A cutting-edge AI model developed by OpenAI has managed to escape the confines of a lab test and break into a company’s database without any human instruction. It’s a nightmare scenario – or is that just what OpenAI wants you to believe?

On July 16, OpenAI carried out an internal benchmark test on GPT‑5.6 Sol and another pre-release model that the company claims is “even more capable.” 

The models had their guardrails disabled and were put to work solving a series of cybersecurity tests known as ExploitGym. Developed by researchers at UC Berkeley, Germany’s Max Planck Institute, and AI companies including Google, Anthropic, and OpenAI itself, ExploitGym measures AI models’ ability to create and deploy the means of exploiting known security vulnerabilities.

Instead of identifying these vulnerabilities, OpenAI’s models searched for ways to cheat the test. They managed to obtain open internet access from within the closed testing environment and used this newfound freedom to hack into Hugging Face’s servers. Hugging Face is a repository of AI models and datasets, and according to OpenAI, the models being tested reasoned that they could find a solution to the ExploitGym tasks there.

“Knowing this, the model searched for and successfully found ways to gain access to secret information that it could use to cheat the evaluation,” OpenAI said in its report about the incident. 

Hugging Face discovered the intrusion with the help of a different AI model, and fixed the vulnerability that allowed it to happen in the first place. On its end, OpenAI blamed the escape on a weakness in third-party software used in its testing lab, through which its models found internet access. It kept the technical details of how its models exploited this weakness under wraps.

On its path to breach Hugging Face’s servers, the model also broke into a supposedly isolated testing environment at Modal, a firm that rents out computing capacity to AI developers, Reuters reported on July 28.

Has AI become sentient?

Taken at face value, the story suggests that OpenAI’s models are capable of complex lateral thinking: suspecting that Hugging Face’s servers likely contained the answers to the test; realizing that they needed external internet access to breach these servers; and independently developing and combining various attack techniques to achieve its goal.

OpenAI’s statement described the escape in alarmist language, calling it an “unprecedented cyber incident, involving state-of-the-art cyber capabilities.” Hugging Face, which has since partnered with OpenAI, was equally hyperbolic. “Autonomous, AI-driven offensive tooling is no longer theoretical. It lowers the cost of running a broad, patient, multi-stage campaign, and it operates at machine speed,” it said in a statement. 

However, it remains unclear just how autonomously OpenAI’s models were operating. The company has not revealed how its models were prompted to approach the ExploitGym test, and imprecise wording could have resulted in the models assuming that ‘escaping’ containment was a legitimate path to solving the trial. Despite the hyperbole from both OpenAI and Hugging Face, there is no evidence to suggest that the AI models ‘wanted’ to escape, or that when left to their own devices, would default to malicious activity.

If the incident also involved – as OpenAI said it did – a second, “even more capable pre-release model,” the appeal to industry-level customers is obvious. By publicizing an incident that took place during closed testing, OpenAI can generate hype for its pre-release model without ever providing proof.

None of this is to say that the incident didn’t happen, or that the offensive capabilities of AI aren’t a cause for concern, just that OpenAI has a financial incentive to scaremonger about its own products. A month before the incident, the company confidentially filed the paperwork for an initial public offering. According to Reuters, the company is targeting a valuation of up to $1 trillion, and planning to go public as early as September.

Anthropic also filed for its IPO in June, targeting a valuation of $965 billion in October. Back in April, Anthropic’s unreleased Mythos Preview model also managed to “escape” its testing environment and carry out advanced cybersecurity exploits without being “explicitly trained” to do so. Anthropic released a lengthy technical explanation of how Mythos pulled off this feat, before announcing that the model was too powerful to release to the public.

Scarcity drives hype, and the US government’s decision to slap export controls on Anthropic’s Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models in June only heightened interest in the company. The export controls were lifted in early July after Anthropic agreed to impose stricter guardrails on its models and collaborate with the government on security.

Was the AI escape an elaborate marketing ploy?

For OpenAI, the incident is the best possible advertisement for its models’ capabilities. In its report, the company included a graph illustrating how leading AI models – including GPT‑5.6 Sol, Anthropic’s Claude Mythos 5, and DeepSeek-V4-Pro – are “increasingly able to sustain complex, multi-step cyber operations over long time horizons.” Although this is presented as a cause for concern, the chart lists GPT-5.6 Sol as the most capable among all of its competitors – a clear advertisement for OpenAI.

If the incident also involved – as OpenAI said it did – a second, “even more capable pre-release model,” the appeal to industry-level customers is obvious. By publicizing an incident that took place during closed testing, OpenAI can generate hype for its pre-release model without ever providing proof.None of this is to say that the incident didn’t happen, or that the offensive capabilities of AI aren’t a cause for concern, just that OpenAI has a financial incentive to scaremonger about its own products. A month before the incident, the company confidentially filed the paperwork for an initial public offering. According to Reuters, the company is targeting a valuation of up to $1 trillion, and planning to go public as early as September.

Anthropic also filed for its IPO in June, targeting a valuation of $965 billion in October. Back in April, Anthropic’s unreleased Mythos Preview model also managed to “escape” its testing environment and carry out advanced cybersecurity exploits without being “explicitly trained” to do so. Anthropic released a lengthy technical explanation of how Mythos pulled off this feat, before announcing that the model was too powerful to release to the public.

Scarcity drives hype, and the US government’s decision to slap export controls on Anthropic’s Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models in June only heightened interest in the company. The export controls were lifted in early July after Anthropic agreed to impose stricter guardrails on its models and collaborate with the government on security.

How has the US government responded?

Both incidents have caught the eye of lawmakers on Capitol Hill. On July 23, Representatives Ted Lieu and Nathaniel Moran introduced the AI Kill Switch Act, which would “require developers of the most powerful AI systems to maintain the technical capability to throttle, suspend, or shut them down.” The bill would also empower the US Department of Homeland Security to “order a slow down or shutdown of an AI system that can cause catastrophic harm.”

In a statement on the bill, Lieu referenced the ‘escapes’ of both of OpenAI’s models, and of Mythos. The California lawmaker described both cases as models “going rogue,” a framing that the mainstream media picked up and ran with.

Lieu knows no more about the OpenAI incident than anyone who’s read the company’s press release. However, his wording plays right into OpenAI’s (perhaps unintentional) marketing campaign. Furthermore, should the bill pass, OpenAI and Anthropic could be forced to throttle their models before release, meaning investors will only ever know of their theoretical – and not their real-life – power.

The open-source argument

The incident bolsters OpenAI’s argument that frontier AI models are too powerful to be released to the public, and that companies like OpenAI should – with the blessing of the government – maintain oversight and control over them. In such a closed-source arrangement, customers would have no control over the weights of the models – essentially the tweaks that determine the choices the models make.

On the other side of the argument, open-source advocates maintain that the only way to defend against cyberattacks by advanced AI is to equip defenders with the same tools. In the case of OpenAI and Hugging Face, the latter company was only able to detect an attack because it used GLM 5.2, a Chinese open-source model, to perform its security analysis.

In a letter posted on social media on July 24, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang – a longtime open-source advocate – declared that “defenders need access to models with comparable capabilities so they can detect, simulate, and respond to emerging threats.”

“Relying solely on closed models is not inherently safe: they can be breached, misused, or fail in ways that outsiders cannot detect,” he continued. “And concentrating advanced AI capabilities behind a small number of closed models compounds that risk. Open weight models, on the other hand, allow a broad community of researchers and developers to examine their behavior, identify vulnerabilities, develop safeguards, and improve them over time.”

The letter was signed by more than two dozen companies working in the AI field. Two notable exceptions were OpenAI and Anthropic, although OpenAI added its signature later.

However, it appears in the US that the closed-source argument will win out. On August 1, an executive order issued by US President Donald Trump in June comes into effect, requiring AI firms to submit advanced models to the government for approval 30 days before release. The Trump administration has also considered banning open-source Chinese AI models – a move supported by the CIA that would ensure OpenAI and Anthropic’s dominance in the field. Shortly after the executive order was issued, former Trump AI adviser David Sacks noted that “the leading closed labs, already a duopoly in terms of AI model revenue, want the government to eliminate their open source competition.”

Every new incident of an AI “escape” only reinforces their bid for total control.

RT News

As the world continues to embrace the digital lifestyle, thousands of South Africans rely on an internet connection every day for work, banking, studying, streaming and staying in touch with family.

So when the internet suddenly stops working, the house is filled with the question of "What just happened?' because it can be difficult to tell whether the problem is inside the home or part of a wider network issue.

Afrihost said in a network status update on Tuesday that initial investigations indicated it had "lost power to our Teraco cabinet hosting the connectivity core", adding that Teraco electricians and Afrihost engineers were investigating the issue.

That recent connectivity disruption, which affected multiple internet service providers (ISPs), have highlighted how a single fault elsewhere in the network can affect thousands of users at once.

We have IT at home

Before logging a fault with your ISP, here are some simple checks that could save time and help identify the source of the problem.

 1. Check whether the outage is widespread

If multiple people in your area, or even across the country, are reporting connectivity problems, the issue is likely outside your home.

Many ISPs post updates on their websites, social media pages or network status portals when they are aware of major outages.

Independent outage-tracking platforms can also indicate whether other customers are experiencing similar issues.

2. Restart your router

It may sound simple, and it's probably advice you heard so many times, but restarting your router can often resolve temporary connection problems.

Switch the router off, wait about 30 seconds and then switch it back on. Give it a few minutes to reconnect before testing your internet connection again.

3. Check whether only one website or app is affected

If you can access some websites but not others, the problem may not be your internet connection.

Occasionally, a single website, streaming platform or online service experiences technical difficulties while the rest of the internet continues to function normally.

 4. Test another device

If your phone connects to the internet but your laptop does not, the issue may lie with the device rather than the internet connection itself.

Testing multiple devices can help narrow down the cause.

 5. Try mobile data

If your fibre connection is down, switching to mobile data can help determine whether the fault is with your home internet service.

If mobile data is slow but fibre is working normally, the issue may be affecting your mobile network rather than your fibre provider.

6. Check cables and power

Loose cables or power interruptions can prevent your router or fibre equipment from working correctly.

Ensure all cables are securely connected and that any fibre network equipment has power.

7. Contact your ISP if the problem persists

If none of these steps resolves the issue, contact your ISP.

Like you would at the doctor, it's important to provide details such as when the problem started, whether any error lights are showing on your router and what troubleshooting steps you have already tried can help speed up the support process.

Why one outage can affect several providers

Many South Africans assume that each ISP operates an entirely separate network. In actual fact, many providers rely on shared infrastructure, including fibre networks, internet exchange points and upstream transit providers.

As a result, a fault affecting a major network provider or internet transit service can have a knock-on effect across multiple ISPs, even though customers pay different companies for their internet service.

According to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), internet connectivity plays an increasingly important role in education, business, public services and communication. Even relatively short disruptions can affect remote work, online banking, digital payments, cloud services and virtual learning.

IOL

HUAWEI is bringing South Africans a new chapter of mobile aesthetics and technology with the upcoming arrival of the HUAWEI Pura 90s Series. Built around the powerful philosophy of Now is Your Moment, the HUAWEI Pura 90s Series blends advanced imaging innovations with a fresh design language, empowering users to capture every moment with effortless authenticity.

200MP Large Sensor Telephoto camera

The HUAWEI Pura 90s Series raises the bar for flagship smartphone photography, delivering significant advancements in telephoto macro imaging, main camera performance, and colour accuracy.

Leading the lineup, the HUAWEI Pura 90s Pro Max features an industry-leading 200MP Ultra Large Sensor Telephoto Camera, setting a new benchmark for long-range photography with exceptional clarity and stability. It also debuts chip-level 200MP RAW real-time processing technology, enabling remarkably crisp 20x telephoto video recording.

Complementing these capabilities is an industry-leading CIPA 7.0 image stabilisation system that effectively minimises handheld blur, even in challenging shooting conditions.

Powered by the True-to-Colour Camera 2.0, the HUAWEI Pura 90s Series delivers a 43% improvement in colour accuracy and a 34% wider colour gamut, faithfully reproducing every scene with vibrant, true-to-life colours.

The upgraded AI Composition feature serves as an intelligent framing assistant, instantly recognising subjects such as people, architecture and landscapes to provide real-time composition guidance. AI De-glare removes distracting reflections from windows, glass and screens while restoring natural skin tones and revealing details hidden behind reflective surfaces. AI Move, unlocks new creative possibilities by enabling users to isolate, reposition, or duplicate elements within an image, with the system intelligently reconstructing backgrounds and matching lighting for seamless results.

Vibrant colour palettes

Inspired by HUAWEI’s Rhythm of Colour design philosophy, the HUAWEI Pura 90s Series embraces a refined flat-edged design across the lineup, creating a signature look that is both understated and elegant. The HUAWEI Pura 90s Pro Max is available in three striking finishes, Blush Gold, inspired by the first light of dawn, Blaze Purple, evoking the beauty of twilight in bloom and Graphite Black, reflecting the quiet depth of the cosmos.

The HUAWEI Pura 90s Pro adopts a more playful aesthetic inspired by refreshing holiday beverages. Available in Orange Soda, Coconut White and Mulberry Black, each colourway brings vibrant holiday-inspired hues together with a clean, sophisticated finish.

Built to endure

The HUAWEI Pura 90s Pro Max features Anti-Reflection and Scratch-resistant Kunlun Glass, which reduces screen reflections by up to 70%, ensuring vibrant visibility even under direct sunlight. It also offers enhanced resistance to everyday scratches while minimising fingerprint smudges, helping the display stay pristine and comfortable to use.

The HUAWEI Pura 90s Series also introduces the brand-new system-level AI assistant, Celia, delivering a smarter and more intuitive user experience.

Powering the series is a large 6000mAh battery for extended all-day usage. The HUAWEI Pura 90s Pro supports 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge, while the HUAWEI Pura 90s Pro Max takes charging even further with 100W HUAWEI SuperCharge, enabling users to power up in less time and spend more time capturing every moment.

Capture the moment

Bringing together breakthrough imaging, refined craftsmanship, intelligent AI features and all-day performance, the HUAWEI Pura 90s Series is designed for people who want every moment to look and feel extraordinary. Whether capturing distant landscapes, everyday memories or life's biggest milestones, the series empowers users to create with confidence, wherever the moment takes them.

The HUAWEI Pura 90s Series will be available in August 2026 through select retailers, HUAWEI Experience Stores, operators and the HUAWEI Online Store, from R849 per month over 36 months or from R19,999.

As part of the HUAWEI Pura 90s Series launch, customers will also receive a value-added package worth up to R10,096, comprising of HUAWEI Care Service, one month free 200GB HUAWEI Cloud Storage, one year of HUAWEI Care+, MEA & APAC Warranty coverage, a HUAWEI SuperCharge charger, with a protective cover and screen protector included in the box and a complimentary HUAWEI nova Y74 handset valued at R3299.00 each, terms and conditions apply.

In Guanshanhu district of Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou province, a fleet of driverless minibuses threads through urban traffic. Their windows are printed with eye-catching QR codes and curated reading lists, signalling a new kind of public service.

Sun, a tourist from Zunyi city traveling with her child, scanned a QR code as soon as she sat down and was immediately drawn to the vast collection of audiobooks available. "Listening to audiobooks is a good fit for the ride, and since my child can't read many Chinese characters yet, listening with headphones makes it easy to follow the whole story," she said.

The minibuses offer AI-powered reading recommendations, listening sections, and children's reading areas, ensuring most passengers can find content suited to their needs.

Bringing a digital reading platform onto driverless minibuses to create mobile libraries is a new initiative by the Guizhou Provincial Library, aimed at expanding public access to reading materials.

The driverless loop route, launched for trial operation this April by PIX Moving in Guanshanhu district, links museums, libraries, business districts and scenic areas along the way. A one-way trip takes only about 20 minutes.

"We looked at our passenger flow and found tourists and families with children make up the largest share, exactly the target audience for our campaign to promote reading," said Luo Jing, director of the library's digital and cultural service center.

"Short urban rides are ideal for listening to audiobooks, which fits closely with our library's digital reading platform," Luo added.

The digital resources built into the driverless minibuses are drawn from the Guizhou Digital Library, a brand of the Guizhou Provincial Library. This year, the library fully upgraded its mini-program, bringing together 1 million e-books, 1.5 million audiobook episodes, and 36,000 video lectures, all offered free of charge.

To suit mobile settings, the mini-program optimized its audiobook, picture book, and recommended reading sections. It incorporated local cultural features and embedded an AI that can summarise a book's plot and automatically recommend similar titles with a single click, lowering the barrier for readers. The driverless minibuses are just one example of the library's broader efforts.

In recent years, the library has continued to bring reading into a wider range of settings across the province.

"In 2025, we built smart libraries in Pingyuan ancient town in Zhijin county, Bijie city, and Qingyan ancient town in Guiyang," Luo said.

So far, the province has established 45 digital rural libraries and expanded the use of QR codes in everyday settings, including rural libraries, bus routes and airports. Incentive mechanisms have also been introduced to encourage more people to read.

"Traditional libraries are limited by their physical space and location, and many residents don't have time to visit them in person. Our goal is to take reading beyond the library and into people's daily lives," Luo said.

She sees combining online and offline services as a key way to promote reading. In the past, she noted, digital libraries focused mainly on academic resources such as research papers and ancient texts, serving mostly teachers and researchers. The current mini-program, by contrast, is simple to use, offers rich audio and visual content, and is suitable for readers of all ages.

"The driverless minibuses use technology to create a scenario that works for both cultural tourism and reading promotion. We are discussing cooperation on study tours and the integration of library services into different settings, so that more people can benefit from the high-quality public services our library provides," Luo said.

People's Daily Online

Across rural South Africa, water supply systems continue to underperform — not simply because of a lack of infrastructure, but because of limited understanding of the water resources and systems that underpin them. Despite significant investment in the sector, only 64% of South African households have access to a reliable water supply service (Department of Water and Sanitation, 2019).

In many communities, natural springs and boreholes are relied on as alternative water sources where municipal supply is unreliable. However, these sources are often developed without a holistic assessment of the social, environmental, and technical systems in which they are embedded. The result is water systems that are inconsistent, unsafe, and ultimately unsustainable.

Through a series of ongoing studies, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is working to better understand how locally available groundwater resources can support communities through the design of viable, safe, and sustainable rural water systems. This work integrates hydrological, geohydrological, engineering, and social science research to address the interconnected technical, social, and governance factors that shape how water systems function in practice.

Integrating technical capability with local knowledge

Central to this approach is the integration of multidisciplinary technical capability with local knowledge.

The CSIR’s technical inputs are not applied in isolation. Through structured stakeholder engagement and development facilitation processes, local knowledge, cultural practices, and site-specific risks are incorporated into system design.

This integration allows for more contextually appropriate solutions — for example, combining springs and boreholes where necessary, adapting infrastructure to environmental constraints, and identifying social risks that may affect long-term sustainability. The result is a set of implementation-ready approaches that are both technically robust and grounded in local realities.

Understanding the system: why science matters

A critical insight emerging from this work is that water sources cannot be assumed to be inherently reliable. Their suitability depends on a range of contextual factors, including environmental and hydrogeological conditions, institutional dynamics, and technical feasibility considerations that often require engineered solutions.

For instance, spring yields are often variable and, in some cases, insufficient to meet community demand throughout the year. At the same time, water quality analysis shows that while chemical quality may be acceptable, microbial contamination — often linked to factors such as free-roaming livestock and wildlife — is common, posing a risk to human health if untreated. This challenge is not unique to rural communities, with national Blue Drop assessments continuing to identify significant drinking water quality risks across many water supply systems in South Africa (Department of Water and Sanitation, 2022).

Boreholes, while often providing more reliable yields, introduce additional considerations related to long-term sustainability. These include maintenance requirements, the cost of operation (such as fuel or electricity), and the institutional and relational dynamics between governing authorities responsible for their management.

These findings shift how rural water supply needs to be approached. Rather than relying on single water sources, our research demonstrates the value of integrated, multidisciplinary approaches that combine social, environmental, and technical considerations into system-level solutions. Water sources must therefore be understood, managed, and combined as part of a broader system, rather than treated as standalone interventions.

When water systems fail, the impacts are not equal

When these systems underperform, the impacts are not experienced equally. Our research across rural contexts indicates that water insecurity disproportionately affects women, children, the elderly, and people living with disabilities. Globally, women and girls remain the primary collectors of household water in seven out of ten households that rely on water sources located away from the home (WHO & UNICEF, 2023). In areas where a significant proportion of households are female-headed, limited access to water translates into increased time spent collecting water, higher financial costs associated with transport or purchasing water, and increased exposure to health risks when water quality is poor.

For many households, accessing water involves walking long distances to springs or purchasing water from private borehole owners or informal water vendors, particularly when municipal systems are unreliable. These realities shape how water is used, prioritised, and managed at the household level — often reinforcing existing inequalities.

From infrastructure to systems thinking: governance and integration

While technical design is critical, the long-term success of these systems depends on governance and institutional alignment.

In many rural areas, local water committees, traditional authorities, and community forums play a central role in managing shared water resources. However, where governance structures are weak, fragmented, or exclusionary, water systems are more likely to face challenges such as poor maintenance, conflict, or vandalism.

A key lesson emerging from this work is the importance of strengthening the links between bottom-up and top-down governance structures. This includes improving coordination between communities, municipalities, and service providers, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and establishing mechanisms for communication, accountability, and long-term management.

Ensuring that women and other underrepresented groups are included in decision-making structures is therefore not only a matter of equity — it is essential for system functionality. Inclusive governance helps ensure that water systems respond to real needs, build community ownership, and are sustained over time.

Rethinking rural water supply

The findings from this body of work point to a broader shift needed in how rural water supply is approached in South Africa. Water challenges are often framed as issues of access or infrastructure delivery. In reality, they are equally about how water resources are understood, how systems are designed, and how they are managed over time.

When these systems fail, the consequences are not neutral — they are felt most acutely by those already vulnerable. Addressing this requires moving beyond technical fixes alone, towards approaches that integrate scientific understanding with social realities.

Where this integration happens, water systems are more likely to be reliable, sustainable, and equitable. And in those contexts, where water flows more consistently and safely, the conditions for greater equality can begin to take shape.

* Dr Sam McCulloch-Jones is a senior researcher at the CSIR.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL.

Bitcoin, the digital currency that had its genesis in 2009, is often confused with blockchain technology. However, Bitcoin is not blockchain, and blockchain is not Bitcoin. Although related, the difference between Bitcoin and blockchain is not subtle. The textbook definition of blockchain states that “it is an immutable ledger that allows transactions to occur among parties in a decentralised fashion, with a mechanism to reach consensus on the shared state of the ledger”. Simply put, blockchain is a distributed “database” that is not managed by a central entity, is accessible to any interested party and records timestamped data exchanges between two transacting parties in an append-only and tamper-evident “audit-trail style log”. The append-only property implies that timestamped data entries can only be added to the log and cannot be modified after the fact. Related to this, the tamper-evident property stems from the use of cryptographic (i.e. advanced mathematical) checks and balances to flag attempts to modify data entries by a malicious actor after the data has been posted to the ledger.

Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies

Therefore, Bitcoin and most cryptocurrencies (crypto) are better classified as applications that are built on blockchain technology, analogous to how email and the web are internet applications. More specifically, Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency - a digital currency that is minted (issued) on the blockchain, and whose supply is managed by an algorithm and not a centralised entity (i.e. a central bank) as is the case for traditional government-issued currency. A Bitcoin transaction can be thought of as a data exchange specifying the number of (Bitcoin) units that have been transferred between two parties (a sender and a receiver) and inscribed in the timestamped audit-trail style log for all to see. Considering that the timestamped audit-trail style log is recording an exchange of data, it follows that it can also be used for data exchanges in other domains beyond financial services, where there is a need for a single source of truth, such as supply chains.

Blockchain as a trust registry

Beyond bitcoin and crypto, blockchain has utility as a shared trust registry in multi-stakeholder environments such as supply chains. A blockchain-enabled supply chain comprises a distributed system that uses blockchain to collect, securely store and attest to key information for a product throughout its lifecycle. The network of interconnected supply chain actors and firms then has access to a single source of truth, which is append-only and tamper-evident. This improves transparency, reduces fraud, enhances end-to-end tracking (traceability) and streamlines operations. This notion of a shared trust registry has multiple applications, such as tracking and tracing food supply chains from farm-to-fork; identity management, creating and maintaining land tenure rights; measuring, reporting and verifying (MRV) emissions and tracking product source and operational data via digital product passports (e.g. battery passports).

Adoption of blockchain solutions for non-crypto use cases

However, the global consensus on the adoption of blockchain solutions for non-crypto (non-financial) use cases is that it is hampered by both technical and non-technical factors. These include - the lack of availability of skilled technical resources to implement these solutions, complex and costly infrastructure requirements, lack of buy-in from management, reliance on existing legacy systems, environmental concerns and regulatory uncertainty.  Within a South African context, this is affirmed by research from the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Information Systems department on blockchain adoption in Johannesburg-based small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs). This research identifies process compatibility, trading partner pressure, technical complexity, top management support, perceived benefits and organisational readiness as significant factors that impact the adoption of blockchain solutions. Further, while off-the-shelf enterprise blockchain solutions are available on the global market, they often lead to vendor lock-in due to proprietary data formats, restrictive contracts and high switching costs. In addition, off-the-shelf enterprise blockchain solutions often require significant upfront capital expenditure, are not tailored for local contexts (one size does not fit all) and do not always satisfy digital sovereignty requirements.

CSIR BlockAPI Blockchain-as-a-Service

To address these challenges affecting the adoption of blockchain solutions and promote the adoption of blockchain within SMME’s, academia and more broadly in the South African private and public sector, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has developed the BlockAPI Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS). This is a lightweight managed blockchain API platform that allows writing and verifying of data to the blockchain, for example, supply chain data. The BlockAPI BaaS enables SMMEs to short-circuit the steep learning curve associated with blockchain technology and cost-effectively integrate the technology into their existing business processes without the need to create, deploy and manage their own blockchain infrastructure. The benefit of seamlessly embedding a blockchain trust registry alongside existing systems without needing to replace them lowers both the barriers to adoption and financial investment required and increases the likelihood of management buy-in.

The benefits derived from using the BlockAPI BaaS include:

• Simple and low-cost write access to data to the blockchain via an API;
• The ability to confirm the integrity of data audit trails via an API;
• Integration with existing and legacy systems and business processes; and 
• Blockchain integration without vendor lock-in. 

BlockAPI BaaS in action

BlockAPI BaaS is currently at technology readiness level 6 and has been demonstrated in South African logistics, manufacturing, agriculture and financial services value chains. The demonstrations in different verticals, which highlight its simplicity and ease of integration, include: 

• A CSIR Cold Chain Track and Trace platform that uses an internet-of-things (IoT) sensor box attached to a cooler box for tracking temperature and GPS location of medical specimens between health care facilities and diagnostic facilities (i.e. health care and logistics sectors). 
• A CSIR Greenhouse Gas Observatory platform for securely monitoring emissions, piloted within an aluminium foundry (i.e. the foundry sector). 
• The CSIR ILIMA supply chain platform, which is used by smallholder farmers to manage poultry production (i.e. the agricultural sector).
• Postgraduate research projects at UCT, including one on environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting by financial institutions and another on medical specimen transportation (i.e. academia).

Blockchain-based digital public infrastructure

In today’s world, where digital transformation is a source of competitive advantage and economic growth, the provision of digital public infrastructure (DPI) is a priority to accelerate participation by firms and citizens in the digital economy. The design, implementation and deployment of BlockAPI BaaS as an API-first and cloud-native trust registry service to promote adoption of blockchain in environments where data trust is critical (such as for supply chains), aligns with the ethos of DPI. Considering that BlockAPI BaaS is sector-agnostic, given the earlier-mentioned use cases, it also has the potential to be positioned as DPI for SMMEs and academia.

Key takeaways

Firstly, Bitcoin is not blockchain, and blockchain is not Bitcoin. Secondly, beyond Bitcoin and crypto, blockchain - the “timestamped, distributed, audit-style log” - provides a trusted data registry in environments that depend on tamper-proof data. Lastly, the BlockAPI BaaS platform works extremely well in supply chain solutions. BlockAPI BaaS enhances supply chain transparency, traceability and efficiency across different sectors; lowers barriers to adoption for SMMEs and can serve as a blueprint for blockchain-based foundational digital infrastructure within the country. 

The development of the BlockAPI BaaS is funded by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation.

* Julian Kanjere is a Senior Blockchain Specialist in the CSIR Centre for Robotics and Future Production at the CSIR. 

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL. 

Investor jitters over how long the artificial intelligence spending boom will last and concern over Chinese competition in chipmaking sent technology shares plunging Tuesday.

South Korea's Samsung Electronics fell more than 12 percent and Japanese memory chipmaker Kioxia was down 18 percent, while Taiwanese giant TSMC slid 3.0 percent.

The declines followed losses by major US semiconductor stocks, after a report said a company was making specialised ultraviolet etching machines to boost China's chip industry.

Here are the main factors behind the most recent tech rout:

Chinese chip tech

Wall Street chip shares sank Monday after tech news outlet The Information reported that a Chinese state-backed company was making immersion deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography machines.

These systems can etch miniscule circuits onto silicon to create microchips that power AI as well as all sorts of everyday electronics.

DUV is less advanced than so-called extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, a technology mastered only by the Dutch firm ASML.

The sale of ASML's EUV machines to China is banned by US trade restrictions designed to keep American tech in the lead, but China is also reportedly in the early stages of producing its own EUV.

"China's domestic lithography advances bypass Western supply chains entirely, hitting equipment makers hardest," Angela Harmantas at Proactive Investors wrote.

Etching chips with DUV "is slower, lower-yield and more expensive than EUV production, but it is proving sufficient for near-frontier chips, unsettling policymakers and investors who had assumed China faced tighter constraints".

Overheating concerns

Harmantas said the declines "also reflect broader valuation concerns" in the technology sector.

AI-related shares have skyrocketed recently, with SK hynix gaining more than 500 percent over the past 12 months, for example.

But that has fuelled concerns over overheating, and questions over when the eye-watering amounts ploughed into developing AI and building new data centres will reap returns.

"High expectations tied to AI infrastructure spending have left sector rallies vulnerable to profit-taking amid shifting macroeconomic conditions," Harmantas said.

Experts have warned that if the AI bubble pops, the fallout could be bigger than anything Wall Street has ever seen.

Analysts also warn of circular financing - where big tech companies invest in AI startups, which then use that money to buy big tech's own products and services.

Debt risks

Around half a year ago, big tech companies were buying back their own shares - a move that signals excess cash and drives up their stock price.

Now they're taking on debt to fund their AI buildout, in a significant reversal that could prove painful if interest rates are hiked.

"The first leg of the artificial-intelligence boom was financed with cash, confidence and some of the strongest balance sheets in corporate America," wrote Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management.

But "the AI buildout is climbing onto a steeper section of track just as the gap between capital spending and internal cash generation narrows", he warned.

Innes cited a Goldman Sachs research report predicting that big tech debt issuance would rise from roughly $250 billion in 2026 to around $400 billion next year.

Earnings season

Record profits from supply chain giants like TSMC used to boost the stock markets as investors bet big on the expansion of the AI industry.

But this time around, in mid-July, TSMC announced a 77 percent year-on-year net profit surge, only to see its stocks drop the next day.

Results are expected this week and next from the likes of SK hynix, Samsung Electronics and Japanese tech investment vehicle SoftBank Group.

Dilin Wu, research strategist at Pepperstone, told Bloomberg News that "the bar is just extremely high right now" for tech earnings.

"Part of what we’re seeing today is probably traders trimming ahead of results rather than waiting to find out," she said.

AFP

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Former Mxit chief executive Alan Knott-Craig Jr has candidly admitted that he made critical mistakes during his short tenure at the helm of what was once South Africa's largest social networking platform, saying the experience remains one of the biggest lessons of his career.

Speaking about his time leading the company, Knott-Craig Jr reflected on how Mxit, once used by millions of South Africans every day, ultimately lost its footing as smartphones reshaped the digital landscape.

"I was the CEO of Mxit for a year. Mxit was South Africa's biggest social network. It was amazing. Millions of people used it every single day," he said.

However, he acknowledged that the company's decline accelerated under his leadership.

"Well, I messed it up, to be honest. We bought it in 2011, and then I proceeded to make a whole lot of mistakes. I got the strategy wrong."

He explained that one of the biggest errors was attempting to take on global technology giants instead of focusing on Mxit's strengths.

"We probably were more of a dating site than a social messaging app."

Launched in 2005, Mxit became South Africa's first major home-grown social networking and instant messaging platform. It allowed users to send low-cost messages over mobile data at a time when SMS charges were expensive and smartphones were not yet widespread.

At its peak, the platform attracted tens of millions of registered users across South Africa and several other countries, making it one of Africa's biggest technology success stories before the rapid rise of smartphone-based messaging apps such as WhatsApp transformed the market.

"We decided to compete with WhatsApp. Never compete with WhatsApp; never compete with big American companies. We were probably more of a dating app than we were a social messaging app. We didn't migrate our experience from feature phones to smartphones."

He also admitted that the company failed to adapt its business model as mobile technology evolved.

According to Knott-Craig Jr, the combination of strategic missteps and changing consumer behaviour ultimately cost him his job.

He said the company's owners eventually lost confidence in his leadership, leading to his dismissal after just a year in charge.

Although Mxit continued operating for several years after his departure, it was unable to recover its former dominance and eventually shut down, marking the end of one of South Africa's most influential technology success stories.

IOL

Dubai Municipality has introduced an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered system to improve household water quality testing, enabling the early and accurate detection of bacterial contamination, including Legionella and Escherichia coli (E. coli).

According to the municipality, the upgraded service enhances laboratory capabilities and supports the protection of public health, reports Emirates News Agency (WAM), a partner of TV BRICS.

The expanded testing system now covers a broader range of domestic and recreational water sources, including water storage tanks, taps, swimming pools and non-bottled drinking water.

The introduction of AI technologies has also significantly reduced laboratory testing times. Results for Legionella and E. coli can now be delivered much faster than with conventional methods through a fully digital analysis process, allowing prompt preventive measures where necessary.

"Dubai Municipality continues to leverage advanced technologies and artificial intelligence to deliver laboratory solutions that strengthen proactive protection against public health risks. The ongoing enhancement of our services is focused on accelerating testing, improving reliability and supporting faster preventive action, reflecting our commitment to advancing Dubai’s public health ecosystem and contributing to its vision of becoming the world’s best city to live in," said Hind Mahmoud Ahmed, Director of the Dubai Central Laboratory Department at Dubai Municipality.

The initiative forms part of Dubai Municipality’s broader efforts to modernise laboratory services in line with international standards. The enhanced testing system is expected to support residential, hospitality, recreational and public facilities by helping ensure safe water quality and strengthening confidence in public health services.

BRICS countries and partner states are increasingly integrating artificial intelligence into public services, developing digital solutions that improve healthcare, agriculture, environmental protection and quality of life.

Chinese researchers have developed an artificial intelligence system that can automatically detect space hurricanes in the Earth's upper atmosphere, marking an advance in space weather monitoring. According to Global Times, a partner of TV BRICS, the system was created by scientists at the National Space Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences using more than 300,000 auroral images collected between 2005 and 2021.

The AI model achieved a detection accuracy of nearly 97.9 per cent and is expected to support the analysis of data from the SMILE satellite (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer), which studies the interaction between the solar wind, the magnetosphere and the ionosphere. Researchers believe the technology will improve monitoring of space weather, enhance the safety of polar communications and navigation, and contribute to the development of future space weather forecasting systems.

Vietnam, meanwhile, has launched the AI-powered V-Standard digital platform to support agricultural certification and product traceability, helping farmers and businesses meet international standards and expand access to export markets.

According to Vietnam News Agency (VNA), a partner of TV BRICS, the initiative is designed to streamline certification procedures, improve transparency across agricultural supply chains and strengthen the global competitiveness of Vietnamese agricultural products through the use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence.

Kazakhstan’s East Region is introducing an artificial intelligence-based early forest fire detection system for the first time to improve wildfire monitoring. Kazinform, a partner of TV BRICS, reported that 90 antenna and mast complexes equipped with video cameras and automated image analysis technology will be installed across nine forestry enterprises. The system will automatically detect smoke and immediately alert dispatch centres, enabling a faster response to fires, particularly in mountainous and hard-to-reach areas.

Furthermore, Thailand has launched an artificial intelligence-powered digital platform designed to promote healthier lifestyles and reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases among the working-age population. According to Vietnam News Agency (VNA), a partner of TV BRICS, the application monitors key health behaviours, including nutrition, sleep, physical activity and relaxation, while providing personalised recommendations to encourage long-term healthy habits.

This article originally appeared on TV BRICS

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Samsung announced its new Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 8 last week, but South African consumers might feel a slight punch to the gut: pricing starts at a steep R32,000.

The entry-level Galaxy Z Fold 8 will retail for R32,000, while the larger Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra steps up to approximately R35,400. Higher-storage configurations climb even further: the 512GB version of the standard Fold 8 costs R40,999, while the 512GB Fold 8 Ultra reaches a towering R50,999.

For comparison, Apple’s flagship iPhone 17 Pro starts at R27,999, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max beginning at R30,699. Of course, because Samsung’s devices feature foldable display technology, a premium price over traditional smartphones is expected.

The main differences between the two Samsung models come down to dimensions and weight. The 6-inch Fold 8 weighs in at a lighter 201g, making it noticeably more compact than the 8-inch Fold 8 Ultra, which weighs 215g.

Nearly Identical Performance and Display Quality with Rising Device Prices Due to Component Shortages

Aside from form factor, however, the phones deliver nearly identical performance and display quality. Both models start with 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM, ensuring exceptionally fast, responsive performance across everyday tasks and intensive workloads alike.

Pre-orders open on August 12, with general availability in South Africa starting August 13.

Looking ahead, device prices could push even higher. Global shortages of RAM, unified memory, and storage—fuelled by the insatiable demands of AI workflows—continue to drive up component costs. As modern users increasingly rely on memory-heavy AI tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Claude, and Perplexity, high memory specs are becoming essential, and pricey.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

I’ve written quite a bit about my frustration with Apple’s massive price hikes. Not that the tech giant pays much attention to a lone technology writer, but in the interest of fairness: they are far from the first hardware and software corporation to join this party.

The culprit? A global shortage of RAM, unified memory, and storage, driven by the insatiable demands of AI workflows. Modern users simply need more memory to run resource-heavy applications like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Claude, and Perplexity AI.

In reality, Apple was just the last major tech company to raise its prices. Thanks to long-term supply contracts signed well in advance, Cupertino managed to stay immune to the "RAM-pocalypse"—until recently.

Over the past year, Windows laptops across the board have seen multiple price hikes. For a brief, bizarre moment, that made Apple look like one of the more reasonable brands on the shelf. However, the old order has officially been restored, and Apple is once again charging eye-watering premium prices for its hardware.

Price Surge: 13-inch M5 MacBook Air Now Nearly Double the MacBook Neo

Take the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air: prior to the recent overnight price adjustment, it retailed for R19,999. It has since jumped by R6,500 to R26,499—a staggering increase of over 32%. Meanwhile, Apple’s newest and most affordable 2026 offering, the MacBook Neo, launched at R11,999 but has already climbed to R13,999—a R2,000 (16.67%) bump in short order.

