Min-soo and Ji-young Kim are 67 and 65 years old respectively.



They live in Incheon, South Korea.&nbsp;They don’t have children.&nbsp;They never felt like they could afford them.



Both were lucky enough to work through the AI revolution of the 2030s.&nbsp;Min-soo as a logistics coordinator and Ji-young as a care provider.



But for these zoomers (people born between 1997 and 2012), the future looks grim.



For one thing, they won’t be retiring anytime soon.&nbsp;South Korea raised the statutory retirement age to 75 back in 2048 to ease pressure on the collapsing pension system.&nbsp;Even so, their payouts will be minimal.



The National Pension Fund, once one of the largest in the world, was depleted a decade ago.&nbsp;Their private savings were never enough, squeezed by rising costs and a lifetime of economic anxiety.



Their neighborhood is quieter now.&nbsp;Most of their peers moved to the megacities or passed away.&nbsp;Schools nearby are shuttered.&nbsp;Buses run less frequently.&nbsp;What used to be a bustling urban hub is slowly turning into a ghost town.



And they are the lucky ones.



The Kims’ story is a glimpse into South Korea’s future—and possibly the future of much of the world.



What’s the cause?



Global warming?&nbsp;War?&nbsp;Artificial Intelligence?



Actually, it’s far simpler. We are just not having enough children.



For a population to remain stable, you need 2.1 children per woman.



But South Korea&#8217;s fertility rate stands at just 0.75.&nbsp;By 2060, the country’s population is projected to shrink by 30%&nbsp;and half of that population will be over 65.



Without interventions, the working-age population will collapse.&nbsp;The tax base will erode.&nbsp;Economic growth will reverse.&nbsp;Culture will stagnate.



And this isn’t just a Korean issue.&nbsp;China, Japan, Italy, Spain, and even the U.S. are all trending in the same direction.&nbsp;Demographic winter is arriving faster than most policymakers are willing to admit.



So how do we circumvent this ageing armageddon?



The most obvious is for governments to incentivize their populations to have more kids. But it turns out people are complicated and the various incentives governments have offered in the past, such as direct payouts, tax reductions, education and housing benefits, haven’t made a difference.



So, if we can’t find ways to increase the production of humans, which has been the historical path to growth, what are the alternatives?



Well, one is to remove the numbers of those that are dependent.&nbsp;And as unthinkable as this is, it will likely happen naturally if we cannot solve this supply and demand problem.



But there is a third option.&nbsp;And that is to increase production without humans. Or put another way, to do the things that we used to do with machines.



And the technology that is opening this possibility is obviously artificial intelligence.



The theory is simple.



AI will eventually go beyond human-level intelligence.



Digital agents won’t simply write code.&nbsp;They will make decisions and carry out tasks that humans used to be paid to do.&nbsp;And if we can do this in a world where clean energy becomes abundant, then production costs start trending towards zero.



In this more utopian future, Min-soo still works in logistics, but he’s no longer stuck juggling spreadsheets or calling drivers.&nbsp;His main agent, FreightBot, tracks shipments in real time, automatically reroutes deliveries when there’s traffic or weather delays, and negotiates the cheapest delivery rates with different couriers.&nbsp;It even sends alerts to customers and reschedules deliveries when no one is home.



And Ji-young is supported by MediAgent, a virtual assistant that checks in with patients daily via chat, tracks their vitals through wearable devices, and flags potential issues before they become emergencies.&nbsp;It also books appointments, fills prescriptions, and updates medical records—all while staying fully compliant with regulations.



They don’t have to micromanage these agents.&nbsp;They train them once, set guardrails, and the agents take it from there.



In this future, Min-Soo and Ji-Young only work a few hours a week. Which gave them the time and financial security to have a family and spend time with both their children and grandchildren.



If we want a world where family and community really do come first, then governments have a difficult road ahead of them.



They’ll need to help whole populations navigate a world where technology doesn’t just change how we work—it changes whether we work at all.



Because we’re heading toward a future where unemployment may rise not from collapse, but from success. And for the first time in history, we may need to ask: what if fewer jobs could be a good thing?

GettyImages-1194120417s

Expert-Speak:What If Unemployment Could Be A Good Thing?

The continent has great potential in the global electric vehicle (EV) battery value chain. But is its automotive industry ready to lead a future where African-made batteries power locally-assembled EVs?



For the first time in its 31-year history, the Investing in African Mining Indaba saw the automotive industry take center stage. Held early this year in Cape Town, the conference reflected a crucial shift– Africa is no longer just a supplier of minerals but a potential powerhouse for the global electric vehicle (EV) battery revolution.



The key question is: can Africa’s mining and automotive industries drive downstream battery manufacturing instead of merely exporting raw minerals to global markets like China, the United States, and Europe? Or will the continent remain locked in the historical cycle of resource extraction, watching others reap the rewards of a trillion-dollar industry?



From Extraction to Empowerment



Picture a miner in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, extracting cobalt, a critical component of lithium-ion batteries, unaware that his work fuels EVs in California and Berlin–yet not a single battery is made in Africa. Now, contrast that with a future where an African-made battery powers a locally assembled EV, marking a fundamental shift in the continent’s economic destiny.



Almost all of Africa’s cobalt, manganese, lithium and graphite are exported, leaving the continent at the bottom of the value chain while other regions capitalise on high-value battery production.



Madelein Todd, Marketing Executive at Manganese Metal Co and a key advocate for the battery raw materials market, underscores this dilemma to FORBES AFRICA. “Africa is incredibly rich in mineral resources, yet the continent faces an economic paradox–low GDP per capita results in weak domestic demand for raw materials. In a thriving economy, industrialization fuels demand, but in Africa’s case, there’s a missing economic pull, making strong government support essential.”



