables easy-to-use disaster recovery orchestration with automated compliance reporting, on-demand testing, and one-click recovery. It also provides flexible replication, from periodic replication to sub-minute Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs) and near-zero Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs).

Organisations looking to avoid costly data loss scenarios and streamlined disaster recovery initiatives can benefit significantly from robust yet easy-to-use autonomous recovery solutions. With built-in disaster recovery orchestration, automated compliance reporting, flexible replication and cost-optimised cloud data mobility, autonomous recovery helps ensure business continuity and avoid costly downtime.

At the end of the day, data protection should be intelligent. Next-generation data protection harnesses the power of advanced automation and AI, so businesses can drive better data decisions while reducing cognitive load. Autonomous recovery allows businesses to automate workflows, classify data and its sensitivity, monitor user and file activities, and roll back to pre-infectious states with speed, precision and confidence.

Businesses need trusted recoverability and compliance wherever data lives, today and tomorrow. Autonomous recovery delivers trusted recoverability across the industry’s broadest set of data so that organisations can eliminate downtime and ensure business operations with unparalleled Service Level Agreement (SLA) compliance.

Small changes can increase the overall resale value of your house

By

LnT Desk

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7 February 2025

Small changes to your home’s kerbside can immediately improve its value — home

With flowers blooming and a new year all but upon us, now is the time to tackle some do-it-yourself (DIY) jobs and get into the garden during the traditional December and January quiet time, writes Better Bond National Head of Sales, Bradd Bendall.

Improving the kerbside appeal of your home, which includes everything from the garden through to your walls and doors, will add immeasurable value to your abode, and can be done without costing a fortune.

Having a project is also a good way of getting out of your armchair and experiencing South Africa’s great weather – just wear sunscreen.

The return on investment for improving the outward appearance of your home will vary. Almost all (97%) agents believe that home improvements are important for attracting buyers, with 75% considering it “very important” according to a report from the U.S. National Association of Realtors.

Financial services companies that arrange bonds in your area will be able to give you an indicative value of what houses are selling for on average.

Better Bond National Head of Sales, Bradd Bendall

Small details can make a big difference

In the garden and along the verge, succulents can add a distinctly South African flavour and thrive in the heat with little to no water. Many of these offer red leaves when in direct sun. They are also self-propagating and can easily be grown from a cutting, even for those of us with a reputation for killing plants.

Just bear in mind South Africa’s law stating that anyone can park outside your house: you can’t plant concrete poles or otherwise make it impossible for people to walk or park there. Instead, focus on flower beds against the wall.

At the same time, it may be possible to put in some stepping stones or rockery without impeding pedestrians, and making your kerb look even more attractive.

Take time to observe

However, before you start this process, have a good look at your walls. Walls with unsightly paint detract from the look of your home and can substantially reduce the asking price if you are looking to sell.

If this can be a DIY job, now is a good time to not only paint but also consider a different colour. You may also know an unofficial yet reliable painter who could benefit from some extra income on a daily basis.

It may, however, be one of those tasks that will have to wait for the so-called “builders’ holiday” to end if there is rising damp to deal with. Rising dampness is incredibly destructive to structures and having it fixed properly, by a company that provides a warranty, is important.

Garage and front doors, if street-facing, can always do with an uplift. Here, it’s important to consider the type of finish already on the wood as well as the best product with which to coat it again. Your local hardware store can assist with recommendations. Take a photo with you so that they can give you all the advice you need.

Sanding a door with the appropriate sander, which could be a rotary sander with a mouse sander for corners, is not only satisfying as you make progress – that feeling of achievement – but also a decent way to exercise your biceps!

Get creative with the finer things

Attractive and visible house numbers make your home easy to find when it comes to showings. In a South African context, they are also, sadly, vital in case armed response or emergency services need to be called.

It’s important to ensure that your driveway is also top-notch. If it’s in good condition, but just a little grim, rent a power washer to clean it up. This area may need professional work, in which case weed and do as much as you can. The driveway leads to your home and is a subconscious way of inviting people in.

While you have the power washer, if you have a face brick finish, give that a once over too.

If you live in, for example, a townhouse complex, bear in mind that the outside falls under the Body Corporate’s responsibility. However, you will still be able to varnish or paint a door as long as any aesthetics fit in with the rules, which generally state that you can’t make any changes that don’t match what the overall complex looks like.