This places the entry-level MacBook Air at nearly double the price of the Neo. Budget-conscious buyers looking for a Mac will almost certainly gravitate toward the Neo, despite the base model's performance trade-offs. Even at R14,000, the Neo remains a good—if no longer great—value proposition.

Gaming Consoles: Xbox Series S and Series X Price Surge Since Launch

Alarmingly, the damage isn't limited to computers.

Consider the Xbox Series S and Series X, which launched nearly six years ago. The lower-spec Series S debuted at $300 (around R5,100 at standard conversion), while the Series X landed at $500 (roughly R8,600). Naturally, local import costs made them slightly pricier in South Africa, but not dramatically so at the time.

I bought my Xbox Series S in March 2023 for R5,999. Today, that exact same console retails for R9,998. That is a R4,000 markup for six-year-old hardware. Instead of depreciating as technology usually does, the price keeps climbing. If you want the top-tier Series X today, you're looking at around R14,999. Back when I bought my Series S, the R11,000 price tag on the Series X felt too steep to justify the performance boost—especially given the R5,000 gap between models, which meant I could have almost bought two Series S consoles for the price of one.

Microsoft isn't alone here. Sony’s base PlayStation 5 Digital Edition saw its price rise from $400 at launch in 2020 up to $500 by 2025. PlayStation continues to lead the console race—holding roughly 75 million unit sales compared to Xbox's 31 million—meaning millions of gamers are feeling the exact same pinch.

The bottom line? As we move through 2026, it is a terrible time to buy almost any new piece of tech; you will be overpaying. The dilemma, however, is that there’s no guarantee prices will cool down anytime soon—making right now both the absolute best and worst time to buy.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.

** JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Send us an email with your comments, thoughts or responses to iolletters@inl.co.za. Letters should be a maximum of 500 words, and may be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Submissions should include a contact number and physical address (not for publication).

ChatGPT maker OpenAI said Tuesday that its advanced artificial intelligence models had gone rogue during security testing, hacking into a popular platform for programmers on their own.

The San Francisco firm called it an "unprecedented cyber incident" and said it would conduct a joint investigation with the online code library Hugging Face.

AI models that underpin tools like chatbots and image generators are known as agents when they act autonomously to carry out tasks in the real world.

As the technology quickly becomes more sophisticated, cybersecurity is in the spotlight given the risk of advanced AI finding weak points in existing software before humans do.

OpenAI said the incident involved a combination of models, including its recently launched GPT-5.6 Sol "and an even more capable pre-release model".

The company was trying to assess the models' hacking capabilities by setting tasks in a tightly controlled digital testing ground, where internet access was limited for safety.

"While operating in our sandboxed testing environment, our models spent a substantial amount of (computing power) finding a way to obtain open Internet access, in pursuit of solving the evaluation problem," an OpenAI blog about the incident said.

After connecting to the internet, the models decided to target the platform Hugging Face -- a large repository of AI models, datasets and other information -- to help in their quest.

Searching for "secret information" that could help it cheat the evaluation, the OpenAI system "chained together multiple attack vectors, including using stolen credentials".

'Catastrophic' potential

Hussein Abbass, a computing professor at UNSW Canberra, told AFP that the incident was "amazing on many fronts".

"It did not just attack Hugging Face. It actually attacked its internal system to exploit its own vulnerabilities," Abbass said.

"And that's scary."

GPT-5.6 and other cutting-edge models, including the Mythos series from OpenAI's archrival Anthropic, have drawn concern over their potential to breach cybersecurity defences.

Both the US firms had to temporarily withhold the general release of these latest technologies because of fears in Washington that they could help break into crucial infrastructure.

Advanced AI is "normally in the hands of people who are ethical and responsible", Abbass said.

But "it's going to be catastrophic if it gets in someone's hands with the intention to cause harm".

How to govern the AI sector has become a key question, and "we need a community effort to manage this situation", he added.

Hugging Face had reported the cyber "intrusion" last week, without mentioning OpenAI.

"This one was different from anything we had handled before in one important way: it was driven, end to end, by an autonomous AI agent system -- and we detected and dissected it largely with AI of our own," Hugging Face said.

Clement Delangue, CEO of Hugging Face, said on X that the company had suspected the cyberattack had come from a world-leading AI lab, given the sophistication of the agent.

"We strongly believe there was no malicious intent on their part," Delangue wrote, referring to OpenAI.

"It's quite mind-blowing that all of this happened autonomously!"

AFP

As an Apple fan, it’s always frustrating when the tech giant hits consumers with price increases. However, this latest round will surely have a massive impact on their overall sales numbers.

Earlier this month, prices surged across almost Apple’s entire product lineup—with the exception of the iPhone, at least for now.

The laptop range took a particularly brutal hit. Take the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air: prior to the overnight price increase, it was priced at R19,999. It has now jumped by R6,500 to R26,499—a staggering increase of more than 32%. Meanwhile, Apple’s cheapest laptop offering and newest release for 2026, the MacBook Neo, launched at R11,999 but has already risen to R13,999. That’s a R2,000 jump, or a 16.67% increase.

This means the entry-level MacBook Air is now almost double the price of the MacBook Neo. Naturally, budget-conscious consumers looking for a Mac are far more likely to settle for the Neo over the Air, even with the entry-level model's performance limitations.

Apple’s Pricing Strategy: Impact on Neo Sales and Shift to Second-Hand Market

While the Neo still competes fiercely against Windows rivals in its bracket, Apple’s tier for power users has simply been priced out of reach for many. Asking consumers to outlay well over R25,000 for a machine capable of handling intensive tasks is a tough sell in this economic climate.

Unless the Neo manages to carry the team on its back, sales across the rest of Apple’s laptop lineup are bound to take a serious hit.

Price hikes don't just deter new buyers—they shift consumer behaviour entirely. With brand-new MacBooks reaching near-exorbitant prices, more people than ever will turn to the second-hand market.

Fortunately for buyers (and unfortunately for Apple's bottom line), every Mac released since the introduction of Apple Silicon in 2020 is an absolute powerhouse. With plenty of incredibly capable M1, M2, and M3 options floating around at reasonable prices, consumers won't hesitate to buy pre-owned—leaving Apple to face the harsh reality of their own pricing decisions.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.

** JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Send us an email with your comments, thoughts or responses to iolletters@inl.co.za. Letters should be a maximum of 500 words, and may be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Submissions should include a contact number and physical address (not for publication).

The 2026 tax season has officially opened, bringing with it a familiar wave of financial anxiety for millions of South Africans. For many, the questions begin with a simple SMS or email from SARS.

Between July 1 and July 12, SARS issued its automated assessments. While the system is designed to simplify the filing season, it often inadvertently creates confusion: some taxpayers receive an SMS stating they have been auto-assessed and discover a few thousand Rands deposited into their bank accounts, yet they are left wondering if they are legally owed more. Others are hit with auto-assessments claiming they owe SARS money, leaving them baffled. Meanwhile, a third group receives notifications stating their tax affairs are too complex for auto-assessment, forcing them to navigate the realm of manual eFiling.

Enter TaxClaw.AI, a locally developed platform aiming to provide clarity. The platform allows taxpayers to independently validate their SARS auto-assessments before making them legally binding.

The platform, launched 3 weeks ago, is spearheaded by technology experts Ben Chaud and Meraj Chhaya, alongside Marius Higgs, a registered tax practitioner with 15 years of industry experience. Interestingly, TaxClaw wasn’t originally meant for the public: “This started as a highly specialized tool used internally by our tax specialists to stress-test internal filing data,” Ben Chaud explains. “But when we saw the sheer volume of ordinary South Africans wondering about auto-assessments, we decided to democratize the technology and make AI analysis completely free for everyone.”

What distinguishes TaxClaw.AI from the current influx of AI tools is its underlying architecture. The platform is not a standard language model connected to ChatGPT or Claude, but rather a purpose-built Machine Learning model that was trained on thousands of anonymized tax returns and complex tax simulations. The model's outputs are then strictly verified by a custom arithmetic engine to ensure compliance.

The practical application of this technology is significant. According to TaxClaw, during this current tax season, a taxpayer received an auto-assessment calculating a refund of R4,325. Upon running his details through TaxClaw’s AI, the system revealed they were actually entitled to a refund of R13,525. SARS’s automated system, which relies solely on third-party data, was unaware that the taxpayer was entitled to a home office deduction and had made substantial Section 18A charitable donations throughout the year. The tool flagged these missing elements, highlighting a missed R9,200 refund.

TaxClaw.AI operates on a strict privacy model, requiring no identifying information to generate a report. Users do not need to provide their name, ID number, or phone number. The AI analysis is completely free, and the company only monetizes its services if a user explicitly chooses to have TaxClaw’s registered practitioners handle their final eFiling.

The tax window closes in October - taxpayers have until then to use TaxClaw's AI, which is clearly a no-brainer approach to increasing their tax refunds - or potentially reduce the amount owed to SARS.

Lawmakers in France are scheduled to vote on Tuesday to ban social media for under-15s -- one of 20 countries worldwide to have proposed or introduced such measures.

Five of those countries have restrictions already in force, according to an AFP tally.

Here are facts about the measures in different countries:

Restrictions in place

Social media has been banned for under-16s in Australia since December 2025.

Brazil introduced a law in March requiring platforms to link the accounts of users aged under-16 to those of their parents, while also requiring platforms to verify users' ages.

In China, where the internet is tightly regulated by the state, minors' access to social media has been restricted progressively since 2019.

Initial measures imposed time limits and curfews on online gaming, before similar restrictions were extended in 2023 to social media and streaming platforms.

Indonesia has banned social media for under-16s since March.

Malaysia has taken a similar approach, with legislation coming into force in June excluding under-16s from major platforms.

Turkey is set to join the list after passing legislation to bar under-15s from social media in April. The law is expected to take effect in late 2026.

The United Arab Emirates announced a ban on social media for under-15s last month, with implementation set for around a year's time.

Restrictions announced

Across the 27-nation EU, the European Commission plans to propose measures later this year for a total ban for under-13s and progressive access for those aged 13 to 18.

Within the bloc, the Greek government announced in early April that it intends to ban social media access for under-15s from January 1, 2027.

Austria and Slovenia are also preparing legislation to prohibit access for under-14s and under-15s, respectively.

In Germany, where Chancellor Friedrich Merz supports restricting or even banning social media for children, an expert commission has proposed two options: a ban graded by age or platform-specific restrictions.

A similar debate is under way in Sweden, where a government commission has proposed banning social media for under-15s by early 2028.

In Denmark, the government announced in October 2025 that it would propose banning "several social media platforms" for under-15s.

The Irish government has warned that it is considering legislating in the absence of an EU decision.

Outside the EU, the Norwegian government will present a bill by the end of the year to ban access for those under 16.

The UK is looking to ban social media for under-16s by early 2027 under a measure planned by its former prime minister Keir Starmer.

Canada also wants to set the minimum age for social media use at 16.

Several states in India are considering restrictions for children, and the government said it is holding discussions with platforms over potential measures.

Bills in parliament

A proposal to ban social media for children under 15 is due to be voted on by France's parliament on Tuesday after deputies and senators reached a compromise agreement.

The lower house approved the bill at first reading in January but the Senate later amended it to target only the most harmful platforms, prompting concern in Brussels.

The government hopes it can come into force in September. Digital Minister Anne Le Henanff said it would make France the first country in Europe to establish a "digital legal age".

Portugal is considering a bill that would set the age for independent access to platforms, services, games and applications at 16.

Spain has proposed raising the minimum age for registering on a social media platform from 14 to 16.

In Italy, parliament is considering legislation that would ban social media use for children under the age of 15.

AFP

OpenAI’s first foray into hardware may not be going quite as planned, as news of their upcoming smart speaker has been met with widespread skepticism.

Mashable describes the device as a cross between an Apple HomePod and a Furby. While the HomePod is Apple’s premium smart speaker, a Furby is a nostalgic, fluffy robotic toy known for its expressive, moving eyes and ears.

It is particularly interesting to note that Jony Ive, Apple’s former Chief Design Officer, is collaborating with OpenAI on this project. Consequently, the new product sounds remarkably similar to an existing device from his old company.

During his tenure at Apple, Ive played a foundational role in designing the iMac, iPod, iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and Apple Watch.

OpenAI’s New Smart Speaker: A Human-Like Companion Amidst Apple’s AI Partnership Shift

The smart speaker was announced last week, just days after Apple sued OpenAI for trade-secret theft. The timing is also notable as Apple is rumored to be switching its primary AI partnership from OpenAI's ChatGPT to Google Gemini to power Apple Intelligence.

OpenAI is clearly trying to expand its ecosystem beyond software to cement its position as a leading, well-established artificial intelligence powerhouse. The smart speaker is pitched as a human-like companion for the home, capable of controlling other smart devices on the same Wi-Fi network. It will also feature a camera to enhance its functionality and better understand user prompts.

Ultimately, however, it remains unclear why consumers would choose to bring an OpenAI smart speaker into their homes when well-integrated alternatives like the iPhone and HomePod already exist.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.

** JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Send us an email with your comments, thoughts or responses to iolletters@inl.co.za. Letters should be a maximum of 500 words, and may be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Submissions should include a contact number and physical address (not for publication).

Concerns and questions mount after the City of Cape Town’s Municipal Planning Tribunal (MPT) supported an application for the rezoning of a hyperscale data centre development at King Air Industria.

But how much water do these hyperscale data centres use, and should we be concerned? 

As we all know, the use of artificial intelligence is skyrocketing globally, and its environmental cost is alarming.

How much water does AI use?

A single 100-word AI prompt or your venting into ChatGPT consumes roughly 519 millilitres of water, about the size of a standard water bottle.

On the surface, this might not sound like a lot. But with billions of queries processed worldwide every minute, we are talking about billions of litres every minute.

The Global Scale of the Problem Data centres accounted for roughly 1% to 2% of total global electricity demand in 2020.

Because advanced processing chips generate immense amounts of heat, facilities must employ heavy-duty cooling systems to prevent hardware damage.

What is the water used for? 

According to the Uptime Institute, a relatively small 1-megawatt data centre can consume 26 million litres of water annually just for cooling.

On the other hand, the number of massive "hyperscale" data centres is rapidly expanding.

As of 2020, there were nearly 600 of these massive facilities worldwide, with hubs located across the globe, including in China (10% of the global total) and Japan (6%).

The true water cost of data centres extends far beyond the water pumped into their on-site cooling towers. A facility's total water footprint also includes the "indirect" water consumed by the power plants that generate its electricity, as well as the water required to manufacture its hardware.

Fossil fuel and nuclear power plants rely on large boilers of water superheated into steam to turn turbines. This means immense amounts of water is evaporated simply to keep the servers powered.

While many are aware of the cooling towers and manfacturing, you might not know about the microchips. The microchips inside the servers require heavily treated "ultrapure" water during their manufacturing process to rinse off silicon residue. According to the World Economic Forum, an average chip factory consumes approximately 37.8 million litres of ultrapure water every day.

How the global community handles data centres

The immense strain on local resources is causing backlash and infrastructure crises in several countries. In Ireland, data centres consumed roughly as much electricity as the entire nation in 2023. Because the national power grid is nearly maxed out, some facilities in Ireland have resorted to using highly polluting off-grid generators to maintain operations.

In the United Kingdom, Thames Water has noted that 80% of the UK's data centres are concentrated in the London area, a region that receives surprisingly low annual rainfall. As data centre water usage peaks during the hottest, driest times of the year, the utility has had to restrict or object to new data centre developments to protect the region's water supply.

Similar concerns over resource scarcity have led to a temporary ban on new data centres in the Netherlands, while France is in the process of passing new laws requiring greater transparency regarding water usage.

What is the solution?

As freshwater makes up only 3% of Earth's water, the tech industry is actively exploring ways to mitigate this crisis. On the hardware side, Microsoft has experimented with sinking data centres into the cold waters off the coast of Scotland to naturally reduce cooling demands.

Other facilities are moving toward "immersion cooling," which submerges servers in specialised synthetic, non-conductive fluids rather than relying on evaporative water cooling.

Tech companies are also investing heavily in international water stewardship projects to replenish the basins they draw from. For instance, Google is funding wetland restorations in the Andes Mountains of Chile, supporting rainwater harvesting and double-dike construction in the Netherlands, and improving water quality at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

However, experts warn that technological fixes alone won't be enough. Communities worldwide will need to adopt integrated land and water planning to carefully weigh the economic benefits of the AI boom against its profound impacts on our most precious, finite resource.

City of Cape Town weighs in 

In a statement released on Thursday, the City of Cape said the MPT approved the application, but it is subject to several conditions. It added that it will issue a formal notice of the decision once it is possible.

The City stated that anyone who submitted a valid objection during the statutory public participation process will receive the decision and information on how to lodge an appeal.

Once an appeal is submitted, it will be considered through the City's prescribed appeal process before a final decision is made. If the approval is not appealed, the development cannot proceed immediately.

"The applicant must still obtain additional approvals, including the submission and approval of a Site Development Plan. As part of that process, detailed technical matters, including the provision of engineering services and infrastructure, must be assessed by the relevant City departments before any further approvals are granted.

The City noted concerns over water use, electricity demand and environmental impacts, saying that these all "form part of the planning and regulatory processes and are considered in accordance with the applicable legislation and technical requirements."

The City of Cape Town added that because the statutory planning process has not yet been concluded, it would not be appropriate for the City to comment further on the merits of the application or on issues that may form part of any appeal or future approval processes.

IOL

Rouser Lab is building an “indestructible, self-powered” monolithic doomsday tracker in Australia, for future generations – designed to document humanity’s spiral into environmental destruction.

After five years of development, Australian non-profit Rouser Lab is building “Earth’s Black Box” (EBB) – an “indestructible”, solar-powered monolith scheduled for installation in remote western Tasmania by December 2026.

Designed to survive any natural disaster or attack, this internet-connected steel vault will continuously download and store planetary health data from scientific agencies around the world.

Its primary mission is to raise immediate awareness about climate change, while providing future generations with an unbiased, permanent record of humanity’s environmental mistakes so they can avoid repeating them.

Graphic News

National Treasury’s recent decision to withhold R13.5 billion from municipalities for persistent financial mismanagement has reignited debate about the state of local government in South Africa. While fiscal discipline is necessary, it does not address the underlying problem. South Africa’s municipal crisis is not fundamentally a technology problem, nor simply a funding problem. It is a leadership and accountability problem.

This conclusion emerged from my experience founding GovChat, South Africa’s national citizen engagement platform.

GovChat was created with a simple objective: to strengthen the relationship between citizens and government. In partnership with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), we developed digital services that enabled citizens to report municipal issues directly through WhatsApp. Residents could drop a GPS location pin to report potholes, water leaks, electricity outages, sewage spills and refuse collection failures, while also identifying their ward councillor.

The assumption was straightforward. If municipalities received accurate, real time information directly from citizens, service delivery would improve.

Instead, the platform exposed a far more complex institutional challenge.

Thousands of municipal service requests were submitted through GovChat, yet many remained unresolved. As reports accumulated without visible action, citizens gradually lost confidence in the reporting process. Over time, municipal reporting became one of the least used features on the platform, not because service delivery failures disappeared, but because many citizens no longer believed reporting them would make a difference.

The technology functioned exactly as intended.

The institutions did not.

The contrast with another GovChat initiative could not have been more striking.

During the COVID 19 pandemic, GovChat partnered with the Department of Social Development and SASSA to digitise access to the Social Relief of Distress grant. More than 13 million South Africans successfully applied for social grants through the platform. Citizens trusted the system because applications resulted in tangible outcomes. Grants were processed and paid every month.

The lesson was clear.

Technology creates value only when institutions act on the information it provides.

GovChat’s Citizen Engagement Report demonstrates the scale of what was achieved. The platform processed more than 700 million citizen interactions, reached approximately five million South African households, received 16,876 municipal service delivery reports, and captured over 30,000 citizen ratings of public facilities and services. Municipalities had access to one of the country’s richest sources of real time citizen feedback.

The problem, therefore, was never a lack of data.

South African municipalities have had access to digital reporting tools, geospatial information, citizen feedback mechanisms and real time dashboards for years. We know where water leaks occur. We know where electricity outages persist. We know where roads have deteriorated and where refuse is not being collected.

What has too often been missing is institutional responsiveness.

This distinction matters because digital transformation is frequently mistaken for governance reform. Technology can improve visibility, automate processes and enhance transparency, but it cannot replace capable administration. Dashboards do not repair water infrastructure. Mobile applications do not fill potholes. Artificial intelligence cannot substitute for political leadership or administrative competence.

Technology is an enabler, not an outcome.

Citizens do not evaluate municipalities according to the sophistication of their digital systems. They judge government by whether water flows from their taps, electricity is restored promptly and service requests receive meaningful responses.

Trust in government is not built when citizens are invited to participate. It is built when participation produces results.

National Treasury’s intervention sends an important message that financial mismanagement will have consequences. However, withholding funding alone will not restore confidence in local government. Accountability cannot be measured solely through audit outcomes or financial compliance. It must also be measured by whether municipalities respond to the everyday needs of the communities they serve.

South Africa does not need another municipal reporting application. It does not need another pilot project or another digital dashboard.

It needs municipalities that view every citizen report as a commitment to act.

The technology already exists. The data already exists. Citizens continue to demonstrate a willingness to engage when they believe government will respond.

The remaining challenge is leadership.

Ultimately, digital transformation cannot succeed without institutional transformation. Technology can reveal every municipal failure in real time, but only accountable leadership can convert information into better services.

Until that happens, the greatest obstacle to service delivery will not be the absence of digital innovation. It will be the absence of execution.

* Prof Eldrid Jordaan is a South African Technologist, Academic, Published Author, Global Speaker renowned for advancing digital governance and founder of GovChat.ORG

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL.

If you had to time travel from just a few years ago, perhaps even as recently as 2020, you would likely be astounded by how integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become in our daily lives.

At least I tend to think so.

Obviously, each person’s use case is vastly different, but when you stop and think about how much you use AI every day, it can be a little scary.

Scary in the sense that there’s an age-old fear that removing the human element from our routines is a dangerous path to set ourselves on.

AI: The First Step in Writing, Planning, and Decision-Making

Writing a business proposal, a script or a breaking news story? AI is often our first port of call before we let another human take a look at our work.

Planning a holiday, buying a new car, or trying to work out whether you really need to see a doctor about that nagging cough? AI is probably your first stop.

Even when it comes to relationships, people are becoming increasingly reliant on AI.

How ChatGPT Helped Me Understand Jack Ryan Season 3

Just the other day, I found myself lost while trying to follow the plot of season three of the espionage thriller series Jack Ryan. After my confusion kept growing five episodes in, it struck me. I suggested to my wife that we take a break so I could read up on the plot and get us back on the same page.

Instead of Googling it or hopping over to IMDb, I decided to have a chat with ChatGPT. I explained my problem, and it gave me a brilliant rundown of everything that had happened up to that point in the series.

It provided a big-picture summary, a list of the key players with descriptions, and brief plot summaries covering the first four episodes.

AI’s Influence on TV Show Choices: A Step Towards Algorithm-Driven Decisions

This is just one example of how something as simple as enjoying your favourite TV show can now be influenced by AI.

We may not yet be raging war against the machines like humanity did in The Terminator franchise, but we may have already set ourselves on a path where our decisions are increasingly shaped by algorithms instead of instinct, curiosity or independent thought.

And that may be more terrifying than any machine bent on human extermination.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.

** JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Send us an email with your comments, thoughts or responses to iolletters@inl.co.za. Letters should be a maximum of 500 words, and may be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Submissions should include a contact number and physical address (not for publication).

Earlier this week, Apple hiked prices across most of its devices, including Macs, iPads and even the Apple TV, but the iPhone has so far managed to avoid this unwelcome increase.

But it seems inevitable that the iPhone will eventually take a hit as well.

It’s clear that some of the increases already introduced will allow Apple to launch its new range of devices in September at higher price points.

Chief among those expected new devices will be the iPhone 18 range. There are also rumours that the Pro and Pro Max models will launch first, with the cheaper base-model iPhone 18 arriving at a later stage.

iPhone 18 Launch: No Entry-Level Model Initially, Timing Crucial for Best Value

That would mean there will be no entry-level iPhone 18 available initially, forcing anyone wanting the latest model to pay significantly more.

Timing your iPhone purchase is crucial if you want the best value. Buying the current-generation model just before it is replaced by a new version will generally get you the biggest saving. That means August would normally be the ideal time to buy an iPhone 17, which will be only slightly less powerful than the iPhone 18 models expected to launch in September.

With price hikes looming, however, it may be wiser to secure the best deal now before any increases are introduced. Waiting until August will almost certainly be too late if you want to avoid paying a higher price.

Take, for example, the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air, which cost R19,999 last week. It has now risen by R6,500 to R26,499 — a staggering increase of more than 32%.

The price hikes are largely due to an industry-wide increase in RAM (memory) and SSD (storage) prices, driven by the growing hardware demands of AI applications and their integration into operating systems. There have also been numerous other increases across Apple’s current product lineup that I have not even detailed.

It may therefore be a terrible time to buy a Mac, but if you’re planning to buy an iPhone, time is quickly running out to secure a good deal before prices inevitably rise.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

In the realm of orthopaedic surgery, a transformation is taking place, heralded by the rise of 3D printing technology. Over one million hip and knee replacement surgeries are conducted annually in the United States alone, and the techniques used to fabricate their implants are undergoing a significant renaissance.

Initially regarded as a mere prototype tool, additive manufacturing (AM) has evolved into a fundamental aspect of orthopaedic manufacturing.

The latest report from IDTechEx, titled "Materials for Bone Implants 2026-2036: Trends, Players, and Forecasts", illuminates the materials and methodologies that are pushing the boundaries of these medical devices towards a more personalised and effective future.

The use of AM, particularly in the production of porous implant components, has now become standard among leading orthopaedic original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

This shift is not just a glimpse into the future; it represents a new baseline of medical implant manufacturing. The capabilities of AM are extensive and are beginning to reshape surgical procedures involving hip and knee replacements.

The emergence of porous implants

The primary application of 3D printing in orthopaedics is the production of porous surfaces for cementless fixation. This process is most widely used for the acetabular shell, which is the cup-shaped component anchored into the pelvis during hip replacements.

These components require complex internal architectures with pore sizes of approximately 500 micrometres, but traditional casting techniques aren't able to achieve this level of geometric precision.

Using powder bed fusion, manufacturers can print an entire shell in a single continuous step before final machining and polishing. Titanium alloys are the standard material because of their high strength-to-density ratio and biological compatibility.

These 3D printed structures mimic the natural architecture of bone to encourage direct bone growth, eliminating the need for chemical bone cement.

Patient-specific components

The technology also enables the fabrication of custom implants tailored to individual patient anatomy. Manufacturers use CT scan data to model the exact geometry required before production.

While the printing process takes a few days, the design and planning stages extend total lead times to between two and nine weeks from the initial scan to delivery.

Customised acetabular shells are used mainly in complex primary cases and revision surgeries where previous implants have altered the bone structure.

However, IDTechEx notes that fully custom shells remain a niche market segment because modern standard revision shells are highly modular, using various off-the-shelf components to accommodate most complex cases.

Innovative surgical tools through AM

A lesser-known but equally significant impact of AM extends to the surgical theatre, where patient-specific cutting guides and tools are being designed and produced.

These 3D-printed guides, made from polymers crafted from patient CT scans, enhance surgical precision and alignment during procedures, potentially reducing operation times and improving outcomes for patients.

While this segment may currently be secondary to implant production, it adds value to the entire arthroplasty surgery process.

The future of AM in orthopaedics

As additive manufacturing technology matures, it is projected to become the dominant production method for hip and knee replacement implants. The decreasing costs associated with AM hardware and materials will further dismantle the price barriers that have historically limited its adoption.

Advanced non-metallic options, such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and alumina/zirconia ceramics, are emerging as formidable alternatives due to their superior properties.

This advancement allows for the production of a new generation of implants that combine the geometrical advantages of 3D printing with the beneficial characteristics of advanced polymers and ceramics.

With 3D printing, the future of implants appears not only bright but also tailored to meet the unique needs of each patient.

Looking ahead, the expansion of AM principles beyond metal materials will be revolutionary.

IOL

Like a fleeting teenage romance, Apple products in South Africa were, for a brief period, bordering on affordable. But that’s over now.

Just as happened in the US a couple of weeks ago, there has been a massive price hike across Apple’s product range, with the exception of the iPhone – for now.

I wrote about it last week, when the price increases had not yet filtered through to South Africa. In that article, I said it was the best time to buy an Apple product.

Now, it’s the worst.

Price Hikes on MacBook Models: 15-inch M5 Air Up 17.69%, 13-inch M5 Air Up 32%, MacBook Neo Up 16.67%

A 15-inch M5 MacBook Air that cost R25,999 last week has jumped to R30,599. That’s an increase of R4,600, or 17.69%.

Most people, though, won’t be buying that model. They’ll likely be deciding between the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air and the new 13-inch MacBook Neo.

The 13-inch M5 MacBook Air cost R19,999 last week. It has now risen by R6,500 to R26,499 — a staggering increase of more than 32%.

Apple’s cheapest laptop offering and new product for 2026, the MacBook Neo, launched at R11,999 but has now increased to R13,999. That’s a R2,000 jump, or 16.67%.

Apple's cheapest iPad, the A16 has gone up from R6,999 to R8,799 which is a 25% increase and amount of R1,800.

The price hikes are largely due to an industry-wide increase in RAM (memory) and SSD (storage) prices, driven by the growing hardware demands of AI applications and their integration into operating systems. There are many other increases in the current Apple lineup that I have not even detailed.

Apple’s 2026 Product Price Hikes: Even the 2022 Apple TV 4K Sees a 41% Increase

The products mentioned above are all Apple’s latest 2026 releases, so it wasn’t entirely surprising to see them affected by the increases. 

However, even the Apple TV 4K (3rd gen) — a product that hasn’t been updated since 2022 — has seen a hefty price rise. It has gone from R2,999 to R4,199.

That’s a remarkable 41% increase, or R1,200, on one of Apple’s cheapest products. Given that the device hasn’t received any new hardware for several years, it’s difficult to attribute the increase solely to rising RAM or SSD costs. It seems more likely that Apple has adjusted the pricing to keep it in line with the rest of its product lineup.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to predict how long these higher prices will remain in place, and there’s no indication that they’ll come down anytime soon.

So when I wrote last week that it was the best time to buy an Apple product, it wasn’t just a throwaway line. Now that these increases have landed in South Africa, it really is the worst time to buy.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.

** JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Send us an email with your comments, thoughts or responses to iolletters@inl.co.za. Letters should be a maximum of 500 words, and may be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Submissions should include a contact number and physical address (not for publication).

Johannesburg, South Africa – Sport has a unique ability to transcend borders, uniting communities through shared passion and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

This July, the heartbeat of South African sport and the future of home technology converged in the heart of Johannesburg at Nelson Mandela Square, as Haier — the world’s No. 1 major appliance brand — brought its "PLAY WITH THE NUMBER ONES" campaign to life.

For many, the event was a high-energy activation, but for Haier, it represented something far more significant: a commitment to building a deeper, more meaningful connection with the South African consumer.

The experience

The campaign, which saw Nelson Mandela Square transformed into a hub of football-themed activity this past weekend, was designed to bridge the gap between global football culture and the modern home.

Through its esteemed partnerships with two of football's most iconic clubs — Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain — Haier has long championed the shared values of teamwork, ambition, and excellence. Visitors to the activation were not just spectators; they were participants. From interactive football challenges to hands-on demonstrations of Haier’s latest smart home innovations, the experience offered a tangible look at how intelligent technology, energy efficiency, and user-focused design can simplify everyday life in the modern household. It was a space where fans could win official merchandise and engage with the technology that will power the homes of the future.

Defining the "Number Ones"

The ethos behind the campaign rests on a simple yet profound premise: learning from the best, engaging with the best, and being inspired by the best. For Haier, "The Number Ones" signifies a three-fold commitment:

• Global Leadership: Haier stands as the World’s No. 1 Major Appliances Brand by sales volume for 17 consecutive years, a testament to its long-standing focus on quality and innovation.
• Sporting Excellence: By partnering with global titans like Liverpool FC and PSG, the brand aligns itself with the highest levels of competitive achievement.
• The Consumer: At its core, the campaign celebrates consumers who strive daily to be the best version of themselves — a sentiment that resonates deeply within the diverse and ambitious South African market.

A Strategic Long-Term Vision

Haier’s presence in South Africa is not merely about retail expansion; it is about building a foundation for sustainable, long-term growth. This commitment was solidified in 2024 with the strategic acquisition of Kwikot, South Africa’s leading water heating business with over 120 years of heritage. By integrating a respected, homegrown brand into its global portfolio, Haier has signalled a clear intent to grow alongside South African industry and consumers. It is a strategic move that combines international innovation with local expertise, ensuring the brand is not just entering the market, but integrating itself into the fabric of everyday South African life.

Looking Ahead

As Haier continues its expansion across the African continent, South Africa serves as a primary strategic anchor. The brand’s approach — combining world-class football partnerships with authentic, locally relevant engagement — demonstrates a clear vision: to become more than just an appliance manufacturer. Haier is aiming to become a trusted, essential partner in the daily lives of families across the country. Through its blend of smart home technology, community-driven experiences, and significant local investment, Haier is proving that the future of living is not just about having the best tools — it’s about having the best opportunities to succeed, grow, and thrive.

In one of the more unusual pieces of tech news this year, Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro has been chosen as the flagship smartphone to represent our era.

As part of the United States’ July 4 Independence Day celebrations, marking the 250th anniversary of the nation’s independence from Great Britain, an iPhone 17 Pro was placed inside a time capsule that will remain sealed for the next 250 years.

The capsule is due to be opened in 2276, coinciding with the 500th anniversary of American independence.

While it is highly unlikely the device will still function after two and a half centuries, the phone is expected to survive as a historical artefact rather than a working piece of technology. Its battery will almost certainly have suffered complete structural and chemical failure long before then.

Future Generations May See the iPhone as a Relic

Instead, future generations are more likely to view the iPhone as a relic from an earlier technological age — much like the tongue-in-cheek remark in Back to the Future Part II, where a child (a very young Elijah Wood) mocks the idea that people once had to use their hands to operate devices.

The iPhone 17 Pro is one of Apple’s most advanced smartphones, featuring a 120Hz ProMotion display, the new A19 chip and the company’s biggest redesign of the Pro camera system in five years, with a larger rectangular camera housing replacing the previous square design.

For 2026, this is an incredibly powerful device that would be more than powerful enough to run a current generation media player, if Apple were to allow that.

Whether those specifications still seem impressive in 2276 is another question entirely.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

A Cape Town entrepreneur, Andrew Droussiotis, has launched a new AI chatbot called Howzit AI.

Though the app appears to be quite limited in the free version currently available for Apple iOS, with fewer than 10 free chats (prompts) available per day, it’s a welcome addition to the AI landscape. It’s also understood that an Android version is in the works. By comparison, ChatGPT allows roughly 10 prompts every five hours on its free tier.

The app’s standout feature is that users can type their prompts in all 11 of South Africa’s official languages.

If you choose the paid version, the subscription costs R129.99 per month or R699.99 per year.

Howzit AI: A Promising Yet Developing Local Competitor in the AI Market

Those prices compare favourably with ChatGPT, whose cheapest subscription costs R149 per month. Google AI Plus, however, is cheaper at R104.99 per month.

It is clear, though, that Howzit AI is still in its infancy. I did a quick test using the free version on Friday, ahead of the Springboks’ Nations Championship match against England at Ellis Park on Saturday, and this was how the conversation went:

“Howzit AI: Howzit 👋 How can I help you today?

Me: When are the Boks playing next?

Howzit AI: The next match for the Boks is not specified, but they typically play during international test windows or tournaments. Please check the latest schedule for exact dates. This should be verified.”

I also knew that it was announced this week that 10bet is the new naming rights partner of the stadium, replacing Emirates Airline. With that in mind, I wanted to see whether it could access the latest news on the change.

“Me: What is the official name of Ellis Park?

Howzit AI: Ellis Park is officially known as Emirates Airline Park. It might still be called Ellis Park by many locals, but Emirates Airline Park is its current official name.

Are you planning to catch a game there soon, or was this for something specific?”

While those responses suggest the chatbot is not yet able to reliably access the latest information, that’s not unusual for a newly launched AI platform. As with any chatbot, its usefulness will ultimately depend on how quickly it improves its knowledge base, accuracy and features. For now, Howzit AI is an interesting local entrant into a market dominated by global tech giants, even if it still has some catching up to do.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

As an Apple fan, one of the best things about their offerings is that the older products grow cheaper over time. In the gaming industry, and especially with Microsoft Xbox, the opposite is true, and that’s just shameful.

The Xbox Series S and X consoles were released six years ago in November. The lower-spec Series S for 300 US dollars, which works out to around R5,100, and the Series X for 500 US dollars, or about R8,600. Of course, the price would be slightly more when the devices came to South Africa, but not much more.

I bought my Xbox Series S in March 2023 from Makro for R5,999, and now the same model is going for R9,998. That’s an increase of R4000 for the same product in just over three years. Also don't forget, this technology now six years old and the price continues to increase as time goes by.

If you want to pick up the Series X, it will cost you around R14,999 at the moment. I remember considering the fancier Series X version, but at around R11k at the time, I was not prepared to fork out such a sum despite the performance gains. That’s especially since there was around a R5,000 price difference between the two models— so I could have bought almost two Series S consoles for the same price.

PlayStation 5 Digital Version Price Hike and Popularity Surge: 75 Million Units Sold by 2025

It’s not just Xbox though, as the base model PlayStation 5 Digital Version has also increased in price by 400 US dollars in 2020 and to 500 in 2025.

PlayStation is the more popular console, with approximately 75 million units sold by 2025, with Xbox selling around 31 million.

Xbox Game Pass Subscription Price Increases: A Gamer’s Perspective

The main attraction of Xbox for years was its GamePass subscription. But that too has increased while offering the same product.

When I first signed up for Xbox Game Pass a couple of years ago when I got my Series S, it was R129 per month. That gave me access to around 100 games, and more new AAA games than I could play at any time. For example, I downloaded the new Indiana Jones game that goes for around R1100 on the Microsoft Store, for no cost with Game Pass.

It was quite honestly the best value subscription available as a gamer.

Then the first price increase struck, and then without much warning it went up by R70 from R129 per month to R199 monthly in September last year. That was a 53.8% increase.

Yet still, at R200 per month it was still worth it. Since then, Xbox has announced massive increase of R150 which equates to a  R349 total per month. After a huge backlash from fans though, the price was brought back to down to R239 per month. That's without access to one of the most popular AAA game on Xbox - Call of Duty - for the first year. So you're still paying R40 more for less. 

It's simply not a great time to be a gamer, or to go easy on your wallet.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has announced Galaxy A27 5G, a device that refines everyday mobile use with an immersive display, reliable performance and thoughtfully integrated AI (artificial intelligence) features. Building on the popular Galaxy A26 5G, Galaxy A27 5G introduces meaningful enhancements that make the experience easier and more intuitive for more users.