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-medium-font-size is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
“China’s success was no accident. It took years of patient investment and strategic government backing to build an industry that now leads the world. The key lesson for Africa is that success in advanced manufacturing doesn’t happen overnight.”
</blockquote>



The challenge lies in the vast quantities of raw minerals being exported with minimal local processing. Todd emphasizes that while domestic consumption may be low, beneficiation would create significant value. “Beneficiation is impossible without strong policy support. In industrialized economies, market demand regulates production, competition controls costs and the most efficient producers thrive. However, in Africa, weak infrastructure–especially unreliable power supply–limits our ability to scale up local processing. South Africa’s struggles with power costs have already made it uncompetitive in ferrochrome, ferromanganese and steel production,” adds Todd.



Strengthening power generation and industrial capacity must be a top priority, or Africa risks remaining a mere supplier rather than a key driver in the global battery supply chain.



The rise of EVs presents a rare window of opportunity. As the world transitions to electric mobility, Africa’s automotive industry can become a catalyst for local battery production. Countries like South Africa, Morocco, and Egypt–home to growing automotive assembly hubs–could integrate battery manufacturing into their supply chains.



Morocco has already demonstrated its ability to scale automotive production, positioning itself as a key player in vehicle assembly. Could this success extend into battery-making? Could South Africa’s automotive hubs in its provinces Gauteng (Rosslyn and Tshwane), the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal follow suit?



Todd believes South Africa’s structured export credits, which have made vehicle production competitive, offer a roadmap for industrial strategy.



“South Africa’s automotive industry thrives due to well-structured export incentives. Nearly 40-50% of locally produced vehicles are exported, thanks to negotiated tariffs and strategic government support. If the same approach were applied to battery production, Africa could position itself as a global supplier.”



Lessons from Indonesia and China



Could Africa replicate the success stories of Indonesia and China?



Indonesia made a bold move by banning raw nickel exports in 2014 and again in 2020, forcing global companies to invest in local battery manufacturing. Todd, however, warns that such policies require careful execution.



“Indonesia succeeded because it controls the largest nickel reserves, and competing producers face high costs. But in Africa, minerals like manganese are more widely distributed–South Africa may be the largest producer, but it faces competition from Gabon, Ghana, Australia and Brazil. A unilateral export ban could backfire by driving up prices and incentivising competitors to scale up.”



China’s dominance in battery production, on the other hand, was built on decades of government incentives, research funding and long-term industrial policy. What can Africa learn from this model?



“China’s success was no accident. It took years of patient investment and strategic government backing to build an industry that now leads the world. The key lesson for Africa is that success in advanced manufacturing doesn’t happen overnight. Governments must commit to sustained industrial support, including R&amp;D incentives and infrastructure development.”



Who Will Fund the Shift?



A transition of this scale requires a massive investment. Organizations like the Automotive Industry Transformation Fund have already committed R500 million ($27.7 million) to strategic initiatives in South Africa, including mineral beneficiation, charging infrastructure, and supply chain development.



But this is just the beginning. Imagine what could be achieved if institutions like the African Development Bank, the Industrial Development Corporation, the European Development Fund, and private-sector investors aligned their resources to finance local battery plants.



The African Association of Automotive Manufacturers is working to lobby governments to industrialize the sector through the African Continental Free Trade Area. But what’s missing?



What’s Holding Africa Back?



Infrastructure gaps–unreliable energy supply, limited logistics networks, and manufacturing constraints–remain major roadblocks. There’s also the question of geopolitics. In a world where resource security is becoming a central issue, will foreign powers resist Africa’s move up the value chain?



Todd stresses that long-term policy stability and global partnerships will be crucial.



“Battery manufacturing in Africa won’t succeed unless it’s tied to large, negotiated export agreements. A single battery plant needs a production capacity of at least 30 GWh to be viable. That scale requires partnerships with established players–Chinese, South Korean, or Japanese firms–who have the expertise and capital to navigate this complex industry. More importantly, investors need long-term policy certainty. Without clear government commitments spanning 15-20 years, the razor-thin margins in battery production make investment too risky.”



Africa at a Crossroads



The defining question of this decade is whether Africa will remain a supplier of raw materials or rise to become a global force in battery manufacturing.



“Europe produces over 70% of the battery cells used in its EVs, but its supply chain remains dependent on Asia for critical battery materials like cathodes and anodes. This creates a vulnerability –and an opportunity for Africa. By developing local capacity for battery materials, Africa could become a strategic alternative supplier, reducing global reliance on Asia and strengthening supply chain resilience,” Todd concludes.

Electric Car Charging

Turn On The Battery: Africa’s EV Revolution And What’s Holding It Back

Opportunities abound in South Africa’s vintage car market. It’s like a treasure hunt, with some incredibly rare classic vehicles scattered across the continent, sometimes in the most remote villages.



If you’ve ever driven past an old Mercedes-Benz rusting in a field, or spotted a forgotten VW Kombi parked behind a rural shack, chances are you were looking at a small fortune on wheels. For Paul Maree, a 25-year-old vintage car enthusiast based in Johannesburg, spotting and restoring these hidden treasures isn’t just a hobby—it’s a calling passed down through generations.



“My dad grew up poor in Pretoria, and working on cars was just what you did. He’d buy old Harley-Davidsons, restore them, and export them for big money,” says Maree. “He once paid R30,000 ($1,663) for a bike and sold it for over R115,000 ($6,373) in Canada.”



Maree inherited more than just a collection of 14 vintage vehicles when his father, Albert Maree, passed away in 2022. He also inherited a philosophy: the hobby must pay for itself.



And it does—just about. “I try to do everything myself,” says Maree. “Unless it’s a job like paintwork or one that needs massive pieces of machinery, I’m the one sanding, fixing, and assembling.” He’s currently restoring a rare 1965 VW split-window double cab, which he bought for R120,000 ($6,650). When finished, he expects to sell it for around R750,000 ($41,562). “I’ll spend about R300,000 ($16,630) on the restoration, but it’s taken three years of hard work. People think it’s quick money, but they don’t see the hours.”



There’s an almost spiritual joy for Maree in reviving machines others have given up on. “There’s a morbid fixation I have with fixing what no one else can—or wants to. I’ve always been that kid who took things apart just to see if I could put them back together.”



The vintage car scene in South Africa is thriving beneath the surface. While Maree still holds down a day job in a 3D-printing and jewelry design business, he’s not ruling out going full-time. “Plenty of guys do,” he says. “Some only restore old VW buses and export them to Australia. They make millions.”