You could also always ask for permission to put up an awning, for example. Just remember to keep it clean.

It’s also important to attend Annual General Meetings so you have a say in what happens in the complex, including painting.

All of these activities can both be personally satisfying as well as making your home immeasurably more attractive, ensuring it stands out from other houses when people go house hunting.

Building resilience in extreme environments – the critical role of advanced maintenance for petrochemical equipment

By

Wesley Vorster, Product Manager: Protection & Control at ACTOM Smart Technologies

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7 February 2025

Building resilience in extreme environments - the critical role of advanced maintenance for petrochemical equipment — petrochemical plant

The petrochemical and oil & gas sectors operate in unforgiving environments characterised by extreme temperatures, corrosive substances, and high pressures, constantly challenging the integrity of equipment. In this high-stakes industry, operational efficiency is vital, and unplanned downtime can have severe consequences – from safety hazards and environmental damage to significant financial losses. To thrive in this demanding landscape, a proactive and sophisticated approach to maintenance is no longer an option, but a necessity.

The unique challenges faced by rotating equipment in the petrochemical sector
Electro-mechanical rotating equipment, such as pumps, turbines, and compressors, are critical to petrochemical operations. However, these assets face unique challenges. The “run-to-failure” mentality, driven by short-term profit goals, has historically prevailed in this sector. Combined with the increasing demand for skilled technicians, many plants face challenges in maintaining equipment reliability.

Additionally, ensuring robust process and procedural controls remains essential to mitigating risks, emphasising the need for a comprehensive understanding of equipment operation and the potential consequences of even minor deviations. Leveraging technology, such as real-time monitoring and predictive analytics, can significantly aid in equipment maintenance, reducing reliance on human intervention while improving efficiency and reliability.

Extreme environments pose significant challenges to rotating equipment. Corrosion, temperature fluctuations, contamination, and vibrations relentlessly assault these machines. Corrosive substances degrade materials, while temperature extremes cause thermal stress. Dust, dirt, and moisture contaminate components, leading to wear and blockages. Vibrations can cause imbalances and bearing failures. To mitigate these threats, engineers must employ a multi-faceted approach, utilising corrosion-resistant materials, protective coatings, and rigorous inspections. Temperature control measures such as insulation, high-performance lubricants, and thermally stable materials must not be overlooked. Effective sealing, filtration, and cleaning are vital to prevent contamination, while vibration isolation mounts and monitoring systems are necessary to minimise the impact of vibrations and ensure the longevity and reliability of rotating equipment in these harsh conditions.

The benefits of proactive maintenance strategies
Proactive maintenance strategies are central to mitigating the above-mentioned risks. By shifting the focus from reactive repairs to preventative measures, companies can significantly reduce downtime and improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE). This involves implementing predictive maintenance techniques, such as vibration analysis, thermography, and oil analysis, to identify potential issues before they escalate into major failures.

However, successful maintenance goes beyond simply adhering to a schedule. It requires a deep understanding of the equipment, its operating environment, and the potential impacts of extreme conditions. As such, the success of any maintenance programme hinges on the availability of skilled personnel. Here, investing in training and development programmes is essential to ensure that the next generation of technicians possesses the necessary knowledge and expertise to maintain and repair complex equipment.

Measuring the benefits of proactive maintenance
To effectively evaluate maintenance success, tracking Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) is vital. These metrics provide valuable insights into equipment health, the effectiveness of the maintenance strategy, and areas for improvement. Key KPIs include Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF), which, when high, signifies reliable equipment and effective preventative maintenance. Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) is another important KPI; a low MTTR indicates efficient maintenance teams and minimal downtime. OEE provides a holistic view of equipment performance, considering factors such as downtime, inefficiencies, and defects.

Maintenance cost as a percentage of Replacement Asset Value (RAV) helps assess the cost-effectiveness of maintenance activities. High failure rates often signal underlying issues with equipment design, operating conditions, or maintenance strategies. Scheduled Maintenance Compliance, when high, ensures effective adherence to preventive and predictive maintenance schedules. Adequate spare parts availability is critical for minimising downtime and ensuring timely repairs.

Performing and acting upon Root Cause Analyses (RCA) is central to preventing recurring failures, while monitoring energy consumption helps identify areas for improvement in equipment efficiency. By diligently tracking and analysing these KPIs, maintenance teams can gain valuable insights, identify areas for improvement, and optimise equipment performance to minimise operational disruptions.