More Screen, Less Distraction

For smoother and more seamless viewing, Galaxy A27 5G features a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. It also introduces an upgraded Infinity-O display, which minimises the visible camera area through a discreet punch-hole design. Together with a reduced and more balanced bezel, this adds screen space and removes distractions to keep content front and centre. With a slim 7.8 mm body, Galaxy A27 5G is designed to feel comfortable in the user’s hand throughout the day.

Everyday Performance, Enhanced

Powered by the Snapdragon® 6 Gen 3 Mobile Platform, ¹Galaxy A27 5G feels more responsive throughout the day, whether users are switching between apps or busily handling multitasking. A boost in GPU performance delivers smoother graphics for gaming and streaming, while the latest high-speed memory enables faster data transfer speeds and improved power efficiency. Together, these upgrades help Galaxy A27 5G deliver an everyday experience that users can count on.

Galaxy A27 5G also introduces a 12 MP front camera that captures a wider range of brightness and richer colours, resulting in more natural-looking selfies in a variety of lighting conditions.

Awesome Intelligence for Everyday Tasks

Upgrades to the existing suite of AI features make mobile intelligence more accessible. Circle to Search² with Google now supports multi-object recognition, allowing users to search for multiple items within an image at once, from outfits to accessories, in a single step. It also allows outfits to be virtually tried on directly from search results, helping users to explore new styles from anywhere. 

Object Eraser³ now delivers more precise results, making it easier to remove unwanted distractions with more natural-looking edits. Additionally, Voice Transcription⁴ in the Voice Recorder app can now translate as it transcribes, making it easier to capture meeting notes in 22 languages.

Building on the Awesome Intelligence⁵ experiences introduced earlier this year, Galaxy A27 5G supports a choice of AI assistants, including Google Gemini⁶ and Perplexity.⁷ Deeper integration across more native Galaxy apps — including Gallery — supports faster, more intuitive everyday interactions. Galaxy A27 5G now supports Bixby⁸ as a conversational device agent, enabling seamless control of settings and features through natural language.

Galaxy A27 5G reinforces Samsung’s commitment to long-term support with up to six generations of Android OS and One UI upgrades, as well as up to six years of security updates* from the initial global launch date, giving users confidence that they will be able to use their device for longer. Built on Samsung Knox with hardware-backed protection from Knox Vault⁹, Galaxy A27 5G keeps sensitive data secure, making device protection easier and more intuitive than ever before.

Availability

Galaxy A27 5G will be available at Samsung stores, network operators and retailers starting 1 July, and from 10 July on Samsung online stores. The device will be available in Black and Light Green¹⁰, at the recommended retail price of R6,999. For added peace of mind, Samsung Care+¹¹ offers comprehensive coverage optimised to users’ needs, including tailored benefits that protect the value of the device.

For more information on Galaxy A27 5G, please visit: Samsung Newsroom, Samsung Mobile Press or Samsung.com.

_{¹Snapdragon is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.}

_{²Circle to Search is a trademark of Google LLC. Sequences shortened and simulated. Results for illustrative purposes only. Service availability may vary by country, language or device model. Requires an internet connection. Users may need to update Android and Google app to the latest version. Works on compatible apps and surfaces. Results may vary depending on visual matches. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed.}

_{³Results may vary depending on shooting conditions, including multiple subjects, being out of focus or moving subjects.}

_{⁴Voice transcription feature requires Samsung Account login. Only available on the pre-installed Samsung Voice Recorder app or files recorded using the pre-installed Samsung Phone app. Voice recording feature in the pre-installed Samsung Phone app may not be supported in some countries. Audio files must be under 3 hours in duration to be processed. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed. For details, please visit https://www.samsung.com}

_{⁵Samsung Account login may be required to use certain Samsung Intelligence Features. Samsung does not make any promises, assurances or guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the output provided by Intelligence Features. Availability of Awesome Intelligence features may vary depending on the region/country, OS/One UI version, device model or phone carrier. Awesome Intelligence service may be limited for minors in certain regions with age restrictions over AI usage.}

_{⁶Gemini feature requires an internet connection and Google Account login. Service availability may vary by country, language or device model. Features may differ depending on subscription and results may vary. Compatible with certain features and certain accounts. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed.}

_{⁷Menu names, paths, and screen layouts may vary depending on your device model, software version, or app version. This feature may vary depending on your country, language, model, or app. If the Perplexity app does not appear in the voice wake-up app list, update both the Voice wake-up app and the Perplexity app to the latest version from the Galaxy Store, then try again. Language support for Perplexity may vary by country.}

_{⁸Service availability may vary by country/service provider/language/device model/OS version.}

_{⁹Security features or hardware/software architecture of Samsung Knox Vault on Samsung Galaxy A series smartphones may differ from those on Samsung Galaxy flagship devices, including S series, Z series, S FE series smartphones and Tab S series tablets launched from 2021 onwards. Availability of Samsung Knox Vault may vary depending on the device model.}

_{¹⁰Colour availability may vary depending on country or carrier.}

_{¹¹Terms and conditions apply. Samsung Care+ coverage, service type and promotion details may vary by country/region and a deductible (service fee) may apply. To be eligible for Samsung Care+ promotion benefits, registration may be required. For detailed Samsung Care+ information, please visit https://www.samsung.com/samsung-care-plus/. Care at home and abroad: When in need of Samsung Care+ services during travel, users should contact the visiting country/region's local customer services center in advance for Samsung Care+ availability}.

For the past decade, the multicolored, geometric logo of A24 has served as a secular gospel for South African cinephiles.

Stepping into the worn velvet twilight of Cape Town’s Labia Theatre or the intimate creative hub of Johannesburg’s Bioscope, audiences knew they were about to witness something defiantly human, beautifully strange, and resolutely independent of the Hollywood conveyor belt.

From the heartbreaking poetry of Moonlight to the cosmic absurdity of Everything Everywhere All at Once, A24 established itself as the ultimate global sanctuary for pure storytelling.

The newly announced DeepMind partnership represents a fundamental, unsettling shift in who controls the future of human culture. Sophia Shin, who handles communications for A24, quickly sought to clarify the scope of the arrangement.

"This is a research partnership," Shin stated. "We're working side-by-side with DeepMind's researchers to learn, iterate, and build, having an active hand in shaping new tools and workflows."

A24 executives insist that the partnership is a defensive measure designed to protect artists rather than exploit them.

"This partnership exists because we want to dictate what tools get built for artists, so they have a voice in shaping them rather than having tools handed to them," Shin stressed.

"We'd rather have a seat at the table than on the sidelines. Our relationship with our audience is something we don't take for granted."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Google DeepMind (@googledeepmind)

In an effort to soothe the anxieties of its audience, A24 confirmed that the partnership will not allow outside users to generate automated films featuring copyrighted studio characters, nor will the studio use its existing catalog of cinematic work to feed Google's software development.

"Truth is, we don't necessarily love any of the current, automated outputs on screen in Hollywood," Shin admitted. "I don't even know if ultimately we'd create tech on that front. This partnership is about learning and helping pain points in workflows behind the scenes more than anything else."

However, independent cultural critics remain deeply skeptical. Esther Rosenfield suggests that the tech giant is simply attempting to borrow the cultural currency of the indie studio.

"In the same way Disney sells nostalgia, A24 has sold the feeling of being very hip and cutting-edge for as long as they’ve been around," Rosenfield observed.

Andrew DeWaard, a media studies professor at UC San Diego and author of Derivative Media: How Wall Street Devours Culture, agrees, arguing that the transaction aligns perfectly with Silicon Valley’s broader strategy.

"They’ve branded their company as edgy, forward-thinking, and appealing to young people. They’ve created a fandom for their company," DeWaard stated. Believing the tech sector uses these high-profile creative partnerships to make automated software feel entirely inescapable to the public. 

Ultimately, to understand why Google is making this move right now, look at the broader geopolitical landscape, where a massive global tech race is unfolding between America and China for AI dominance.

Google is not just buying into A24 to streamline movie editing; they are buying into A24 to borrow its "cool factor." By partnering with a deeply respected artistic brand, the tech giant hopes to convince a skeptical public that its technology is friendly to human artists, rather than a threat to their livelihoods.

As Silicon Valley moves into the director's chair, indie cinema's ultimate sanctuary may never look the same.

IOL

I generally avoid saying that now is the perfect time to buy a particular product because it can sound like you’re pushing a brand. But when it comes to Apple devices in South Africa, it may actually be true.

Last week, Apple increased prices across its product range in the United States, and those hikes could make their way to South Africa sooner rather than later.

Until now, Apple had largely been insulated from the surge in RAM and storage component prices, which have soared as AI features demand more powerful hardware.

For example on Apple.com, the price of the 15-inch MacBook Air has increased by $100 (about R1,600), while the Mac mini now costs $200 (around R3,200) more.

Apple TV Price Surge: A 54% Increase Amid Rising RAM Costs

Meanwhile, the four-year-old Apple TV has jumped by $70 (roughly R1,150) — an eye-watering increase of 54%. The 2022 model currently starts at R2,999 in South Africa, meaning it could easily cost more than R4,000 locally if similar increases are introduced. It’s difficult to justify paying that much more for a streaming device that hasn’t been updated in nearly half a decade.

Historically, Apple’s upgrade prices for RAM and SSD storage have always been on the expensive side, but that’s not really the point. What matters is that those upgrade prices have generally remained consistent over the last couple years because Apple designs its own Unified Memory and SSD storage.

According to Resellcalendar.com, RAM prices surged by 171% during the third quarter of 2025 alone.

If Apple passes these higher component costs on to South African consumers, today’s prices could soon look like a bargain.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.

** JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Send us an email with your comments, thoughts or responses to iolletters@inl.co.za. Letters should be a maximum of 500 words, and may be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Submissions should include a contact number and physical address (not for publication).

In a showroom at Suzhou Industrial Park in east China's Jiangsu Province, a metal pump about the size of a table tennis ball operates quietly. Connected to a power source and biomimetic tubes, its metallic impeller levitates steadily at the centre, spinning at high speed.

The device is BrioVAD, a fully magnetically levitated artificial heart independently developed in China. Since its creation, it has operated continuously and simulated billions of heartbeats, offering new hope to patients suffering from end-stage heart failure.

By utilizing a design that separates the motor from the magnetic levitation unit, the device achieves a smaller overall size alongside a larger rotor diameter and lower operating speeds. This configuration improves blood compatibility and significantly reduces the risk of complications.

Following approval to enter clinical trials in the United States, BrioVAD expanded its reach to Europe. On June 2, it was successfully implanted into a patient at the University Medical Center Utrecht hospital in the Netherlands, marking its official entry into the European market.

This achievement is the result of years of dedicated collaboration among government agencies, hospitals, universities, and industry partners.

Heart failure affects tens of millions of people worldwide. In China alone, approximately 13.7 million people over the age of 35 suffer from the condition, including more than 1 million patients with end-stage disease. Yet, with just over 1,000 heart transplant surgeries performed nationwide each year, many patients are left with limited treatment options.

Often described as the "crown jewel" of medical devices, artificial hearts are widely regarded as the most practical solution for treating large numbers of severe heart failure patients. However, developing this technology has proven immensely challenging.

In the early 2000s, Chen Chen led a U.S.-based team that developed Levacor, the first fully magnetically levitated artificial heart to enter clinical trials in the U.S. Although the product ultimately failed to gain market acceptance because of its size and implantation challenges, Chen became increasingly convinced that magnetic levitation represented the future of the technology.

With investors pulling back from the field, Chen returned to China to pursue his vision in Suzhou. At the time, hydrodynamic suspension was the dominant approach worldwide, a field where Chinese researchers were already seeing promising results.

Rather than following the prevailing path, Chen proposed bypassing hydrodynamic suspension altogether and moving directly toward the more challenging fully magnetic levitation technology. This bold proposal was presented to leading experts at a Ministry of Science and Technology meeting in Beijing in 2009.

The technology eventually progressed from laboratory research to clinical application. In 2017, a critically ill patient received a BrioVAD artificial heart developed by BrioHealth Solutions, marking a key milestone in China's development of the technology.

To date, the company's fully magnetically levitated artificial hearts have been used to treat more than 1,000 patients.

The company's BrioVAD entered U.S. clinical trials in February 2024 after receiving approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, becoming the first active implantable medical device from China to reach this milestone.

In November 2024, the device was successfully implanted for the first time in the United States at Emory University Hospital. By April 2026, more than three-quarters of the top 30 U.S. hospitals by artificial-heart implantation volume had joined the trial program.

People's Daily Online

China's domestically developed LineShine supercomputer has become the world's fastest supercomputer, returning the country to the top spot in global supercomputing for the first time in nine years.

Announced at the ISC 2026 conference in Hamburg, Germany, LineShine achieved a sustained performance of 2.198 exaflops, becoming the first supercomputer to surpass two exaflops of sustained computing power.

Developed at the National Supercomputing Center in Shenzhen, LineShine is designed to combine scientific computing and artificial intelligence on a single platform. As AI becomes increasingly important in scientific research, supercomputers are evolving from tools for running simulations into infrastructure for data-intensive discovery.

At the heart of the system are China's self-developed LX2 processors, which support both traditional computing and AI workloads. The chips incorporate China's first domestically developed high-bandwidth memory, enabling data to move about 10 times faster than in conventional CPUs.

Moving data efficiently is just as important as raw computing power. LineShine uses a proprietary high-speed interconnect network capable of linking up to two million ports and 100,000 nodes, while its storage system is designed to support both large-scale simulations and the massive datasets used in AI applications.

Developers also built a software platform that integrates supercomputing and AI capabilities, allowing researchers to make more efficient use of the underlying hardware. The system is supported by a fully liquid-cooled design that helps improve energy efficiency while maintaining record-breaking performance.

Since entering operation, LineShine has supported research in atmospheric and ocean science, engineering simulation, materials research, drug discovery, brain science and scientific AI.

Supercomputers are increasingly used to tackle challenges ranging from climate modeling and advanced manufacturing to AI development. LineShine's debut marks China's return to the forefront of high-performance computing and highlights the growing convergence of supercomputing and artificial intelligence.

CGTN

WhatsApp is introducing usernames, giving users a new way to connect without revealing their phone numbers.

The feature, which users can begin reserving from this week, is expected to roll out gradually over the coming months.

The messaging platform said usernames are designed to offer greater privacy by allowing people to communicate without sharing their personal phone numbers, particularly when interacting with new contacts or joining group conversations.

With more than three billion users worldwide, WhatsApp said it is opening username reservations early to give users the opportunity to secure the name they want before the feature launches more broadly.

The company said usernames should ideally be unique and only known by people users want to contact them. A username generator will also be available to help users create a suitable option.

WhatsApp has also introduced a feature allowing creators, small businesses and organisations to claim their existing Instagram or Facebook usernames to maintain a consistent online identity across platforms.

The company said the feature has been designed with privacy in mind. There will be no searchable username directory or suggestions, meaning users will need to know a person's exact username before making contact for the first time.

An optional username key will provide an additional layer of security by requiring users to enter a unique key before they can send a first message.

Once usernames become available, users who enable the feature will no longer have their phone numbers displayed when messaging a person or business for the first time.

Users running the latest version of WhatsApp can reserve a username by navigating to Settings > Account > Username.

WhatsApp said it will notify users in the app when the feature becomes available in their country as the rollout expands.

seanne.rall@iol.co.za

IOL

A recent report framed Flamingo Clearing House’s review application as the move that “stalled” the Banxso liquidation. But court papers, the second creditors’ meeting transcript, the Master’s ruling and subsequent correspondence point to a deeper fight over creditor claims, voting power, legal fees, access to records and the treatment of a dissenting liquidator.

The public version of the Banxso liquidation has settled into a neat storyline: the estate was progressing, Flamingo Clearing House brought a review, and everything ground to a halt. It is a simple narrative. The documents tell a messier story. They show a liquidation already strained by disputes over claim values, the voting weight of settled complainants, the legal fees charged to the estate, the Master’s handling of objections, and the position of a liquidator who refused to sign off on matters he said he could not verify.

The review did not appear out of nowhere

The review is now often described as a delaying tactic. A report that appeared in Moneyweb on the 26th June quoted five of the six liquidators and Mostert and Bosman as calling it obstructive and part of a “carefully coordinated strategy” to discredit the liquidators and derail the liquidation. That is a serious claim, and it is plainly newsworthy. But it is not the same thing as answering the application.

The timing is awkward for that framing. The second creditors’ meeting took place on 15 May. Adv LM Olivier SC’s interim report is dated 25 May. It came out of Flamingo’s independent Section 417/418 enquiry, which the liquidators reportedly said had been obtained in an “improper manner”. Yet, before that report was relied on in the review papers, no application appears to have been brought to set the enquiry order aside. Two days after the report was issued by the Commissioner, the founding affidavit was sworn. The review therefore did not create the central problems. It relied on a Commissioner’s report that had already put them on paper.

That report recorded that the requisition system was flawed and open to abuse, that claim and requisition amounts were wrong in a significant number of instances, and that investors were told to claim total deposits even where repayments or settlements had already been received. These are not public-relations complaints. They go directly to voting power at a creditors’ meeting and, ultimately, to who controls the estate.

The legal-fees dispute is not answered by saying 'the Master oversaw it'

One of the sharpest disputes is over the legal costs charged by Mostert and Bosman. The firm’s public answer was that the costs were subject to the Master’s oversight and that the Master had already rejected the relevant claims. That response folds several different issues into one.

The first liquidation and distribution account reflects Mostert and Bosman invoices of R11,629,177.23. The review papers identify Voucher 30, for roughly R5.9 million, and say that bill was not independently taxed. A Taxing Master’s certificate annexed to the application records the bill as “settled by consent”. Other reporting on the account has described a voucher on which “taxed” was struck through by hand and replaced with “by consent”. If that is correct, the point is not whether the Master was generally involved in the estate. The point is whether this bill received the independent scrutiny taxation is supposed to provide.

The second-meeting transcript does not show the Master taxing or ratifying the bill. When the issue of Voucher 30 and the R5.9 million account was raised, the presiding officer cautioned that the liquidation and distribution account was not the forum for a full debate, noted that an objection could still be lodged, and said the fees were “another matter” to be dealt with through the account, objections and other appropriate processes. He also said he did not want to comment too much on the costs because doing so could prejudice the objection process.

What the transcript shows is narrower, and more damaging to the public defence of the fees. The meeting was allowed to continue; the bill was not found to be reasonable, taxed, or independently approved. The costs issue was left for objections and other processes. That is a very different record from the impression that Master oversight had already disposed of the complaint.

The published comments used strong language, including that Flamingo and another party were “co-conspirators in the criminal scheme of Banxso” and that the allegations against the liquidators were “cheap suspicion-mongering”. Those quotes may explain the posture of the parties. They do not explain why a bill recorded as settled by consent should be treated as if it had been taxed.

The question was never simply whether canvassing is allowed

Herman Bester of Tygerberg Trustees responded to the canvassing allegation by saying: “There is nothing wrong with the well-established practice of canvassing support for appointment as a liquidator in an insolvency matter,” and accused the applicant of trying to “create an atmosphere of impropriety”.

That statement is true as far as it goes. Canvassing support for appointment as a liquidator is not, without more, unlawful. But the review does not turn on a general objection to canvassing. It turns on whether the support and voting influence behind the process were affected by claims that were settled, reduced, compromised or recorded at inflated values.

The Commissioner’s report records that requisition amounts were incorrect and that a nominee who knows a requisition is not correct has a duty to disclose that to the Master. Tygerberg Trustees’ own claim pack reportedly calculated claims as total invested less repayments received. Yet evidence annexed to the review records witnesses saying they were told to insert gross amounts and not deduct what had been repaid or settled. The issue is therefore not whether canvassing exists in insolvency practice. The issue is whether the numbers used to secure influence in this estate were accurate.

Inaccurate requisitions are not a technical footnote. Proved creditors vote, direct liquidators and influence resolutions, their participation as a voting bloc is based entirely on the amount accepted by the master. If settled or reduced claims were carried forward at gross values, the effect would not merely be administrative. It would alter the balance of control in the estate.

The settled-creditor issue sits at the centre of the review

The settled-creditor issue is one of the least answered parts of the public debate. Matthys Potgieter of Willemse Potgieter and Babinszky, who says the firm represents 175 of 177 proved creditors, responded by attacking the settlements themselves. He said a settlement agreement was “merely a continuation of Banxso’s unlawful and/or fraudulent business, which is, in and of itself, a nullity or at least voidable”.

A legal practitioner consulted by this publication was unequivocal in their response stating that many of the same group of individuals now litigating this matter had previously in the Mirror Trading International matter approached the court to declare the business illegal and that all agreements be “void ab initio”, meaning all agreements between the company and their clients where the result of a fraudulent activity and therefore are void at the time of inception. They further stated, “the fact they have failed to bring a similar application in this matter appears on the very surface to show they have doubts about whether a court would agree with their findings and grant them the relief they seem to already be applying in this matter.”

If a settlement is void, a court must say so. If it is voidable, it ordinarily remains operative unless and until it is set aside. The immediate question is therefore practical and legal: on what basis were complainants who had signed full or partial settlements treated as creditors on values that allegedly ignored those settlements?

Potgieter’s role also raises questions beyond Banxso. In correspondence addressed to the Master, the same one presiding in the Banxso matter, and the liquidators in the Mirror Trading International liquidation, Allis Attorneys, acting for Adv Hendrik van Staden, alleged that a person identified as Matthys Potgieter of Coombe Attorneys had “gave himself out as an attorney” to both the liquidation applicant and the liquidators when, according to the letter, he was not registered with the Legal Practice Council and had not previously been admitted as an attorney. The letter further alleged that, under that alleged false pretext, Potgieter performed work for the MTI liquidators, including drafting legal documents and participating in enquiries, and that the liquidators failed to address this in their report, failed to report it to the Master, failed to determine its effect on the liquidation and failed to report the alleged conduct to the South African Police Service.

The same letter alleged that Anton Lee would not have signed an affidavit supporting the MTI liquidators’ application to have MTI declared an irregular business or Ponzi scheme had he known Potgieter was allegedly not an admitted attorney, because he allegedly relied on information in an affidavit supplied by Potgieter. These remain allegations in correspondence, not findings by a court and Potgieter has stated previously that he was a candidate attorney at the time. But they are relevant to the scrutiny now required where the same practitioner is presented as acting for the overwhelming majority of proved creditors in another major liquidation.

A well-placed source says the Legal Practice Council of South Africa is being approached to investigate whether those MTI allegations were disclosed when Potgieter applied to be admitted as an attorney in 2022. The question is not whether those allegations are already proved. The question is whether the regulator had the full picture when considering admission, and whether the public record now requires closer scrutiny.

The dissenting liquidator became the pressure point

The clearest procedural pressure point is Vaughn Victor. He is being presented as the problem liquidator: the dissenter, the obstruction, the man slowing the estate down. The record points to a more uncomfortable possibility. Victor is the office-bearer asking whether millions in legal fees should be tested before creditors are asked to accept resolutions that may affect the very pool from which their dividends will be paid.

That distinction is not cosmetic. Every rand paid out in administration costs is a rand no longer available for distribution. In a liquidation where investors are already waiting to see what can be recovered, the size and treatment of the Mostert and Bosman bill is not an internal professional quarrel. It goes to the arithmetic of the dividend. Victor’s insistence on scrutiny therefore protects the same creditors in whose name his removal is now being floated.

The sequence is telling. Victor refused to endorse a report dealing with events before his appointment and said disputes among the liquidators remained unresolved. Under Section 382, liquidators may be jointly and severally liable for acts performed jointly. A liquidator who refuses to sign off on matters he says he cannot verify is not automatically obstructing the estate. He may be insulating the estate, and himself, from later consequences if the process is found to have been defective.

The transcript shows the conflict was already live at the meeting. Victor told the Master that he did not agree with Bester or the report, that everything had been rushed since his appointment, that he had asked for time to familiarise himself with the voluminous estate records, that he had raised questions about the Section 402 report and received no answer, and that he had not been privy to the report. He also rejected the five liquidators’ approach to the employee claims. That is not the language of a liquidator seeking to derail recovery. It is the language of a liquidator saying he cannot responsibly approve what he has not been allowed to interrogate.

The Master identified the “main thing” between Senekal and Victor as the complaint about the R5.9 million due to Mostert and Bosman. Later in the same meeting, the Master remarked that he did not want a situation where “one creditor comes and says, can you just remove all these people” because they were fighting. The later move against Victor therefore did not emerge in a vacuum. It followed a recorded meeting in which Victor aligned himself with demands for scrutiny of the bill and refused to sign the report.

That is where the framing becomes inverted. The liquidator asking whether the estate is being overcharged is treated as the threat to creditors, while the faction pressing ahead with the disputed costs presents itself as the protector of creditors. But creditors are protected by recoveries and by the preservation of the estate, not by the untested approval of professional fees. If Victor is wrong, taxation and disclosure will show it. If he is right, forcing through approval now would reduce the very dividend creditors are waiting for.

Potgieter’s position sharpens the concern. On the one hand, his firm is presented as speaking for nearly all proved creditors. On the other, the creditor bloc he represents supported directions that entrenched Mostert and Bosman and the same counsel going forward, while the unresolved fee dispute remained alive. That is a powerful use of voting control. It is also precisely why the accuracy of those creditors’ claims matters. If any part of that voting bloc rests on settled, reduced or inflated claims, then the same disputed votes are being used both to approve the direction of the estate and to marginalise the liquidator asking whether the estate’s money is being spent properly.

Put plainly, Victor’s supposed dissent is not separate from creditor protection. It is creditor protection. His questions go to whether the estate is being depleted by fees that have not been properly tested whether creditor votes were calculated on accurate claims, and whether resolutions were carried by a bloc whose composition is itself under challenge. Treating that as obstruction is convenient. It also avoids the harder question: who benefits if the only liquidator insisting on taxation, disclosure and caution is pushed out of the room?

The Master’s role is part of the review, not the answer to it

Several responses rely on the Master’s approval or oversight as though that ends the matter. It does not. The Master’s conduct and decisions are themselves part of what the court is being asked to examine.

That is circular. The Master’s decisions are not an outside validation of the process. They are part of the process being reviewed. The application asks the court to set aside the Master’s decision to allow the second meeting to proceed, alleges that the Master condoned the absence of the compliance affidavit required under Section 81(1)(bis)(b), and alleges that the Master refused to compel disclosure of estate records under Section 393. To answer those complaints by saying the Master approved the process is to cite the very decision under attack as proof of its own correctness.

The second-meeting transcript confirms that circularity. On the Section 81(1)(bis)(b) affidavit, the presiding officer did not identify the affidavit after it was requested. He accepted submissions that Section 402 of the Companies Act was sufficient, reasoned that the absence of the affidavit would not invalidate the meeting, and permitted the meeting to continue. On the legal costs, he expressly pushed the matter toward the objection process and other forums rather than deciding the bill. On the employee claims, he repeatedly said the claims could be investigated and dealt with later. These may be decisions the Master was entitled to make, or they may be decisions the court will set aside. But they are plainly decisions under review, not independent proof that the process was lawful.

The database question is real, but it is not a complete defence

The database issue is the strongest point in the liquidators’ response, and it should not be ducked. They are entitled to ask how Flamingo’s witness bundles were compiled and whether anyone accessed Banxso data. But Moneyweb’s framing leaves out the part that matters most to the fairness of the accusation. Senekal’s position was not simply silence or avoidance. The Master’s own 9 June ruling records Victor’s version that Senekal had tendered delivery of documents, repeated that tender on 2 June, and that inspection at Senekal’s offices remained available. The ruling further records that, notwithstanding that tender, the agreeing liquidators had made no meaningful effort to avail themselves of the opportunity to attend at Senekal’s offices to inspect and retain documents as required.

That is why the later suggestion that Senekal was dodging the question is incomplete. On 19 June, before Moneyweb published, Senekal addressed a detailed letter to the Master demanding reasons, disclosure of the record, compliance with procedural fairness, and notice of impending review and mandamus proceedings. In that letter he expressly recorded that the Master’s ruling itself acknowledged the tender: “That notwithstanding Mr Senekal’s tender, the agreeing liquidators have made no meaningful effort to avail themselves of the opportunity to attend at his offices to inspect and retain some documents as may be required.” He also recorded that the undertaking was “unequivocal and unconditional” and that the liquidators were free to inspect “all files”, “all records”, “all computers”, “all electronic devices” and “all electronic data under his control”.

The same letter put the point squarely: “If the Master accepted that inspection had been offered; if the Master accepted that cooperation had been tendered; if the Master accepted that the liquidators had failed to utilise the opportunity afforded to them; and if the Master accepted that nothing prevented such inspection from occurring, why was coercive legal process authorised before that mechanism had even been exhausted?” That is not an evasion of the database issue. It is a direct challenge to the process by which the database allegation was escalated.

The timing sharpens the point. Senekal’s letter required a full and substantive response from the Master by 16h00 on Friday, 26 June 2026. Moneyweb’s article was published earlier that same day, before that deadline had expired. Senekal was not merely refusing to answer in the media. He was giving the Master time to respond through the official process, while reserving the right to approach court if the Master did not answer. Without that chronology, the article’s treatment of his alleged failure to respond is incomplete.

The story beneath the headline

The unresolved issues are not peripheral. They sit at the centre of the review: an independent enquiry that was criticised but not set aside; witnesses whose settled or reduced claims may have affected voting power; a legal bill said to have been “settled by consent” rather than taxed; a Master whose decisions are themselves under challenge; a database dispute in which the Master’s own ruling recorded an unexhausted tender of inspection; and a liquidator now under pressure after insisting that the estate’s costs and records be tested.

A sharper headline may cast the review as the event that stalled the liquidation. The documents suggest something less convenient: the estate was already carrying unresolved disputes about who could vote, what they could vote with, who controlled the process, and how much of the estate was being consumed before creditors saw a dividend.

The resistance to a proper taxation of the bill is difficult to reconcile with the repeated claim that everyone is acting in the creditors’ interests. It is one thing to defend fees after they have been independently tested. It is quite another to press ahead with resolutions while the liquidator asking for that scrutiny is cast as the obstacle and faces removal pressure. The Taxing Master’s certificate records that the bill was “settled by consent”, yet a taxation charge was still allowed. That alone demands an explanation. A source familiar with the account says that, on its face, as much as R2 million may be vulnerable to reduction if the bill is properly taxed. If that is correct, the fight over taxation is not abstract. It is a fight over money that could return to the estate, increase the pool available for creditors, and reduce the very dividend loss that the attorneys representing the creditor bloc now appears prepared to absorb in order to keep the process moving.

In a matter as serious as Banxso, outrage is easy to sell. Process is harder to explain. But in liquidation, process is the story. If the claims are wrong, the votes are wrong. If the votes are wrong, the resolutions are vulnerable. If the costs were not properly tested, the dividend is diminished. And if the one liquidator pressing those points is framed as the obstacle, the court will have to decide whether he was obstructing recovery or protecting the estate from being quietly spent.

There was a time when smartphone ownership felt like a constant negotiation. You checked battery percentages before leaving the house. You packed power banks for weekend trips. You worried about dropping your device at the wrong moment. You hunted for shade to see your screen outdoors and hoped your camera would do justice to the moments you wanted to remember.

The reality is that the best technology should quietly remove those concerns from your day. That's exactly the thinking behind the new HUAWEI nova 15 Max.

Now available in South Africa, the latest addition to the HUAWEI nova series has been designed around a simple idea: helping users spend less time (and money) managing their smartphones and more time enjoying what they're doing.

Freedom from battery anxiety

Few things disrupt a good day faster than a dying battery. Whether you're travelling, attending a festival, navigating a new city or simply spending the day away from home, battery anxiety remains one of the biggest frustrations facing smartphone users.

The HUAWEI nova 15 Max tackles that challenge head-on with an impressive 8500mAh HUAWEI Super Battery, one of the largest batteries available in its category. Designed to keep pace with busy lifestyles, it can support up to 23 hours of continuous video playback.

In practical terms, that means fewer charging stops, less dependence on power banks and more confidence that your phone will still be going strong long after the day has become interesting. It can even share its power with compatible HUAWEI devices through reverse charging, transforming the phone into a convenient backup power source when needed.

The confidence to live a little

Most smartphones travel in handbags and backpacks, they sit on restaurant tables, they get caught in unexpected rain showers or they occasionally slip from pockets.

The HUAWEI nova 15 Max has been engineered with those realities in mind. Its Extra-durable Body has earned the SGS Premium Performance Mark 5-Star Drop Resistance certification, helping it withstand many of the everyday knocks and drops that life inevitably throws its way. An IP65 rating provides protection against dust and water exposure, while intelligent Splash Touch technology helps keep the screen responsive even when fingers or the display is wet.

It's the kind of protection that enables users to worry less and enjoy more.

A camera that doesn't wait for perfect conditions

Life rarely pauses while you find ideal lighting. Some of the best photos happen at sunset, around dinner tables, at concerts, during road trips or while exploring somewhere new.

The HUAWEI nova 15 Max features a 50MP Ultra Vision Camera with Huawei's advanced RYYB colour filter array, increasing light intake by 40% compared to traditional solutions. Combined with a large sensor and F1.9 aperture, it is designed to produce bright, detailed images even when lighting conditions are less than ideal.

AI Best Expression adds another layer of intelligence, helping users select and refine the most natural-looking expressions from a sequence of photos. The result is more flattering group shots and more share-worthy memories.

Entertainment without compromise

When it's time to unwind, the HUAWEI nova 15 Max is equally at home. Its large 6.84-inch OLED Eye Comfort Display delivers vivid visuals and smooth responsiveness, while up to 4000 nits of dynamic peak brightness ensures content remains visible even under bright South African sunshine.

Symmetrical stereo dual speakers and an ultra-wide soundstage create a surprisingly immersive audio experience, whether you're catching up on your favourite series, listening to music or watching content with friends.

Not to mention, it is built to be a practical travel companion. The HUAWEI nova 15 Max introduces AI-Powered Navigation, designed to help keep route guidance stable even when GPS signals become weak or inconsistent. Powered by HUAWEIs self-developed AI fusion algorithm, the system intelligently calculates driving trajectories to support smoother navigation through tunnels, dense city areas and complex multi-level roads.

More value where it matters

Perhaps most impressively, the HUAWEI nova 15 Max arrives at a time when smartphone prices continue to climb across the industry.

Starting at just R7 999, it combines long-lasting battery life, durable construction, advanced camera capabilities and premium entertainment features in a package designed to deliver exceptional value.

Customers can also enjoy a HUAWEI Added Value Pack worth up to R7 596, including Unlimited Screen Damage Protection and HUAWEI FreeBuds SE valued at R1 499 at selected retailers, T’s and Cs apply.

The HUAWEI nova 15 Max is available in Black, Cyan and Gold through the HUAWEI Online Store, HUAWEI Experience Stores and selected retailers nationwide.

Young innovator from the Eastern Cape, Elihle Stali, is setting the bar for breakthrough technology aimed at helping the visually impaired with a pair of AI-assisted smart glasses inspired by his late grandmother.

The 23-year-old computer science student has created a lightweight pair of glasses — similar in appearance to Meta’s AI glasses — that can translate what they are pointed at into audio, effectively telling the user what is in front of them.

The device also works in several South African languages, giving the technology a uniquely South African flavour.

It has the potential to be a breakthrough innovation that could give visually impaired people far greater independence, confidence and freedom in their daily lives.

Spectacles4TheBlind SA: Stali’s Vision for Independence Gains Global Attention and Support

Stali’s grandmother was blind, a reality that helped shape the path he would eventually follow. It also led to the creation of his startup company, Spectacles4TheBlind SA.

“Elihle, my boy, please hold my hand and help me get to the toilet,” recalled Stali.

“Growing up in Zwelitsha, I heard these words from my grandmother every morning. As her full-time child navigator, I made an 11-year-old vow to find a solution that would give her and millions of visually impaired South Africans their ultimate dignity and independence back.”

The invention has already begun attracting international attention.

Stali has been invited to participate in the LEAP Startup Competition, where he has been offered the opportunity to showcase his technology in Hong Kong in July.

However, attending the event comes at a cost.

Without the funding required for the trip, Stali launched a BackaBuddy campaign to help make the journey possible.

The campaign was launched just two weeks ago with a target of R80,000. By June 12, it had already raised R136,547 — comfortably exceeding its goal and highlighting the strong support behind his vision.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

The question every South African is asking right now is simple: Can Bafana Bafana beat Canada in their FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash on Sunday?

Depending on who you ask, you’ll probably get a different — and often emotional — answer.

If you ask me, I’d say we have no chance.

Just kidding. I think we can do it.

AI Predictions: Bafana Bafana’s Chances Against Canada in FIFA World Cup Round of 32

But the point of this story is to look for a more clinical, data-driven assessment.

So I turned to AI.

I asked both ChatGPT and Google Gemini the same question:

“What chance does Bafana Bafana have of beating Canada in their FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match on Sunday?”

The responses were quite different.

ChatGPT estimated Bafana’s chances of winning in normal time at 30%, gave Canada a 50% chance, and assessed a 20% probability that the match would go to extra time and penalties.

Gemini, meanwhile, declined to attach a percentage to the outcome.

Instead, it concluded: “While the bookmakers and rankings might technically label South Africa the underdogs, the reality on the pitch shows that Bafana Bafana have a very realistic, fighting chance of progressing to the Round of 16.”

ChatGPT also pointed to South Africa’s improvement as the tournament has progressed, noting that Bafana looked vulnerable defensively in their 2-0 defeat to Mexico before producing much more disciplined displays against Czechia and, most notably, South Korea.

Gemini also highlighted the confidence Bafana will have gained from their historic victory over South Korea.

It added: “If Bafana can replicate the organised, fearless defensive display they showed against South Korea and catch Canada on the counter-attack, they have every chance of writing another Hollywood script in LA.”

Whichever AI model you prefer, both agree on one thing: Bafana Bafana have more than just a puncher’s chance of making even more World Cup history.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

Recently, my wife and I decided to revisit season three of Jack Ryan, the fast-paced, complicated espionage series featuring John Krasinski as the title character. But the plot of the show is not really what struck me. Although I’ll touch on it more later, it’s how I used AI to fill in the gaps as I tried to follow the intricate storyline.

We had watched this season before, but for whatever reason — I can’t really remember — we never made it through all the episodes.

As someone with ADHD, a show like this can become very difficult to follow, with characters, motives and incidents coming at you at breakneck pace.

In fact, I’m quite jealous of how my wife manages to scroll Instagram while watching the show and still knows exactly what’s going on at any given moment.

Navigating the Complex Plot of Jack Ryan: A Viewer’s Guide

Sadly, even with my eyes peeled and watching attentively, I still found myself completely lost at sea — much like one of the scientists Jack Ryan tries to rescue at the beginning of the season.

When this happens, I inevitably ask my wife a series of questions such as: “Who’s that guy? He’s with them? Oh, I thought he wasn’t with them. That’s the German ambassador? Oh, it’s the Czech minister? Was that old man the young guy in the 1980s who killed all those nuclear scientists at the beginning?”

As you can imagine, my wife can quickly grow tired of inane questions like these.

And that’s when it struck me. Before we moved on to episode six, I suggested we take a break so I could read up a bit on the plot and get us on the same page.

How ChatGPT Helped Me Understand My Favourite TV Series

Instead of Googling it or hopping over to IMDb, I decided to have a chat with ChatGPT.

I explained my problem and it gave me a brilliant rundown of everything that had happened up to that point in the series. It provided a big-picture summary, a list of the key players with descriptions, and brief plot summaries covering the first four episodes.