South Africa’s climate plays a surprising role in this boom. “You don’t want a car from Cape Town—too much rust. But the Eastern Cape and Free State are goldmines. The dry air preserves cars that would’ve rotted anywhere else.”



And unlike many countries, South Africa actually built many of the classics that are now in high demand abroad. “I’ve got a 1977 Mercedes 450SL built in East London. That factory still makes Mercs for the U.S. today. There’s a stockpile of vintage Mercs in this country just sitting under dust.”



But the secret’s getting out.



“Australians want those VW hippie vans. Brits are buying up old Beetles. Americans go mad for pre-war Auburns and Duesenbergs,” Maree explains. “There’re entire online forums where international collectors hunt these cars down. You post a good one and it’s gone in two weeks.”



Maree recounts tracking down his latest project through a Pretoria contact his dad knew for 20 years. “It took months of visits and friendly chats before the old man would sell. At first, he said, ‘Never!’ Then his wife phoned us one day and said, ‘Okay, let’s do it’.”



The restoration process is meticulous. “Every nut and bolt has a specification. Some of these cars were designed to be fixed in the deserts of North Africa. So, if they could do it there, I can do it here in Sandton.”



Still, there’s a bittersweet undertone in the community about the rapid export of classics. “We’re losing our history. There’s almost no chance of someone my age finding—or affording—a 300SL Gullwing locally. They’ve all been sent overseas for insane money.”



Even so, opportunities abound for newcomers. “The market is the opposite of saturated,” says Maree. “If you do good work, you’ve got a two-year backlog in no time. Upholsterers who know what they’re doing are fully booked. And if someone’s free next week—trust me—you don’t want them.”



Africa’s role in this revival isn’t limited to South Africa. “We’ve found an E-Type Jaguar in the Congo. And in Mozambique, we’ve tracked down incredibly rare pre-war Auburn Speedsters. It’s like a treasure hunt. These vehicles are scattered across the continent, sometimes in the most remote villages.”



Maree adds, “Anywhere that had cars in the 1960s or 1970s—Angola, Kenya, even the DRC—you’ll find gems waiting to be discovered. A lot of these countries didn’t have the infrastructure or tools to restore the cars, so they’ve just been sitting there.”



Sometimes, a car finds you.



“There’s this site, Classic Cars In Rhodesia, you’ll see someone’s grandmother in front of a now-insanely-valuable car. Some dude posts a 1970s’ photo of a car his uncle left in Mozambique—and it turns out only ten of them were ever made.”



Maree lights up as he speaks about these “pirate treasure hunts”. For him, it’s less about profit and more about purpose. “It’s a lifestyle. You get your hands dirty. It’s frustrating, exhausting—but there’s nothing like bringing something back from the dead.”



His advice for anyone who suspects they’ve got something valuable parked in a family garage?



“Post a photo. Anywhere. Forums, Reddit—someone will know what it is. And don’t assume it’s junk. Two doors, convertible, iconic shape—those are the hallmarks of value. If you look at it and go, ‘Wow,’ chances are someone else will too.”



As the vintage car wave grows across Africa, Maree hopes more young Africans take the wheel. “If you’re passionate, if you’re willing to learn and work hard—there’s room for you in this world. You don’t need a degree. Just a spanner, a manual, and a bit of madness.”



For now, Maree is just happy to keep tinkering.



“I’m not a professional. I’m an enthusiast. But when I drive a car that was once a pile of rust and watch someone else fall in love with it again—that’s the real reward.”

Paul Maree with a classic; Image supplied

Rust To Riches: The Journey Of Africa’s Lost Classic Cars

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept in today&#8217;s hyper-connected and fiercely competitive global landscape. It is overhauling even the bedrock of business operations. Pricing, once the carefully-guarded territory of economists, marketing experts, and strategists, is now increasingly orchestrated by algorithms that learn, predict, and adapt with remarkable precision. AI’s growing influence on pricing strategies, particularly through individualized and dynamic pricing, unlocks new opportunities for businesses to optimize revenue, personalize customer experiences, and react swiftly to market changes. Yet, this powerful transformation casts a long shadow of ethical, regulatory, and transparency challenges that demand urgent attention.



The engine driving AI&#8217;s impact on pricing is its ability to handle and dissect colossal datasets at speeds and depths far beyond human capability. AI systems can continuously refine pricing strategies by interpreting real-time variables, from consumer behavior and inventory fluctuations to market demand, competitive pressures, and broader economic indicators. This empowers businesses to transcend static models and embrace fluid pricing systems that adjust dynamically to changing circumstances.



One of the consequential facets of AI-driven pricing is its ability to implement true personalization. AI can segment customers into ever-finer groups or even tailor individual offers by analyzing digital footprints, purchasing histories, geographic contexts, and demographic profiles. This can lead to individualized pricing, an issue identified in the 2017 book I co-authored with Evan Hurwitz titled Artificial Intelligence and Economic Theory. Individualized pricing results in two shoppers browsing the same online store but being shown different prices for the same item, based on their predicted willingness to pay.



Dynamic and individualized pricing powered by AI also offers considerable advantages in industries with volatile demand, like airlines, hospitality, e-commerce, and entertainment. Airlines have long used dynamic pricing to adjust fares based on booking patterns and competitor activity. Now, AI amplifies this capacity across sectors. A hotel chain, for example, might adjust room rates not only seasonally but minute-by-minute based on local events, real-time competitor pricing, and the urgency detected in a user’s browsing behavior. These capabilities empower businesses to forecast demand more accurately, manage inventories more efficiently, and maximize revenue in near real-time.



However, the rise of AI-driven pricing is not without ethical peril. Individualized pricing raises fundamental concerns about fairness, consent, and transparency. When algorithms levy different prices based on personal data, often without customers&#8217; explicit awareness, issues of discrimination and manipulation quickly emerge. Critics argue that, without safeguards, AI could exploit vulnerable consumers, charging higher prices to those less likely to comparison shop or negotiate.