The role of emerging technologies in proactive maintenance
Emerging technologies are set to redefine maintenance strategies in the petrochemical industry. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms can analyse vast amounts of data from sensors, equipment logs, and other sources to predict equipment failures, optimise maintenance schedules, and improve decision-making. The Internet of Things (IoT) enables real-time monitoring of equipment performance, allowing for early detection of anomalies and enabling proactive maintenance interventions. On the execution side, robotics can be used to perform repetitive or hazardous maintenance tasks, improving safety and efficiency, with Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) technologies proving invaluable to enhance technician training, providing remote assistance for complex repairs, and improving equipment inspections.

Proactive maintenance today, operational resilience tomorrow
Operating in extreme environments presents significant challenges for petrochemical companies. Run-to-failure strategies are not only dangerous but also financially unsustainable. As such, prioritising a proactive maintenance strategy is necessary to ensure the safe and reliable operation of critical equipment.

In this respect, it is also necessary to invest in a highly skilled workforce through continuous training and development. This skilled workforce, combined with the implementation of advanced technologies such as predictive maintenance and sophisticated monitoring systems, will be central to establishing thriving operations despite the complexities of challenging environments. Furthermore, a strong emphasis on safety and a strict adherence to established maintenance procedures are vital to prevent equipment failures and ensure the long-term sustainability and profitability of operations.

SONA 2025: Suppple champions Africa-centric AI to drive business, communities & innovation

By

Suppple

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6 February 2025

SONA 2025: Suppple champions Africa-centric AI to drive business, communities & innovation — Prof. Eldrid Jordaan, Co-Founder & CEO at Suppple.

Cape Town, South Africa – As AI reshapes the global digital landscape, Africa is stepping forward to define its role in the Information Age. At a SONA-livestream and post-SONA networking event, co-hosted with the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), Suppple delivered a bold message: Africa needs AI that reflects its diversity, languages and ambitions.

Global AI models often overlook Africa’s unique cultural, linguistic and informational contexts. Suppple’s seeek.ai however, is leading the charge to correct this imbalance. Designed to be much more than a chatbot, seeek.ai is an AI-powered search and knowledge platform that bridges Africa’s digital divide by sourcing trusted information tailored to the continent’s realities. “With seeek.ai, Africa is defining AI on our terms,” said Eldrid Jordaan, CEO of Suppple. “We’re creating technology that speaks our language, understands our cultures, and supports sustainable growth – because AI should serve Africa, not sideline it.”

Seeek.ai is already shaping the future of African AI, with key features that include:

Trusted source validation: seeek.ai draws information from curated, verified datasets ensuring accuracy and trust.
Multilingual and culturally aware technology: supporting multiple African languages, it breaks down digital barriers in a world where most of the internet is dominated by just 10 global languages.
Mobile-first design: optimised for Africa’s mobile-first population, making reliable AI-driven knowledge accessible to millions.
A strategic knowledge hub: a tool for governments, businesses, and educators seeking actionable, structured insights.

Suppple beta-tested seeek.ai with Fundza, South Africa’s only and largest literacy platform serving over 4 million users, mostly GenZers during the December 2024 and January 2025 period. The results were fascinating, offering unique insights into how young African users interact with AI-driven search. Without any prompting or explanations, users quickly engaged with seeek.ai, showing a natural curiosity and ease of use. Their searches were overwhelmingly directed at Fundza’s content, underscoring the value of seeek.ai’s specialised training.

Since seeek.ai had been trained on Fundza’s vast library of content, users experienced an enriched and enhanced search experience, unlocking deeper engagement and discovery within the platform. In comparison to traditional AI models, seeek.ai stands out by offering instant, context-driven responses and handling localised content with greater precision and ethical alignment – key features that demonstrate its ability to serve African users effectively. “We’re in a new era where access to information is power, and Africa must control its share of that power,” Jordaan emphasised. “With seeek.ai we’re creating AI that doesn’t only provide answers, it builds digital sovereignty for our future.”

With its early success at Fundza sparking interest from academia, publishers, and key industries, seeek.ai is poised to become a strategic tool for organisations looking to transform archives of knowledge into searchable, monetizable and interactive digital hubs.