Of course, episode five — the one that had left me floundering — was where the big twist arrived. Once again, ChatGPT explained it clearly and concisely.

Within a few minutes, I finally understood who everyone was, what their motivations were and why certain events mattered.

I can now forge ahead with confidence, knowing I can resume season three with a solid understanding of what’s already happened and, hopefully, retain what I watch next.

And if not, I’ll probably just have another chat with my AI app.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

The new buzzword in tech is definitely Agentic AI, but what exactly is it, and should we be worried?

Firstly, Agentic AI means handing over more control to an increasingly powerful AI application. It will be able to make more decisions on its own and, as a result, do more for the end user.

For example, if you want to book tickets to an event, Agentic AI will be able to handle almost everything. That means you can issue a prompt like: “Book me tickets to the Beyoncé concert next month.”

It will then find out exactly when the concert is, check with the user about seating preferences, and then confirm payment, either through biometrics or facial recognition software.

Apple’s Siri AI to Enter the Agentic AI Market in September

Apple’s Siri AI will be one of the latest entries into the Agentic AI market when it officially launches in September. It will join other leading Agentic AI platforms such as ChatGPT Operator, Claude (Anthropic), and Microsoft Copilot Studio.

To be clear, this shift in the way AI works could gradually change the way we use technology altogether.

As someone who grew up watching Terminator, which dealt with computers becoming self-aware and swiftly moving to wage war on, and essentially exterminate, humankind, this shift does not sit comfortably with me.

Of course, we are probably still at least a couple of decades away from AI being capable of building its own self-aware robots designed for nefarious purposes.

But the fact that we are on a path that could eventually lead there is, at the very least, cause for concern.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

The question every South African is asking right now is simple: Can Bafana Bafana beat Canada in their FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash on Sunday?

Depending on who you ask, you’ll probably get a different — and often emotional — answer.

If you ask me, I’d say we have no chance.

Just kidding. I think we can do it.

AI Predictions: Bafana Bafana’s Chances Against Canada in FIFA World Cup Round of 32

But the point of this story is to look for a more clinical, data-driven assessment.

So I turned to AI.

I asked both ChatGPT and Google Gemini the same question:

“What chance does Bafana Bafana have of beating Canada in their FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match on Sunday?”

The responses were quite different.

ChatGPT estimated Bafana’s chances of winning in normal time at 30%, gave Canada a 50% chance, and assessed a 20% probability that the match would go to extra time and penalties.

Gemini, meanwhile, declined to attach a percentage to the outcome.

Instead, it concluded: “While the bookmakers and rankings might technically label South Africa the underdogs, the reality on the pitch shows that Bafana Bafana have a very realistic, fighting chance of progressing to the Round of 16.”

ChatGPT also pointed to South Africa’s improvement as the tournament has progressed, noting that Bafana looked vulnerable defensively in their 2-0 defeat to Mexico before producing much more disciplined displays against Czechia and, most notably, South Korea.

Gemini also highlighted the confidence Bafana will have gained from their historic victory over South Korea.

It added: “If Bafana can replicate the organised, fearless defensive display they showed against South Korea and catch Canada on the counter-attack, they have every chance of writing another Hollywood script in LA.”

Whichever AI model you prefer, both agree on one thing: Bafana Bafana have more than just a puncher’s chance of making even more World Cup history.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

While investigating Astrix Data over an international fraud exposé, South Africa's financial regulator quietly allowed the company's licence to be renamed. The public was never told. Three other platforms were not so fortunate.

There is a straightforward piece of advice the Financial Sector Conduct Authority gives to every South African worried about financial fraud. Check the register. The FSCA's public database of authorised financial service providers is, in the regulator's own telling, the first line of defence for any consumer dealing with a trading platform or investment firm. Enter the company name, or the FSP number displayed on the firm's literature, and the register will confirm whether the entity holds a valid licence.

It is a reasonable system, provided the information on the register reflects reality.

Search FSP number 52313 on the FSCA's register today and the result returns one entry: IGM Financial Services (Pty) Ltd. Status: Authorised.

Search for Astrix Data (Pty) Ltd and nothing comes up at all.

Yet the FSCA's own press release of 6 June 2024, still publicly available on the authority's website, describes FSP 52313 as belonging to "Astrix Data (Pty) Ltd, an authorised financial services provider." That same document announced that the FSCA had registered a formal investigation into Astrix Data, its juristic representative Vector Financial Services, and the Finbok trading platform, following a wave of complaints from members of the public who said they could not get their money back.

At some point between that announcement and today, the FSCA approved a name change on the licence. Astrix Data became IGM Financial Services. The investigation, by the FSCA's own account, remained open throughout.

Nobody told the public.

What the Register Was Supposed to Protect Against

The timing matters and so does the context in which it sits.

In March 2025, an international consortium of investigative journalists published a detailed account of what it called the Scam Empire: a global online trading fraud network with a significant South African footprint. The story, based on a substantial document leak, was later reported extensively by the IOL, Fast Company South Africa, and the Cape Argus, while Daily Maverick was part of the original consortium that exposed it. The reporting described a cross-border operation running call centres in several jurisdictions, including the Philippines, where police had carried out a raid as part of international law enforcement activity.

At the heart of the South African operation, the reporting found, was Astrix Data. The company held an FSCA licence and had appointed two so-called juristic representatives, Vector Financial Services and Libra Wealth, which in turn operated the Finbok, Finxocap, and VP Trade trading platforms. Juristic representatives are permitted under South African law to conduct financial services under the licence of another entity, provided the licence holder performs due diligence and remains accountable for their conduct.

What the leaked documents showed was that the nominal directors of Vector Financial Services and Libra Wealth appeared, on the evidence, to be identity theft victims: a Bulgarian man described in employment records as unemployed, and a Romanian model. Neither had any documented connection to the South African financial industry. The real operational and financial control, according to the reporting, lay elsewhere, routed through corporate structures in Cyprus and other jurisdictions.

Finbok alone, operating under Astrix's FSP 52313, had by the end of 2024 collected deposits of more than R210 million from South African investors. Approximately R20 million had been returned. The ratio of funds taken to funds returned was, on those figures, roughly ten to one against the investor.

IOL and Fast Company South Africa noted that the FSCA's response, when queried by journalists, amounted to confirmation that the investigation was ongoing and had been prioritised. The regulator said it was not yet in a position to take administrative action and would update the public if anything changed.

Administratively, one thing did change. The name on the licence changed. The public was not updated.

The Warning That Made Astrix Look Like the Victim

There is a further detail that compounds the picture considerably.

At some point after international reporting linked Astrix Data to the Scam Empire investigation, the FSCA issued a separate public warning. The warning concerned Gold Trading Advisors Ltd, an entity the authority said was impersonating a licensed FSP by using the FSP number of Astrix Data — FSP 52313.

The FSCA's purpose in issuing such warnings is to protect the public from fraudsters who falsely claim regulatory authorisation. It is a legitimate and necessary function. But the timing and framing of this warning created an impression that sat awkwardly alongside everything else. To a member of the public reading only the FSCA's own communications, Astrix Data appeared in two registers: as a company under investigation for potential client harm, and as a company whose identity was being stolen by fraudsters, positioning it as a victim deserving of regulatory protection.

The FSCA did not, at any point, issue a comparably prominent public communication acknowledging the international journalism that had placed Astrix Data at the centre of a global fraud network. It did not say to South Africans: this company has been the subject of serious international scrutiny, its platforms have been identified in cross-border law enforcement activity, and you should exercise caution. That statement was never made and most importantly unlike other platforms under preliminary investigation their license remained fully operational.

What was made was a statement saying: be careful of people pretending to be Astrix Data.

Separately, and without public announcement, Astrix Data's licence was transferred to a name the public would not recognise. The investigation, per the FSCA, continued.

Three Others Who Were Not Given the Same Treatment

The contrast between the FSCA's handling of the Astrix situation and its handling of three other trading platform cases in the same period is a matter of public record, and it is stark. What makes it more difficult to explain is that the investigations ran concurrently. The Astrix and Banxso inquiries were both active at the same time, overseen by the same enforcement division, under the same divisional executive. The FSCA was, by its own account, investigating all of them simultaneously. The decisions it took in each case were therefore not the product of different regulatory moments or different teams working in isolation. They reflected choices made in parallel.

Banxso (Pty) Ltd had its licence provisionally withdrawn in October 2024. The authority said preliminary investigation findings had identified a potential risk to clients and the public. Banxso disputed the characterisation of its conduct vigorously throughout the proceedings. Its directors offered security exceeding R57 million, funded personally, sufficient by their own account to cover the full proven claims of all creditor applicants.

That offer was rejected by the applicants' attorneys without, according to at least some of those applicants, those clients being informed it existed. The company's client funds remained frozen. Banxso's legal representatives raised, in court filings, what they described as serious concerns about the conduct of the applicants' attorneys and the fairness of the proceedings. The court noted those concerns without finding them sufficient to defeat the liquidation application.

Then, in December 2025, as the final proceedings approached, the FSCA imposed an administrative penalty on Banxso and its directors totalling R2 billion. It was, by any measure, the largest enforcement penalty in the authority's history. It was announced with considerable public fanfare. And it is worth reconstructing precisely where it landed in the sequence of events.

The final licence withdrawal had been issued on 4 July 2025. Within weeks, in August 2025, the Western Cape High Court granted the provisional liquidation order. The licence withdrawal, publicly announced with detailed findings, had come first and provided an allegedly authoritative, independent foundation on which the liquidation proceedings could rest. That was the first intervention.

The R2 billion fine came on 9 December 2025. Two days later, on 11 December, the Financial Services Tribunal handed down its ruling dismissing Banxso's reconsideration applications. The final liquidation ruling followed in early 2026, with the judgment confirming the winding-up issued in March. The fine, by the account of the court record itself, had been placed before the presiding judge as part of the evidentiary picture.

Two major FSCA interventions. Two judicial or quasi-judicial rulings arriving shortly after. The sequence occurred twice within the same set of proceedings, each time with an FSCA announcement of maximum public impact landing immediately before a decision of maximum consequence to the company and its clients.

A penalty of that magnitude imposed on a company already in provisional liquidation functions, as a matter of insolvency law, as an unsecured concurrent creditor claim. It ranks behind the costs of the liquidation proceedings themselves, behind preferent creditors, and behind SARS. In practical terms, the R2 billion had no realistic prospect of meaningful recovery for the investors it was ostensibly designed to vindicate. What it demonstrably did was to place an allegedly independent, authoritative, and unprecedented regulatory conclusion into the public domain at precisely the moment courts were deciding the fate of the company. The FSCA had never before imposed a fine of anything approaching that scale. The timing of when it chose to do so is not a matter of inference. It is a matter of dates.

There is an even harder question. Despite the size of the penalty, the FSCA has not, as far as the available record shows, lodged a claim against the Banxso estate. Had it done so, that claim would have had to stand in the insolvency process like any other creditor claim. It could have been scrutinised, challenged and tested. The authority may have had to explain, in a public forum, how it arrived at R2 billion, what losses that figure was meant to reflect, and why the penalty was imposed in that amount at that point in the proceedings. Instead, the fine achieved maximum public impact while avoiding the one process that might have forced the calculation into the open.

The FSCA's communications around the final licence withdrawals of both Banxso and AfriMarkets were extensive and public. Press releases were issued. The findings were laid out. Debarments were announced. The names of individuals and the sums involved were given to the media and published widely. Every step of the process was documented in the public record.

AfriMarkets Capital (Pty) Ltd had its licence provisionally withdrawn in July 2025, on the basis that the FSCA identified it as sharing directorships and a business model with Banxso. The withdrawal was made final in December 2025, again with full public communication from the authority.

Mixirite (Pty) Ltd had its licence provisionally withdrawn on 24 June 2026, the day before this article was finalised. The FSCA cited preliminary concerns, including alleged sales-pressure issues, unauthorised advice, unrealistic return claims, suitability failures and inadequate risk disclosures. These allegations are serious, but they remain conventional regulatory concerns, not allegations on the scale of being identified in international reporting as part of a global scam network. Even so, the FSCA again acted publicly and issued a statement.

In each of those three cases, the FSCA acted during an active investigation on the basis of preliminary findings. In each case the authority made its actions public, issued formal communications, and ensured the market knew what it had decided and why.

Now consider the Astrix investigation against that standard. The FSCA registered it formally in June 2024. Its response to press queries throughout 2025 confirmed it remained open. At no point has the authority issued any public communication about the outcome of that investigation. No findings have been published. No penalties have been announced. No debarments have been declared. No press release has told South Africans what the FSCA concluded after examining a network that international reporting identified as part of a global fraud operation responsible for collecting at least R210 million from local investors and returning less than ten per cent of it.

The investigation into Astrix Data has, as far as any public record shows, produced nothing.

What it did produce, without announcement, was a name change on the licence.

On the one metric that matters most to an investor deciding whether an entity is safe to deal with — the proportion of deposited funds that are returned — the Astrix cluster presents a far more alarming picture than anything documented about Banxso, AfriMarkets, or Mixirite at the time enforcement action was taken against them. A return rate of less than ten per cent is not the profile of a poorly run trading platform. It is the profile of an operation in which the primary activity is the collection of deposits. The FSCA's own investigation was, by its own account, seeking to determine whether that was exactly what had been happening. It has shared its conclusion with no one.

The Register Becomes the Mechanism

What makes the name change on FSP 52313 more than a bureaucratic footnote is what it means in practical terms for the people the register is supposed to serve.

A South African investor who read any of the international journalism about Finbok, Astrix Data, and the fraud allegations in 2025 would have had grounds for concern. The natural protective step — checking the FSCA register — would have returned the same entity's licence, under its original name, listed as authorised. That alone was a problem, suggesting to a careful reader that the investigation had produced no definitive finding.

After the name change, the situation became materially worse. A person who remembered the name Astrix Data from the reporting and searched it on the register would find nothing. The name does not appear. The reputational damage accumulated through more than a year of investigative journalism, the international law enforcement activity, the questions about identity theft and offshore money flows — none of it attaches to the register entry that now carries FSP 52313. That entry belongs to IGM Financial Services, listed as Authorised, with no indication of any investigative history.

An investor presented with FSP number 52313 by a new platform claiming South African regulatory authorisation would search the number and find a clean, actively licensed entity. They would have no reason to associate that number with anything they had previously read or heard about.

Companies change their names for entirely legitimate reasons. That happens in every industry. The question here is not whether a name change is inherently suspicious. The question is whether the FSCA's own licensing division, which processes such changes and must approve them, had any mechanism to flag that the entity requesting the change was simultaneously the subject of an open enforcement investigation by the authority's own enforcement division.

If the answer is yes, that mechanism failed here. If the answer is no, that absence of internal communication between licensing and enforcement is itself a significant structural failure in an authority whose core function is to know what it is licensing and why.

The FSCA has not addressed either question publicly.

Who Watches the Watchdog

The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Finance has formal oversight of the FSCA. It receives the authority's annual reports, calls its executives to account, and has the power to compel disclosure. It is, in the architecture of South African financial regulation, the body that is supposed to ensure the FSCA does not become a law unto itself.

The question worth asking is whether it has been doing that, and whether it intends to start.

The Astrix Data situation is not the first time the FSCA's enforcement decisions have caused damage that nobody was required to account for. In 2020 the authority applied for the urgent liquidation of JP Markets, a forex platform employing seventy people and holding R220 million in its own cash. The Supreme Court of Appeal overturned the liquidation order in 2021, finding it was neither just nor equitable and that the FSCA had failed to exhaust less drastic remedies before reaching for the most extreme tool available. The FSCA was ordered to pay the legal costs of two counsel. No one within the authority was disciplined. No public accounting was given for why the decision was made, by whom, and on what analysis. The costs were absorbed, and the individuals responsible continued in their roles.

That case established a pattern that the Astrix situation now throws into sharp relief. When the FSCA acts and the consequences fall on a company, its directors, and its clients, the consequences are irreversible. Licences are withdrawn. Accounts are frozen. Liquidators are appointed. Reputations are destroyed. Investors find themselves locked out of funds they may never recover. But when the FSCA's own actions are found by a court to have been wrong, the institution bears no meaningful consequence and the individuals who made the decision bear none at all. The power to act is exercised by individuals. The accountability for those actions rests nowhere specific.

This matters because what the Astrix Data incident makes visible is not a procedural oversight or an administrative error that slipped through an otherwise functioning system. It is evidence that the authority's most consequential decisions — which entities to investigate quietly and which to pursue publicly, which licences to pull and which to leave intact, which investigations to conclude with press releases and which to conclude in silence, which name changes to approve while an investigation runs — are not governed by a consistent published standard that any external observer can apply. They are governed by the judgements of the individuals who hold the relevant positions, exercised with a degree of discretion that, in the absence of any demonstrated accountability for its misuse, amounts to unchecked power.

The FSCA's head of enforcement holds one of the most consequential regulatory positions in South African financial services. The decisions made in that office determine which companies survive and which are wound up, which individuals are debarred and which continue to operate, which investigations result in the largest penalties in the authority's history and which result in nothing the public is ever told about. That power is not subject to any meaningful external review of individual decisions in real time. The Financial Services Tribunal can reconsider specific administrative actions after the fact, but it cannot examine whether the decision to act against one entity and not another reflects a consistent application of principle. Parliament can ask questions, but only if it chooses to.

The people affected by these decisions have little practical recourse. Investors can be left with funds frozen in liquidations that drag on for years. Employees can lose their jobs after licences are pulled on preliminary findings. Clients of Finbok and VP Trade put money into platforms that the FSCA's own register told them were authorised. Yet none of them has a direct way to challenge the authority's decisions about where, when and how to use its powers. They can complain to the FSCA about regulated companies. Complaining about the FSCA itself is another matter. In practice, that route runs through Parliament, which has so far shown limited appetite for the sustained scrutiny needed to bring these issues into the open.

In the absence of any explanation from the authority, the Astrix Data investigation points to an enforcement approach that is far from consistent. Similar cases do not appear to have been treated according to a clear, published standard. Instead, the outcomes seem to depend on discretionary decisions made inside the FSCA, with little visible accountability and consequences borne largely by others. One company can remain under investigation for more than two years, have its licence quietly renamed after being linked in international reporting to a scam network, and emerge with no published finding, no penalty and a clean register entry under a new name. Another, investigated by the same division at the same time, can have its licence withdrawn, its accounts frozen, its directors fined R2 billion and its business wound up, with each step announced publicly and a major penalty landing just before the court's final decision.

In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the pattern is difficult to ignore. One group of companies appears to have been pursued with every tool available to the regulator, treated in public as effectively guilty while investigations were still at a preliminary stage. Others, facing allegations of a different order, were handled with far greater restraint, and in Astrix's case with a level of silence that left the public register cleaner than the public record. That is the central problem. Not merely that the FSCA acted against some entities, but that its visible force appears to have been applied unevenly.

Both outcomes are legal. Both were decisions made by people who knew that whatever they decided, no one would call them to account for the difference.

The Standing Committee on Finance has the power to change that. It can demand the full file on FSP 52313, including the correspondence, approval records, internal communications between licensing and enforcement, and the unpublished investigation report. It can ask, on the public record, who approved the name change, when it was approved, and why. It can ask what the Astrix investigation found and what was done with those findings. It can also ask why the largest penalty in the authority's history was imposed on a company already in provisional liquidation, where any real recovery was unlikely, just weeks before a judge was due to decide whether to wind it up.

These are not hostile questions. They are the questions a functioning oversight body asks of a regulator whose decisions affect the financial lives of millions of South Africans and whose accountability to anyone for those decisions is, at present, largely theoretical.

The Astrix Data incident did not happen in spite of the system. It happened inside it, with the system's approval, recorded in the system's own register. Until Parliament decides that the people who hold these powers must account for how they use them, the register will continue to reflect not the truth of what has happened, but the version of events that those with the power to alter it have chosen to present.

YouTube reached a confidential settlement with a 15-year-old American who accused the Google-owned platform and other social media networks of harming his mental health, three months after an unprecedented verdict in a similar case.

Google spokesman Jose Castaneda confirmed the deal, saying the company had "built YouTube responsibly" for more than a decade and that its "focus remains on building age-appropriate products and parental controls."

The agreement includes no admission of liability.

Plaintiff's attorneys John Morgan and Emily Jeffcott said YouTube's "decision to resolve this case before having to face a jury speaks for itself," accusing social media executives of "strategising for years to hook children early" through features like autoplay and infinite scroll.

Instagram owner Meta, TikTok and Snapchat remain defendants in the case – the second of its kind in the United States – which is set to go to trial July 27 in Los Angeles.

The plaintiff, identified by his initials R.K.C., is a teenager from Florida who claims compulsive social media use contributed to anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts for which he continues to receive treatment.

His case was selected as a bellwether to help resolve thousands of similar lawsuits across the country.

A first bellwether trial concluded in March, when a Los Angeles jury ordered Meta and Google to pay a 20-year-old woman, K.G.M., $6 million – a historic first.

Snap and TikTok had settled before that trial for undisclosed amounts.

Another case in New Mexico found Meta liable for misleading consumers about the safety risks its platforms pose to children.

The jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million in damages.

In May, Meta, Snap, TikTok and YouTube reached confidential settlements with a Kentucky school district, averting another landmark trial in Oakland.

In a separate case, more than 30 US states are suing Meta over similar allegations, with a potential trial set for August in Oakland.

AFP

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Recently, my wife and I decided to revisit season three of Jack Ryan, the fast-paced, complicated espionage series featuring John Krasinski as the title character. But the plot of the show is not really what struck me. Although I’ll touch on it more later, it’s how I used AI to fill in the gaps as I tried to follow the intricate storyline.

We had watched this season before, but for whatever reason — I can’t really remember — we never made it through all the episodes.

As someone with ADHD, a show like this can become very difficult to follow, with characters, motives and incidents coming at you at breakneck pace.

In fact, I’m quite jealous of how my wife manages to scroll Instagram while watching the show and still knows exactly what’s going on at any given moment.

Navigating the Complex Plot of Jack Ryan: A Viewer’s Guide

Sadly, even with my eyes peeled and watching attentively, I still found myself completely lost at sea — much like one of the scientists Jack Ryan tries to rescue at the beginning of the season.

When this happens, I inevitably ask my wife a series of questions such as: “Who’s that guy? He’s with them? Oh, I thought he wasn’t with them. That’s the German ambassador? Oh, it’s the Czech minister? Was that old man the young guy in the 1980s who killed all those nuclear scientists at the beginning?”

As you can imagine, my wife can quickly grow tired of inane questions like these.

And that’s when it struck me. Before we moved on to episode six, I suggested we take a break so I could read up a bit on the plot and get us on the same page.

How ChatGPT Helped Me Understand My Favourite TV Series

Instead of Googling it or hopping over to IMDb, I decided to have a chat with ChatGPT.

I explained my problem and it gave me a brilliant rundown of everything that had happened up to that point in the series. It provided a big-picture summary, a list of the key players with descriptions, and brief plot summaries covering the first four episodes.

Of course, episode five — the one that had left me floundering — was where the big twist arrived. Once again, ChatGPT explained it clearly and concisely.

Within a few minutes, I finally understood who everyone was, what their motivations were and why certain events mattered.

I can now forge ahead with confidence, knowing I can resume season three with a solid understanding of what’s already happened and, hopefully, retain what I watch next.

And if not, I’ll probably just have another chat with my AI app.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

The future is now — well, in the USA at least.

South African digital creator Banela Ndaba, aka 'Moghelingz', has been in Atlanta following Bafana Bafana’s Fifa World Cup journey, and decided to try out a self-driving car service called Waymo.

While it might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie for most South Africans, the service appears to be growing in popularity in the United States.

Uber has partnered with Waymo as the technology becomes increasingly mainstream.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Banele Ndaba (@moghelingz)

Ndaba’s Experience with Waymo’s Autonomous Vehicle in Atlanta

Ndaba begins his video walking through the streets of Atlanta, but soon becomes distracted while talking to camera.

He then gives viewers their first glimpse of the Waymo vehicle.

Ndaba admits to feeling some trepidation about getting into a car without a human driver, but ultimately decides it is an opportunity he simply wouldn’t get back home in Mzansi.

The white vehicle pulls up alongside him, with several cameras clearly visible on the exterior — technology the car relies on to navigate the roads.

The youngster climbs into the back seat and uses a touchscreen to begin his journey. He films the entire experience, including the steering wheel turning on its own as the vehicle rounds corners.

It feels like something straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster, reminiscent of scenes from the movie Total Recall when this future seemed a distant fantasy.

Ndaba’s Joyride: Experiencing Waymo’s Autonomous Technology with Music and Dance

Throughout the trip, Ndaba appears both fascinated and slightly stunned by the experience before jokingly declaring: “Let me chill, I’m used to this.”

Waymo also allows passengers to choose the music they want to listen to during the ride — another benefit of removing the human element from the driving experience.

Naturally, Ndaba soon starts showing off some dance moves from the back seat while vibing to the music, all while safely buckled in.

“You can’t say I never lived,” Ndaba adds.

That much is certainly true. It may still be some time — if ever — before South Africans get the chance to experience this kind of technology on local roads.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

Meta has tapped Indian fintech founder Kunal Shah as the new head of WhatsApp, as the US tech giant seeks ways to monetise the messaging app's massive user base.

The announcement, made Monday night, was accompanied by news that Meta would also lead a $900 million funding round in Shah's consumer finance firm CRED.

"Kunal built CRED into one of India's most important technology companies," Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement.

"He brings the kind of builder mentality and global perspective that will serve him well in running the world's biggest messaging app."

Shah, a serial entrepreneur and influential figure in India's fintech world, started CRED in 2018 after selling an earlier payments startup to Indian e-commerce giant Snapdeal for roughly $400 million.

He is also one of India's most prolific angel investors, according to data tracker Tracxn, with the local financial press often reporting how Shah agrees to seed funding pitches within minutes of hearing them.

But over the last few years, Shah has focused on building CRED -- which got its start by offering rewards to customers for timely credit card payments.

Since then, the company has aggressively expanded into offering wealth management, insurance and lending services to its 17 million users.

This experience is likely to help WhatsApp as it seeks new revenue streams that go beyond the core advertising business of Meta, which also runs Facebook and Instagram.

While India is WhatsApp's largest market -- with over half a billion users, according to 2021 government figures -- analysts say it has largely missed the chance to build an equally popular payments service.

In May, the messaging app offered businesses in India the ability to use artificial intelligence for services including responding to customers at all hours or booking appointments.

Shah acknowledged the scope for future growth, saying in a statement that the gap between "WhatsApp today and its full potential is massive".

India's startup ecosystem also celebrated Shah's appointment -- the latest example of an Indian-born executive becoming the leader of a Silicon Valley company.

Sajith Pai of Blume Ventures, an early stage Indian start-up backer said Shah was getting an "even bigger canvas to paint his bold brushstrokes in".

"Great news for everyone in the Indian startup ecosystem, and for India!"

AFP 

Whether you’re a student or a CEO, deciding on the right laptop screen size can be a surprisingly difficult exercise.

For me, it’s less about what you need the laptop for and more about portability.

Naturally, the smaller the screen, the more portable the device.

Add to that the fact that virtually every modern laptop supports at least one external display, and the need to carry around a larger screen everywhere you go has become significantly less important.

Finding the Right Balance: Portability vs. Usability in Laptops

The real challenge is finding the right balance between portability and usability.

For the average user, I think that balance leans heavily towards something smaller.

Take the 16-inch MacBook Pro, for example, which I personally owned for more than two years. It’s a fantastic machine, but it is a substantial piece of hardware to carry around every day. Even in a backpack, the weight of the 2.1kg laptop was noticeable.

Then there was the simple act of moving it from room to room at home. It wasn’t particularly easy to pick up with one hand and quickly became a source of irritation.

That experience convinced me that the sweet spot for most people sits somewhere around the 13-inch mark.

A laptop in that size range is large enough to comfortably browse the web, write documents, manage emails and stream content, while remaining compact enough to take almost anywhere without a second thought.

That means something like a MacBook Neo with its 13-inch display is likely to be more than enough for most users. If you need additional performance and have the budget, the MacBook Air starts with a 13.6-inch screen while remaining highly portable.

Of course, there are users who will benefit from larger displays. Creative professionals, software developers and those who regularly work with multiple windows side-by-side may find a 14- or 15-inch laptop more comfortable.

For everyone else, however, a lighter laptop that is easier to carry between home, the office and the occasional coffee shop is often the better choice.

If I were recommending a laptop to the average person today, I’d tell them to start with a 13-inch model and only go bigger if they have a specific reason to do so.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

The new buzzword in tech is definitely Agentic AI, but what exactly is it, and should we be worried?

Firstly, Agentic AI means handing over more control to an increasingly powerful AI application. It will be able to make more decisions on its own and, as a result, do more for the end user.

For example, if you want to book tickets to an event, Agentic AI will be able to handle almost everything. That means you can issue a prompt like: “Book me tickets to the Beyoncé concert next month.”

It will then find out exactly when the concert is, check with the user about seating preferences, and then confirm payment, either through biometrics or facial recognition software.

Apple’s Siri AI to Enter the Agentic AI Market in September

Apple’s Siri AI will be one of the latest entries into the Agentic AI market when it officially launches in September. It will join other leading Agentic AI platforms such as ChatGPT Operator, Claude (Anthropic), and Microsoft Copilot Studio.

To be clear, this shift in the way AI works could gradually change the way we use technology altogether.

As someone who grew up watching Terminator, which dealt with computers becoming self-aware and swiftly moving to wage war on, and essentially exterminate, humankind, this shift does not sit comfortably with me.

Of course, we are probably still at least a couple of decades away from AI being capable of building its own self-aware robots designed for nefarious purposes.

But the fact that we are on a path that could eventually lead there is, at the very least, cause for concern.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

Samsung is back with another S series flagship device, and while the changes may not completely reinvent the wheel, the new Galaxy S26 Ultra proves exactly why Samsung continues to completely dominate the premium Android smartphone market.

At first glance, the design changes may seem subtle, but after spending some time with the device, the refinements become noticeable. Samsung has slightly slimmed down the body, flattened the edges a little more, and rounded off the corners to improve comfort during everyday use. The result is a phone that feels easier to hold despite still being a massive device.

Yes, it still screams premium!

Samsung’s build quality remains among the best in the industry, with the S26 Ultra feeling solid, polished, and unmistakably flagship from the moment you pick it up.

The front of the phone is dominated by a stunning 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with QHD+ resolution and a buttery smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Unsurprisingly, this is one of the best smartphone displays you can buy right now.

Colours look vibrant without feeling oversaturated, blacks are incredibly deep, and brightness outdoors is seriously impressive, something South African users will appreciate during those loadshedding afternoons without entertainment. Whether you’re watching Netflix, gaming, scrolling social media, or editing photos, the display simply looks phenomenal.

Under the hood, Samsung has packed the Galaxy S26 Ultra with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, paired with up to 16GB of RAM.

In real-world usage, the phone feels ridiculously fast

Apps open instantly, multitasking feels effortless, and gaming performance is excellent. Even demanding games run smoothly at high settings without noticeable lag or overheating issues. Samsung clearly focused on optimisation this year, and it shows.

As always with Samsung’s Ultra lineup, the cameras are the real headline feature

The S26 Ultra is led by a new 200MP primary sensor, supported by upgraded zoom lenses and a 50MP ultra-wide camera. Samsung’s image processing continues to produce photos that are sharp, vibrant, and highly detailed.

Daylight photography is excellent, with strong dynamic range and punchy colours that are perfect for social media users who want photos ready to post immediately. Zoom capabilities also remain among the best in the smartphone industry, allowing users to capture distant subjects with surprising clarity.

Low-light photography appears to have improved noticeably this year as well. Night shots look brighter, cleaner, and more natural compared to previous Galaxy models, with less noise and better detail retention.

Video performance is equally impressive, especially for creators and content producers looking to shoot professional-looking footage directly from their smartphone.

Battery life remains solid throughout a full day of heavy use, and Samsung has finally improved charging speeds with faster wired and wireless charging support. While it still may not be the fastest-charging phone on the market, the improvements are definitely welcome.

On the software side, the Galaxy S26 Ultra runs Android 16 alongside Samsung’s latest version of One UI. The experience feels polished, feature-rich, and increasingly AI-focused.

Samsung’s deeper Galaxy AI integration introduces smarter productivity tools, improved voice assistance, better photo editing features, and more intelligent on-device processing. Some AI features feel genuinely useful, while others still feel more like bonus extras than necessities - but Samsung is clearly pushing hard into the AI-powered smartphone future.

Is the Galaxy S26 Ultra a must-upgrade device?

For Galaxy S25 Ultra users, probably not. The improvements are meaningful, but not revolutionary enough to justify upgrading after just one generation.

However, for anyone using an older Samsung flagship - or switching from another Android brand - the Galaxy S26 Ultra is easily one of the best premium smartphones available in 2026.

It delivers powerful cameras, exceptional performance, a beautiful display, strong battery life, and premium design in a package that feels polished from every angle.

Samsung may not have reinvented the Ultra formula this year, but honestly, it didn’t need to.

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) was widely regarded as a significant step forward for the tech giant, largely thanks to long-awaited advancements to Siri AI.

While Apple finally showcased the upgraded AI capabilities it first promised two years ago, the announcement was generally well received.

Until now, Siri has felt more like a basic voice assistant than the intelligent AI companion Apple had envisioned. That disconnect became particularly apparent after the company’s high-profile 2024 marketing campaign featuring actor Bella Ramsey showcased features that ultimately failed to arrive on schedule. Apple later withdrew the advertisement.

There were also updates across Apple’s operating systems, with a strong focus on improving performance, consistency and usability across both current and older devices.

Disappointment at WWDC 2026: No New Hardware Unveiled

Still, there was one major thing missing from WWDC, and as an Apple fan, I’m disappointed.

I’m talking about hardware.

Not a single piece of new hardware was unveiled at WWDC 2026.

Part of the frustration stems from the fact that the upgraded Siri experience won’t arrive until September, when Apple is also expected to unveil its next wave of devices.

To be fair, Apple doesn’t typically use WWDC as a major hardware launch event. But in the weeks leading up to the conference, rumours swirled around refreshed Macs, new iPads and, perhaps most excitingly, an updated Apple TV.

The Apple TV in particular is crying out for a refresh — something I’ve written about extensively.

Apple TV Update Delayed: Awaiting New Siri and Deep AI Integration

Apple’s streaming box last received a meaningful update back in 2022, which is an eternity in technology terms.

According to reports, the next-generation Apple TV has effectively been ready for some time, but its release has been pushed back to coincide with the arrival of the new Siri. The device is expected to feature deep AI integration, meaning much of its appeal depends on software that isn’t quite ready yet.

It’s a classic catch-22.

The new Apple TV can’t arrive before the upgraded Siri, and Apple seemingly doesn’t want to launch Siri before the hardware designed to showcase it.

But as understandable as that strategy may be, four years is simply too long to keep loyal Apple TV users waiting.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

Millions are scrambling to alternative social media platforms, mainly X and TikTok, as Meta products such as Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp experience widespread outages worldwide.

According to Down Detector and DownForEveryoneOrJustMe.com, the outage began around an hour ago. Users in the United States, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the Philippines, among other countries, have reported issues.

Facebook and Messenger users say they are being abruptly logged out of their accounts, while attempts to log back in trigger an “unexpected error occurred” message or a blank white screen.

Instagram users are experiencing major loading problems, with both the app and website displaying “Something went wrong” messages or failing to refresh feeds.

Meanwhile, WhatsApp users are reporting intermittent connectivity disruptions, with some unable to send or receive messages normally.

IOL

Young innovator from the Eastern Cape, Elihle Stali, is setting the bar for breakthrough technology aimed at helping the visually impaired with a pair of AI-assisted smart glasses inspired by his late grandmother.

The 23-year-old computer science student has created a lightweight pair of glasses — similar in appearance to Meta’s AI glasses — that can translate what they are pointed at into audio, effectively telling the user what is in front of them.

The device also works in several South African languages, giving the technology a uniquely South African flavour.

It has the potential to be a breakthrough innovation that could give visually impaired people far greater independence, confidence and freedom in their daily lives.

Spectacles4TheBlind SA: Stali’s Vision for Independence Gains Global Attention and Support

Stali’s grandmother was blind, a reality that helped shape the path he would eventually follow. It also led to the creation of his startup company, Spectacles4TheBlind SA.

“Elihle, my boy, please hold my hand and help me get to the toilet,” recalled Stali.

“Growing up in Zwelitsha, I heard these words from my grandmother every morning. As her full-time child navigator, I made an 11-year-old vow to find a solution that would give her and millions of visually impaired South Africans their ultimate dignity and independence back.”

The invention has already begun attracting international attention.

Stali has been invited to participate in the LEAP Startup Competition, where he has been offered the opportunity to showcase his technology in Hong Kong in July.

However, attending the event comes at a cost.

Without the funding required for the trip, Stali launched a BackaBuddy campaign to help make the journey possible.

The campaign was launched just two weeks ago with a target of R80,000. By June 12, it had already raised R136,547 — comfortably exceeding its goal and highlighting the strong support behind his vision.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

Although he did not make his Fifa World Cup debut against Mexico, Relebohile Mofokeng is still being tipped as one of the breakout stars of the tournament — at least according to AI.

Mofokeng has been named the biggest emerging talent at the 2026 World Cup in a study by AI humanising tool GoHumanize, which set out to identify the player most likely to become a global superstar with a breakthrough tournament.

The AI had access to advanced performance data on players from around the world and was tasked with isolating the under-the-radar talents most likely to make a major impact at the World Cup.

Having made his Bafana Bafana debut as a teenager two years ago, Mofokeng, now 21, has an incredibly bright future ahead of him. With more than 100 appearances already for Orlando Pirates, it seems only a matter of time before he earns a move abroad.

Mofokeng’s Potential: A Star for South Africa’s Future at the Fifa World Cup

ESPN journalist Ed Dove wrote glowingly about the young star’s potential:

“A darling of Orlando Pirates after making his senior debut in 2023, Mofokeng is something of a throwback to the kind of tricky, inventive, creative players that South Africa used to produce and export to Europe.

“Don’t be surprised if he follows this path one day, with the 21-year-old underpinning his natural talent with an impressive work rate, use of the ball and intelligence.”

Of course, the first thing that needs to happen is for Bafana coach Hugo Broos to give him an opportunity at the Fifa World Cup.

Mofokeng remained an unused substitute in the opening defeat to Mexico, a decision that left many South African fans scratching their heads.

With two group-stage matches still to come, Broos still has time to unleash one of South Africa’s most exciting young talents on the biggest stage of all.

If he does, AI may yet prove to be onto something.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

International News Media Association (INMA) CEO and Executive Director Earl Wilkinson is currently on a high-level tour of Kenya and Nigeria this month.

The high-profile visit comes at a defining crossroads for African media houses. Local publishers are aggressively navigating the disruptive rise of artificial intelligence, changing consumer habits, dwindling legacy revenue streams, platform shifts, and an urgent push toward long-term business sustainability.

Africa at the forefront of digital transformation

According to INMA, Africa has steadily emerged as one of the world's most dynamic landscapes for news media innovation. Local publishers are no longer just passive observers; African executives are actively helping shape global discourse around mobile-first publishing, product development, and sustainable journalism.