Moreover, the opacity of many AI systems compounds the problem. Consumers often have little understanding of why they receive certain prices, and even companies deploying these algorithms may not fully grasp how intricate models arrive at pricing decisions. This lack of transparency threatens to erode consumer trust, expose companies to reputational risks, and attract increased regulatory scrutiny. The risks are particularly acute in critical sectors like healthcare, housing, and financial services, where pricing affects access to essential goods and services.



Addressing these challenges requires a multi-stakeholder approach. Businesses must embed ethical considerations into designing and deploying AI pricing systems, ensuring that training data is representative and free from bias, informing consumers about how data affects pricing, and subjecting pricing algorithms to regular audits for fairness and compliance. Explainable AI (XAI) techniques, which aim to make algorithmic decisions more transparent, will be indispensable in restoring consumer trust and enabling meaningful oversight.



Researchers, too, have a critical role. Traditional economic theories on price discrimination, value-based pricing, and demand elasticity must be integrated with cutting-edge AI innovations to forge new models that are both economically sound and socially responsible. Cross-disciplinary collaboration among economists, computer scientists, ethicists, and legal scholars will be vital to construct frameworks that balance innovation with the protection of consumer rights.



Policymakers must also act decisively. Existing consumer protection and competition laws need updating to address the unique risks AI-mediated individualized pricing poses. Transparency mandates, robust data protection regulations, and enforceable fair pricing standards can ensure that AI-driven markets remain competitive and equitable. Because AI pricing systems often operate globally, fostering international cooperation will be essential to develop coherent regulatory approaches across borders.



Globally, these shifts have particular significance for Africa. With its rapid digital growth alongside socioeconomic challenges, African markets stand to both gain and face hurdles with AI-driven pricing. Ensuring transparent and equitable deployment is crucial where affordable access is key. AI offers great potential for inclusive growth, fair resource access, and locally tailored innovation. By prioritizing ethical AI and strong regulation, Africa can turn these challenges into opportunities, creating pricing models that boost revenue and foster sustainable economic development across the continent.

Coin and two right left arrows on hand. Financial service

AI Is Changing The Price You Pay—But Who’s Keeping It Honest, And What’s The Particular Significance For Africa

Pet-parents can rest easy: thanks to AI, pet technology is being rewritten with smart wearable tools and services emerging–tailored to each pet’s needs–to understand and care for them better.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-medium-font-size is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
“These come in handy for raising alerts when something needs a pet parent’s attention.” – Andrey Klen
</blockquote>



Dottie, a well-loved Boston Terrier, was losing weight. She looked healthy, had no prior medical conditions, ate regularly and was an active dog. Her caregivers were as confused as the vet who couldn’t figure out why Dottie was slowly diminishing in size. Boarding at an animal hospital, the vet decided to fit her with a smart collar. What they discovered was surprising–Dottie’s vital signs were great but at night, when all the staff went home, she was incredibly active, burning a lot of calories. Her activity score was 17.2, which is high when you consider that 11 is average for a healthy dog. Luckily, the fix was easy. Dottie simply needed more food to match her boundless energy yet without a smart collar, no one would have caught the problem.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Andrey-Klen-image-supplied-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-65632" style="width:570px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Andrey-Klen-image-supplied-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Andrey-Klen-image-supplied-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Andrey-Klen-image-supplied-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Andrey-Klen-image-supplied-768x769.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Andrey-Klen-image-supplied-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Andrey-Klen-image-supplied-2046x2048.jpg 2046w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Andrey Klen; image supplied</figcaption></figure></div>


Using smart devices, we’re constantly monitoring our own metrics but when it comes to our pets, it’s a little different. One of the main frustrations of veterinarians (and pet owners) is that when a medical condition is picked up, it’s often too late. “You come in for an annual check-up to get shots for your dog and in the exam, something comes up. It could be cancer that’s already spread or chronic kidney disease that’s already destroyed half of your dog’s kidney capacity… in other words, by the time we identify what is wrong with our pets, it’s already very advanced,” says Dr Asaf Dagan, the Co-Founder and Chief Veterinary Scientist at PetPace, a smart collar company with head offices in Burlington, Massachusetts in the United States. Pets cannot tell us how they feel. In fact, their natural survival instinct is to hide pain, discomfort and weakness. But for Dagan, this wasn’t enough. He wanted a way to monitor pets continuously, like they could in a hospital setting. “To identify things as early as possible–it will not only to prevent pain and suffering for the pet, it’s going to make a world of difference when trying to treat them,” adds Dagan. “You’ll have more options and a better chance of turning things around.”



Early detection



Creating a wearable for dogs wasn’t straightforward. In a vet setting, fur is shaved off and a sensor is attached. “We had to develop everything from scratch,” says Dagan. Today, PetPace’s patented collar is lined with sensors that measure temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and–like with Dottie–activity levels. “We also measure a very interesting feature called HRV (heart rate variability) which is a measurement of pain and stress,” he says. All of these metrics are taken every two to five minutes which means PetPace is collecting an extraordinary amount of data. There is so much data that they’re using artificial intelligence to collate the information, identifying disease patterns and predicting outcomes. “It’s not just about telling you that your dog has a pulse of 72 and two minutes ago, it was 74. That would be meaningless to the average user,” continues Dagan. The idea is to analyze the data in two ways. First, to compare it to your dog’s historical and baseline levels. “Over time, we use machine learning to create a biometric profile of your pet. We know the numbers in each metric so as soon as they deviate from this, we can raise a flag that something’s not right,” he explains. The second way PetPace is using this data is by comparing your dog’s data with those of other dogs of the same age, weight and breed. Dog breeds have varying physiological characteristics. A toy poodle, for example, will have a different heart rate to a German Shepherd. Brachycephalic breeds like pugs, French bulldogs and Boston Terriers are prone to eye, skin and breathing issues.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-medium-font-size is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
“To identify things as early as possible–it will not only to prevent pain and suffering for the pet, it’s going to make a world of difference when trying to treat them.” – Dr Asaf Dagan