Seeek.ai is a movement driving Africa’s digital transformation. With Suppple at the helm, the continent is gaining the tools to lead, innovate and shape its future on its own terms. The Information Age rewards those who design its systems, and Africa is tepping forward. Suppple’s vision extends beyond search: the company envisions AI-powered technology enhancing civic engagement, improving access to government services, and solidifying Africa’s role as a creator of AI solutions.

Seeek.ai is a movement. With Suppple at the forefront, Africa is gaining tools to lead, innovate, and define its digital future on its own terms. The Information Age rewards those who design its systems, and Africa is stepping forward.

FWF and Lapalala Wilderness School: Empowering Communities Through Environmental Education

By

LnT Desk

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6 February 2025

FWF and Lapalala Wilderness School: Empowering Communities Through Environmental Education — FWF and Lapalala Wilderness School

In the heart of South Africa’s Limpopo province, where rich biodiversity thrives and conservation challenges persist, Lapalala Wilderness School (LWS) is shaping a future where people and nature co-exist in harmony.

What makes LWS unique is that it’s not only educating minds but also inspiring a deep and lasting respect for the natural world. Through its far-reaching programmes, LWS instils the belief that conservation is not just about protecting wildlife – it is about creating a sustainable future for generations to come.

The Ford Wildlife Foundation (FWF) has been a steadfast supporter of LWS for over six years, ensuring that education and conservation go hand in hand. “At Ford South Africa, we are committed to supporting organisations like the Lapalala Wilderness School that are making a difference in conservation as well as environmental awareness and education,” said Lynda du Plessis, manager of the Ford Wildlife Foundation.

Lapalala Wilderness School

Founded in 1981, the 50 000-hectare Lapalala Wilderness Reserve is a ‘Big Five’ nature reserve in Limpopo and offers experiential learning opportunities that connect children, youth, and educators with the natural world.

The school is a leader in environmental education and conservation in South Africa, offering a tertiary education in Nature Conservation along with social responsibility programmes that focus on youth development and community outreach.

Supported by the FWF, LWS has expanded its reach beyond its award-winning eco-friendly facilities by taking environmental education to rural communities. In the first six months of 2024 alone, its FWF-sponsored Ford Ranger covered over 13 000km transporting supplies, personnel, and conducting outreach activities, thereby making meaningful connections and inspiring action in remote areas.

Ford Wildlife Foundation’s Support for Lapalala Wilderness School

“Providing locally built Ford Ranger Double Cab 4x4s to environmental education, conservation and research organisations empowers them to expand their reach, and give young people the knowledge and passion needed to safeguard our natural heritage” said du Plessis.

FWF provides the Ford Rangers to partner organisations for two years, backed by Ford’s extensive dealer network. These capable vehicles enable conservation teams to access remote locations, ensuring that vital environmental education efforts continue without interruption. LWS received its newest Ford Ranger in December 2024, further strengthening its ability to deliver impactful programmes.

Community Outreach Programme: Bridging Education and Conservation

LWS’s community outreach programme is a cornerstone of its mission. The school delivers interactive lessons on biodiversity, sustainable resource use, and human-wildlife coexistence through workshops and field excursions. It identifies promising individuals from rural communities, providing mentorship, leadership training, and conservation education.

“We are deeply grateful to the Ford Wildlife Foundation for its generous support of Ford Rangers to Lapalala Wilderness School over the years. Having a capable and dependable Ford Ranger significantly aids in transportation and the dependable organisation of daily activities such as environmental education, sustainable school programs, and outreach initiatives,” said Mashudu Makhokha, MD of Lapalala Wilderness School.

“This contribution plays a vital role in supporting our conservation efforts, community outreach, and environmental education programs. Additionally, the Ford Ranger ensures the safety of our staff while assisting with essential conservation work,” Makhokha said.

LWS has launched creative projects that engage communities in preserving the environment while addressing socio-economic challenges. Birding clubs at the school inspire eco-tourism and conservation careers, while a reading club promotes literacy by distributing donated books. The Good Green Deeds Project fosters sustainable practices through community clean-ups and environmental advocacy in partnership with local government. Soccer tournaments serve to foster teamwork and play an important role in crime prevention and health awareness.

Following the official opening of new school facilities in late 2022, LWS has operated entirely from the new site since 2023. The school has had more than 4 000 participants through its doors, offering hands-on encounters with the natural world. The new facilities were highly commended at the World Architecture Festival and won the Limpopo Architecture Award.