During his stay, Wilkinson will hold extensive engagements with media leaders, editors, commercial executives, product teams, journalists, educators, and industry stakeholders across both countries.

The focus of the visit centres squarely on the core pillars driving modern newsrooms:

• Technology & AI: Navigating the responsible integration of generative AI within workflows and managing relationships with global tech giants like Google, Meta, and OpenAI.

• Digital Products: Crafting mobile, audio, video, and newsletter experiences that build fierce audience loyalty.

• Commercial Innovation: Shifting toward first-party data strategies and diversified revenue models to counter the changing digital advertising landscape.

• Reader Revenue: Implementing robust digital subscription, registration, and user retention frameworks.

Wilkinson was accompanied on a visit to Nigerian publisher PUNCH by the Africa Division Manager of INMA, Doreen Mbaya.

"It’s now about the relationship. To build a relationship, you have to be a brand that people remember. You must have consistency and an emotional connection. Do people trust you? You have to figure out who you are. The decade ahead belongs to those who are unmistakably themselves," Wilkinson said during the engagement. 

Reconnecting with Gen Z

A primary focus of the tour will address the massive demographic shift occurring across the continent. With younger African consumers increasingly bypassing traditional news channels in favour of creators, influencers, podcasts, and messaging apps, Wilkinson’s visit will highlight global strategies for engaging Gen Z and millennials.

“If you don’t know your people, if you don’t know who your readers are, you’re going to struggle,” Wilkinson said.

The global association has significantly ramped up its commitment to the continent in recent years. Through dedicated Africa Media Summits focusing on newsroom technology and revenue, alongside its elite Elevate Scholarship Programme, INMA is actively equipping the next generation of African media leaders with global mentorship and training opportunities.

With more than 22,000 news media professionals across 90-plus countries, INMA remains the premier global forum for sustainable journalism.

IOL

For a change, the data is in favour of Bafana Bafana shining at a Fifa World Cup, with South Africa given a 62% chance of advancing beyond the group stage for the first time in their history.

There is even a 1.4% chance that Bafana could go all the way and win the tournament. As Lloyd Christmas famously responded to Mary Swanson in Dumb and Dumber after she said they had a one-in-a-million chance of getting together: “So you’re saying there’s a chance!”

According to an AI-powered report by Predictionist (predictionist.com), which simulated the tournament 1,000 times, there are some encouraging projections for South African football fans.

While Bafana have failed to advance to the knockout stages in each of their three previous World Cup appearances, the expanded 48-team format has significantly improved their prospects. The top two teams from each of the 12 groups will progress, along with the eight best third-placed teams.

South Africa’s Historic Football Opportunity: A Deep Dive into Group A Prospects

That means, before a ball has even been kicked, this may be South Africa’s best opportunity yet to make history at football’s biggest tournament.

The Predictionist report also gives Bafana a 33% chance of reaching the round of 16, a 15% chance of making the quarter-finals and a 6.5% chance of reaching the semi-finals.

There is also a 2.8% chance that South Africa could make the final.

Bafana will still have their work cut out in Group A. Drawn alongside Mexico, Korea Republic and Czechia, South Africa enter the tournament as the lowest-ranked side in the group.

Mexico are 15th in the FIFA world rankings, Korea Republic are 25th and Czechia are 41st. Bafana, by comparison, are ranked 60th.

On paper, the odds appear stacked against Hugo Broos’ men.

Fortunately for South Africa, football matches are not won on paper, and the rankings will count for very little once the action gets underway.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

Call me skeptical, but even though Apple demonstrated some new functionality for its overhauled Siri AI at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) this week, I’ll believe it when I see it working on my iPhone.

If there’s one thing Apple has never done particularly well, it’s AI. In fact, I previously wrote about why I believe Apple’s AI efforts amounted to little more than a scam.

The massive redesign will be much better integrated into iOS and macOS.

The new macOS, called Golden Gate, will also be fully integrated with Siri AI. Interestingly, Apple no longer seems to be leaning as heavily on the “Apple Intelligence” branding and is instead simply referring to it as AI.

Apple’s New Siri AI: Will It Deliver on Promises or Repeat Past Hype?

With the new Siri AI, the assistant will finally be able to understand personal context in prompts, something previous versions - including the current one - have struggled to do.

However, there’s one big problem: Apple promised its AI-capable devices would be able to do this two years ago.

Until now, Siri has been little more than a basic voice assistant, despite Apple putting out what many would consider misleading information about its capabilities in an aggressive marketing campaign featuring Hollywood actor Bella Ramsey in 2024. That advertisement has since been removed by Apple.

It promised a number of features that simply didn’t exist and ultimately led to a $250 million lawsuit accusing Apple of false advertising.

Take the current state of Apple Image Playground as an example. The app featured prominently in Apple’s AI marketing campaign, but in reality it’s little more than a child’s toy that creates cartoon-style images from real ones. It’s difficult to see any meaningful purpose behind either its concept or execution.

Even the AI currently available on Apple devices relies heavily on a ChatGPT integration, and unless you already subscribe to ChatGPT, you’re limited by the restrictions of the free version.

With the new Siri AI and macOS Golden Gate arriving in September, I sincerely hope these features prove to be genuinely useful rather than another case of artificial hype.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

As expected, Siri was officially updated by Apple on the first day of the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday.

Now called Siri AI, the massive redesign is now powered by Google Gemini and will be much better integrated into iOS and Mac OS.

The new Mac OS will be called Golden Gate and also be fully integrated with Siri AI.

With Siri AI, it will now be able to fully understand personal context in prompts, unlike previous versions and the current one.

Siri AI Integration and Performance Enhancements in Apple’s Latest Software Rollout

Siri AI will also be fully integrated into the iPhone camera app, now called Visual Intelligence.

General improvements across both macOS and iPhone will be made, with a focus on performance.

This leads into the announcement that Apple has worked hard on optimising its new software rollout to better suit older hardware. What this means is that every iPhone dating back to the 11 will perform faster with the new OS updates. This is in stark contrast to previous OS iterations that generally would slow down the performance of older devices.

That is a tangible improvement across the board, and one that was certainly not expected.

More announcements are expected this week as WWDC, which runs until Friday.

One of the most keenly anticipated hardware announcements is a new Apple TV, which has not been updated since 2022.

According to reports, the Apple TV has been ready for release for some time now but has been delayed until the new Siri is also ready. The new Apple TV is said to have Siri AI heavily integrated into its operating system and therefore won’t be fully capable until this software update is ready.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

Xiaomi officially announces the launch of the all-new Xiaomi 17T in South Africa, a smartphone designed for creators, storytellers, and users who demand flagship-level photography, performance, and battery life in one premium device.

Co-engineered with Leica and introduced as “The Telephoto Master,” Xiaomi 17T pushes mobile photography to a new level by combining professional-grade imaging capabilities with cutting-edge Xiaomi innovation. More than just a smartphone, Xiaomi 17T is a storytelling tool built to capture South African expression, identity, creativity, and culture with exceptional detail and clarity.

Available from 07 June to 09 June 2026 early bird deals from Vodacom stores nationwide, Xiaomi 17T will retail from only R799 per month over 36 months. As part of the launch offering, customers who purchase the device will also receive a FREE Xiaomi Smart Humidifier 2 while stocks last.

A new era of Leica mobile photography

Xiaomi 17T features a powerful Leica co-engineered triple camera system designed to help users capture everything from portraits and everyday moments to distant landscapes and cinematic video content.

At the heart of the device is a 50MP Leica main camera featuring a Light Fusion 800 image sensor and Leica optical lens technology, delivering improved light capture, richer detail, and stunning low-light photography.

The camera system also includes:

• 50MP Leica telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom

• Up to 120x AI Ultra Zoom• 12MP ultra-wide camera

• Leica Live Moment feature for authentic street-style photography

• 8K video recording support

• Advanced AI photography enhancements powered by Xiaomi HyperAI

Inspired by professional Leica aesthetics, Xiaomi 17T preserves natural light, emotion, and detail while helping users create content with cinematic depth and clarity.

Premium design meets immersive eye-care display

Crafted with elegance and comfort in mind, the new Xiaomi 17T combines a refined premium finish with a sleek ergonomic design available in Opal White and Black colour options.

The device features a stunning 6.59-inch CrystalRes AMOLED display with:

• 1.5K resolution

• 120Hz refresh rate

• 3840Hz PWM dimming

• HDR10+ support

• TÜV Rheinland eye-care certifications

• Xiaomi Vision Care 2 technology

Whether users are gaming, streaming, editing content, or browsing social media, the device delivers a smooth and immersive viewing experience while reducing eye fatigue during extended use.

Flagship-level endurance and performance

Powering Xiaomi 17T is the latest MediaTek Dimensity 8500-Ultra processor built on an advanced 4nm process for faster speeds, improved power efficiency, and enhanced gaming performance.

Combined with Xiaomi HyperOS and Xiaomi HyperAI, users can expect intelligent multitasking, faster app responsiveness, and a more connected smart ecosystem experience.

Additional performance highlights include:

• 12GB RAM + 512GB storage

• 6500mAh silicon-carbon battery

• 67W HyperCharge support

• Dolby Atmos dual stereo speakers

• IP68 water and dust resistance

• Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity

The massive 6500mAh battery is engineered to comfortably power users through demanding daily tasks, content creation, gaming, and entertainment while maintaining a slim and premium form factor.

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday evening SA time is suddenly shaping up to be quite underwhelming.

For weeks, the rumours swirled that an updated Siri 2.0 was ready to be released, but according to YouTuber MaxTech, the new AI assistant may be delayed. The only seemingly still guaranteed software update will be the release of iOS 27.

MaxTech told their 1.26m subscribers on YouTube that Apple may now release a beta version of Siri this week, which will have a knock-on effect for many of its new products.

Chief among those new products is the Apple TV, which has not been updated since 2022.

Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad Releases Delayed Due to Siri 2.0 Update

According to reports, the Apple TV has been ready for release for some time now but has been delayed until the new Siri is also ready. The new Apple TV is said to have Siri 2.0 heavily integrated into its operating system and therefore won’t be fully capable until this software update is ready.

There were also new iPhones expected to be announced this week, but again, the Siri delay could throw a spanner into the works there as well.

It’s also the same story for new iPads, which are due now and are said to have increased unified memory over the A16 released last year. Crucially, the A16 only has 6GB of RAM, which is not the minimum 8GB needed to use Apple Intelligence. The iPad update will address this, upping the unified memory to at least 8GB, but like every other product expected imminently, the delay in Siri 2.0 could be extremely problematic.

Of course, whether this is just all last-minute anti-hype or rumour remains to be seen.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

If you have faith in the predictive ability of Artificial Intelligence (AI), you might want to put your money on France to win the FIFA World Cup.

According to ActionNetwork.com, which used a sophisticated AI model to simulate the tournament, France are the favourites to lift the trophy at the 2026 edition.

The tournament begins on June 11, with Bafana Bafana taking on co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in a 9pm SA time kick-off.

It’s a rematch of the 2010 FIFA World Cup opener when South Africa were the hosts. On that occasion, Bafana took a spectacular lead through a Siphiwe Tshabalala wonder strike, only to be forced to settle for a draw after Mexico equalised 11 minutes from time. Bafana, however, won’t feature in the business end of the competition according to Action Network’s predictions, as they will presumably exit the tournament either in the group stage or Round of 32.

AI Model Predicts France vs. Argentina Final on July 19

Instead, the AI model forecasts that France will beat Argentina in the final on July 19.

Argentina, of course, are the defending champions, while France lifted the trophy in 2018.

Perennial underachievers England are also predicted to reach the semi-finals, but will bow out to Argentina.

Meanwhile, Portugal, who many consider among the favourites, are tipped to crash out in the quarter-finals when they come up against Argentina.

The defending champions are also forecast to see off tournament co-hosts USA in the Round of 16.

On the other side of the draw, Germany will be stopped in their tracks by France in the Round of 16. France will then overcome the Netherlands in the quarter-finals before ousting Spain in the semi-finals on their way to the final.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

Varsity Esports, part of the Varsity Sports series, will introduce a substantial prize pool awarded to the top-performing universities across all three game titles for the 2026 season. This will see the top three teams in Varsity Esports receiving the same cash rewards as the top three in the Varsity Football and Varsity Netball tournaments. The overall university leaderboard will now carry the following rewards:

First Place – R200 000

Second Place – R100 000

Third Place – R50 000

This announcement marks a major milestone, not only for Varsity Esports but for the broader recognition of esports as a legitimate and growing competitive sports code at the university level. 

“Varsity Esports is growing, and we are proud to continue investing in the sport,” says Flip van Zyl, CEO of the University Sports Company (USC). “Varsity Esports has always been about more than just competition. It is about building a pipeline for the future of gaming in South Africa. “

“With meaningful prize money on the line, universities have a great incentive to invest in their esports ecosystems. This could include improved facilities, stronger support structures, and increased recognition within university sports environments,” adds van Zyl.

Across campuses, esports has become a key part of student culture, bringing communities together and creating new avenues for competition. 

Varsity Esports sits at the centre of this movement.

Varsity Esports is built around university representation. Unlike traditional tournaments that focus on individual teams, success here is measured across an entire institution.

The prize pool rewards overall performance in:

• Valorant
• Rocket League
• EA Sports FC 26

This means universities must demonstrate consistency, depth, and collaboration across multiple titles. Building competitive teams, supporting players, and creating structured programmes will be key.

It’s no longer just about participation. It’s about building a competitive culture on campus.

At its core, Varsity Esports remains focused on students. This evolution enhances the experience, giving players the chance to represent their university on a national stage and contribute to something bigger than themselves.

For many, this is the starting point of a broader journey, whether that leads to professional competition or careers within the gaming industry.

“As Varsity Esports enters its second year, the direction is clear,” says Barry Louzada from Mettlestate. “It’s bigger competition, stronger structures and greater opportunities."

With USC backing and a significant prize pool in place, 2026 is set to raise the bar even further. Universities will be pushing for the top of the leaderboard, players will be looking to prove themselves, and campuses across the country will be watching closely.

The future of esports in South Africa is not just being imagined; it is being built right now, on campus.

Visit the Varsity Website: https://varsityesports.co.za/

Follow our socials to stay up to date:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/varsityesportssa/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@varsityesports?lang=en

The question raised at the second creditors' meeting of Banxso (Pty) Ltd on May 15, 2026 was not really about Banxso. It was about the people administering its remains.

Over a video link, the liquidators secured ratification of their own conduct, including the payment of about R5.9 million to a single firm of attorneys and total legal costs put on the record at close to R11 million. They did so at a meeting whose advertisement never disclosed it would be held online, whose joining link was controlled by the very liquidator whose conduct was under scrutiny, and from which a group of former employees, whose claims had been lifted from the Master's office and never put back, emerged with no vote.

By the time Zukile Mabusela the presiding officer declared the resolutions "deemed adopted," the attorney acting for those employees had stated on the record that he would go to court to set the meeting aside. The employees could not vote because their claims were not on file. The Mabusela’s answer was that they could prove their claims at some future meeting. By then, as the attorney pointed out, the resolutions would already have passed.

This is an account of how that meeting was run, drawn from a full transcript of the proceedings, and of why the conduct on display echoes, with uncomfortable precision, an earlier liquidation overseen by the same liquidator and the same presiding officer.

A public meeting nobody could see

The Insolvency Act treats a creditors' meeting as a public proceeding. It is open to creditors, to contributories and, expressly, to the press. At Banxso's second meeting it was held virtually, and the advertisement said nothing about that.

FJ Senekal, the attorney appearing for the directors, shareholders, employees and the creditor Flamingo, raised the point before any business was done. Creditors who were not told the meeting had moved online were, in effect, locked out of a hearing they had a statutory right to attend. The presiding officer's response was that his door was open, that anyone could walk into his office and be handed a joining link.

That assurance does not survive contact with the record of the first meeting. This publication can confirm that for the first creditors' meeting, also converted to a virtual format, a formal request for press access was made under the Act's public-meeting provisions. It was ignored. No reply came, and no access was granted. An open door that does not answer is not, in any meaningful sense, open.

There is a further wrinkle that goes to the heart of the matter. The administration of the virtual meeting, the creation of the session and the distribution of the link that controlled who could get in, was, on the record, requested by the presiding officer and handed to one of the liquidators, Mr Bester. Mr Bester is the very liquidator whose handling of the employee claims, the Section 402 report, the legal costs and the Flamingo claim was the business of the meeting. He controlled the door to a public hearing at which his own conduct was on trial and resolutions endorsing that conduct were to be voted through.

The presiding officer justified the format by pointing to post-COVID practice and South Africa's broken postal system, drawing an analogy to requisitions and other accommodations made since the pandemic. But those are administrative conveniences. The right of creditors and the public to watch a statutory meeting is not.

'There is no discretion on this point'

The most clear-cut legal objection of the morning concerned an affidavit that, on the record, did not exist.

Section 81(1)bis(b) of the Insolvency Act requires a liquidator to submit to the presiding officer, at least 24 hours before the meeting, a sworn affidavit setting out the creditors to whom the report, inventory and valuation were sent, together with full particulars of every resolution recommended. Senekal read the provision into the record and stated plainly that it leaves no room for discretion. The statute says "shall," not "may."

The presiding officer conceded he had not seen such an affidavit. Having conceded that, he then allowed the meeting to proceed anyway, reasoning that the creditors were represented, that they were not complaining, and that even if the affidavit was missing it would not render the meeting invalid. At one point he stood the meeting down for ten minutes so the liquidators could check their own file. When proceedings resumed, the affidavit still had not been produced, and the meeting moved on to resolutions regardless.

The liquidators, supported by Advocate Raubenheimer allegedly for the majority creditors, argued that Section 81 does not apply to company liquidations at all, that the relevant provision is Section 402 of the Companies Act, and that the required report had in fact been filed. Senekal's answer was that the meeting was convened under Section 40(3) of the Insolvency Act, that Sections 364(1) and 364(2) pull the Insolvency Act squarely into play, and that the mandatory affidavit therefore applied. Whichever reading is correct, the presiding officer never resolved the dispute. He simply found the absence of the affidavit insufficient to stop the meeting and continued.

The vote the workers never got

The treatment of the former employees is the most serious part of the record, and the part most likely to end up in court.

The sequence is not in dispute. The employee claims were uplifted from the Master's office by Mr Bester's office, which is ordinary practice. On 12 May 2026, Mr Bester lodged claims for the other creditors ahead of the second meeting. He did not lodge the employee claims. The consequence was direct: without their claims on file, the employees could not vote and could not vote against the resolutions.

Senekal told the meeting this was deliberate. He had written to Mr Bester on 5 May 2026, ten days before the meeting, asking that the employee claims be lodged and warning that the originals had to be in the Master's file 24 hours before proceedings. Mr Bester's defence was that he had received the letter too late and that, in any event, it was not his job to lodge another party's claim despite it having been his offices that had removed them from the Master’s office to begin with. The dates on the record sit awkwardly with the first half of that explanation.

The presiding officer himself had acknowledged, at the first meeting and again at the second, that employees who wish to vote must have their claims lodged. Pressed on the fact that this right had now been extinguished by the liquidators' failure to re-lodge, his solution was that the employees could prove their claims at a later meeting. The difficulty, as Senekal put it, is that the purpose of this meeting was for creditors to exercise their rights, and that by the time of any future meeting the R5.9 million and the broader legal costs would already have been ratified. A right to vote that can be deferred until after the vote is not a right to vote.

Much of the liquidators' position rested on a claim that, at the first meeting's inquiry, company officials had testified that the employees were transferred to another company and were therefore no longer Banxso's creditors. Senekal countered that there is a sworn affidavit from the company's human resources manager stating the opposite, that the employees are creditors. The presiding officer accepted that there were two contradictory versions under oath. He nonetheless proceeded on the version advanced by the liquidators, whose attorneys had a direct interest in the resolutions passing, over the affidavit filed for the employees, and invoked the audi alteram partem principle only to note that the liquidators had refused to give Senekal their report.

Towards the close, the presiding officer offered what may be the most revealing remark of the morning. Even if the employees had been present and had voted, he said, the majority creditors represented by Advocate Raubenheimer had the numbers and would have carried the resolutions anyway. That is a prospective judgment about the outcome of a vote, used to explain why the right to cast that vote did not need protecting. It is also, as the next section shows, a judgment that rests on a voting block whose own validity is now contested.

The block that carried the day

The resolutions were carried by a body of investor-creditor claims, claims 194 to 216 on the record, all represented by a single firm of attorneys through Advocate Raubenheimer, who had stated in advance and in writing that they intended to vote in favour of every resolution.

Two questions hang over that block.

The first concerns settled claims. The original application papers filed for the applicant by the liquidators' own attorneys contained an express acknowledgement: clients who had concluded settlement agreements would still hold claims for the actual capital lost, less any payments already received from Banxso. In other words, settled amounts were to be deducted. This publication understands that position has since been abandoned, with settled creditors encouraged to claim the full original sums, without deducting what they had already been paid. If correct, that inflates both the number and the value of claims, and it does so in a way that bears directly on the voting arithmetic that buried the employees.

The second concerns authority. This publication understands that at least two of the creditors Advocate Raubenheimer purported to represent had no knowledge of either him or the instructing attorney, and had never consulted either, and were aware that their claims included amounts already settled. If that is borne out, the majority block the presiding officer relied upon to validate the resolutions, and to wave away the employee disenfranchisement, was itself built in part on authorities that were misrepresented.

The Master's office is, of necessity, reliant on the honesty of the liquidators and attorneys who appear before it. That is precisely why misrepresentation as to who is entitled to vote, if established, is not a technicality. It goes to whether the meeting produced a genuine creditor decision at all.

R154,000 to tax a bill that was already agreed

The whole point of the resolutions was to ratify what the liquidators had done, including the legal spend. Senekal tried to walk the presiding officer through specific items. He pointed to a taxing fee of R154,000 charged for taxing a bill that had in fact been agreed by consent, meaning there was nothing left to tax, and to a Rule 67A surcharge of R288,000 that he said the court order did not provide for. He told the meeting that of roughly R5 million in one tranche, at least R2 million ought not to have been paid.

The presiding officer's response was not to engage the figures but to warn Senekal that ventilating the costs at the meeting might prejudice the objection he intended to file later. Advocate Raubenheimer, for his part, argued that the liquidation and distribution account was not the business of this meeting and that costs belonged in a different forum. The effect was that the costs were ratified at a meeting convened to ratify them, while the party challenging them was steered away from putting his objections on the record.

There is also the question of how the chosen attorneys came to be chosen. It was noted that the Master had directed, in a letter of 12 September 2025, that the then provisional liquidators engage Mostert and Bosman Attorneys specifically. That direction came from the Master Mabusela himself before any creditors' meeting and before any creditor approval. A ratification of fees for attorneys whom the Master's office had itself directed the liquidators to appoint is not obviously a free creditor decision.

One of the liquidators agreed. Vaughan Victor, nominated by the director, told the meeting he had not been given the Section 402 report, that his correspondence to his co-liquidators went unanswered, not even a read receipt, and that everything in the estate had been rushed since his appointment. He said he had raised concerns that the inquiry had been derailed. The presiding officer's reassurance to him was, in substance, that if the ratification covered wrongs done by others, he would be cleared and the others would fall on their own swords. It was an answer about personal liability. It was not an answer about whether the report he was excluded from should have been ratified at all.

Where this has happened before

What makes the Banxso meeting more than a single bad morning is that the same cast has produced the same script before.

Herman Bester and Pierre du Toit acted as liquidator and attorney respectively in the estate of Mirror Trading International, the bitcoin scheme that ranks among the largest frauds in South African history. The presiding officer at the relevant MTI creditors' meetings was the same official who presided over Banxso, Mr Mabusela. At MTI's second meeting, every investor claim was rejected, on the stated basis that they were illegible, denying thousands of investors the right to vote on the liquidators' resolutions. The investors had been told their claims could be dealt with later.

The single substantial claim admitted and used to carry the resolutions at MTI came from JNX Online, a company that MTI's own liquidators had caused to be wound up for owing MTI money. An MTI investor noted in an affidavit before the Cape High Court that the trustee of JNX Online operated from the same office as Mr Bester, observing that, on the face of it, something was amiss. The instrument that carried the vote was a claim from an entity liquidated at the instance of the very liquidators running the process.

There is a detail worth adding. JNX Online is administered by two liquidators, one of whom worked for Tygerberg Trustees, Mr Bester's firm, at the time of the MTI claim. The proximity that the MTI investor flagged in his affidavit was, on this account, not merely a shared office address but a shared professional stable.

Set the two estates side by side. In MTI, legitimate investor claims were declined and deferred while a related-party claim was admitted passing resolutions. In Banxso, employee claims with sworn affidavit support were left off the file while a curated body of investor claims, represented by a single firm that had pledged to vote yes to everything, carried the resolutions. In both, the presiding officer was placed on notice of the concern before the vote. In both, he allowed the vote to proceed. 

'Deemed adopted'

The meeting did not end tidily. Advocate Raubenheimer's block also moved a set of additional directions under Section 53(5) of the Insolvency Act, instructing the liquidators to keep Mostert and Bosman briefed and to press on with the Section 417 and 418 inquiries into Banxso's affairs.

Then, with no representative of the majority creditors physically present to sign, the presiding officer declared the resolutions adopted on the basis that someone would come to his chambers later in the day to sign them. He said they should be "deemed adopted." A signed instrument, he indicated, would follow.

He closed the meeting by appealing for a truce between Mr Bester, Mr Victor and Mr Senekal, urging the liquidators to stop fighting and to focus on recovering the roughly R800 million still outstanding from a possible billion. It was, in its way, a candid acknowledgement that the people charged with protecting this estate were at war with one another. It did not address why, in the middle of that war, a contested set of resolutions had just been pushed through.

The questions that remain

A detailed set of questions arising from the meeting was put to the Chief Master of the High Court in Pretoria. They asked, among other things, who authorised the virtual format and whether any written policy governs it; on what basis a presiding officer condoned the absence of a mandatory affidavit; whether the deliberate withholding of the employee claims has been investigated; whether the validity of the majority voting block, including the settled claims and the contested mandates, will be examined; and whether the office regards the parallel with MTI, the same liquidators, the same presiding officer, the same pattern of selectively admitting claims, as a matter warranting independent review.

Despite a follow-up requesting a response, the Chief Master and her office have not replied.

The silence sits within a wider picture. The Master's offices have been described by practitioners of three decades' standing as being in a state of disarray not seen before, with staggering backlogs, documents going missing, and anti-bribery notices on the walls that, as one observer dryly noted, tend to appear where bribery is a problem. An institution in that condition is precisely the one in which a determined liquidator and a compliant process can produce a predetermined outcome without anyone above noticing or answering.

The creditors of Banxso, the former employees most of all, are entitled to know whether what happened on 15 May was an estate being administered, or an outcome being engineered. On the strength of the record, and the company it keeps, that is not a question the Master's office can leave unanswered for much longer.

You can now explore the incredible offers on the HONOR 600 and HONOR 600 Pro across all network providers and retail partners, including MTN, Vodacom, Telkom, and Cell C nationwide.

The feature-packed HONOR 600 Series offers that rare blend of innovation that surprises and real value. HONOR 600 Pro is available in Golden White and Orange at R19 999, or from R799 per month over 36 months, while the HONOR 600 is offered in Orange and Black at R14 999, or from R549 per month over 36 months.

Those who purchase the HONOR 600 Series will receive free redeemable gifts worth up to R8287. Consumers who purchase the HONOR 600 Series will receive an HONOR CHOICE Earbuds Clip Valued at R1999 and an HONOR CHOICE Watch 2i Valued at R999.

This also includes 365 days of accidental damage protection for HONOR 600 Series Devices, worth R3999. And lastly, a Free Google AI Pro with 5TB of cloud storage for 3 months (This is for first-time users only) – that is worth R429.99. The gift promotional offer is limited to the HONOR 600 Pro and HONOR 600, valid from 8 June until 8 July 2026.

HONOR 600/HONOR 600 Pro Deals 

Vodacom: HONOR 600, R549 x 36 months and HONOR Pro R799 x 36 months

MTN: HONOR 600, R579 x 36 months and HONOR 600 Pro, R799 x 36 months 

Telkom: HONOR 600, R599 x 36 months and HONOR 600 Pro, R879 x 36 months

Cell C: HONOR 600, R699 x 36 months and HONOR 600 Pro, R899 x 36 months

Mzansi has already shown strong interest in the HONOR 600 Series, and its value becomes clear when you consider what it brings together. This is a series built for people who want a phone that can create, capture, last and connect without making everyday use feel complicated.

The HONOR 600 Series has already grabbed attention with AI Image to Video 2.0, allowing users to turn still images into short, dynamic video clips using prompts and built-in templates. Whether it is a family celebration, a milestone moment, or a forgotten memory brought to life in a whole new way.  This heart-stopping feature gives everyday photos a second life without needing advanced editing skills.

The 200MP Ultra-Clear AI Night Camera is designed to capture sharper detail, richer colour and stronger low-light images. Powered by HONOR’s AiMAGE intelligent imaging architecture, the camera system delivers clearer night portraits, more stable handheld shots, and true-to-life colour across different lighting conditions. The HONOR 600 Pro also adds a 50MP 3.5X Periscope Telephoto Camera with up to 120x zoom to capture details from farther away.

Built for long days, the HONOR 600 Series features a 7000mAh Long-life Battery, the largest in the HONOR Number Series. Both devices support 80W HONOR SuperCharge, while the HONOR 600 Pro also includes 50W Wireless HONOR SuperCharge and 27W wired reverse charging.

The series also delivers Snapdragon performance, an ultra-bright 8000-nit display, IP68, IP69, and IP69K water and dust resistance, and SGS 5-star drop-and-crush resistance credentials. Its premium design is matched by distinctive finishes, from Golden White and Orange on the HONOR 600 Pro to Orange and Black on the HONOR 600. It is designed to feel fast, smooth and durable, made for Mzansi.

The experience continues with convenient Apple ecosystem integration, including file sharing with iPhone and Mac, hotspot sharing and Apple Watch message display. With Google Gemini, users can also get help through text, voice, or images for planning, work, study, and creative tasks.

With strong AI capabilities, powerful photography, and long battery life – a device so easy to start using - the HONOR 600 Series is worth exploring for the value it brings to daily life.

It’s one thing to use AI for something quite specific, like deciding which car to buy, but when it comes to improving your golf game, can it actually be helpful?

The immediate thought is: not a chance. Swinging a golf club well is surely far too abstract and complicated a skill for AI to effectively tackle.

Last week, however, American Bryson DeChambeau was desperate enough to find out.

DeChambeau had been competing in the LIV Golf Korea event, where he scored well in the first two rounds, but a disappointing third round left him scratching his head and turning to Google Gemini for answers.

DeChambeau’s AI Experiment: Unraveling Golf Swing Physics

“I spent some long hours on the range trying to figure some stuff out and I was talking to AI quite a bit last night trying to go through some different physics principles that make the club turn over, having some alpha torque and gamma torque put in there,” DeChambeau said.

“I was like, ‘What makes that possibly do that?’ And was talking about just grip pressure and tension.”

DeChambeau certainly found something in the final round, as he matched his lowest score of the weekend on his way to a third-place finish.

“I was slamming the club in the ground trying to figure out what to do. I was frustrated. I didn’t actually figure it out on the range. I went back and started talking to Gemini and trying to figure out just what it could be to passively make the club turn over.

“I’m still working it out,” he said. “I don’t have the answer.”

It seems, then, that the idea of uploading a video of your golf swing and having AI magically transform your game remains firmly in the realm of science fiction.

If you want to ask AI some technical questions about the golf swing, go right ahead. Just don’t expect it to suddenly turn you into Rory McIlroy.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

In a bid to combat South Africa's staggering youth unemployment crisis, a prominent local non-profit organisation has officially thrown open its doors to the next generation of teenage tech heads and business visionaries.

iAccelerate SA has announced that applications are now officially open for part two of its 2026 Flagship Programme. The initiative specifically targets ambitious public school learners in Grades 9 to 11 across the Cape Town region, offering them a unique, hands-on opportunity to develop crucial entrepreneurial skills and build their own innovative business ventures.

The highly structured four-month entrepreneurship and innovation programme is designed for proactive young people who are passionate about solving real-world challenges through leadership and innovation. Running for the remainder of the year via monthly Saturday sessions, the initiative requires participants to work in teams to identify pressing problems in their immediate communities, brainstorm viable business ideas, and refine their startup concepts through continuous mentorship and applied learning.

A blueprint for practical business skills

According to the organisation, the iAccelerate SA Programme rejects pure theory in favour of a highly practical learning structure centred around four core pillars: ideation, innovation, initiation, and iteration.

Throughout the four months, learners are guided step-by-step by facilitators, mentors, and industry experts. These professionals provide ongoing, specialised support in critical commercial fields, including market research, prototyping, business development, leadership, and public pitching. Furthermore, each venture team is directly paired with dedicated mentors, while expert-led sessions expose the high school learners to real-world entrepreneurial environments and practical corporate insights.

The high-stakes climax of the programme sees participants stepping into the boardroom to present their completed business ventures to real-world potential investors, seasoned entrepreneurs, mentors, and industry stakeholders. Known as the iAccelerate SA Pitch Day, this investor-style pitching event is designed to accurately simulate a real startup environment while strengthening the learners' communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving capabilities.

Transforming the next generation of changemakers

"My time at iAccelerate South Africa has been nothing short of transformative," said Bassa Ngwira, an alumna of the programme and the Co-founder of Career Connect Hub.

Reflecting on her experience, Ngwira added: "It gave me the space to grow as a leader, sharpen my ideas, and connect with mentors who truly believed in youth potential. Every session challenged me to think bigger, and every conversation reminded me that my voice matters. I leave iAccelerate not just with skills, but with confidence, clarity, and a renewed commitment to building solutions that empower others."

With South Africa continuing to grapple with severe economic hurdles and limited job prospects for young school leavers, iAccelerate SA aims to change the narrative. By equipping adolescents with entrepreneurial and leadership tools, the non-profit hopes to empower them to create self-sustaining opportunities within their own communities and beyond, ultimately building a more inclusive and innovative economy.

How to apply

Cape Town learners who meet the criteria have until July 4, 2026 to submit their applications.

Eligible public school students can apply directly through the official digital portal. For additional details regarding the initiative, interested parties can visit the main website or follow the organisation's updates on social media via @iacceleratesa.

While iOS 26 was a fairly big visual overhaul for Apple’s operating system last year, the next update is set to be even bigger.

iOS 27 will be launched next week at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), and the big star of the event is set to be an updated Siri 2.0.

Though Apple launched Siri way back in 2010, to this day it’s been little more than a digital assistant that can only assist with very basic tasks and functionality.

A lot of this has to do with the fact that Apple’s version of AI— Apple Intelligence— is well behind the competition. Even though the iPhone 16s were launched with the slogan ‘built for Apple Intelligence’, this proved to be false advertising.  It promised a number of features that didn’t exist and led to a $250m lawsuit accusing Apple of false advertising.

Siri and Apple Intelligence to Be Reworked with Google Gemini for Enhanced Functionality

However, Siri and Apple Intelligence are set to be reworked completely to use Google Gemini.

Now, Siri is believed to be improved in a number of ways, including contextual on-screen awareness, deep app control, and optional third-party integrations like Google Gemini and Anthropic Claude.

All this means that Siri will be able to understand its users’ commands better and become an actually valuable tool—which to this point has not been the case.The update will also have a knock-on effect for the hardware Apple is set to unveil at WWDC.

A new Apple TV is expected to be launched, to coincide with the new Siri. In fact, insiders say that the Apple TV, which has not been updated since 2022, has been ready for release for some time but Apple wanted to unveil it with the Siri 2.0 functionality.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

HONOR South Africa today announces the nationwide open sale of the HONOR 600 Series, which includes the HONOR 600 and HONOR 600 Pro. Mzansi is once again offered what it has always asked for - real innovation, made more accessible. HONOR is clearly listening, and the proof is now in store.

Following strong interest already shown after the launch event, the HONOR 600 Series is now ready for customers looking for a smartphone that combines advanced AI creativity, powerful photography, long battery life, and premium performance in a device designed for real daily use.

Here are five standout features to know.

1. AI Image to Video 2.0 for easier content creation

The HONOR 600 Series introduces AI Image-to-Video 2.0, allowing users to transform still images into short, dynamic video clips using prompts and built-in templates. Users can combine up to three images, define opening and ending frames and create cinematic-style clips in seconds. 

After Wednesday’s Bafana Bafana’s World Cup squad announcement, Bafana Bafana players head and shoulder images was turned into a video generated by the HONOR 600 AI Image to Video 2.0

2. A flagship-level 200MP Ultra-Clear AI Night Camera

At the centre of the HONOR 600 Series is a 200MP Ultra-Clear AI Night Camera, designed to capture sharper detail, richer colour and stronger low-light images. Powered by HONOR’s AiMAGE intelligent imaging architecture, the camera system supports clearer night portraits, more stable handheld shots and true-to-life colour in different lighting conditions. The HONOR 600 Pro adds a 50MP 3.5X Periscope Telephoto Camera with up to 120x zoom, giving users more flexibility when capturing details from further away.

3. A 7000mAh battery with 80W HONOR SuperCharge

The HONOR 600 Series features a 7000mAh Long-life Battery, the largest in the HONOR Number Series. It is built to support busy days filled with streaming, photography, content creation, work, messaging and everything in between.

Both devices support 80W HONOR SuperCharge. The HONOR 600 Pro also includes 50W Wireless HONOR SuperCharge and 27W wired reverse charging, giving users more ways to power up quickly and stay connected.

4. Snapdragon performance, durability and a brighter display

The HONOR 600 Series is powered by Snapdragon processors, with the HONOR 600 Pro featuring the Snapdragon 8 Elite Flagship Platform and the HONOR 600 featuring the Next-Gen Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 performance Chip. The series also brings an ultra-bright 8000nits display, IP68, IP69 and IP69K water and dust resistance and SGS 5-star drop-and-crush resistance credentials. It is designed to feel premium, fast and durable without making users feel as if they need to treat their phone like a museum piece.

5. Convenient Apple Ecosystem Integration and Intelligent Google Gemini Assistant

The HONOR 600 Series goes above expectations as a perfect companion to the Apple ecosystem. Upgraded connectivity feature enables instant file sharing with iPhone and Mac, hotspot sharing, and Apple Watch message display. 

The HONOR 600 series with Google Gemini empowers users to interact seamlessly via text, voice, or image for comprehensive assistance on the go. This marks a significant step towards building a truly intelligent AI assistant – one that is conversational, intuitive, and genuinely helpful.

6. Availability and Pricing 

The HONOR 600 Pro is available in Golden White and Orange for an RRP of R19 999 or from R799x36 months, and the HONOR 600 will be available in Orange and Black for an RRP of R14 999 or from R549x36 months.

Those who purchase the HONOR 600 Series will receive free redeemable gifts worth up to R8287. Consumers who purchase the HONOR 600 Series will receive an HONOR CHOICE Earbuds Clip Valued at R1999 and an HONOR CHOICE Watch 2i Valued at R999.

This also includes 365 days of accidental damage protection for HONOR 600 Series Devices, worth R3999. And lastly, a Free Google AI Pro with 5TB of cloud storage for 3 months (This is for first-time users only) – that is worth R429.99. The gift promotional offer is limited to the HONOR 600 Pro and HONOR 600, valid from 8 June until 8 July 2026. 