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Dr-Asaf-Dagan-image-supplied-1024x768.png" alt="" class="wp-image-65633" style="width:624px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Dr-Asaf-Dagan-image-supplied-1024x768.png 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Dr-Asaf-Dagan-image-supplied-300x225.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Dr-Asaf-Dagan-image-supplied-768x576.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Dr-Asaf-Dagan-image-supplied-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Dr-Asaf-Dagan-image-supplied.png 1890w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dr Asaf Dagan; image supplied</figcaption></figure></div></blockquote>



Understanding pet behavior is something that Petcube, an American smart pet care company, has been looking into for nearly 14 years. “Back in 2012, pet tech was more of a novelty than a necessity,” says Andrey Klen, Petcube’s Co-Founder. “But things have changed. Pets aren’t just animals anymore; they are family. We want to understand pets better, care for them better, and yes, use smarter tools to do it.” What started as a way to peek in on your pet during work has grown into a holistic ecosystem of smart devices layered with intelligent algorithms. “And we use the data to power personalized tools and services tailored to each pet’s needs,” he adds. Once a simple nanny cam, Petcube now has AI-powered monitoring that is so advanced, it can pick on different behavior categories like running, chewing or crying. “These come in handy for raising alerts when something needs a pet parent’s attention,” says Klen. What’s really interesting is the data Petcube is collecting around demographics (or what Klen calls, ‘petrographics’). Looking at smart motion alerts, they’ve seen that 69% are triggered by dogs, 26% by cats, 1.8% by guinea pigs and 0.9% by rabbits. “Sure, this reflects our petrographics, distribution-wise, but it also shows that dogs tend to be more curious around the interactive cameras, especially when some of them toss treats.”



Rewriting vet tech



Like PetPace, Petcube too works with vets, offering services like telemedicine to access medical support when needed instead of resorting to answers on the internet. “They can start a vet chat, get a full video assessment and immediately know whether it’s an emergency or something that can be handled at home,” says Klen, who adds that quick, effective and reliable care is key when every second matters. For Klen, pet tech is a win-win because both pet parents and veterinarians can benefit from better data–data that previously impossible to obtain. PetPace, for example, is launching an epilepsy program because with their smart collar, they can identify seizures in dogs.



“It’s about getting a lot more data without having to bother the animal or your staff,” says Dagan. “And when a pet is home, you have objective, accurate data. After doing surgery and sending a pet home, instead of calling to ask how your dog is doing, I can see every moment of every day what is going on and I can set alerts if something is not right.”



But there’s another aspect of PetPace’s story that extends far beyond a smart collar and their next focus, felines–they’re actually rewriting medical textbooks. According to Dagan, the company now holds the largest biometric database in the world for pets. He tells the story of a meeting he attended with veterinary cardiologists where he shared that the pulse rate of a small dog is different from a medium and a large dog. “And they said, they had always suspected this but never had proof. They suspected it, but didn’t know it,” he continues. What these specialist vets were ultimately missing is long-term dog data, within a natural environment. They lacked the continuous, contextual insights that only come from tracking animals beyond the clinic walls. “And that’s our main effort now–to identify more and more disease patterns. There&#8217;s a lot to do, and it&#8217;s endless. We have enough work for the next 100 years!”



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The nose knows



Worldwide, it is estimated that there are over 400 dog breeds. But what type of dog you have is not it’s only distinguishing factor. Dog nose prints (DNP) are often compared to fingerprints as they’re made up of lines and creases, creating a unique pattern. While microchips and collars with tags are the most common form of identification, there are a few startups looking into nose-print recognition using AI. At the University of New England, Australia, they’re already doing something similar with cattle and muzzles. One researcher tested his model on 300 cows and the AI managed to identify them with a 99.11% accuracy. In Cape Town, Raman Rajoo, has created an app called IntelliPaw that uses DNP. “Volunteering at rescues, I noticed that lost dogs made up a significant portion within animal welfare,” says Rajoo, who founded a company called CoBaTech named after his two dogs, Coda and Bailey. “I wanted a non-invasive, affordable and less traumatic way to help ID pets with snouts–an alternative to technology like chip tech.” Using AI and machine learning with animal biometrics, Rajoo’s goal is to help decrease how many pets end up in the system. “It will help reduce both pet and owner trauma,” he adds.

Petcube Play (image supplied)

This Is Fur Real: The AI That Knows If Your Pet Is Okay

Alan and Renée Friedland are in the panel-beating business, but three lions changed their story.



By day, Alan and Renée Friedland run a panel-beating business in Johannesburg, South Africa. But in their spare time, they’re rescuing lions, cheetahs and other animals, while creating one of South Africa’s most unique animal sanctuaries—driven purely by passion, not profit.



It all began eight years ago when they heard that three lions were being shipped off to a circus in China. “I’ve got a problem with circuses,” Alan says. “Animals shouldn’t live like that.” The husband-and-wife team stepped in and rescued the lions themselves.



“We didn’t even have a sanctuary when we took them in,” Alan admits. But they immediately rushed to build enclosures, and from that moment on, the Friedlands were fully committed.



They’ve since gone on to rescue animals from all kinds of situations—some abused, some abandoned, others saved just in time. One of the most dramatic rescues involved eight cheetahs on a bankrupt farm. The hyenas kept there weren’t so lucky. “They were killed before we could get there,” Alan says. “But we got the cheetahs out in time.”



Today, the Lion and Cheetah Sanctuary, nestled in Dinokeng Game Reserve just outside Johannesburg, is home to 14 lions, several cheetahs, horses, hyenas, meerkats, giraffes, and more. Every animal has a name, a past, and now—a future.



There’s the heart-warming story of two lion brothers brought together after being separated for eight years and sold off. “They were meant for canned hunting,” Alan explains. “We managed to buy one, but it took us eight months to get the other one.” When they were finally reunited, the lions greeted each other by bumping heads—a natural lion gesture of affection and recognition. “That moment made all the effort worth it,” he smiles.



And it’s not just the animals that are healing. “People come with trauma,” Renée explains, “and the animals help them too.” Visitors have described the sanctuary as a peaceful escape—where nature, empathy and connection create something deeply human.


