All of Alan's Musings and Other Sea, R, A, P.

Table of Contents Johannesburg: A business introduces a new productivity tool. Finance approves the subscription, employees receive access, training takes place and management expects productivity to improve. Six months later, the invoices are easy to find. The productivity improvement is much harder to measure. “Are your new business tools actually improving the way your organisation works, or are you simply adding more technology to the same old processes?” That is a question more executives … [Read more...] about What Return Are You Really Getting From Your New Business Tools?

The sixth edition of The Cape 1000, South Africa’s most breathtaking and thrilling grand touring regularity rally, proudly brought to you by Private Clients by Old Mutual, is set to return from 20 to 25 March 2027. Building on the success of its first five editions, the event continues to evolve while staying true to the spirit that has made it one of the country’s premier automotive and lifestyle experiences.Every year the routes are refined to showcase different facets of the picturesque … [Read more...] about The Cape 1000 Roars Back: South Africa’s Most Beautiful Drive Returns in March 2027

Spring’s approach across South Africa often prompts households to weigh up where their lives are heading, and for a portion of those families that reflection brings up the hard question of whether a marriage should continue. Martin Vermaak Attorneys, a divorce and family law practice with over twenty years behind it, wants people nationwide to know that closing the chapter on a marriage need not cost them their clarity, their dignity or a just result. From the simplest mutual agreement to … [Read more...] about Martin Vermaak Attorneys Backs Families Through Divorce

Table of Contents How is it possible that a private business – Stratlec – can sell the Shelly PRO 4PM for a cheaper price than a multi national store? R2 699 (Stratlec) vs R4 500.00 (Mega Online Store) It may seem surprising that a smaller private business like Stratlec can offer the Shelly Pro 4PM for R2 699 whilst a retail giant charges R4 500 and sometimes more OR inflates the price and then offers that as a ‘discount’. This price difference is primarily driven by how the two companies … [Read more...] about When Buying From a Specialist Retailer Is Waaaaay Cheaper (With Better, Personal Service)

Table of Contents LOCKNLOCK: SMARTER LIVING, EVERY DAY For decades, LocknLock has been a trusted global lifestyle brand, known for bringing innovation, quality and convenience into everyday homes. Best recognised for its pioneering airtight storage solutions, the brand has built a strong reputation for helping households keep food fresher for longer while making storage simpler and more organised. But LocknLock has grown to become far more than just containers. Today, the brand offers smart … [Read more...] about SMD Introduces LocknLock: Global Lifestyle, Airtight Innovation

Clean drinking water never goes out of season, and as August 2026 carries South Africa’s offices, homes, and businesses deeper into winter, keeping it flowing stays a constant task. Plastic Innovations, a plastic injection moulding manufacturer with over 35 years behind it, is turning renewed attention to the range of water dispenser bottles it makes for water cooler suppliers, distributors, and the countless workplaces that depend on them. These dispenser bottles are designed and produced … [Read more...] about Plastic Innovations Branded Bottles for Cooler Suppliers

Selling gold you no longer want should feel secure at every step, from the first enquiry right through to the moment you are paid, and that is the message The Gold Avenue wants South Africans to hear. With July 2026 bringing the calmer stretch of the year, the Sandton buyer is highlighting a detail many sellers rarely stop to consider: exactly where the transaction happens, and how safe they are while it does. Operating from the eighth floor of a secure building in the Illovo and Sandton part of … [Read more...] about Gold Avenue: Secure Sandton Venue to Exchange Gold for Cash

Table of Contents At a moment of global backlash, Johannesburg hosts historic summit on Africa Africa & African Diaspora Conference aims to continue in its goal to develop further strategies to bring Africans and people of African descent together to find ways to reverse the historic impact of enslavement, imperialism and colonialism. KEY POINTS The 2nd Africa & African Diaspora (AAD) Conference (26–30 October 2026) arrives at a critical juncture: recent breakthroughs on reparations … [Read more...] about Africa & African Diaspora Conference – 26–30 October 2026, Johannesburg

Ask a question today and you may never see a list of blue links at all. More and more buyers are typing their queries straight into AI assistants and acting on whatever reply comes back. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity and Copilot have turned into the opening move for research, and that habit is pushing businesses to rethink how customers actually discover them. That shift is exactly what Answer Engine Optimisation addresses. Classic search work set out to lift a page up the rankings, but … [Read more...] about Why Businesses Are Outsourcing Answer Engine Optimisation to South Africa

Smart Tools vs Less Smart Meters Is Shelly Smarter than Eskom? Table of Contents Eskom’s Claim Eskom Smart Meter Photo: Eskom Eskom are actively encouraging consumers to switch to Smart Meters. Listening to SAFM this morning one of the presenters read out Eskom’s advert (radio’s version of editorial!) and one of the claim in the script, amongst others, was that Smart Meters “save energy”. The way that it was worded made me wonder just how Smart Meters will save me energy (money) or magically … [Read more...] about Who Actually Saves When Smart Meters are Installed?

South Africa has built one of the continent’s strongest GBV response systems. The next step needs to be prevention, with business firmly and deliberately taking a defining role, says Virginia Francis, GBV Lead at Tshikululu Social InvestmentsStatistics from the Human Sciences Research Council show the extent of South Africa’s gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) crisis. One in three South African women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. One in four … [Read more...] about Gender-Based Violence Prevention Demands a Collective Investment

Table of Contents GREATER KRUGER, South Africa, 18 August 2026, Bundox Safari Co. has introduced its Live Wild Packages, a collection of multi-day safari journeys that combine wildlife viewing with conservation, walking trails, retreat experiences, birding and optional extensions across Southern Africa. The new collection reflects a broader shift in how travellers are approaching safari holidays. While game viewing remains central, visitors are increasingly looking for journeys that combine … [Read more...] about Bundox Expands Multi-Experience Safari Travel Across Southern Africa

When it comes to marking a proposal, an anniversary or another big moment, couples around Gauteng increasingly find that one shop can handle both sides of the gift. The Diamond Box, based at Shop L35 in Cradlestone Mall on the corner of Hendrik Potgieter and Furrow Road in Krugersdorp, pairs a physical jewellery counter with an extensive online range. That mix means a customer can do their initial browsing from the couch and still inspect a piece face to face before making a decision. Central to … [Read more...] about The Diamond Box Brings Custom Engagement Rings and Fine Watches to Krugersdorp