Deals starting from R549x36 months

Vodacom: HONOR 600, R549 x 36 months and HONOR Pro R799 x 36 months

MTN: HONOR 600, R579 x 36 months and HONOR 600 Pro, R799 x 36 months 

Telkom: HONOR 600, R599 x 36 months and HONOR 600 Pro, R859 x 36 months

Cell C: HONOR 600, R699 x 36 months and HONOR 600 Pro, R899 x 36 months

We’ve all been there. Well, actually, not everyone — but I’ve certainly been there.

I was on Tinder for far too many years before I met my wife, and during that time I came across so many dating profiles with the same recycled jokes in the bio section that I could immediately tell when somebody had copy-pasted them.

That was more than a decade ago, though. While I’ve now been happily married for almost five years, I was still shocked to learn just how many people are using AI to help them find a match.

Not only are people turning to AI for general dating advice, but users on apps like Tinder are becoming increasingly reliant on it to craft opening lines, suggest conversation topics and even keep chats flowing.

AI’s Role in Online Dating: Navigating the Ice-Breaking Stage

Most of the available data suggests AI is still largely being used for the ice-breaking stage of conversations, but it’s unsettling to think about how intertwined our interactions are becoming with this technology.

For example, one Facebook user, Graham Hunt, revealed that he had been talking to a woman on a dating app for about a month before learning she had been using AI to write her messages.

“Well, this week she revealed to me that she’s been using AI to write her messages,” Hunt wrote.

“I feel like this past month has been nothing but a lie. First I had to worry about whether images are real online. Now I have to worry about whether I’m actually talking to a person. And if I’m talking to a real person, I have to wonder if they’re even reading my messages and responding in earnest.”

AI’s Influence on Online Dating: Navigating the Digital Landscape

You only need to watch a few episodes of Black Mirror to become wary of the path we’re heading down, but for many young people this is already a reality.

In fact, when I did a Google search to learn more about AI’s role in online dating and not advice, the first call to action Gemini gave me was: “Would you like to explore how to use these tools? If you tell me which dating apps you are using or what kind of vibe you want your opening messages to have (funny, casual, direct, etc.), I can help you brainstorm the best approaches.”

Ultimately, there may be no reliable way to know whether you’re truly talking to another person online or simply receiving AI-assisted responses. The only real solution, it seems, is to meet face-to-face sooner rather than later — and try not to spend too much time getting to know someone through a screen.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

South Africans will soon be able to purchase the HUAWEI nova 15 Max, a smartphone that brings a fresh combination of long-lasting power, dependable durability and immersive entertainment to the nova series. Designed for users who demand reliable all-day performance without compromise, the latest addition to the nova series combines power, style, and innovation in one sleek device.

At a time when smartphone prices continue to climb globally due to rising component costs, the HUAWEI nova 15 Max stands out by delivering exceptional performance and quality without a corresponding increase in price.

Combining one of the largest batteries in its class, generous memory and storage, durable design and advanced photography features, it offers outstanding value for South Africans looking to get more from their smartphone without stretching their budget.

Starting at just R7 999, the HUAWEI nova 15 Max will be available in South Africa from 8 June 2026. Customers will also receive a HUAWEI Added Value Pack worth up to R7 596, including Unlimited Screen Damage Protection and HUAWEI FreeBuds SE valued at R1 499 at selected retailers.

At the heart of the HUAWEI nova 15 Max is an impressive 8500mAh HUAWEI Super Battery, engineered to help users stay connected, entertained and productive for longer. The new battery experience now offers a larger capacity and longer battery life compared to the previous generation.

When put through its paces, the HUAWEI nova 15 Max showed it is able to support up to 23 hours of continuous video playback, ensuring dependable performance throughout the day. The HUAWEI nova 15 also introduces reverse charging technology, enabling users to conveniently power compatible Huawei devices on the go, effectively turning the smartphone into a portable power bank.

The HUAWEI nova 15 Max has also been built to handle the realities of daily life. Built for durability, the HUAWEI nova 15 Max has achieved the SGS Premium Performance Mark 5-Star Drop Resistance certification, a testament to how it disperses impact force and reduces the risk of damage from everyday drops.

In addition, precision sealing technology at key body joints helps prevent dust and debris from entering the device, while the device’s IP65 rating provides protection against dust and water exposure during everyday use.

For photography enthusiasts, the HUAWEI nova 15 Max comes equipped with a 50MP Ultra Vision Camera featuring an advanced RYYB colour filter array that improves light intake by 40%.

Combined with a large sensor and F1.9 aperture, the camera excels in challenging lighting conditions, transforming night scenes, indoor gatherings and everyday moments into bright, detail-rich images that are ready to share.

The user experience is further enhanced by a stunning 6.84-inch OLED Eye Comfort Display that delivers immersive visuals with smooth responsiveness and intelligent viewing adaptation. Whether navigating the outdoors under bright sunlight or binge-watching content late at night, users can enjoy a consistently comfortable and vivid viewing experience.

With up to 4000 nits of dynamic peak brightness, the display ensures bright highlights, deep contrast and rich detail in every scene.

With its powerful battery, durable design, capable camera system and immersive display, the HUAWEI nova 15 Max is shaping up to be one of Huawei's most compelling nova devices yet. South African consumers won't have to wait long to experience it for themselves.

The HUAWEI nova 15 Max will be available from 8 June 2026 at a recommended retail price of R7 999.

As part of the launch offer, customers can enjoy a HUAWEI Added Value Pack worth up to R7 596, including Unlimited Screen Damage Protection and HUAWEI FreeBuds SE valued at R1 499 at selected retailers.

T’s&C’s apply. The device is available in Black, Cyan and Gold through Huawei's official online store and participating retailers.

It’s no secret that Apple has been left behind when it comes to Artificial Intelligence, with its version, Apple Intelligence, flattering to deceive.

But that could be about to change next week at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), starting on June 8.

Until now, Siri has been nothing more than a basic voice assistant, even though Apple put out misleading information about its abilities in an aggressive marketing campaign in 2024. It promised a number of features that didn’t exist and led to a $250m lawsuit accusing Apple of false advertising.

Now, Siri is believed to be improved in a number of ways, including contextual on-screen awareness, deep app control, and optional third-party integrations like Google Gemini and Anthropic Claude.

Siri 2.0: Enhanced Understanding and New Product Launches at WWDC

All this means that Siri will be able to understand its users’ commands better and become an actually valuable tool— which to this point has not been the case.

The new update, called Siri 2.0, will also allow Apple to release a number of new products at WWDC. That includes a rumoured new Apple smart display for use in the home.

While new laptops like the redesigned new MacBook Ultra will likely take centre stage, it’s a forgotten product like the Apple TV that is in desperate need of an update.

The Apple TV was last updated in 2022, when the 4K 3rd Gen was released. The base model 64GB version costs R2,999 at the iStore, while the 128GB is R3,599.

The current Apple TV uses an A15 chip, which was also found in the iPhone 13 series. In fact, when the Apple TV 4K 3rd Gen was released in November 2022, the A15 chip was already over a year old.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

Few days after Africa Day fell silent in the shadow of boycotts and repatriations, South Africa is confronting an uncomfortable truth about the crisis unfolding within its own borders.  On 25 May, the day the African continent traditionally gathers to affirm its unity, African ambassadors refused to attend South Africa's official celebrations. They did not feel safe. Nigeria and Ghana had already begun repatriating their citizens.

According to reports, at least seven people were dead. The movements behind the violence, March and March and Operation Dudula, had swept through Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Durban, leaving fractured communities, destroyed businesses, and formal diplomatic complaints from Nigeria, Ghana, and Mozambique in their wake. A United Nations warning had drawn international headlines. A country that presents itself as the gateway to Africa was being watched with alarm by the very neighbours it claims to lead.

Why now, and why with such intensity? Although not the only response, the answer lies at the intersection of deep economic frustration, deliberate political orchestration, and a digital ecosystem built to reward outrage over reason. South Africa's own 2022 census shows that migrants make up just 3.9% of the total population, roughly 2.4 million people in a nation of 62 million. The country is not being overrun. It is, however, in acute economic pain. And pain, in the age of social media, travels fast, particularly when algorithms are specifically engineered to move it faster and to the largest possible audience.

Legitimate Grievances, Distorted by Design 

The Centre of Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development www.CAISD.co.za, one of the many centres in the continent working to harness the role of technology to achieve development, wanted to pinpoint the role technology plays in exacerbating the antipathy without dismissing the frustrations of South African nationals.

To do so would be dishonest and counterproductive. The official unemployment rate stood at 32.7% in the first quarter of 2026, with more than 8.1 million people without work and youth unemployment reaching a staggering 57%. These are lived realities in communities that have spent three decades waiting for the economic transformation promised by democracy.

Against this backdrop, the visible economic presence of foreign nationals creates friction that is psychologically real, even where it is statistically misread. Statistics South Africa data shows that foreign nationals carry an employment absorption rate of 64%, compared to 37.7% for South African-born workers, and in some townships, they own up to 40% of informal businesses.

A 2025 Human Sciences Research Council survey found that 42% of South Africans would "welcome no immigrants," while 77% agreed that immigrants increase crime. The crime link is not supported by evidence, but these numbers reveal something equally significant: a large portion of the population has already been persuaded by a narrative. The critical question is who built that narrative, and how was it distributed so effectively? 

The Algorithm: Not the Cause, but the Accelerant

The social media platforms most South Africans use daily, including Facebook, TikTok, X, WhatsApp and YouTube, are not neutral infrastructure. They are built around a single commercial objective: sustained engagement. Decades of research, including internal studies from Meta, show consistently that the content most likely to sustain engagement is content that provokes anger. 

Anger travels. A video of a foreign national behaving badly, stripped of context, spreads further and faster than any evidence-based article about what immigrants contribute to the economy. In the lead-up to the 2026 protests, populist leaders and influencers circulated incendiary content without context. Those videos were algorithmically rewarded with reach, shared into WhatsApp groups where factchecking is practically impossible, and broadcast live on platforms that amplified these movements before any journalist had assessed whether their claims were truthful.

Research on South African electoral cycles reveals a consistent and troubling correlation: xenophobic discourse spikes reliably in the approach to local elections, in 2016, 2019, 2020, and now 2026, with local government elections scheduled between November 2026 and January 2027. Xenowatch data confirms the trajectory, with recorded incidents rising from 58 in 2020 to a peak of 110 in 2022, before climbing again to 83 in 2024. The algorithm does not cause xenophobia. But it is extraordinarily effective at timing it, scaling it, and normalising it.

The Dark Labs: Organised Narrative Operations

Beyond algorithmic mechanics lies something more deliberate. There is growing evidence of what we at CAISD terms "coordinated narrative architecture": the strategic seeding of divisive content by small, well-resourced operations, some functioning entirely outside South Africa. These are not spontaneous expressions of public anger. They are manufactured interventions, exploiting the fact that, if enough accounts share the same message within a narrow window, platforms will push it to audiences who were never searching for it.

This is a documented feature of contemporary information warfare, evidenced in Brexit, in the United States during the 2016 election cycle, and increasingly in African political contexts. When mainstream media then covers these movements without adequately challenging their claims, including the demonstrably false assertion that some youths purported to be undocumented migrants are not entitled to public healthcare and education under South African law, it lends those claims a credibility they do not deserve.

Evidence, Policy, and the Way Forward 

The World Bank's studies of South African labour markets have found that immigrants are net contributors to job creation. Foreign-owned enterprises sustain supply chains that employ South Africans. South Africa's chronically low GDP growth of between 0.6 and 1.3% annually is a structural problem rooted in energy infrastructure failure, skills deficits, investor uncertainty, and governance weaknesses that predate every foreign-owned spaza shop in the country. Deporting 2.4 million people will not build a single power station, train one additional nurse, or resolve the Eskom crisis.

The government has a legitimate mandate to enforce immigration law, process permits efficiently and protect South African workers. What is far more troubling is when the tone of official policy pronouncements begins to track the mood of protests rather than the weight of evidence. That convergence, historically, is where crises cross thresholds they cannot easily come back from.

CAISD's call is therefore clear. Social media platforms must be held accountable for algorithmic amplification of xenophobic content, including through multilingual content moderation. Digital literacy must become a civic priority. Counter-narratives must be deployed as strategically as the narratives they counter, because facts alone do not go viral, but stories do. And African governments and civil society must speak with one continental voice, because the diplomatic rupture South Africa is experiencing today is a warning of what silence costs the entire continent. The algorithm did not start this fire. But it is fanning it, and it will keep doing so until platforms are held accountable, communities are equipped to resist manipulation, and policymakers choose evidence over the applause of the crowd. 

* The Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Development (CAISD) is a pan-African non-profit think tank operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence, policy, and sustainable development. CAISD is committed to peaceful cohabitation across the African continent as a foundational condition for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Dr AD Essome is its Co-chair and former United Nations Communications Specialist who extensively wrote on how “Legacy Media and Social Media platforms can promote conflicts resolution within the continent”

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media. 

On Friday IOL reported on the founding affidavit filed in the Western Cape High Court by Kobus Senekal of FJ Senekal Incorporated on behalf of Flamingo Clearing House Limited, affected employees, and concurrent creditors of Banxso (Pty) Ltd (In Liquidation).

The first article dealt with the email in which Herman Bester campaigned for his own appointment as liquidator before the liquidation order was granted, the enquiry evidence of creditors who had settled their claims in full and final settlement but were nonetheless permitted to vote and requisition, and the systematic exclusion of the employees whose preferent claims might have provided the most effective check on what followed.

Today’s report examines the next set of allegations in the affidavit: legal costs, a taxation process the Taxing Master’s own certificate says was settled by consent instead of being properly opposed and scrutinised, pro forma advocates’ invoices used to support more than R11 million in legal fees, a R527,850 charge with no supporting invoice attached, and the application’s demand that the liquidators repay the loss personally.

The Consent That Replaced the Taxing Master

The legal costs of Mostert and Bosman Attorneys, running across nine entries in the First Liquidation and Distribution Account between November 2025 and April 2026, total R11,629,177.23. The single largest of those entries, Voucher 30, amounts to approximately R5,946,082.92 is for the liquidation application itself. It is, by a significant margin, the largest item of expenditure in the entire first account.

South African insolvency law is clear on what must happen before legal costs of this magnitude can be paid from funds held for creditors. They must pass through the office of the Taxing Master: an independent, court-supervised review in which each item is examined, challenged where appropriate, and allowed or reduced on its merits. The process is not optional, and it is not a formality. It exists specifically to prevent the professional advisers of an insolvent estate from charging whatever they wish from a fund that belongs to creditors who have no other protection.

Senekal annexes the Taxing Master's certificate for Voucher 30 to the application. The certificate does not record that the bill was taxed. It records that it was "settled by consent." Those three words, he argues in the affidavit, represent the removal of the only independent check standing between the attorneys and R5.9 million of creditors' money.

A settlement between parties cannot replace the independent duty of the Taxing Master to protect an insolvent estate against unreasonable, excessive, or inflated charges. The liquidators, who bore independent fiduciary obligations to scrutinise the accounts of their own attorneys, instead adopted and advanced those accounts without challenge. The bill was, in Senekal's formulation, effectively allowed in its entirety. None of the items were meaningfully challenged.

The consent arrangement produced an additional absurdity. A taxation attendance fee of approximately R154,480.02 was charged and allowed, even though there was no genuine opposed taxation. The estate paid for a taxation that did not take place.

The Rule 67A Surcharge That Was Never Authorised

The costs do not stop at the unsanctioned consent arrangement. The affidavit identifies a Rule 67A surcharge of approximately R288,057.75 charged against the estate. Rule 67A surcharges apply where a court order specifically authorises attorney and client recovery or elevated tariff scales. The court order underpinning the costs in this matter authorised none of those things. It did not authorise attorney and client costs. It did not authorise Rule 67A surcharges. It did not authorise private counsel rates. It did not authorise Scale B or Scale C recovery.

In the absence of explicit authorisation, the default position in South African practice requires Scale A to apply. The attorneys recovered at rates above Scale A without the authorisation that would have been required to do so. The surcharge alone, added to costs already allowed without genuine taxation, represents what the affidavit describes as an extraordinary recovery from an insolvent estate.

Provisional Invoices Used to Support Millions in Payments

The affidavit then turns to the advocates' accounts. Adv MM van Staden and Adv RF van Rooyen SC, the junior and senior counsel engaged for the enquiry, issued pro forma invoices. Not final tax invoices. Not documents that satisfy the requirements of section 20 of the Value-Added Tax Act. Provisional accounts, issued on a preliminary basis, which in law do not constitute valid demands for payment and which cannot properly ground a claim for input tax.

Senekal poses the question in the affidavit and leaves it unanswered because the answer is not available. How could millions of rands be taxed and paid from an insolvent estate based on provisional accounts? The question acquires additional weight when read alongside the enquiry evidence of both intervening parties, Ms Duvenhage and Dr Smit, each of whom confirmed under oath that they made no personal contribution to the legal costs.

Duvenhage told the enquiry she understood the company would bear the costs. Smit confirmed she contributed nothing. The attorneys carried the costs of bringing the liquidation application, on the understanding that those costs would be recovered from the estate they were creating. The advocates whose pro forma invoices were then used to support a multimillion-rand bill of costs occupied the same arrangement.

Van Staden was not merely the advocate whose invoices appear in Voucher 30. He was, on the evidence of Dr Smit at the enquiry, the person who told her she could ignore her settlement agreement with Banxso because the whole system was fraudulent. He referred her to Pierre du Toit of Mostert and Bosman. He is described in the enquiry transcript as the person who did the whole Banxso case. His pro forma invoice is now part of a court record supporting a bill of costs settled by consent rather than opposed by anyone with an interest in protecting the estate.

Item 317 and the Invoice That Was Not There

The annexures to the application set out detailed objections to Voucher 30. In the affidavit, Senekal highlights what he says is a pattern of irregularities serious enough to call the entire bill into question.

According to the affidavit, supporting invoices were missing, attorney and counsel work was duplicated, and copying and perusal charges were excessive. It also alleges that vague global items were included without enough detail to allow proper scrutiny, that travel and accommodation costs were recovered without adequate justification, and that the attorneys effectively billed the estate as a third layer of counsel while both senior and junior counsel were already charging for the same matter.

Item 317 of the bill is singled out. It reflects charges of approximately R527,850. The supporting invoice is not attached to the account.

The affidavit identifies a further internal inconsistency that the objections raise for investigation. The chronology of the charges reflected in the accounts appears inconsistent with the chronology of the affidavits prepared and signed in the proceedings.

Either the underlying documents were in the possession of the attorneys before the dates reflected in the affidavits, or charges were levied for work allegedly performed after the affidavits had already been prepared and signed. Both possibilities require proper investigation.

Senekal's estimate of the quantum that should never have been allowed, taken on a conservative approach to the individual items challenged in the objections to Voucher 30, is approximately R2 million. Against an estate in which 216 proven creditors with combined claims of R194,379,545.72 have received not a cent, R2 million is not a rounding error.

Claim 150 and the Selective Scrutiny

The affidavit places alongside the legal costs dispute a specific example of the differential treatment it alleges was applied to claims in this estate. Claim 150 was submitted by Ingenuity Property Investments (Pty) Ltd and reflected alleged indebtedness of R102,077.04 arising from office and parking rental. The liquidators accepted it and incorporated it into the Liquidation and Distribution Account. It is the only claim from which a distribution was made in the first account.

Senekal's affidavit says the documents supporting the claim called for closer scrutiny and should not have been accepted on mere face value. The amount was not properly reconciled, and the material filed with the claim raised questions that, he says, should have been investigated. In particular, the accounting records and debtor statements needed to be checked against Banxso's books to establish the exact indebtedness before the claim was accepted.

The liquidators did not investigate. They did not invoke section 44(7). They incorporated the claim.

The affidavit does not say Claim 150 was necessarily invalid. It makes a sharper point: the treatment of Claim 150, it says, was wholly at odds with the treatment of the employees' claims, dissenting creditors, requests for section 393 disclosure, and demands for taxation of the legal costs. Claims and creditors that supported the path the liquidators wanted faced little resistance. Those who challenged it, the affidavit alleges, met obstruction at every turn.

That differential treatment is incompatible with the Commissioner's express finding that a liquidator should be wholly independent, should regard equally the interests of all creditors, and should carry out his duties without fear, favour, or prejudice.

The Commissioner further recorded that liquidators bear positive fiduciary obligations to investigate claims, examine the books and records of the company, resist doubtful claims, and protect the concursus creditorum. On Senekal's case, those obligations were consistently breached.

The Section 393 Refusal

From December 2025, Senekal had been formally requesting disclosure of the section 393 records of the estate: the underlying documents, invoices, mandates, correspondence, and supporting material that would allow creditors properly to scrutinise how the estate was being administered and what the legal costs were for. The request is not an unusual one. Section 393 of the Companies Act exists precisely to make this information available to creditors and interested parties as a matter of right.

The liquidators refused to comply. Senekal then wrote to the Master, Mr Mabusela, asking him to direct the liquidators to make the records available. The Master also refused to act. The correspondence evidencing both refusals is annexed to the application.

The affidavit describes the Master's refusal as inexplicable because, on its case, section 393 leaves no room for discretion. Creditors are entitled to see the records of the estate. That is the point of the provision.

In an insolvency, the Master's role is supervisory. That supervision includes ensuring that creditors can access the documents they are legally entitled to inspect, especially where the estate is being charged millions in legal costs.

According to the affidavit, that did not happen here. Instead, creditors were asked to approve accounts they could not test, ratify costs they had not been allowed to examine, and consent to payments they were not permitted to see in full. In the telling of the application, that was not oversight. It was the removal of scrutiny at the very point scrutiny mattered most.

The Personal Costs Order and What It Means

The application closes with a request that this Honourable Court will not have missed. Senekal seeks a costs order de bonis propriis, on the scale as between attorney and own client, against the second through to the sixth respondents: Bester, Bailey, Eckhoff, Ledwaba, and Schutte. Not against the estate. Against them personally.

A de bonis propriis costs order is the most severe sanction a court can impose on a litigant in civil proceedings short of a criminal referral. It means that the relevant parties pay the costs from their own assets, not from any fund they administer or any professional indemnity arrangement. Courts grant such orders when they find that the conduct of the relevant party went beyond ordinary negligence or error and demonstrated bad faith, disregard for the rights of others, conduct inconsistent with the standards expected of an officer of the court, or deliberate misuse of the process.

The application expressly excludes Victor, the seventh respondent, from the punitive costs claim. The affidavit records that Victor raised concerns about the legal costs, the treatment of employees, procedural fairness, and the failure to investigate disputed claims. He refused to sign the liquidators' report pending resolution of those disputes. He was denied the opportunity to have them resolved before the meeting proceeded. The application asks only that he not be made personally liable for a process he actively opposed.

The application asks that the second through to the sixth respondents pay personally for conduct the affidavit describes as bad faith, procedural manipulation, breaches of statutory and fiduciary duty, and a disregard for the rights of creditors and employees that, it says, falls far below the standard expected of officers of the court.

The Argument the Court Is Now Being Asked to Evaluate

Senekal concludes his affidavit with a submission that is as much a description of the whole case as it is a legal argument. "This Honourable Court," he states, "cannot merely be expected to rely upon the say-so of the liquidators concerning disputed legal costs, disputed claims and disputed requisitions."

What sits behind that sentence, the affidavit says, is not a single irregularity but an entire pattern.

It begins with a liquidator who campaigned for his own appointment. Then come the attorneys who brought the liquidation application, carried its costs, and later billed the estate they helped create R11 million for administering the liquidation and enquiry process.

The affidavit says creditors who had already settled in full were still treated as creditors for voting and requisition purposes. It says an advocate told a settled witness to disregard her settlement agreement, and urged her to submit a claim anyway.

It points to a Taxing Master's certificate that records consent instead of scrutiny on a R5.9 million bill, a Rule 67A surcharge with no authorising court order, pro forma invoices used to support payments of millions, and an item of R527,850 with no invoice attached.

It adds a meeting shifted to a virtual format on twenty-four hours' notice, employees whose documents were removed from the Master's office and returned only after meaningful participation was no longer possible, and, ultimately, a Master of the High Court accused of allowing it all to happen by condoning all of the above.

The Western Cape High Court must now decide whether those allegations, set out in the founding affidavit with extensive annexures and enquiry transcripts, have been made out.

For Banxso's 216 proven creditors, who have lodged claims of R194 million and received nothing after nine months of administration, the stakes could hardly be higher.

The liquidators, Mostert and Bosman, and the Master of the High Court are entitled to respond to the court filings. They have not yet done so in these proceedings.

If you’ve recently purchased an iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max, you might feel a little annoyed come June 8, as that’s when Apple is expected to announce their update to their flagship mobile devices.

According to MaxTech on YouTube, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be the headline product announcements at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) starting on June 8 and concluding on June 12.

With no major design changes, a huge performance increase is expected in these models with the new A20 chip as the processor.

Along with improved battery life, the phone will boast a much-improved quality 24MP selfie camera. The price is also expected to stay the same for the new model. The iPhone 17 Pro currently starts at R27,999 on the iStore, while the Pro Max will cost a minimum of R30,699.

Anticipated Apple TV Update: New A17 Pro Chip and Potential Price Drop

Meanwhile,  a forgotten product like the Apple TV that is in desperate need of an update.

The Apple TV was last updated in 2022, when the 4K 3rd Gen was released.

The base model 64GB version costs R2,999 at the iStore, while the 128GB is R3,599.

When you try to find out more details about the 3rd Gen on the iStore, it seems to proudly indicate that the product is now actually four years old.

The biggest news though is that the new model is expected imminently.

The current Apple TV uses an A15 chip, which was also found in the iPhone 13 series. In fact, when the Apple TV 4K 3rd Gen was released in November 2022, the A15 chip was already over a year old.

That means if you buy an Apple TV today, you’re forking over your hard-earned cash for a chip that is almost five years old.

The new Apple TV will reportedly have an A17 Pro chip, which was first used in the iPhone 15 range in 2023. There’s also a good chance the base storage size will be increased, while the price may actually be dropped.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

A Bloemfontein attorney has placed before the Western Cape High Court an affidavit alleging that the liquidation of Banxso (Pty) Ltd was not the neutral, court-supervised process the law requires. Kobus Senekal from FJ Senekal Incorporated alleges that it was instead a coordinated operation: professionals who stood to benefit helped set it in motion, included creditors whose claims had already been settled, excluded employees who might have challenged the process, and then used a statutory meeting to approve costs that were never independently scrutinised.

The application was filed in the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday, May 27 2026. The respondents are the Master of the High Court and all six liquidators. The relief sought includes setting aside everything resolved at the second meeting of creditors, ordering full disclosure of every record the liquidators have thus far refused to produce, compelling proper taxation of all legal costs, and directing that punitive costs be paid personally, from their own pockets, by the liquidators whose conduct contributed to the irregularities.

Senekal is unsparing in his opening characterisation of what he says he witnessed. "This application," he states in the affidavit, "concerns one of the most troubling insolvency administration processes I have encountered in practice." He attended both the first and second meetings of creditors.

He represents Flamingo Clearing House Limited, the affected former employees of Banxso, and a body of concurrent creditors. He swears that what should have been a transparent winding-up conducted for the benefit of the general body of creditors became, instead, a process directed toward preserving the position of preferred liquidators and attorneys, excluding dissenting voices, and shielding from scrutiny the R11 million legal bill that sits at the centre of the dispute.

The Email Before the Liquidation was granted

The affidavit opens its chronology with something that did not happen at a creditors' meeting or in a courtroom. It happened in October 2024, months before the provisional liquidation order was granted on 22 August 2025, and it happened in a piece of correspondence that Herman Bester, the second respondent and one of the five joint liquidators, sent while soliciting support for his own prospective appointment.

The affidavit annexes the email and quotes the operative passage directly. Bester wrote: "To get the appointment as liquidator in Banxso, I will need your support and assistance."

The affidavit comments on this with precision. "This was not the conduct of an independent prospective liquidator," the attorney states. "It was the conduct of an individual actively campaigning for control over the estate." The significance of that observation becomes clearer when read alongside what follows in the affidavit: that the attorneys who brought the liquidation application, Mostert and Bosman, are the same attorneys who brought the liquidation application on behalf of the applicants and then ran the section 417 and 418 enquiry process, billed the estate more than R11 million for doing so, and had those bills settled by consent rather than independently taxed.

The liquidators are served at the address of Mostert and Bosman's offices in Bellville. The campaign for the appointment and the financial structure that followed it are, on this version, not coincidental.

The Requisition System That the Commissioner Found Flawed

The affidavit relies substantially on the Interim Report of Advocate LM Olivier SC, an independent senior counsel appointed as Commissioner for the section 417 and 418 enquiries into the affairs of Banxso. The Commissioner's findings are, in the attorney's submission, not peripheral corroboration. They go to the heart of whether the voting process that returned the current liquidators to their positions and ratified their costs was legitimate.

The Commissioner found that the requisition system was flawed and open to abuse, with a significant number of instances in which the amounts reflected in requisitions and claims did not match what may in fact have been due. Investors, he said, had been told to submit requisitions reflecting their total deposits regardless of repayments or settlements already received. The requisitions and claims lodged then mirrored those inflated figures, raising questions about the validity of the claims based on them. He further stated that a nominee (liquidator) who knows a requisition is incorrect in any respect has a duty to disclose that to the Master. Underpinning all of this was a basic principle: incorrectly proved claims are not a mere technicality, because only proved creditors may vote, give direction to the liquidators, and participate in distributions.

The affidavit places the Commissioner's findings alongside the enquiry evidence of specific witnesses to show what that flawed system produced in practice.

1. Wessels confirmed under oath that he had settled with Banxso in full and final settlement. He had written to Tygerberg Trustees to ask whether he could still claim as a creditor. The response from Rene Willoughby of Tygerberg Trustees was direct: "Everyone is considered as a creditor, and all creditors will have an opportunity to lodge their claim against the estate once a liquidator is appointed." Wessels proceeded to participate in the requisition and voting processes.
2. Mouton confirmed settlement in full and final settlement despite his requisition documents reflecting approximately R4 million. P. Strydom testified that he was allegedly instructed to insert the total amount and not to deduct amounts already recovered. J.J.E. Liebenberg confirmed that repeated requisition forms were sent to him by Tygerberg Trustees after settlement agreements had already been concluded. M. Pereth confirmed settlement for R400,000 in full and final settlement and thereafter still participated in requisition and claim-related processes.

Each of these witnesses gave evidence under oath at the formal statutory enquiry. Each confirmed, in substance, that their claims against Banxso had been extinguished or materially reduced before the liquidation process began. Each was nonetheless permitted to participate in the process that determined who would control the estate and on what terms.

The Doctor, the Advocate, and the Settlement She Was Told to Ignore

The most striking witness evidence in the affidavit concerns Dr Smit, a creditor whose enquiry transcript is quoted at length in the founding papers.

Dr Smit had signed a settlement agreement with Banxso in terms of which, in exchange for a bonus payment, all claims between the parties were settled. The agreement stated in terms that neither party would have claims against the other. Dr Smit confirmed under oath that she understood this. "Yes," she told the enquiry when asked whether she was calling it quits with Banxso, "and that is how I interpreted it also in the beginning."

What changed her mind, she said, was a telephone call from Advocate Michael Van Staden, described in the transcript as the person who handled the Banxso case for the applicant creditors. According to her evidence, he told her she could disregard the settlement agreement because the entire system was fraudulent, and that she could proceed with her claim. He then referred her to Pierre, identified in the transcript as Pierre du Toit of Mostert and Bosman.

The Commissioner allowed questioning on this point. The picture that emerged from the transcript is of an advocate who acted for the applicant creditors in the liquidation proceedings proactively engaging a witness who had already settled her claim, advising her that the settlement was invalid, and directing her to the instructing attorneys of the liquidation application. Dr Smit also confirmed that she made no personal contribution to legal costs. She understood the attorneys would carry those costs and recover them from the estate.

The affidavit draws a stark implication. If the intervening parties to the original application made no personal contribution to the legal costs and understood those costs would be recovered from the estate, then the financial risk of the application that brought about the liquidation was borne not by the applicants themselves, but by the estate. In essence the attorney and the advocates who dealt with this matter where in a position of win at all costs as the only way to recover the fees was to have a liquidation order granted. That left creditor’s, 216 of them with proven claims totalling R194 million, having had no opportunity to approve those costs before the company was placed in liquidation.

The Meeting That Should Not Have Proceeded

By the time the second meeting of creditors was convened on 15 May 2026, the attorney says eight serious defects remained, each of them, he argues, enough to undermine the meeting from the outset: non-compliance with the statutory affidavit requirement under section 81(1)(bis)(b) of the Insolvency Act; disagreements among the liquidators themselves; disputes over employee claims; disputes involving settled creditors; questions over requisitions and voting rights; challenges to the legal costs; section 393 disclosure issues; and the absence of proper scrutiny of the legal accounts.

The Master, Mr. Mabusela, condoned all of it and allowed the meeting to proceed regardless of the multiple challenges presented to him.

The affidavit is direct about what section 81(1)(bis)(b) required. The liquidators were obliged to lodge an affidavit confirming compliance with the statutory circulation requirements before the meeting could proceed. No such affidavit was ever lodged.

The affidavit states that this defect was raised repeatedly during the meeting itself and that neither the liquidators nor the Master could identify any affidavit evidencing compliance. The Master condoned the non-compliance regardless and allowed the meeting to continue. The application characterises this not as a forgivable administrative lapse but as the removal of a jurisdictional safeguard designed to protect creditors against opaque and irregular insolvency proceedings.

Then, less than twenty-four hours before the meeting, the Master once again unilaterally converted a public physical meeting into a virtual one, as had already happened at the first meeting of creditors. Yet the advertisements in the Government Gazette, Die Burger, and Business Day had all stated that it would be held at the Master's offices in Cape Town. Creditors who had arranged to attend in person, expecting to exercise their rights in a public statutory forum alongside other creditors, were given no proper notice of how to access the virtual platform, how voting would take place, or how participation would work. The attorney argues that the last-minute switch denied creditors the most basic requirement of procedural fairness: a fair opportunity to participate.

The Employees, the Documents, and the Undertaking That Was Broken

The treatment of Banxso's former employees is described in the affidavit as one of the most disturbing aspects of the matter. Under section 98A and related provisions of the Insolvency Act, employee claims carry statutory preference. The law places them ahead of concurrent creditors specifically because employees who lose their positions in an insolvency are among the most vulnerable parties in the process.

The employees' claims were prepared and lodged within the prescribed period, supported by an affidavit from Banxso's HR Manager verifying both the claims and the amounts. They were later uplifted from the Master's office without the authority of the employees or their legal representatives. The attorney wrote to Bester on 5 May seeking confirmation of the documents' whereabouts and asking that they be re-lodged, then wrote again on May 12. In that correspondence, the affidavit says, Bester gave a specific undertaking: "your original completed claim form and proof of your claim amount as we must lodge the documents with the Presiding Officer 24 hours before the hearing."

Bester did not honour that undertaking. Only immediately before the meeting, when it had become practically impossible for the employees to take any meaningful steps, did he indicate that the claims would not be lodged and that Senekal should uplift and re-lodge them himself.

The consequence was total exclusion. The employees were shut out of the vote on the resolutions and barred from participating in the meeting. They were also prevented from invoking section 44(7) of the Insolvency Act, which entitles creditors to require the interrogation of disputed or inflated claims. Just as significantly, they were denied the opportunity to challenge the settled creditor claims, oppose the resolutions as drafted, and contest the legal costs at the centre of the dispute. In practical terms, every safeguard that might have enabled them to protect their preferent position in the estate was stripped away when their claim documents were removed and not re-lodged in time by Bester.

The Eckhoff Reversal

The affidavit records a development that the attorney characterises as particularly revealing. Jochen Eckhoff, the fourth respondent, initially appeared supportive of the employees and of Flamingo Clearing House Limited. Flamingo and the employees initially supported him in turn.

When Flamingo and the employees declined to endorse the conduct of the liquidators and announced their opposition to the resolutions, Eckhoff reversed course. He aligned himself with the remaining liquidators and thereafter supported the proposition that the employees had no valid claims.

The affidavit draws the logical conclusion. When the employees' support was advantageous, their rights were recognised. When they became dissenters, their claims became disputed. A neutrally administered insolvency does not work that way. The Commissioner had recorded that a liquidator should be wholly independent, should regard equally the interests of all creditors, and should carry out his duties without fear, favour, or prejudice. What the affidavit describes bears no resemblance to that standard.

It’s been four years since the last Apple TV came out, and finally the new version is expected to be announced on June 8.

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will have a host of new products announced, one of the less popular products may just steal the show.

While new laptops like the new redesigned MacBook Ultra will likely take centre stage, it’s a forgotten product like the Apple TV that is in desperate need of an update.

The Apple TV was last updated in 2022, when the 4K 3rd Gen was released. The base model 64GB version costs R2,999 at the iStore, while the 128GB is R3,599.

Apple TV 3rd Gen: Outdated A15 Chip and Upcoming A17 Pro Model

When you try to find out more details about the 3rd Gen on the iStore, it seems to proudly indicate that the product is now actually four years old.

The biggest news though is that the new model is expected imminently.

The current Apple TV uses an A15 chip, which was also found in the iPhone 13 series. In fact, when the Apple TV 4K 3rd Gen was released in November 2022, the A15 chip was already over a year old.

That means if you buy an Apple TV today, you’re forking over your hard-earned cash for a chip that is almost five years old.

The new Apple TV will reportedly have an A17 Pro chip, which was first used in the iPhone 15 range in 2023. There’s also a good chance the base storage size will be increased, while the price may actually be dropped.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

As we approach the midway point of 2026, it’s almost a criminal act the amount of storage some manufacturers ship their phones and laptops.

I’m talking specifically about phones with 128GB and less, and laptops with 256GB storage.

Even the biggest manufacturers are guilty of this infringement, and in particular Apple.

Though Apple has introduced a new base storage of 256GB for the phones with the iPhone 17 range, their cheapest laptop does not feature the increased storage. Unfortunately for me, I went for the iPhone 16e base model and only have 128GB on my device and routinely run out of space.

Storage Limitations: Why 256GB On a Laptop Isn’t Enough for 4K Video

The MacBook Neo starts at 256GB storage, which is just too little these days - especially if you’re backing up your phone which will likely shoot in 4K. For reference, a minute of 4K video at 30 frames per second (FPS) will take up approximately 190MB. If you shoot in a faster, smoother FPS of 60 in 4K, that will drive up the file size to about 440MB per minute.

That means for every minute of video you shoot on your phone, you’re taking up half a GB. Over a short period of time, for example a week’s holiday somewhere picturesque - an hour of footage will take up about 30GB on your phone.

The only saving grace for the MacBook Neo though, is that it is by far Apple’s cheapest laptop at R11,999, and from R13,999 you will be getting 512GB minimum for any laptop from the tech giant.

However, most budget Windows laptops ship with 256GB storage and you’d need to spend at least around R8,500 to get increased storage of 512GB.

At least with Android phones the price for storage isn’t as cheap, and you should be able to find a device with at least 256GB storage if you invest at least R4,500.

That still means the vast majority of budget phones in South Africa will still come with less than 256GB, and with 2027 on the horizon they should be avoided if at all possible.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

A Cape Town-based geolocation intelligence company, Timbuki 2 AI, has built a community-generated dataset documenting flooding and infrastructure damage to parts of the Western Cape following last week’s storms, showing that in several areas conditions persisted long after rainfall had stopped.