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To keep the sanctuary running, the Friedlands have opened it to visitors. Guests can book overnight stays in canvas tents or luxury chalets. Twice-daily game drives take visitors up close to the animals—including the rare experience of gently stroking a cheetah.



“There’s nowhere else in Gauteng you can do that,” says Alan. “And the cheetahs love the attention—they begin to purr as soon as you start petting them.”



The income from tourists helps feed and care for the animals, and is reinvested into the sanctuary to support long-term wildlife care and conservation. It’s a model that blends heart and sustainability—something the Friedlands are proud of.



There’s also a strong educational drive behind everything they do. “Abuse of animals starts with ignorance,” Alan says. “There’s very little education around this in South Africa. We want to change that.” The sanctuary hosts school groups and works with communities to teach kindness, compassion, and respect for animals from a young age.



Alan believes the root of the issue lies in broader social challenges. “If children grow up in abusive homes, they’re less likely to show compassion to animals. Education is everything. If we invested in proper schooling, we’d change the future of this country—and our animals would benefit too.”



It&#8217;s not always easy. There are more animals in need than sanctuaries that can take them. But for Alan and Renée, the work is its own reward. “There’s this story about a little girl throwing starfish back into the sea,” Alan says. “Someone tells her it won’t make a difference because there are millions of starfish on the beach. She picks one up and says, ‘It made a difference to that one.’ That’s how we feel.”



For now, the couple continues to juggle full-time jobs, weekend rescue missions, and a growing sanctuary that somehow never stops needing more. But they don’t seem tired—just driven.



“You’ll always find time for what you love,” Alan says with a smile. And what they’ve built is more than a sanctuary. It’s a reminder that ordinary people with enough heart can do extraordinary things.

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How A South African Couple Turned Their Passion Into A Lifeline For Wildlife

&nbsp;As an entrepreneur, or even otherwise, are you looking to build a very basic website?



The tools: You don’t have to use ChatGPT, you can also use <a href="https://grok.com/">Grok</a>, <a href="https://claude.ai/new">Claude</a>, <a href="https://gemini.google.com/app">Gemini</a> or <a href="https://copilot.microsoft.com/chats/ikYTC1JgCzdQDTcSdPucc">Copilot</a>.



The prompt: Please help me build a basic website ‘About Me’ page. I have never done this before, so kindly provide me with detailed steps.



Note: Different AI tools will give you different answers. Copilot, for example, will give you a very basic answer that sends you to other tools to create your code. Grok will provide you with two options–the code to create your page and a preview of how this page will look. Gemini offers you a combination of Grok and Copilot, giving you the option to use a website builder tool or to create your own HTML. ChatGPT and Claude will take you through the tools you need, how to create your files, and the HTML code itself. If you want to create your own code and get more detailed support, your best bet is to go with Gemini, Grok, ChatGPT and Claude.



For the purposes of this walkthrough, we will use the ChatGPT version. The prompt will give you a clear route to creating this page across eight steps: Understand what you need; What tools you’ll need; Create your first files; Basic HTML template; Add your photo; View your page; Make it look nicer with CSS; Summary: Key steps.



The AI does all the work for you here, giving you the exact code you need to create your site. Now, you can dig deeper into this prompt to expand your own skills in web development, using AI as a teaching tool.



The next prompt: Please show me the steps to add graphical elements to the page that highlight my skills.



This prompt will help you to create an About Me page that isn’t made up entirely of words. It shows you how to add in icons, access a free icon library, add in skill bars and use CSS to balance spacing and design.



Learn as you build: Your next prompt is ‘Please show me how I can learn HTML while I build my own website’.



The AI will now give you a comprehensive tutorial on the different ways in which you can learn HTML, how you can access the source code on websites to learn how they’ve been designed and gives you a free HTML practice playground where you can test your code.



The final prompt: Please show me how to publish my website online.



This last prompt will give you several free hosting options such as <a href="https://github.com/">GitHub Pages</a> and talk you through how to use them.



In just three prompts, you have learned how to create, customize and publish a website. AI simplifies and demystifies the process to the point where you can learn how to write code. &nbsp;Bear in mind that this is a very simple website design–you can do a lot more with deeper prompts that capture your features, colors, identity and brand.

Businessman hold virtual rocket launch investment growth, planning and starting corporate business start up aiming objective value development leadership and customer target group.

Starting Your Own Company? Tips And Tricks To Help Build Your Own Website Using AI

One of the country’s most favorite exports is grounded in its roots. The reddish-brown rooibos is being sipped around the world, and could soon have a unique use in petrol stations.



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“Drinking rooibos tea could then be something that individuals can do to look after their own health if they are worried about toxic exposures in daily life.”
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There is an adage that claims a cup of tea can fix just about anything.



Rough day? Sip some chamomile.



Broken heart? Brew some chai.



Need to pull an all-nighter for that deadline? Green tea has your back.



One tea in particular, though, has acquired a reputation as somewhat of a superfood thanks to its long list of health benefits that is transforming wellness, one cup at a time.



Native to the mountainous plains of the Cederberg region in South Africa’s Western Cape province, rooibos has steeped its way to global fame—all the while remaining grounded in its roots.



“Rooibos only grows in 60,000 hectares in the entire world, on the southwest coast of South Africa,” reveals the Marketing Director of Carmién Tea, Lize du Preez.



The distinct location has led to rooibos joining the prestigious ranks of French champagne and Greek feta cheese by acquiring the status of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) from the European Union, becoming the first African food to do so. Thus, if the leaves are not specifically from the Cederberg region of South Africa, well, it is just a herbal infusion with a scarlet hue.



Even rooibos’s unique reddish-brown shade has garnered acclaim: it was named by New York Fashion Week as one of the top 10 colors for the 2024 spring season, complete with its own Pantone color card.



“There is also a video game called Enshrouded where rooibos is one of the resources that you harvest for energy,” notes Marthane Swart, Secretariat of the South African Rooibos Council. “It just shows that there is an increasing awareness of rooibos all over the world and people are using it and thinking about it for a variety of functions.”