In 2023, 23 fee-paying schools participated in programmes at LWS, encouraging children to think about a greener future, while 2 200 children from 34 community schools engaged in over 2 150 hours of educational activities and interactive wilderness walks.

LWS supports 60 schools through the Sustainable Schools Programme, tackling climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and waste. Six groups of university students completed the practical component of their conservation curricula at Lapalala, while 125 learners from 62 Waterberg schools participated in a public speaking competition for World Rhino Day.

Sustaining the Vision

By fostering environmental awareness, leadership, and action, LWS is not limited to teaching conservation – it is cultivating a culture of care and responsibility for our planet. With continued partnerships and a shared commitment to sustainability, LWS looks forward to expanding its reach and inspiring future generations to protect and cherish the world around them.

For over 30 years, Ford South Africa has actively participated in wildlife and ecosystem conservation efforts in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. The Ford Wildlife Foundation was established in 2014, and currently supports 28 projects across South Africa and one project in Mozambique. This comprises 17 conservation projects, seven research projects and five environmental education projects. For more information on the Ford Wildlife Foundation and its supported conservation projects, please click here: https://www.ford.co.za/about-ford/wildlife-foundation/

From sceptic to believer: why this German luxury car owner made the switch to a Chinese vehicle

By

LnT Desk

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6 February 2025

From sceptic to believer: why this German luxury car owner made the switch to a Chinese vehicle — JAECOO J7

Chinese cars have long been criticised, often unfairly so. The latest models from China are a far cry from the admittedly inferior products that reached South African shores more than a decade ago. Equipped with cutting-edge technology, advanced safety features, and stylish exterior design, the new crop offers a luxurious experience at an appealing price tag.

Unsurprisingly, an increasing number of South Africans are making the switch, trading in their vehicles from well-known premium brands for the latest Chinese models. Adele, a first-time Chinese car owner, is one such example. After owning three German luxury cars from the same brand, she recently purchased a JAECOO J7 Vortex.

Adele and her husband had done their research, reading several reviews before they decided to check the J7 out in person. They were immediately impressed by the styling and the quality of the interior. But the advanced safety features and technology sealed the deal. “We went for a test drive and were hooked immediately. My five-year-old son even commented that it drives better than my previous car,” she laughed.

“It’s a very different experience with the technology. At first, it takes some getting used to—there aren’t many buttons to press inside—but now we’re really enjoying it,” Adele adds, referring to the central touchscreen that operates most of the vehicle controls.

While Chinese cars have often been associated with poor quality, Adele was surprised by the materials and overall feel of the J7. “I’ve always believed that you can feel the quality of a car when you close the door. The sound it makes says a lot about the build. I always look at it when we’re purchasing a new car,” she added, commenting on the solid feel of the J7’s doors.

Another key factor in her decision was the price. Adele had contemplated replacing her German luxury car with a new model but was put off by the increasingly high costs. “The prices keep rising. They base the price on the quality of the product. Sure, it’s a German car, but technology-wise, it doesn’t feel like they’re improving much,” she says. The J7, on the other hand, offered an appealing combination of advanced features at a competitive price.

Initially, Adele was sceptical about the quality of Chinese vehicles. “I thought they looked good, but I wasn’t sure about the quality. I knew a few people who drove Chinese cars, like Cherys, and they said they were happy with them.” She noticed an increasing number of these vehicles on the road and figured these automakers must be doing something right. “When you hear ‘made in China,’ you automatically think of certain things, but look at how many things in our lives come from China.”

As a mother to a young boy, Adele’s main concern was safety. Unsure about the safety standards of Chinese vehicles, her worries were quickly alleviated when she learned more about the J7’s safety features. “The J7 has all the airbags and driver assistance features you could ask for. The safety features are incredible; it warns me of vehicles in my blind spots and other drivers following too closely. It’s so advanced.”

What really surprised Adele, though, was the amount of attention she’s received since purchasing the J7. “I’ve never gotten so many compliments about a car. Everywhere I stop—whether it’s at the shops or in a parking lot—people comment on it. You can see people staring everywhere you stop, and I’ve had countless people telling me how amazing the car looks or wanting to look at the interior. This has never happened with my previous cars. It’s definitely turning heads.”

Switching from a German luxury vehicle to a Chinese car might seem like a downgrade to some, but for Adele, her JAECOO J7 has proven to be a pleasant surprise.

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From sceptic to believer: why this German luxury car owner made the switch to a Chinese vehicle

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