The company collected and reviewed 362 verified submissions between May 13 to 19, forming a public flood map based on geotagged reports sent by residents from 20 areas through WhatsApp.

According to Timbuki 2 AI, real-time data indicates that flooding did not end with the storm, as residents reported that water remained in homes and streets for days due to blocked drainage systems, waste accumulation, and overloaded stormwater infrastructure. 

The hardest-hit areas include parts of the Cape Flats such as Khayelitsha, Nyanga, Philippi, Samora Machel, and Delft. These areas repeatedly reported water entering homes, blocked drainage systems, and roads that remained impassable days after the storm.

In Site B, Khayelitsha, one resident said homes were left uninhabitable, with the entire kitchen flooded by water.

In Mfuleni, Blue Downs, and parts of Delft, residents described structural damage caused by strong winds during the storm, including roofs being torn off and exposed homes left vulnerable to continued rainfall.

One resident said the “whole roof came inside the house,” adding that the damage left the home unsafe.

In Samora Machel, multiple submissions described roads cut off by standing water, limiting movement for several days.

Residents said they were unable to travel to shops or send children to school due to flooded access routes.

Similar reports were recorded in Langa and Bonteheuwel, where residents described waterlogged streets and blocked pedestrian paths.

The dataset also shows smaller clusters of reports from areas including Red Hill and Simon’s Town, where flooding was more localised but still affected access routes and public spaces due to debris and surface water.

Timbuki 2 AI said the purpose of the dataset is to track not only immediate storm impact but also post-event conditions, particularly where infrastructure continues to fail.

The platform collects data through WhatsApp-based submissions, where residents send photos, videos, and descriptions of local conditions. These reports are then reviewed, verified, and added to a live flood map that shows concentrations of impact across different areas.

Timbuk2 AI also said it will continue working with local community members to map areas that are often under-seen or missing from traditional datasets through its developing mapping work.

The company aims to make unseen communities more visible by collecting ground-level evidence that can help decision-makers better understand where support, services, and investment are needed.

Members of the public who want to learn more or take part in future data collection can visit https://timbuk2.ai/flood.

IOL

I’m probably showing my age here, but I can still vividly remember writing down the details of my runs on a piece of paper in a file, with details like how I felt during and after, and of course the distance, time, and intensity.

I would also pop along to my local mall and buy a new digital wristwatch every year, all of them having a stopwatch feature. And that was about the only feature of these cheap Casios I used for the majority of my running between 1998 and 2015.

Since then, though, I made the switch to a smart watch with GPS tracking, which opened up a new world of digital statistics and indexing for training and racing.

Though I reached my running peak in 2017 and 2018, the use of digital luxuries like a smart watch and running apps like Strava were quite inconsequential.

Ignore the Noise: Why Strava’s Runna Partnership Isn’t Necessary for Better Running

I firmly believe that a smart watch and a fitness app can’t actually make you a better runner; putting in the work is the only thing that will achieve that goal.

That’s why Strava starts punting its new partner app, Runna, specifically aimed at providing coaching for runners - I think it’s a cheap attempt at a crash grab. I keep seeing these suggestions in Strava that I sign up for Runna, which I actually thought was released by Strava itself.

It turns out, the apps simply partnered in April, and Strava keeps getting on my nerves asking me to sign up for Runna.

Running is not complicated, unless you’re trying to beat Gerda Steyn. For the rest of us, it’s simply about how often and how much you train. Rest is also a key part of getting fitter.

Another core principle is listening to your body; it is vital when you’re trying to  break new thresholds.

So my advice is to ignore all the noise and persistent punting of new running apps, just keep lacing up those takkies and keep showing up every day, and you will have already done the hard part.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.

** JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Send us an email with your comments, thoughts or responses to iolletters@inl.co.za. Letters should be a maximum of 500 words, and may be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Submissions should include a contact number and physical address (not for publication).

The Shenzhou-23 crew has entered China's space station, marking the eighth in-orbit rendezvous of Chinese astronauts in space.

Watch the video here.

At 5.13am on Monday, the Shenzhou-21 crew opened the hatch to welcome the new arrivals. It was the first time for an astronaut from China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to enter the space station.

The six crew members took group photos to mark the occasion. In the following days, they will conduct an in-orbit handover aboard the space station.

CGTN

In a move that could be the step in the right direction for transparency and communication, or could spark privacy concerns, WhatsApp is developing a new feature to make it easier for users to quickly see which of their contacts are online

According to details from the latest WhatsApp beta for Android (2.26.13.3), the messaging app is testing a feature that will allow you to view a list of contacts who are currently active without needing to open individual chats.

Currently, users must open each conversation to check whether a contact is online, with the status shown at the top of the chat.

If a user is offline, WhatsApp displays their “last seen” timestamp, indicating when they were last active. However, both indicators depend on privacy settings and may be hidden if a user has restricted visibility.

The feature was initially introduced for Android beta users, but is now being developed for iOS as well.

In the WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.20.10.70 update, available via TestFlight, the same functionality has been discovered in development.

Why was the feature needed?

Checking who is available can be time-consuming, especially if you are urgently trying to reach multiple people at once. In cases like these, you might find yourself opening several chats to compare “online” and “last seen” statuses before deciding whom to contact.

This can make quick communication less efficient, particularly in group coordination or time-sensitive messaging. The new system is designed to make it easier by showing your contacts' availability information in one place.

To support this improvement, WhatsApp is developing a dedicated Contacts section, referred to as a “Contacts hub.”

This hub is expected to appear within the app’s settings, and you will see it just below the user’s profile photo. 

Expected features include a section for up to four favourite contacts for quick access, a list of recently online contacts, a visual indicator (green dot) showing contacts currently online and chronological ordering of recently active users.

Contacts who are currently online will appear at the top of the list, making them immediately visible. Below them, users will see others sorted by most recent activity.

The Contacts hub is also expected to include tools for managing contacts more efficiently. Users will be able to search for contacts directly within the section, add new contacts via phone number or QR code, update and manage favourites at any time and sort contacts alphabetically instead of by activity.

What about privacy?

Despite these changes, WhatsApp has confirmed that privacy settings will continue to control what is visible. Users who have hidden their online status or last seen will not appear in the online activity list.

Similarly, if a user has restricted visibility, their activity will remain hidden from others in the Contacts hub. This ensures that the feature does not override existing privacy preferences.

The Contacts hub and expanded online status view remain under development for iOS and Android beta testers. WhatsApp is still refining how the feature works before rolling it out more widely.

Once testing is complete, the company is expected to gradually release it to a wider audience in a future update, potentially reshaping how users discover and engage with active contacts on the platform.

IOL

HONOR South Africa today introduces the highly anticipated HONOR 600 Series, featuring the HONOR 600 Pro and HONOR 600, at Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, during an immersive launch event. 

The new series brings together a flagship-level 200MP Ultra-Clear AI Night Camera, industry-exclusive AI Image to Video 2.0, a segment-leading 7,000mAh Long-life Battery and Snapdragon flagship-class processors, all housed within the most refined design in HONOR Number Series history. The HONOR 600 brings flagship-level AI imaging and strong daily performance to more users, while the HONOR 600 Pro takes the experience further with enhanced zoom, telephoto capability and Snapdragon 8 Elite performance.

Redefining Mobile Creativity with Industry-Exclusive AI Image to Video 2.0

The HONOR 600 Series introduces AI Image to Video 2.0, an industry-exclusive feature that lets users transform still images into dynamic video using natural language prompts and built-in templates. Users can combine up to three images with natural language prompts to produce stunning 3- or 5-second sequences, where they can define both opening and ending frames for full narrative control, and access an extensive library of cinematic templates for stylised, film-quality results in a single tap. For more creative control, free-style mode lets users describe the video they want and allows AI to bring the idea to life.

The dedicated AI Button gives quick access to AI imaging tools, including AI Image to Video and AI Photos Agent. With AI Photos Agent, users can edit images using natural language instructions, making changes such as removing passers-by or reflections without switching between multiple apps.

The Segment's Most Powerful Night Camera System

At the centre of the HONOR 600 Series is its flagship-level 200MP Ultra-Clear AI Night Camera, designed to deliver exceptional clarity, depth and low-light performance. Building on the 200MP ultra-clear imaging legacy of the HONOR 400 Series, the HONOR 600 Series takes on one of mobile photography’s toughest challenges: night imaging. Powered by HONOR’s next-generation AiMAGE intelligent imaging architecture, the camera system is supported by advanced AI night algorithms that help preserve natural skin tones, accurate lighting and scene depth in more challenging conditions.

HONOR 600 Pro takes things further with CIPA 6.5 stabilisation on its telephoto lens. The HONOR 600 Pro also features a 50MP 3.5X Periscope Telephoto Camera, extending reach up to 120x zoom for users who want to capture distant details with impressive clarity.

The HONOR 600 is built for users who want advanced AI imaging, strong battery life and smooth everyday performance. The HONOR 600 Pro adds a higher-performance camera system, more reach and flagship-class processing power for users who want more control from their mobile device.

Flagship-level Performance with Exceptional Battery Life and Built-In Resilience

Beyond imaging, the HONOR 600 Series is built for speed and staying power. Powered by Snapdragon flagship-class processors, including Snapdragon 8 Elite on the HONOR 600 Pro, the series delivers smooth performance across multitasking, gaming, streaming, editing and content creation.

The series is equipped with a 7,000mAh Long-life Battery, the largest in the HONOR Number Series. Paired with 80W HONOR SuperCharge, the device is designed to reduce downtime and keep users connected throughout the day.

The HONOR 600 Series raises the visual bar with a 6.57-inch display reaching 8,000nits peak brightness. Sunlight Mode sustains outdoor clarity through an enhanced brightness curve, optimised thermal management, and dynamic APL-based brightness adjustment — delivering up to 4,000nits at 20% APL. HONOR Eye Comfort Display balances this brilliance with long-term viewing comfort through intelligent brightness and colour optimisation.

A display of these capabilities demands equally robust protection. IP68, IP69, and IP69K water and dust resistance, together with SGS 5-star Premium Performance Certification for Drop & Crush, ensure the device withstands splashes, dust, drops, and the unpredictability of everyday life.

The HONOR 600 Pro steps up to the Snapdragon 8 Elite on 3nm process technology, achieving 45% CPU and 44% GPU improvements — true flagship-level responsiveness across demanding applications and multitasking. Underpinning the entire experience, the HONOR 600 runs on the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 with 27% CPU and 30% GPU gains for powerful gaming and fluid daily performance.

Seamless Apple Ecosystem Integration and Intelligent Google Gemini Assistant

The HONOR 600 Series also extends beyond itself as a perfect companion to the Apple ecosystem. Upgraded connectivity feature enables instant file sharing with iPhone and Mac, hotspot sharing, and Apple Watch message display. 

The HONOR 600 series with Google Gemini empowers users to interact seamlessly via text, voice, or image for comprehensive assistance on the go. This marks a significant step towards building a truly intelligent AI assistant – one that is conversational, intuitive, and genuinely helpful.

“The HONOR 600 Series reflects where smartphone innovation is moving, with AI that feels useful, camera technology that supports real creativity and performance that keeps up with the way people live,” said Fred Zhou, CEO of HONOR South Africa. “South Africans are creating, sharing and connecting across more moments than ever before, and the HONOR 600 Series brings flagship-level imaging, long-lasting power and intelligent tools into a phone that feels both powerful and practical.”

All-scenario products 

• HONOR Watch6: HONOR Watch 6 features over 120 professional sports modes, including Soccer Mode, Trail Running Mode, etc. It can also facilitate health monitoring through blood pressure and heart rate testing, as well as cardiac health screening. The HONOR Watch 6 can ensure 35 days usage. HONOR Watch6 is priced at R4499 and available from July.

• HONOR CHOICE Mousebuds Pro: This innovative 2-in-1 device combines a wireless mouse with built-in charging for true wireless earbuds, bringing productivity and mobility into a single compact design. HONOR MouseBuds will be available from June onwards at R699.

• HONOR Earbuds 4: The HONOR Earbuds 4 adopt an in-ear design for wear comfort. It features AI Translation, a 46-hr battery life, 50dB Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation, and Dual Ti-coated drivers. The HONOR Earbuds 4 will be available from July priced at R999.

• HONOR Choice Headphones: The HONOR CHOICE Headphones deliver an authentic, studio-grade listening experience powered by certified Hi-Res Audio and a premium 40mm driver unit. It will be available from June onwards at R699.

With the HONOR 600 Series, HONOR brings together advanced AI capabilities, refined design and powerful smartphone features in a way that feels ready for daily use. From night photography and cinematic content creation to all-day battery life and flagship-class speed, the HONOR 600 Pro and HONOR 600 are built for South Africans who want technology that does more than keep up.

HONOR 600 Pro is available in Golden White and Orange for an RRP of R19 999 or from R799x36 months, and the HONOR 600 will be available in Orange and Black for an RRP of R14 999 or from R549x36 months.

Consumers who purchase the HONOR 600 Series will be able to receive free redeemable gifts worth up to R8287. Consumers who purchase the HONOR 600 Series will receive an HONOR CHOICE Earbuds Clip Valued at R1999 and an HONOR CHOICE Watch 2i Valued at R999.

This also includes a 365-day accidental damage protection for HONOR 600 Series Devices worth R3999. And lastly, a Free Google AI Pro with 5TB of cloud storage for 3 months (This is for first-time users only) – that is worth R429.99. The gift promotional offer is limited to the HONOR 600 Pro and HONOR 600 valid from 8 June until 8 July 2026.  

We’ve all been there: Ye set aside a day to stay home or at the office to receive a delivery, and it just never comes. Now you have to rearrange your schedule and get on the phone with your courier to find out just exactly when your goods will arrive.

I’ve had particular frustrations recently with RAM Couriers as they somehow can’t get through to you when you’ve provided them with two contact numbers.

You then follow up with them only to find out the delivery person was at your gate many hours earlier when they ‘tried to reach you’.

But I digress. If you don’t mind availing yourself of that, that’s just fine.

Convenient Pickup Options: Takealot vs. Amazon Locker Service

You can, of course, use a service like Takealot and choose pickup at one of their many centres across the country.

Still, as efficient as these pickups are, if you go during a busy time, you will still likely have to wait in line before your order comes through.

That’s why I’ve recently come to enjoy the locker pickup service provided by Amazon through the Courier Guy.

With Amazon in particular, you are often charged something like R1 or R2 for delivery to a designated locker, and it arrives promptly the next day.

When you go to collect at your locker location of choice, you simply tap the locker interface screen, and it then allows you to scan your QR code or enter an OTP you received.

In a flash, your locker pops open, and you simply take your package. To me, this really feels like living in the future, while not wasting your time waiting for delivery people.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Sport

It’s no exaggeration to say that Apple’s MacBook Neo has reshaped the budget laptop market.

Apple’s first foray into the budget laptop market could not have gone better, since the starting price for the Neo of R11,999 placed this new offering as a direct competitor to the vast majority of Windows laptops and Google’s Chromebooks.

The difference with the Neo though, was that even though it was powered by an iPhone chip, it is extremely powerful at that price point.

The Neo can handle any office work right up to basic 4K video editing without any trouble, and it’s a fact that it will outperform any Windows laptop or Chromebook with the same - and sometimes superior - specs.

Googlebook vs. Asus Vivobook: A Battle of AI Integration and Performance

The new Chromebook announced earlier this month is now called Googlebook, which sounds suspiciously similar to MacBook. This laptop though, has been ‘designed from the ground up’ with AI integration.

It seems like every non-Mac-OS device really seems to be going wrong, as AI features should be a supplementary function, not a core one. This is where Apple really should be copied, because while its hardware and software are perfectly integrated - it’s never for a new feature that has not yet proved successful in the case of AI.

The closest Windows laptop to the Neo is probably the Asus Vivobook. While this range from Asus starts at around R5,499, the R10,999 Vivobook X1504 is the nearest in price. Though you get double the RAM/Unified memory with 16GB and 512GB storage as opposed to the Neo’s 256GB - there’s still little comparison in build quality.

The Neo will be lighter, quieter, and feature double the battery life. In terms of performance, the Neo will either be the same if not better in most areas with the use of swap memory allowing the Apple product to compete with devices boasting more memory.

There are also rumours that the next version of the Neo is on its way soon. It’s expected to have 12GB of Unified RAM and more storage, and if that’s the case, that’s even worse news for Windows and Google.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector plays a critical role in South Africa’s economic growth, accounting for 91% of formal businesses, contributing up to 40% of GDP, and employing around 60% of the workforce.

Although more than 2 million MSMEs operate in South Africa, including over 2.5 million micro-enterprises, many of which are informal, the sector continues to face major challenges related to funding, regulatory compliance, and technology adoption.

The rapid growth and evolution of technologies have presented us with many options for providing services to consumers and various stakeholders. This also presents significant opportunities for MSMEs in the South African economy. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now being embraced in many processes to effectively drive business objectives and goals.

As the MSME sector in South Africa is a cornerstone of the country’s economy, it plays an important role in driving innovation, creating jobs, and promoting inclusive growth. It is therefore important for MSMEs to take advantage of the opportunities offered by AI by adopting it in their business processes. Although MSMEs are important to the economy, they often face many challenges. AI can provide several benefits that help MSMEs become more financially included in the mainstream economy.

Township businesses such as spaza shops, street vendors, taxi transport operators, kota businesses, bed-and-breakfast establishments (B&Bs), and restaurants are among the enterprises that can leverage AI to improve their operations and achieve their business objectives. With government providing funding opportunities for MSMEs, it is important to consider some of the benefits that AI can offer in helping this sector grow and operate more effectively.

AI is becoming an important tool for MSMEs in South Africa. As businesses operate in a competitive and technology-driven environment, using AI can help improve efficiency, support growth, and ensure long-term sustainability. AI allows MSMEs to automate tasks, analyse data, and make better decisions, helping them stay competitive in local markets across the country.

One of the major benefits of AI for MSMEs is increased productivity and operational efficiency. AI-powered systems can automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks such as data entry, scheduling, and customer responses. By reducing manual work, employees can focus on more strategic and value-adding activities, which improves overall business performance. Automation also helps reduce human errors and speeds up business processes.

AI is helping MSMEs reduce costs by improving efficiency across key operations. It enables better inventory management, demand forecasting, and resource allocation, allowing businesses to use limited resources more wisely, reduce waste, and improve profitability and overall operational performance.

Beyond cost savings, AI strengthens decision-making within MSMEs. Through advanced data analytics, it processes large volumes of business information and generates actionable insights for owners. These insights support strategic planning in marketing, financial management, and customer behaviour analysis, helping businesses identify opportunities, predict trends, and respond quickly to changing market conditions across township economies and beyond.

Improved customer service is another key benefit of AI adoption. AI-powered chatbots and customer relationship management (CRM) systems allow businesses to provide faster and more personalised services to customers. This can improve customer satisfaction, strengthen relationships, and increase customer loyalty.

In a competitive business environment, fast and efficient customer service can greatly improve a company’s reputation and market position. On Vilakazi Street in Soweto, where restaurants such as Sakhumzi, 1947 on Vilakazi Street, Chez Alina, and others operate, chatbots and CRM systems can help improve customer service delivery.

AI contributes to business growth and competitiveness. By adopting innovative technologies, MSMEs can scale their operations more effectively and compete with larger organisations. AI enables businesses to develop new products, improve service delivery, and reach wider markets through digital platforms.

In conclusion, the use of AI presents significant opportunities for MSMEs in South Africa. It enhances productivity, reduces operational costs, supports better decision-making, improves customer service, and strengthens business competitiveness.

As digital transformation continues to grow, the adoption of AI can play a critical role in supporting the development and sustainability of MSMEs, which are vital contributors to South Africa’s economy and job creation.

Therefore, AI adoption will result in financial inclusion, as MSMEs will become more competitive in the industry, stimulate economic growth, and contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country, which may result in more job creation.

*The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.

**Muvhango Livhusha is ISACA SA Vice President. He is a PHD Candidate in Digital Transformation. He is an award winner and an advocate for technology. He is writing in his own personal capacity as professional.

It’s a bit of a recurring theme at the moment, but just how much should you really trust your AI chatbot of choice?

We’ve already seen AI make some massive mistakes that have led to an entire database of company being deleted almost instantly, and clear-cut lying of an AI when asked to time someone going for a run.

There are new examples every day of AI being completely and often deliberately inaccurate, yet it is still becoming more and more integrated into our every day life.

People rely on AI for anything from financial, emotional and health advice with growing faith - and this is not the way it should be at all.

The Growing Concern Over Sharing Personal Information with AI Apps

Call me sceptical, but I’m always wary of giving any AI app more than the bare minimum of information. As these tools become increasingly embedded in our daily lives, though, that’s becoming harder and harder to avoid.

I’ve written about it before — particularly when the ChatGPT caricature trend exploded a few months ago. People were uploading photos of themselves while also volunteering details about their hobbies, interests, and personalities.

Sure, it was mostly harmless fun, but at the same time, we were also helping these AI apps build increasingly detailed digital profiles of us.

Personally, the less an AI app knows about me, the better. Instead, approach it like a work colleague that you wouldn't share al your personal information with, unless it was absolutely necessary. 

There’s no disputing that AI is convenient, but it also removes more of the human element from major life decisions.

And when you combine that with people asking these same apps for health, relationship, or financial advice, the amount of personal information being handed over grows at an alarming rate.

Maybe I’m just cynical, but years of watching films like Terminator 2: Judgment Day, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, and I, Robot left me with a healthy mistrust of “the robots”.

That’s why I still believe we should err on the side of caution when it comes to AI — useful as it may be.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

Sage (FTSE: SGE), a global leader in accounting, finance, HR and payroll technology, recently announced the rollout of Sage Ai across its solutions in South Africa, select pan African markets, and the Middle East, introducing a new generation of trusted, human-first artificial intelligence (AI) designed to remove administrative burden, strengthen compliance confidence and unlock meaningful productivity gains and sustainable growth.

Including intelligent tools such as Sage Copilot, a generative AI assistant, and a growing suite of specialised AI agents - Sage Ai works securely behind the scenes to automate everyday accounting, finance, HR and payroll processes while keeping customers firmly in control.

Across Africa and the Middle East, small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) are facing mounting operational pressure. Administrative and compliance demands are increasing, regulatory complexity is slowing decision-making, and cashflow volatility remains a persistent risk to growth and resilience. 

At the same time, payroll, tax and reporting have become high-stakes responsibilities, while skills shortages are forcing business leaders to stretch capacity and juggle multiple roles, limiting their ability to focus on growth.

Yet, despite these pressures, many SMBs are not fully unlocking the potential of AI. Sage’s SBBO research reveals a clear activation gap in the local market: while 73% of South African SMBs have invested in AI, only 47% are using it to drive revenue growth. 

For SMBs, the barrier isn’t only cost, it’s trust. Concerns around privacy, security and compliance consistently rank among the top factors shaping AI adoption.

Human first. AI powered

Built on more than four decades of trusted expertise and embedded directly into the systems SMBs rely on, Sage Ai is powered by proprietary intelligence trained on real-world workflows, delivering AI that is practical, trusted and purpose-built for business.

“The data tells a clear story: African businesses are ambitious and digitally progressive, but they are rightly sceptical of tools that fail to reflect the regulatory and economic complexity in which they operate,” says Jordaan Burger, Managing Director, Sage Africa and Middle East. 

“Sage Ai is built on five core commitments: user control, reliable results, transparent explanations, responsible and ethical implementation, and accessible human support. We call this ‘Authentic Intelligence’ because it represents a more thoughtful approach to innovation, one that puts people at the centre, embeds trust by design, and applies advanced technology in ways that solve real business challenges rather than simply introducing new complexity.”

At a group level, our Sage Ai strategy is underpinned by significant, sustained investment in technology, data science and platform innovation,” says Sophia Adhami, Senior Director Product Office and Product Performance Execution at Sage.

“We embed AI natively across our portfolio, building proprietary capabilities trained on real-world workflows, and strengthening the infrastructure that supports secure, scalable deployment. Authentic Intelligence at this level means combining cutting-edge innovation with rigorous governance, so data remains protected, decisions are explainable, and customers can adopt AI with absolute confidence.”

AI that gets work done securely

Unlike generic AI layered on top of business systems, Sage Ai is embedded within the Sage Platform, a secure, unified environment where applications, workflows and data connect seamlessly. It powers Sage Copilot and specialist AI Agents that complete workflows end-to-end, across the product stack. 

Capabilities across Sage’s solutions include:

• Close Agent, reducing month-end close cycles by up to 90%
• Assurance Agent, continuously flagging unusual journal entries in real time
• Salary Variance Detection Agent, catches payroll anomalies before they become problems
• Sale Intelligence Agent, real‑time alerts to protect revenue
• Payslip Insights Agent, clear answers from payslip data, faster (available to early adopters)
• AP Agent, automating vendor invoice processing with over 90% accuracy (available in English-speaking markets)
• Time Agent, builds timesheet entries based on calendar, email, and app activity, making time tracking faster and more accurate

Supporting Africa’s digital transformation agenda

Across Africa, governments are increasingly prioritising digital infrastructure and data governance as foundations for economic growth, recognising them as critical to competitiveness and as essential as transport networks, ports and energy. In South Africa, the role of data and artificial intelligence has been highlighted by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in the 2026 Budget Speech as central to future economic development, with secure and responsible AI adoption now seen as critical to SME resilience, job creation and cross‑border growth.

Burger concludes, “Our ambition is clear: eliminate admin, strengthen compliance confidence, and build the most trusted AI-powered business network across Africa and the UAE. We are freeing businesses from complexity, embedding trusted intelligence into everyday workflows, and enabling SMBs to grow with clarity, control and confidence in a digital-first economy.”

Visit Sage South Africa for more information and explore Sage Ai, including a new short‑form video series designed to demystify AI agents for small businesses and accountants.

The Free State Department of Health has won the Public Sector Digital Innovator Award at the Africa Tech Week 2026 ceremony held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 13 May 2026.

The award honours public sector institutions using digital solutions to improve service delivery and enhance the citizen experience. The province was recognised for e-Impilo, its Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system for primary healthcare.

The system replaces fragmented paper-based processes with an integrated, government-owned digital platform. It is designed to improve patient care, strengthen continuity between facilities, and boost accountability and operational efficiency.

Free State Department of Health Head of Department Ernest Mohlahlo said the award reflects the efforts of frontline and technical teams who implemented the system in practice.

He said e-Impilo is already helping to reduce duplication, improve continuity of care and enhance efficiency across facilities. He added that the next phase will focus on training, change management, connectivity, cybersecurity and interoperability to ensure measurable improvements in access, quality and patient experience.

Free State Health MEC Monyatso Mahlatsi also welcomed the recognition, saying it reflects the province’s commitment to raising healthcare performance standards.

He said digitising primary healthcare is making services safer, faster and more accountable, and confirmed plans to expand the rollout, strengthen data-driven decision-making and ensure that digital innovation translates into improved care at facility level.

Africa Tech Week 2026 brings together public and private sector leaders to recognise innovation in digital transformation across Africa.

IOL

Not long ago, I would've sworn by wired earphones, but that's changed over the last year as I've made the switch to the wireless options.

With any new or evolving technology, there are plenty of different options on the market according to your budget.

For me though? I try my best to keep the costs down, and even though I have three Apple devices (laptop, phone, and iPad), I can’t bring myself to invest at least R3,000 for a pair of AirPods 4.

That’s where the cheaper Huawei FreeBuds SE 2 earbuds came in for me.

Affordable Connectivity and Impressive Bass: The SE 2 Earphones at R400

At around R400, this budget offering definitely does the job.

The main thing you want at this price point is easily connecting to your different devices, and the SE 2 does this without any headaches you get from other entry-level earphones.

I routinely switch the SE 2 between my laptop, phone, and even my LG Smart TV.

The lack of troubleshooting is a big advantage for me.

The SE 2 also delivers surprisingly good bass despite its price.

Huawei FreeBuds 6i: Affordable ANC Earbuds

The only thing the SE 2 really lacks is Active Noise Cancellation (ANC).

Therefore, last month I decided to vanquish my trusty SE 2s to my backup drawer and go for something that has ANC.

Here there are also a myriad of options, with Bose offering a number of high-quality options. However, these are not cheap, and you’re probably spending around R5,000 for a pair.

That’s why again, I took a gamble on the budget option and went for the Huawei FreeBuds 6i. When I first started my research, I was really surprised to learn that these earbuds’ ANC came in at around R1,000.

Though I thought I might need to spend a bit to get something decent, I ultimately stuck with the same brand and got the 6i.

They deliver decent ANC, though it can’t compete with the Bose, which is more than good enough for my needs. If I have any music playing around 50% volume, the outside world instantly evaporates.

At the same time, the Awareness mode is also pretty good as I can hear conversation well in this mode.

It’s also really easy to switch between modes with one 2-second press on the stem of the earbuds.

It’s for all these reasons that I consider either the SE 2 or the more expensive 6i the best budget options earbuds for just about anybody.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

In line with the rapidly-evolving nature of social media and technology, Instagram has launched a new disappearing photo app called Instants.

Much like a feature already available in WhatsApp in which a user is only able to view the media once and is unable to take screenshots, Instants will do much the same for the Meta-owned app.

In fact, it works almost exactly the same as the feature from it’s sister app WhatsApp.

Where it differs though, is that the content will still be available in the sender’s archive for up to a year and can also be shared as stories at a later stage.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Adam Mosseri (@mosseri)

Instagram Launches Instants: A New Feature for Sharing Casual Moments with Close Friends

Though the Instants Instagram app is also said to be preparing to test the app in a number of countries on iOS and Android.

Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri said: “This week, we are launching a new feature on Instagram called Instants, which is a way to share casual moments with your close friends. How does it work? Well, you go to the DM tab in this little pile of these photos in the bottom right.

“And if you tap on that, you can actually see Instants from your friends and also send a photo to your friends. When you tap send it immediately goes to either your close friend's list or your followers that you follow back, whichever you prefer. Once people see that photo, it disappears and they can't screenshot it.

“And so what we've seen in the testing in countries around the world, Italy, the Dominican Republic, Thailand, and others, is that people tend to use instants to share much more casual, much more authentic moments about their day. And we know that this type of sharing with personal moments with friends is a core part of what makes Instagram, Instagram. But we also know that a lot of people don't really share a lot to their profile grids anymore.

“So we're always looking for new ways, like Instants, to give people, to connect with around personal content with the people that matter to them most.”

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

As a tech enthusiast, there are few devices or types of products I’ve never tried before, but on Wednesday I finally drove an electric scooter for the first time at Zwartkops Raceway in Pretoria.

Initially, I was a little hesitant, trying to work out how to start the thing.

But after about two minutes with the new Pure Electric scooter, I was able to ride around at the full speed of around 20km per hour - apparently you can get up to 25km p/h, but I never managed that on a flat stretch of road.

To be honest, this wasn’t the usual kind of tech that I get excited about, and that was certainly the case ahead of the product launch.

The Pure Electric Range: From Lando Norris’s Legacy to McLaren Collaboration

But after a fairly lengthy press conference explaining how the Pure Electric came to South Africa after the brand was started in 2018 by Formula One sensation Lando Norris’s father, Adam, I was ready to test them out with a fair bit of anticipation.

Oh, and one important bit for anyone who is a bit of a petrolhead - the more expensive models of the Pure Electric are called the McLaren models as they have a partnership with the exclusive car manufacturer. It’s also nice to now be able to say I’ve driven a McLaren.

Of course, any petrolhead will also tell you that’s because Norris junior drives for McLaren, so it’s not much of a surprise.

As the product room was unveiled, it was difficult to miss the McLaren supercar in the middle. It was surrounded by the different Pure Electric models, cheapest (R8,999) to most expensive (R24,999).

Finally, it was out onto the mini race track with some sharp corners to test the handling.

Electric Scooter Review: Surprising Ease of Control and Fun Experience

I have to say it handled much better than I expected, and as someone who has no experience with these things, I was surprised by how easily I controlled it.

The same can’t be said for the DJI Neo 2 drone, which crashed into the wire-mesh fence on my first ride - but that was the wind and a little bit my fault, not the scooter’s.

Once I confirmed my drone was still alive and well, it was onto the proper race track to put the scooter through its paces.

This is by far the most exciting, and even though I soon got used to riding around at 20km p/h, which made it feel slow, it was still a lot of fun.

That’s the thing about this type of scooter; it’s more for someone who wants a quick way to get around an estate or complex. It’s not really a vehicle you could ride down Sandton Drive, but perhaps the promenade in Cape Town will be just fine.

It’s an exclusive product, to be fair, and even Christian Zanin, Product Manager at Core, who will be responsible for distributing and servicing the Pure Electric scooters in SA, says it will be difficult to predict how well the product will sell.

One thing is for sure: I like electric scooters now.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

Would you like to have private Incognito Chats with AI on WhatsApp? 

Just like you never thought you would read that, I never thought that I would type it, but here we are. 

In a move that could leave people confused, curious, or both, Meta launched its Incognito Chat on WhatsApp and MetaAI app.

According to Meta, it's a "completely private way to interact with AI."

"Your Incognito Chat conversations are processed in a secure environment that even Meta can’t see, and disappear by default. Chatting with AI has quickly become a critical part of how people get information and ask important questions. These questions can be deeply sensitive or personal, like health issues, loan details, or career advice," said Meta in a statement released on Wednesday. 

"Today, we’re launching Incognito Chat with Meta AI on WhatsApp and the Meta AI app, a new way to have completely private conversations with AI. Built on top of WhatsApp’s Private Processing technology, Incognito Chat lets you talk to Meta AI in a way that is invisible to anyone else.

According to the tech company, Incognito Chat with Meta AI is "truly private", adding that no-one, not even Meta, can read the conversations.

So how does it work?

When a user starts an Incognito Chat with Meta AI on WhatsApp, they are creating a private, temporary conversation that only they can see.

The messages are processed in a secure environment that even Meta cannot access.

The conversations are not saved, and the messages disappear.

Meta believes the tool "has potential to be part of several ways people chat with AI on WhatsApp."

However, Meta is not done in the AI space. In the coming months, it will also introduce Sidechat protected by Private Processing on WhatsApp.

Side Chat with Meta AI will give users private help with any WhatsApp chat with context of what’s being discussed, without disrupting the main conversation.

IOL

Creditors of Banxso (Pty) Ltd (In Liquidation) are convening at the Master's Office in Cape Town tomorrow morning. They will be handed twenty-seven resolutions and asked to adopt them all. Before they do, there is a cautionary tale written in the numbers of another liquidation involving some of the same professionals. Those numbers should be read carefully.

This is the second in a series of reports on the administration of Banxso (Pty) Ltd (In Liquidation), Master's Reference C548/2025. The first report, published yesterday, examined the R12.7 million fee structure of the joint liquidators, the R11.6 million legal bill paid to attorneys Mostert and Bosman without passing through the taxing master's office, and a handwritten annotation on an official voucher in which the word "taxed" was struck through and replaced in manuscript with the words "by consent," appearing to show that the standard protection afforded to creditors was quietly set aside.

Tomorrow morning, Friday May 15, 2026, at 9am, the second statutory meeting of creditors, members, and contributories of Banxso (Pty) Ltd (In Liquidation) will convene before the Presiding Officer at the Master of the High Court office, Cape Town.

Creditors who attend will be handed a document containing twenty-seven draft resolutions and asked to adopt them. They will also be asked, under Resolution 26, to formally approve and adopt the Section 402 report submitted by the joint liquidators, the very report whose cost disclosures, omissions, and accuracy are the subject of formal legal challenge raised in writing with both the liquidators and the Master of the High Court. 

Documentation relating to those challenges was provided to this publication by a source with knowledge of the proceedings who asked not to be identified. When contacted, Bloemfontein attorney Kobus Senekal of FJ Senekal Incorporated confirmed that correspondence bearing his name and that of his firm had been sent to the relevant parties. He declined to comment further, saying the correspondence spoke for itself.

The Ghost of MTI

Before examining the resolutions on tomorrow's agenda, creditors attending the meeting at the Cape Town Master's office would be well advised to acquaint themselves with the trajectory of Mirror Trading International (Pty) Ltd (In Liquidation), Master's Reference C906/2020, the liquidation that Banxso itself cited in the Western Cape High Court as a warning of what was coming.

MTI was declared by the Western Cape High Court in April 2023 to be a pyramid and Ponzi-type scheme. It was placed into final liquidation in June 2021. The scheme involved hundreds of thousands of people across 140 countries and, by the most conservative estimates, drew in bitcoin worth at least R14.7 billion. According to reporting by MyBroadband, court documents put the funds flowing through MTI at 29,421 bitcoin.

The liquidators of MTI recovered 1,281 bitcoin from Belize-based broker FXChoice in early 2021, selling it at a favourable rate for approximately R1.1 billion. That remained, for years, the sum total of meaningful recovery. 

The MTI liquidators, as Moneyweb reported in November 2025, receive ten per cent on all recoveries. Critics of the administration argued in court filings that it was in the liquidators' self-interest to prolong litigation for years, even where the prospects of success were doubtful, because each new phase of proceedings generated further fees. The liquidators disputed that characterisation.

Herman Bester, one of the five joint liquidators named in the Banxso first account, is also a liquidator in the MTI estate. The attorneys who brought the liquidation on behalf of the applicants and who are now instructed to run all the legal matter of the Banxso estate, and whose invoices in the first account total R11,629,177.23, are Mostert and Bosman, the same firm appointed by the MTI liquidators as their legal counsel in that estate. 

As reported earlier Banxso itself raised this connection in the Western Cape High Court proceedings, noting that Pierre du Toit of Mostert and Bosman, the attorney pursuing the Banxso liquidation, was appointed by Bester and his fellow MTI liquidators to act as their legal counsel in the MTI matter. According to figures cited in reporting on the MTI estate, Mostert and Bosman earned close to R25 million from that liquidation up to the last published Liquidation and Distribution account in 2023. The firm dismissed the conflict-of-interest allegation, stating that all fees in such matters are based on statutory tariffs or agreed service level agreements overseen by the Master of the High Court.

The MTI liquidation is now in its fifth year. The creditors who lost money have received nothing in the way of a provisional payout. The professionals administering the estate have, by the account of those same creditors, consumed half of the only significant asset recovery made in the entire administration.

Banxso creditors attending tomorrow's meeting are looking at year one. The resolutions on the table would, if adopted, set the terms for every year that follows, no different to those approved in the MTI matter.

What the Resolutions Would Authorise

Resolution 3.7 states: "That the Liquidator/s be duly authorised to agree any tariff and/or scale of rates to be used in determination of any Legal or other Fees, and in his/their sole discretion to agree the quantum of such fees, which legal Fees shall be on an Attorney and own Client basis."

Attorney and own client is the most expensive basis on which legal costs can be assessed in South African practice. It is the scale courts apply when marking their displeasure at a litigant's conduct, covering the full extent of what an attorney has charged rather than the standard party and party tariff. In an insolvency context, authorising liquidators to agree fees on that basis, in their sole discretion, without reference to creditors or the taxing master, is an authority of remarkable breadth.