One particular purpose is closer to home.



A recent study was conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH) to determine whether rooibos can protect petrol attendants from exposure to harmful chemicals.



“Looking into the toxicology of petrol fumes, especially BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene), we found that consistent exposure leads to increased levels of oxidative stress,” explains Dr Kerry Wilson, an epidemiologist at the NIOH who is leading the study.



While all cells are prone to oxidation, high levels have been associated with acute symptoms like headaches and dizziness, and long-term exposure has been linked to nerve damage and elevated risks of cancers.



“Measuring oxidative stress is not that straightforward, but quite a bit of research has been done around the antioxidant levels of tea. Tea is also something that is fairly accessible for most people.”



The array of polyphenols found in rooibos reads like a who’s who of the antioxidant world: compounds that regulate blood sugar, neutralize carcinogens, combat inflammation, and reduce hypertension, amongst others. It is, essentially, tea’s version of The Avengers against free radicals.



Wilson’s study involved analyzing the levels of oxidative stress in the blood and urine samples of 100 petrol attendants from various stations in the Johannesburg city center. The volunteers were then given a six-month supply of rooibos and told to drink three cups a day.



“Most were excited to participate in the research. A few asked for more tea when we returned to take updated samples after the six-month period.”



The final laboratory analysis is currently underway, with the findings expected around the end of 2025.



“One might hope to see an improvement in other chronic diseases if oxidative stress is reduced or managed,” Wilson notes. “Drinking rooibos tea could then be something that individuals can do to look after their own health if they are worried about toxic exposures in daily life.”



The secret to rooibos’s resilience could well be found in how it grows. Enduring temperatures of below 0° Celsius in winter and upwards of 40° during the summer, it is a bush built for survival.



“Because it&#8217;s so cold at night in the Cederberg and hot during the day, the plant stores up enormous amounts of antioxidants to protect itself,” shares Sarah Hetherington, who is Director of brand communication at African Extracts, a skincare brand that uses rooibos as its key ingredient.



The company sells around 3 million products per year, with its Classic SPF 15-day cream regarded as South Africa’s best-selling essential care moisturizer.



“For skincare, we want to preserve the highest-possible level of antioxidants, so we use the extract from green, unfermented rooibos in our products.”



Whether it’s being shipped abroad or recommended by beauty bloggers, rooibos wouldn’t make it to shelves without the farmers who cultivate it. Yet, they are not necessarily getting to reap the rewards of the Rooibos Revolution.



“If you compare the shelf prices to what producers are getting at the farm gate level, there is a huge disconnect,” points out Vanrhynsdorp farmer, Werner Nieuwoudt.



With a background in the corporate world as a chartered accountant, he founded the Rooibos Tea Producers’ Association in 2023 as a platform for farmers to be more involved in industry strategies and processes.



“My vision is a premium growth, sustainable industry that adds benefit to every role player across the board, all the way up to farm worker level.”



In order for this to be achieved, Nieuwoudt believes that certain reforms need to be put in place.



“We need to have a standardized grading system as the tea is currently graded by the various buyers, and we need to have a solid marketing strategy approach as an industry to differentiate our tea in the market and sell our tea globally.”



Tea drinkers in Japan and Germany have already wrought a robust relationship with the red brew, while premium brands, like Du Preez’s boutique LMC Rooibos Collection, are gaining interest in international markets like Taiwan and Scandinavia.



“Rooibos is truly a South African treasure,” Du Preez states. “I wanted to create a product that almost gives the same exclusivity and sensory experience that one would get from a perfume box.”



Rooibos has positioned itself as a symbol of what’s possible when science, tradition and smart marketing come together. If every problem can be solved with a cup of tea, then rooibos might just be the smartest brew of them all.

Rooibos has a long list of health benefits that is transforming wellness; Image supplied

From Superfood To Skincare, Reaping The Rewards Of South Africa’s Red Brew

At university, students are often encouraged to pursue internships or work experiences closely aligned with their field of study.



Gaining real-world experience in a relevant business setting seems like an ideal way to prepare for a career.



From a business perspective, internships offer a chance to identify and develop potential talent early, equipping future workers with industry-specific skills and practical insights.



For students, these internships often feel like a direct path to securing a job after graduation.



However, focusing exclusively on profession-specific internships or work experience can significantly undervalue the broader–and often more impactful–benefits of general work experience.



While businesses seek interns who can contribute immediately, they also value employees who demonstrate resilience and adaptability and have strong interpersonal skills–traits that can be developed just as effectively, if not more so, in jobs outside a student’s chosen field.



Any job, regardless of how closely it aligns with a student’s academic focus, is crucial in preparing them for the workforce.



Consider a typical internship that aligns with a student’s area of study.



A business student might intern at a consulting firm, a law student could clerk at a legal office and a communications major wants to spend time at a PR agency.



These internships aim to give students a taste of the professional world they aspire to join, offering insight into workflows, expectations and the challenges of their chosen career.



While these experiences can be valuable, they often come with a narrow scope.



Students might find themselves performing repetitive tasks or simply shadowing professionals without gaining hands-on experience.



These internships are often highly structured and, despite their relevance, might not help students develop the broader skill sets that employers increasingly demand.



In contrast, basic work experience–whether in a restaurant, shop or performing manual labour–provides students with the chance to develop practical, transferable skills in a real-world setting.



These jobs require students to engage with people from all walks of life, think on their feet, manage difficult situations and handle real-time stress.



Although these roles might not appear glamorous or directly tied to a student’s career goals, they often impart invaluable lessons highly prized in the workplace.



For example, working in a customer-facing role like retail or hospitality builds strong communication and interpersonal skills.



These are precisely the kinds of soft skills that employers across industries demand.



Someone who has learned to manage an upset customer in a restaurant is likely to be better equipped to handle a demanding client in a corporate setting.



And jobs in retail or service industries teach time management, multi-tasking and problem-solving skills under pressure, which are applicable to virtually any career.



A student working an evening shift in a supermarket might not immediately see the connection to their future in marketing or finance. However, the ability to manage tasks efficiently, work independently and remain calm under pressure will serve them well in any post-graduate role.