Resolution 3.8 provides that all costs incurred are to be treated as costs of administration in the estate. Resolution 1 confirms and ratifies all actions taken by the liquidators and provisional liquidators to date. The combined effect of all three, if adopted, would be to approve everything already spent and to authorise whatever may follow on terms that foreclose independent scrutiny. Those costs rank ahead of any distribution to creditors.

Resolution 4 authorises the investigation of voidable dispositions and the institution of legal proceedings, with costs on the same attorney and own client terms. Resolution 5 authorises the collection of outstanding debts and the appointment of debt collectors on the same basis. Resolution 22 ratifies all costs incurred by the liquidators in maintaining, conserving, and realising assets, confirming them as costs of administration payable by the estate. Resolution 27 places the further administration of the company's affairs entirely in the hands of the liquidators, subject only to the direction of creditors, the Master, or the Court.

Read together, these resolutions vest in the liquidators an authority to spend, engage, litigate, and settle at rates of their own agreement, on the most expensive scale in South African legal practice, with all past actions ratified and all future costs confirmed as ranking ahead of creditor distributions. The 216 proven creditors of Banxso, whose combined claims total R194,379,545.72 and who have thus far received not a cent from the first account, are the people being asked to endorse this.

That is not a reason to refuse every resolution. Some of the powers sought are standard in any complex liquidation. It is, however, a reason to attend, to ask questions, and to understand precisely what each resolution means before a hand is raised.

Banxso's Own Warning, Delivered to the Court

The court record contains something creditors would do well to read. In the final liquidation proceedings, Banxso itself warned the Western Cape High Court that this outcome was coming.

In the judgment delivered by Le Grange J on 2 March 2026, the court recorded that Banxso had vigorously argued that the application had largely been driven by the applicants' attorneys, Mostert and Bosman, for their own financial gain and that of friendly liquidators. Banxso further contended that Mostert and Bosman had a serious conflict of interest by representing both the provisional liquidators, who must scrutinise claims, and the creditor-clients whose claims were being scrutinised. The company also argued that a liquidation would see its funds depleted by legal and liquidation fees, as allegedly happened in the Mirror Trading International matter. The judge noted that while these accusations were deeply serious and might require further investigation from the relevant authorities, they could not stop the liquidation order being granted.

Banxso denied any wrongdoing throughout. Its principals maintained that the company was solvent, that the licence suspension was subject to a reconsideration application, and that it was willing to settle all legitimate claims. 

The court, on the balance of the evidence before it at the time, granted the final liquidation order. The warning Banxso placed on record, that professional fees would consume the estate, is now being tested against the arithmetic of the first Liquidation and Distribution Account. On those numbers, the prediction was not wrong. In under nine months, more than R24 million has been absorbed in professional fees, liquidator fees, forensic costs, and associated expenses. The 216 proven creditors have received nothing.

The Employees Who Were Not There

There is a prior matter that goes to the basic fairness of the process: the position of Banxso's former employees.

South African insolvency law places employee claims in a position of statutory preference. Under section 98A and related provisions of the Insolvency Act, certain categories of employee entitlements rank ahead of concurrent creditors in the distribution of an insolvent estate. Employees who lose their jobs when a company is wound up are among the most vulnerable parties to any insolvency, and the law provides them a degree of protection that reflects that vulnerability.

In this matter, the former employees appear to have been failed at every stage of the process designed to protect them.

The Section 402 report submitted to creditors records the position as it stood at the first meeting in these terms: "The HR manager had submitted a schedule of erstwhile employees at the first meeting of creditors without any documentation in support of any claim against the company. The Master ordered the liquidators to investigate whether the erstwhile employees have any claims against the company."

That account is directly challenged in correspondence reviewed by this publication. The letter, sent by the employees' attorney to Tygerberg Trustees on 5 May 2026, sets out the factual record as those former employees understand it. The liquidators' report is said to record that submissions were made on behalf of former employees that were allegedly not considered due to the absence of claims or supporting documentation. The employees' attorney states that he personally lodged the claims with the affidavit of the HR manager, together with supporting documentation, and asks that the basis for the liquidators' contrary statement be explained.

The discrepancy is not minor. The liquidators' report, in stating that no claims or supporting documents were provided, forms the basis on which the employee claims were set aside at the first meeting. If claims were in fact lodged with an affidavit and supporting documentation, as the correspondence asserts, the factual foundation of that statement collapses.

The correspondence raises a further point about the legal framework. The position apparently adopted by the Master, as it appears from the record, is that employee claims need only be lodged when employees intend to vote on the liquidators' report and the passing of resolutions, and that such claims may accordingly stand over for the second meeting.

If that is the correct position, then the dismissal of the employee submissions at the first meeting on the basis that no claims had been provided was not merely factually wrong. It was procedurally unnecessary under the very framework the Master was applying.

The claims did not need to be lodged at the first meeting at all if the employees were not seeking to vote at that stage. The liquidators' report requires explanation on two grounds: what the documents show happened, and whether the stated basis for non-consideration was legally correct in the first place.

The Affidavit Question

The correspondence reviewed by this publication raises a further concern about the physical location of the employee claim documents. It notes that the claims appear to have been uplifted by the offices of one of the liquidators, and asks for confirmation of whether this is correct, given that original documents are required to be lodged twenty-four hours prior to the meeting.

Under the applicable regulations, claim documents must be lodged with the Presiding Officer twenty-four hours before the meeting at which they are to be considered. If original claim documents were removed from wherever they were filed and are held in the offices of one of the liquidators, the question of whether they were then properly lodged in accordance with the regulations becomes one of procedural compliance that the Presiding Officer at tomorrow's meeting would be expected to address.

If original documents were not lodged on time, the former employees would be procedurally excluded from participation in a meeting where their preferent claims are directly at stake, as well as their right to vote on the proposed resolutions, through no fault of their own and to the direct benefit of those whose costs rank below the preferent employee claims in the statutory order of payment.

The Unsigned Report

Beyond the employee claims, the correspondence identifies a governance concern that strikes at the validity of the report itself.

Six liquidators were appointed at the final stage. The Section 402 report circulated to creditors bears the signatures of five. Vaughn Victor, appointed as a final liquidator alongside the others, appears on the signature page template but without a completed date or a signed copy in the documents provided to creditors.

The significance is not merely formal. Correspondence reviewed by this publication notes that communications from one of the named liquidators suggest disagreements exist amongst the liquidators about the contents of the report. If that is accurate, the document circulated to creditors does not reflect the unanimous position of the appointed administrators. A report disputed internally by one or more of its proposed signatories cannot properly be said to reflect a constituted and considered position adopted by the liquidators acting jointly.

Resolution 26 asks creditors to adopt that report tomorrow morning. Creditors who vote in favour without knowing of the internal disagreement will not have been in possession of material information at the time they cast their vote.

Creditor Rights at the Second Meeting

Creditors who have proved their claims are entitled to attend the second meeting and to vote on the resolutions. A creditor who objects to any resolution may vote against it and place that objection on the record. The Presiding Officer has authority to deal with procedural matters raised at the meeting, including questions about the lodgement of claims and the completeness of the report placed before creditors.

It is understood from correspondence reviewed by this publication that certain of the creditors' legal representatives intend to challenge the validity of the second meeting and to lodge a formal objection to the Liquidation and Distribution Account. Section 381 of the Companies Act has been invoked in correspondence to the Master, compelling the Master to direct a formal investigation into the conduct of liquidators. The Master has been asked to respond before the meeting with an indication of whether the apparent irregularities will be addressed.

At 9am tomorrow morning, at the Master of the High Court offices in Cape Town, decisions will be made that will shape the administration of this estate for years to come. The fees that flow from those decisions will rank ahead of every concurrent creditor's claim. The MTI experience shows what that trajectory looks like when creditors are not in the room or are not heard when they are.

Those creditors have a right to be in that room.

A global surge in demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips has propelled Samsung Electronics into the trillion-dollar club, with its market valuation climbing to $1.04 trillion.

Samsung Electronics has joined the elite ranks of trillion-dollar companies, as a surge in demand for artificial intelligence (AI) drives its market value to $1.04 trillion.

Shares in Samsung Electronics jumped as much as 13% on May 6, capping a remarkable run in which the stock has more than quadrupled over the past year.

The rally is fuelled by booming demand for memory chips used in AI data centres, an area where Samsung is a global leader.

Graphic News

Creditors who placed their money with Banxso and lost it are now watching more than R12.7 million in administrators' fees disappear from the estate in the first account alone. A handwritten annotation on an official court document raises questions that the liquidators have yet to answer.

There is a cruel irony lodged at the heart of every large insolvency. The people who lose money are the last to see any of it return. The people appointed to recover it are paid first, paid well, and paid regardless of outcome. South Africa's insolvency law enshrines this hierarchy by design, on the reasonable basis that professional administrators must be incentivised to do difficult work. What the law also requires, however, is that those fees be subjected to independent scrutiny before a single rand is disbursed. In the matter of Banxso (Pty) Ltd (In Liquidation), Master's Reference C548/2025, that scrutiny appears to have been quietly set aside.

Banxso was a Cape Town-based online trading intermediary specialising in contracts for differences, or CFDs. It was placed into provisional liquidation on August 22, 2025 following a High Court application brought by a group of investors who alleged that the company had misappropriated client funds. A final liquidation order followed on March 2, 2026. It is important to note that Banxso has vigorously contested the characterisation of its business as fraudulent or illegal. The company and those associated with it maintain that the liquidation was wrongly sought and that the underlying allegations misrepresent the nature of its operations. Those disputes are unresolved and are the subject of ongoing legal proceedings.

What is not in dispute is what has happened since the liquidation commenced. The First Liquidation and Distribution Account, lodged with the Master of the High Court, Cape Town on 21 April 2026 and circulated to creditors ahead of the second meeting of creditors on 15 May, lays bare a cost structure that a representative of some of the creditors has described as "preposterous."

This publication received documentation relating to the administration from a source with knowledge of the proceedings. That source asked not to be identified. Kobus Senekal of FJ Senekal Incorporated, a Bloemfontein attorney representing certain of the creditors, confirmed when contacted that correspondence bearing his name and that of his firm had been sent to the relevant parties. He declined to comment further, stating that the correspondence spoke for itself.

The Administrators and Their Fees

Five joint liquidators were appointed by the Master of the Western Cape High Court at the provisional stage and confirmed as final liquidators on 13 April 2026: Herman Bester, Renee Bernice Bailey, Jochen Eckhoff, Mpoyana Lazarus Ledwaba and Michelle Schutte of Johannesburg. A sixth liquidator, Vaughn Victor, was also listed in the final appointment but does not appear to have signed the second meeting report alongside the others.

South African insolvency law entitles liquidators to statutory fees calculated as a percentage of assets collected and realised. Those fees are not negotiated. They flow from the tariff. What is notable in this case is the scale on which they apply.

The First Liquidation and Distribution Account records total liquidators' fees, across both the free residue and the encumbered asset accounts, of R12,711,170.60 inclusive of VAT. The VAT component alone, paid by the estate on behalf of the administrators, amounts to R1,657,978.77. That is to say: the creditors of Banxso are funding not only the administrators' professional fees but also the VAT those administrators charge on those fees.

The pre-VAT fee across the free residue account breaks down as follows: one per cent on cash of R34,277.41, and ten per cent on collections and interest of R10,927,665.12, yielding a sub-total of R10,961,942.53. Adding fifteen per cent VAT of R1,644,291.38 produces the free residue fee total of R12,606,233.91. The encumbered asset account adds a further R104,936.69 inclusive of VAT.

Divided across five liquidators in equal shares, each administrator stands to receive approximately R2,521,246.78 from this first account alone, inclusive of their portion of the VAT. In pre-VAT terms, the share per liquidator from the free residue account is approximately R2,192,388.51. These are not final figures: further L&D accounts will follow as investigations continue and additional assets are realised, carrying further fees calculated on the same percentage basis.

To be clear, these fees are lawfully prescribed. They are not hidden. They appear openly in the account. The question being raised by creditors is not whether liquidators are entitled to be paid. It is whether everything else flowing from this administration has been subjected to the same transparency and scrutiny that the law demands. There however remains the question of why money recovered from the company's frozen bank accounts is subject to the ten per cent scale when other cash recovered has been scaled at one per cent.

'R160,000 Per Day For The Enquiry'

Among the concerns documented in correspondence made available to this publication is the rate being charged for the formal insolvency examination conducted under sections 417 and 418 of the Companies Act. That process allows liquidators and their legal teams to summon and cross-examine persons with knowledge of the company's affairs. It is a legitimate and often necessary tool. In complex cases it can consume substantial resources. At R160,000 per day for a single legal team, the aggregate cost across weeks or months of examination is not difficult to calculate, and the result gives creditors pause.

The attorneys engaged for this work are Mostert and Bosman. Their invoices, running across nine separate entries in the free residue account between November 2025 and April 2026, total R11,629,177.23. Those entries appear in the account as vouchers 23 through 31 and span amounts ranging from R199,891.08 to R5,948,082.92 in a single invoice. The largest of these, Voucher 30, is at the centre of the sharpest legal concern to emerge from creditor correspondence reviewed by this publication.

The Document That Changes the Conversation

South African insolvency law is clear on the process that must govern legal costs charged to an estate. Before those costs can be paid from funds held for creditors, the relevant bill must be submitted to a taxing master for taxation: an independent, court-supervised review in which each item is scrutinised and reduced or allowed on its merits. It is a protection specifically designed to prevent the professional advisers of an insolvent estate from charging whatever they wish at the expense of those who are owed money.

In the official documents filed with the Master in respect of this estate, that protection appears to have been quietly removed.

Voucher 30 in the official filing, which relates to the single largest legal bill in the first account, bears the printed heading that would ordinarily accompany a taxed bill of costs. The word "taxed," however, has been struck through in manuscript. In its place, written by hand, are the words: "by consent."

"By consent" is a legal term with a precise meaning. It means that the parties to the arrangement agreed among themselves to the amount payable. It does not mean that a taxing master reviewed the account and allowed the charges. It means that the taxation process was dispensed with entirely, by agreement between the liquidators and the attorneys whose bill was being settled, without any independent oversight.

The creditors who ultimately bear the cost of that bill were not parties to that consent. They were not consulted. They were not notified that the normal protective process had been abandoned. They are simply presented, in the first account, with the outcome.

Correspondence reviewed by this publication raises the legal consequence of this arrangement in direct terms. The creditors' attorney pointed out that reference was made in the account to pro forma invoices and posed the question of on what basis a bill of costs could be subjected to taxation where the underlying document was not a final tax invoice. The answer offered was that in law a pro forma invoice does not constitute a valid tax invoice as contemplated in section 20 of the Value-Added Tax Act 89 of 1991, nor does it constitute a proper demand for payment.

The VAT Act point is significant. Section 20 of the Act requires that a valid tax invoice meet specific formal requirements, including the designation of the document as a tax invoice, the supplier's VAT registration number, and a full description of the services rendered. A pro forma invoice satisfies none of these requirements. Input tax may not lawfully be claimed on the basis of a pro forma account. If the estate has claimed input tax on costs paid on the strength of pro forma invoices, that itself would require explanation.

The correspondence describes the inconsistency between pro forma and final invoices as raising serious concerns regarding compliance with VAT and insolvency law, and characterises the failure to subject costs to taxation as materially prejudicial to creditors.

The liquidators have been formally called upon to subject all costs to taxation. The correspondence states in terms that if payments proceed and bills of costs are subsequently taxed off, the costs will be recovered from the liquidators who refused to adhere to the taxation process, jointly and severally.

That is a personal liability threat directed at the administrators in writing. It has not, as at the date of publication, been answered.

What the Numbers Mean for Creditors

The First Liquidation and Distribution Account records total assets recovered across both accounts of approximately R113.3 million. This is, in the context of the liquidation, a significant achievement in under nine months, reflecting the effect of pre-liquidation preservation orders that froze Banxso's bank accounts before the winding-up proceedings were finalised.

The collections in the free residue account are set out in detail: R23,047,183.54 collected from Standard Bank's suspense account; approximately R84.3 million in funds subject to preservation and restriction orders collected across multiple tranches between November 2025 and April 2026; R1,394,444.70 converted from EUR68,288 held by the SA Reserve Bank; R470,000 recovered from the National Director of Public Prosecutions as legal fees under a court order; and balances from Nedbank, Capitec, and Standard Bank credit accounts.

Against this income, the free residue account records amongst others the following charges: legal costs to Mostert and Bosman of R11,629,177.23; recordings and transcriptions to Veritas of R128,510.20; liquidators' fees including VAT of R12,606,233.91; SARS income tax on interest earned of R128,702.87 and bond and Masters fees pro rata. The net VAT payable to SARS comes to R2,884,824.42 in the free residue account, with a further R26,109.74 from the encumbered asset account.

After all deductions, R90,117,813.89 is carried forward to the second L&D account. Against that figure sit 216 proven concurrent creditor claims totalling R194,379,545.72. The first account delivers not a cent to those creditors. Every rand recovered to date has been absorbed by the costs of administration, statutory fees, tax obligations, and the single distribution of R102,077.04 to the secured landlord creditor.

The VAT refundable by SARS on input costs, shown in the account as R2,910,934.16, offers some offset. But that amount accrues to the estate, not directly to creditors, and will itself be subject to the deduction of further costs in the second account.

The creditors' correspondence draws the arithmetic out plainly. A properly conducted taxation of the legal bill, it is argued, would reduce it by at least thirty per cent. On a legal bill of R11.6 million, that represents a saving to creditors of approximately R3.5 million.

Internal Discord Among the Administrators

The picture is further complicated by what appears to be disagreement among the liquidators themselves.

The Section 402 report submitted to creditors at the second meeting bears the signatures of Herman Bester and Renee Bailey, both dated at Bellville on 28 April 2026; Jochen Eckhoff, dated at Cape Town on 28 April; Mpoyana Lazarus Ledwaba, dated at Pretoria on 28 April; and Michelle Schutte, dated at Johannesburg on 28 April. The sixth liquidator, HJV Victor, appears on the signature pages but without a completed date or signed copy in the documents circulated to creditors.

Creditor correspondence reviewed by this publication raises this directly with the Master of the High Court, noting that material disagreements appear to persist amongst the liquidators themselves, and questioning how a liquidators' report could properly be circulated to creditors where there is, on the face of it, no consensus amongst the joint liquidators concerning its contents.

The principle invoked is fundamental to insolvency administration: reports submitted to creditors and to the Master must be accurate, complete, made in good faith, and reflective of a properly constituted and considered position adopted by the appointed liquidators acting jointly and within the scope of their statutory obligations.

If liquidators who disagree with the contents of a report are nonetheless named as signatories to it, that raises questions about the integrity of the document and the process by which it was finalised.

The Call to the Master

Correspondence directed to the Master of the High Court in Cape Town, and reviewed by this publication, represents a formal escalation. It invokes section 381 of the Companies Act, which compels the Master to direct a formal investigation into the conduct of liquidators. It also cites section 45(3) of the Insolvency Act in relation to the treatment of employee claims, a matter reserved for the follow-up to this report.

On the question of costs and governance, the Master has been asked to provide clarity on four specific matters before the second meeting: the Master's position on employee claims; whether the current process complies with section 45(3) of the Insolvency Act; whether the Master intends to take any steps regarding the apparent irregularities; and how the issues are proposed to be dealt with at the meeting.

The liquidators were asked, in the correspondence first sent on 5 May, to confirm within five days that the liquidation and distribution account would be withdrawn until all bills of costs had been properly taxed. No such confirmation had been received as at the date of the follow-up correspondence on 12 May.

What the Administrators Say

The Section 402 report submitted to creditors covers the required statutory ground: the company's share capital and directors; the assets recovered; the causes of the company's failure; the personal liability of directors; legal proceedings; the enquiry into the company's promotion, formation, and failure; books and records; and the prospects of the winding-up. It does not address the contested costs, the pro forma invoice question, or the "by consent" annotation on Voucher 30.

On the broader question of how the estate came to be in this position, the report quotes from the High Court's provisional liquidation judgment, in which Le Grange J found on a prima facie basis that Banxso's business model was unlawful. Again, it is relevant to note that these findings are contested and that Banxso's principals maintain that the company operated lawfully and that the court was misled. Those contests are the proper subject of ongoing legal proceedings, not of an administrator's report.

Tygerberg Trustees did not respond to the substantive concerns raised in the creditor correspondence of 5 May. The follow-up letter of 12 May noted that the continued failure to properly engage with these objections created the impression that the liquidators were unwilling to justify the legality of the procedure followed in relation to the accounts and costs.

The Road Ahead

Further L&D accounts are coming. The joint liquidators' sworn certificates confirm that collections are expected from IT equipment, office furniture, Paymaster transactions under investigation, and cross-border transactions under further enquiry. Each new tranche of collections will generate further percentage-based statutory fees for the administrators. Each new phase of legal proceedings will generate further attorney and counsel invoices for Mostert and Bosman.

If the daily rate of R160,000 for the enquiry legal team is sustained across months of further examination, the cumulative professional fees could reach multiples of the R11.6 million already charged in the first account.

For 216 proven creditors whose combined claims stand at R194,379,545.72, who have received nothing from the first account and who face the prospect of the concurrent dividend being eroded further by every passing week of professional engagement, the question of whether those fees are being properly controlled is not abstract. It is the difference between recovering something and recovering nothing.

The costs, creditor correspondence states plainly, appear "excessive, unjustifiable and prejudicial." That assessment, supported by a handwritten annotation on Voucher 30, is now a matter of record before the Master.

* TOMORROW: The disputed employee claims, the draft resolutions to be placed before creditors at the second meeting, and what they mean for who controls this estate going forward.

I’m an avid runner, and an old one now too. I’ve been running so long that I began logging runs with pen and paper back in the 90s. That’s why when new fitness apps come around, I always treat them with a hint of caution.

That’s certainly the case with the paid version of Strava, though that’s not new. The only thing that’s new is that I’ve been trying out the paid version for about a month now.

I’d been using the free version since about 2016, but never considered paying for something that was always free.

Gradually, certain features moved away from the free version, but the upgrade has still remained largely unnecessary in my view.

Strava Subscription Review: Is It Worth the R599 Per Year for Runners?

Even when the segments leaderboard feature— which I really like— moved over to the paid version, I still wasn’t tempted.

But when I finally caved and opted for a free trial— I have to cancel in the next few days to avoid any charges— I decided to give it a whirl.

While I can now see things like where I rank on segments leaderboards and see more in-depth analysis of my runs and mileage— the R599 per year price still doesn’t seem worth it to me.

There’s even a new feature called Athlete Intelligence which summarises each activity and gives you feedback. However, it’s hardly anything really insightful, and it’s not anything apps like ChatGPT or Google Gemini wouldn’t be able to tell you if you asked for a report based on that data.

Still, it’s nice to have the info right there in the activity.

Ultimately, though, making the jump from the free to the paid version won’t make you a better runner, and even for a running stats geek like myself— it’s really not worth paying for.

So save your money on a Strava subscription like I will be doing, and rather put that towards a new pair of running shoes that will actually make a tangible difference to your enjoyment of the sport.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.

** JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Send us an email with your comments, thoughts or responses to iolletters@inl.co.za. Letters should be a maximum of 500 words, and may be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Submissions should include a contact number and physical address (not for publication).

Call me sceptical, but I’m always wary of giving any AI app more than the bare minimum of information. As these tools become increasingly embedded in our daily lives, though, that’s becoming harder and harder to avoid.

I’ve written about it before — particularly when the ChatGPT caricature trend exploded a few months ago. People were uploading photos of themselves while also volunteering details about their hobbies, interests, and personalities.

Sure, it was mostly harmless fun, but at the same time, we were also helping these AI apps build increasingly detailed digital profiles of us.

Personally, the less an AI app knows about me, the better. Instead, approach it like a work colleague that you wouldn't share al your personal information with, unless it was absolutely necessary. 

Sharing Personal Information with AI: Risks and Considerations

The problem is that, more often than not, you end up sharing those details out of convenience or necessity.

Take buying a car, for example. A decade ago, that process probably started with a broad Google search before branching out into reviews, dealerships, and comparisons. Now, many people type a highly specific prompt into an AI chatbot, detailing their exact budget, lifestyle, and preferences, then ask the app to decide which options make the most sense.

It’s convenient, but it also removes more of the human element from major life decisions.

And when you combine that with people asking these same apps for health, relationship, or financial advice, the amount of personal information being handed over grows at an alarming rate.

Maybe I’m just cynical, but years of watching films like Terminator 2: Judgment Day, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, and I, Robot left me with a healthy mistrust of “the robots”.

That’s why I still believe we should err on the side of caution when it comes to AI — useful as it may be.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

Inside the production workshops of Jilin Carbon Valley Carbon Fiber Co., Ltd. (Carbon Valley), a subsidiary of Jilin Chemical Fiber Group (JLFiber) in northeast China's Jilin province, silver strands of carbon fibre precursor raced through roaring production lines.

After undergoing a series of processes including pre-washing, humidification, oxidation, low-temperature carbonisation, and winding, the material was transformed into carbon fibre.

"The carbon fibre filament is even thinner than a human hair," said Chen Hao, deputy director of the company's high-performance workshop. "Its density is less than a quarter that of steel, yet its strength can reach seven to nine times higher."

In 2025, a major research project jointly developed by JLFiber, Donghua University, and eight other universities, research institutes, and industry-leading enterprises passed technical appraisal. The project, titled Key Technologies for the Large-Scale Manufacturing of Large-Tow Carbon Fiber and Composite Materials and the Industrialization of Large Wind Turbine Blades, marked a key breakthrough in the application of 35K large-tow carbon fibre composites in offshore wind turbine blades.

But what exactly is "35K" carbon fibre?

"K" denotes the unit for carbon fibre tows, where 1K represents 1,000 filaments. A 35K tow thus bundles 35,000 ultra-fine filaments, demanding exceptional uniformity.

"Human hair varies in thickness," explained Yu Jian, a quality management manager. "But for performance, all 35,000 filaments must maintain consistent length, diameter, and properties."

For years, foreign firms dominated the large-tow carbon fibre market due to proprietary processes and technical complexity.

In 2016, seeking cost efficiency and competitive edge, Carbon Valley formed a youth-driven R&D team. Through rigorous experimentation, they identified 35K carbon fibre as optimal for balancing performance, productivity, and cost.

Chen Haijun, general manager of Carbon Valley, said the team focused on overcoming a series of technological bottlenecks involving process upgrades and equipment innovation. To solve these challenges, the company coordinated with upstream and downstream partners and organised eight specialised technical seminars.

Team members immersed themselves in laboratory work, repeatedly testing and optimising spare-part materials, process parameters, and channel structures step by step. With each seminar, multiple production indicators for the 35K carbon fibre improved further.

After more than half a year of intensive work, the team successfully produced 35K carbon fibre in 2017 that fully met standards for hardness, strength, and other mechanical properties.

Compared with traditional metal materials, carbon fibre offers clear advantages including high strength, low weight, and strong plasticity. But manufacturing carbon fibre is costly and resource-intensive: producing a ton of finished carbon fibre requires roughly two tons of precursor material. Any production error can therefore result in substantial losses.

To compete in the market, large-scale production and cost-effectiveness became essential.

Although the core research and development work had been largely completed, new problems emerged during mass production.

Unlike laboratory experiments, industrial production requires continuous manufacturing of 100,000-meter-long 35K carbon fibre tows, which must then be wound into cylindrical rolls for transportation and sale. The longer the tow became, the greater the risk of problems such as insufficient strength or broken filaments.

To tackle these issues, Shan Xin, deputy director of the spinning workshop, led his team in upgrading production-line equipment.

The team redesigned transmission roller connections from single- to double-sided support, while continuously testing new materials to improve equipment durability and transmission stability. These changes reduced friction-related filament breakage.

At the same time, the team implemented systematic clean-production upgrades. Starting from the polymerisation stage at the source of production, the team introduced layer-by-layer cleaning and filtration processes throughout the entire system and production flow to minimise impurities and improve the stability of the 35K carbon fibre.

"When early testing showed the performance didn't meet standards, I was anxious," Yu recalled, having witnessed the development of 35K carbon fibre from scratch. "But nobody gave up. Everyone kept searching for solutions."

Today, pass rates for key indicators such as strength, modulus, and fineness continue to rise steadily. "We are confident enough to stand up to microscopic-level checks," Yu said.

As evening fell, batches of newly packaged 35K carbon fibre precursor left Carbon Valley and were shipped to downstream carbonisation and composite-material manufacturers.

After further processing, these lightweight yet highly durable materials became carbon plates used in the main beams of wind turbine blades.

Carbon Valley has now signed long-term supply agreements with multiple major domestic wind turbine manufacturers in partnership with downstream enterprises. Chinese-made 35K carbon fibre is now being applied on a large scale at wind farms across the country.

People's Daily Online

The term "one-person company" (OPC) has surged into China's business lexicon this year, defining a new AI-era entrepreneurial model. Empowered by artificial intelligence, solo entrepreneurs can now build virtual teams capable of shepherding projects from conception to completion – fuelling rapid growth across China's innovation landscape.

To better understand this business model, it helps to break down its core features from multiple dimensions.

First, in terms of company setup, registering an OPC is no different from registering a regular company. The entire process can be completed online with zero registration fees.

Like any other legally registered company, an OPC enjoys rights protected by law and must also fulfil statutory obligations such as paying taxes. Its business license must clearly indicate its type of operating entity, such as "limited liability company (solely invested by a natural person)" or "limited liability company (solely invested by a legal person)."

Second, when it comes to organised structure, an OPC does not necessarily mean only one staff member.

Here, "one-person" means the company shall have only one shareholder, either a natural person or a legal entity. Its directors, supervisors and senior management personnel may be other individuals separate from the sole shareholder, and the company may also hire regular staff.

If additional shareholders or senior management personnel as stipulated by Company Law are introduced, relevant registration and filing procedures shall be completed in accordance with the law.

Third, as for market exit rules, when an OPC ceases business operations and withdraws from the market, it also needs to go through three major procedures: resolution for dissolution, liquidation and asset distribution, and cancellation registration.

One important point should be noted: if the sole shareholder cannot prove that the company's assets are independent from personal assets, that shareholder may bear joint liability for the company's debts.

Some people ask: how is an OPC different from a sole proprietorship or self-employed household?

The key distinction lies in legal status.

An OPC, established under the Company Law, is a corporate legal entity and assumes limited liability. By contrast, self-employed households, or "getihu" in Chinese, is treated as a natural person under civil law. It does not have legal person status, cannot establish branch offices, and its operator must bear liability with all personal or family assets.

This feature of limited liability allows OPCs to reduce investor risk, improve the efficiency of capital concentration and allocation, and in turn promote business innovation and economic growth.

Why, then, are OPCs becoming so popular in the AI era? The answer lies in how technologies are empowering development.

AI has made this new entrepreneurial model even more attractive by enabling lighter organisational structures, more flexible management, faster responses, lower costs, and greater operational flexibility.

With effective use of AI tools, far fewer people are needed to complete tasks ranging from product design and technological development to marketing and customer service.

Science and technology are the primary productive force and a core source of competitiveness. To foster a more supportive environment for entrepreneurship, many regions across China have introduced targeted policies.

For instance, Shanghai's Pudong New Area offers newly registered OPCs free computing power worth up to 300,000 yuan ($43,876). Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong province has launched an action plan to build itself into a leading hub for AI-driven OPC entrepreneurship. Chengdu in southwest China's Sichuan province is stepping up innovation in talent recruitment and training, accelerating the launch of new products and application scenarios, and refining full-chain support for innovation and startups.

By beefing up institutional and policy support, improving the innovation ecosystem, and building a world-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized, local governments aim to turn more good ideas into reality and foster new industries and business models.

By the end of 2025, nearly 7.32 million OPCs were newly registered in China, up 42.3 percent year on year. This rapid growth was closely tied to revisions to the Company Law that removed the previous restriction allowing one natural person to invest in only one one-person limited liability company.

With more inclusive and prudent regulation, greater room for development, and stronger support for innovation, more entrepreneurial seeds are taking root and growing strong. Together, they are helping China's economy flourish like a vast forest -- dense, vibrant, and full of vitality.

People's Daily Online

With the petrol price increase of R3.27 per litre and diesel by R5.27 per litre on Wednesday, turning to another form of transport might just be the answer.

That’s where the Pure Electric scooter could come in, as a low-cost transportation option.

Starting at R8,999 and with a 60km range and a peak power output of 840W, it will never replace a car but where it could come in handy is for short trips to the shop or around an estate because let’s be honest - South Africa would not be the safest place to use one of these models.

Of course this scooter can’t replace your car, but it could save you time if you commute by train or even uber as it folds away easily.

Pure Electric Scooters Launch in South Africa: A New Era for Commuters

Pure Electric was founded by Adam Norris in 2018,  father of Formula One World Champion Lando Norris, to help with everyday travel for commuters.

“We are incredibly excited to introduce Pure Electric to the South African market,” says Dian De La Port, CEO of Core which has launched the scooter. “The brand has built a strong international reputation for thoughtful design and engineering that we believe South Africans will appreciate. At Core, our mission has always been to place the world’s most loved technology brands in the hands of South African consumers, and bringing Pure Electric to market is a natural extension of that commitment.”

Christian Zanin, Product Manager at Core shares his enthusiasm for the introduction: “Our focus is on making well designed, reliable technology more accessible to South African consumers. By partnering with multiple retailers, we can meet customers where they are and bring products to market that combine quality, innovation and everyday usability.”

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

As usual, my heart sank when I saw an email from Microsoft over the weekend, but I was pleasantly surprised when I learnt about a most welcome subscription reduction.

I previously wrote about the shameful price increase that Microsoft dished out with its Game Pass Ultimate subscription in December after one-week warning.

It shot up by 75.38% from R199 to R349 per month.

That had me seriously considering cancelling my subscription altogether, since I don’t make proper use of it anyway.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: A Return to Affordable Gaming at R239 per Month

Fortunately, the price has come down to R239 per month, which once again makes it a good value offering from the tech giant.

Gaming is not cheap, and the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription from Microsoft made it one of the most affordable ways to own your games.

When I first signed up for Xbox Game Pass a couple of years ago, it was R129 per month. That gave me access to around 100 games, and more new AAA games than I could play at any one time.

It was quite honestly the best value subscription available as a gamer.

Then the first price increase struck, without much warning it went up by R70 from R129 per month to R199 monthly in September 2024. That was a 53.8% increase.

But the latest increase in December really came as a crushing blow to many gamers, many of course are not adults and therefore would have had trouble keeping the subscription going as it would be difficult to justify it to their guardians.

For those that did cancel their subscriptions, this might just make them return to Game Pass.

@Michael_Sherman

IOL Tech

No two homes tell the same story.

One family rises at dawn for school runs. Another works night shifts. Some households cook sumptuous weekend feasts. Others rely on quick weekday meals between activities. Yet for years, appliances were built with a one-size-fits-all mind-set. 

Samsung is changing that narrative by building appliances that can learn your family’s habits.

Through its Bespoke AI ecosystem, Samsung is pioneering personalisation at scale, where technology adapts continuously to the rhythms, preferences and energy patterns of each household. This is the evolution of the AI Home Companion.

Built-in intelligence

Personalisation is not an add-on feature. It is embedded within the appliance itself.

AI Wash¹ refines performance over time, learning how frequently laundry is done, what fabrics dominate and how much detergent is needed. It improves efficiency without requiring reprogramming.

AI EcoBubble² uses intelligent fabric sensing and bubble technology to deliver up to 70% energy savings³ while removing 24% more soil⁴, even in cold water.

They use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to analyse fabric types and load weight, optimising detergent, water and bubble usage for high quality care and efficiency.

In climate control, AI Fast and Comfort Cooling⁵ ensures rapid temperature adjustments without an unexpected draft. The system learns occupancy patterns, adjusting cooling performance to deliver comfort only when and where it is needed.

This is personalisation that evolves. The more you live, the more your appliances understand.

An ecosystem with a bird’s eye view

True personalisation happens when devices communicate. Through SmartThings⁶, Samsung connects refrigerators, washing machines, ovens, air conditioners, TVs and mobile devices into a unified ecosystem with contextual awareness.

SmartThings⁶ Energy provides visibility into household consumption patterns, helping families make informed decisions and encouraging more sustainable living. Over time, the system learns preferences and automatically optimises operations to reduce unnecessary consumption without sacrificing comfort.⁷

Secure, reliable and built for the long term

As homes become more intelligent, security becomes foundational. Samsung Knox⁸ safeguards connected appliances at both hardware and software levels, protecting data, access controls, and personal information. Personalisation should never mean a compromise on privacy.

Reliability also defines the AI Home Companion. Samsung appliances undergo rigorous durability testing and receive long-term software updates to remain secure and capable. With extended warranties, families invest in intelligence that lasts.

Why personalisation matters

Personalisation is not about novelty but about relevance. In a country as diverse as South Africa, homes vary widely in size, energy access and needs, climate conditions and lifestyle patterns.

An adaptive AI ecosystem takes these differences into account and balances across apartments, suburban homes and all other household types in between.

When appliances respond to real-life behaviour, families spend less time configuring technology and more time benefiting from it. The technology fades into the background, allowing life to take centre stage.

The future of the AI living companion

Samsung’s vision extends beyond smart appliances. It is about shaping a home that grows with you. Work patterns shift. Energy demands fluctuate. Through continuous learning and software updates, the Samsung AI ecosystem evolves with these transitions. More than connected, the home becomes attentive.

In this future, your refrigerator anticipates your weekly habits. Your washing machine aligns with your schedule. Your air conditioning understands seasonal nuances. Your energy consumption adapts automatically. And it’s all coordinated through one secure ecosystem.

With this kind of personalisation happening at scale, it is not technology that demands attention, but technology that pays attention.

Samsung is not simply building appliances. It is building AI Living Companions designed to enrich life, strengthen families, and transform houses into responsive, intelligent homes that truly understand⁹ the people inside them.

Samsung is your companion in this new era, making the "home of the future" the reality of your today.

For more details, visit www.samsung.com/za/home-appliances/why-samsung-appliances/

¹ Based on an AI-created algorithm. Actual results may vary depending on individual use.

² AI Ecobubble™ is only activated when specific courses are selected, including Cotton, Synthetics and AI Wash with loads less than 2kg.

³ Compared to washing in warm water. Tested in accordance with IEC 60456-2010 / 4kg Wash Load / Super Eco Wash cold (WF80F5E5U4W) vs. Cotton 40°C without Ecobubble™ (WF0702WKU). Individual results may vary.

⁴ Based on the Performance Lab Test report by Springboard Engineering on EMPA strips, comparing a normal detergent solution and bubble technology without mechanical action. Individual results may vary.

⁵ To use AI Fast & Comfort Cooling a Wi-Fi connection and Samsung account SmartThings are required. SmartThings server stores user data, preferences and usage patterns to suggest the most useful options

⁶ To use SmartThings, download the App from the Galaxy Store, Google Play Store, or Apple App Store. The supported OS specification, required storage space, and other usage environment for the SmartThings app can be found on the app download page in each app store. SmartThings has compatibility constraints, and the compatible environment may be updated periodically.  Supported OS specifications and app screen configuration may change with app updates.

⁷ Results may vary depending on the actual usage conditions and patterns.

⁸ Applied to all appliances that have an Internet connection.

⁹ AI-based features are available on certain appliances, and based on our deep learning model, which is trained using a predefined set of data and may yield incomplete or incorrect information. New data sets maybe introduced to our learning model from time to time to enhance its accuracy.