While technical expertise is undeniably important, employers want employees who are adaptable, resilient and able to work well with others.



These qualities can be cultivated just as effectively in a job unrelated to a student’s future career as in a targeted internship.



In fact, many employers actively seek candidates with varied work experiences, recognizing that those who have worked in different environments are often better prepared to handle the complexities and challenges of the modern workplace.



While internships aligned with a student’s field of study are valuable, they should not be seen as the only way to gain relevant work experience.



We might have become too dismissive of everyday jobs as critical opportunities to develop essential skills, placing excessive emphasis on prestigious internships tied to a specific field of study.



Although these high-profile internships might seem more impressive, we often overlook the valuable lessons that so-called “ordinary” work experiences provide.



Jobs in retail, hospitality or manual labour build resilience, adaptability and communication and problem-solving skills–qualities just as vital as those gained in field-specific internships.



It is time to recognize that real-world work, regardless of its prestige, plays a crucial role in shaping the next generation of well-rounded professionals.

Isometric business people came from different way but have same target

Expert Speak: How Basic Jobs Shape Future Leaders

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">Topline</h2>



President Donald Trump met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, a day after announcing plans to lift U.S. sanctions on Syria, offering a significant boost to the country’s new leadership as it attempts to shore up international support after a nearly a decade and a half-long civil war which ended with the ouster of the country’s former leader Bashar al-Assad.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Facts</h2>



<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/05/14/trump-saudi-arabia-qatar/#link-QEKLWL6WWBCJPINVB6VCM3M32I" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">According to</a>&nbsp;the Washington Post, a White House official confirmed the meeting was taking place in Riyadh behind closed doors.



The White House previously suggested the two leaders were set to have a brief meeting just to “say hello,” but the actual meeting&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/05/14/us/trump-news-middle-east/ccd08b0e-197d-5e23-8214-459522d0f403?smid=url-share" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">lasted 33 minutes</a>, from 10:07 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. local time.



<a href="https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/erdogan-trump-saudi-crown-prince-syrian-leader-meet/news" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Turkish outlets</a>&nbsp;reported that Saudi Arabia&#8217;s crown prince and de facto leader, Mohammed bin Salman, was present at the meeting, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined via video link.



Erdogan’s office hailed Trump’s “historic” decision to lift the sanctions, and said it would serve as an example for other countries that still have active sanctions against Syria.



After the meeting, Trump addressed the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council and said he “felt very strongly” about giving Syria a chance, adding that the “sanctions were really crippling.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Crucial Quote</h2>



While addressing the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council—the regional bloc which includes Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman—Trump said: “We will be dropping all of the sanctions on Syria, which I really think is going to be a good thing. And actually, we made a speech last night, and that was the thing that got the biggest applause from the room.”



This is a developing story.

Donald Trump – Ahmed al-Shara meeting in Riyadh

Trump Meets Syrian President And Says He Felt ‘Strongly’ About Dropping ‘Crippling’ Sanctions

The mobile internet gender gap in sub-Saharan Africa continues to shrink, falling from 36% in 2022 to 29% in 2024, according to the Mobile Gender Gap Report 2025 published today by the GSMA, a global organization unifying the mobile ecosystem.



This marks the second consecutive year of progress in a region historically known for having the highest proportion of women excluded from mobile internet access.



While men’s adoption rates have plateaued, rising just one percentage point from 53% to 54%, women’s usage increased more significantly from 36% to 39%, helping to close the divide.



“Sub-Saharan Africa stands out as the only region where the mobile internet gender gap has continued to narrow,” Claire Sibthorpe, Head of Digital Inclusion at the GSMA, says to FORBES AFRICA. “This is a positive achievement in a region with a relatively high mobile internet gender gap, especially as progress has stalled across low- and middle-income countries overall in the last year.”



Despite the gains, the gap remains substantial: around 205 million women in the region—roughly 61% of the adult female population—still do not use mobile internet. The reasons are multifaceted, including affordability, limited digital literacy, safety concerns, and restrictive social norms.



Smartphone ownership is closely linked to internet usage. The report notes that when women do own smartphones, their internet adoption rates almost equal those of men. But the high cost of devices continues to be a key barrier. GSMA is advocating for targeted interventions such as handset subsidies, financing models, and public-private partnerships to make smartphones more accessible.



“Connecting women is not just about technology—it’s about economic inclusion,” Sibthorpe adds. “When women are online, they gain access to opportunities in education, healthcare, financial services, and entrepreneurship, which benefits the entire economy.”

Woman Uses Smart Phone

Mobile Internet Gender Gap In Sub-Saharan Africa Narrows For Second Consecutive Year, New Report Finds

In discourse about technological adoption and revolution, the piles of old monitors, phones, cables, mouses, and keyboards are often forgotten. With every new phone or laptop release, thousands of devices and their accompanying attachments are discarded without much thought. As Annie Leonard, the American proponent of sustainability, once phrased it: “There is no such thing as ‘away’. When we throw anything away, it must go somewhere.”



And it certainly is going somewhere. In fact, according to the World Bank, e-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. In 2022, for instance, there were around 62 million tons of e-waste produced globally. More distressingly, only 22.3% of this figure was documented as formally collected and recycled. In Africa, this challenge is more pronounced as most of this waste is driven to the continent. 



A 2022 study conducted by Maes and Preston-Whyte estimated that the total e-waste in Africa was between 5.8-3.4 metric tons in 2019 alone, with a distressing caveat that this was a gross underestimation of the actual figure. Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania, with Kenya, Senegal and Egypt are disproportionately impacted by this scourge. As the authors argue, “The growing global manufacture of electronics, in combination with the absence of action plans in African countries and the lack of infrastructure for proper and sustainable e-waste management, has led to e-waste becoming a growing African problem, with global origins.”



While the current figures are already staggering, global forecasts anticipate e-waste generation to increase by 100% in the next three decades. In Africa, e- waste in Senegal, Uganda and South Africa specifically is projected to increase by two to eight times over the next decade. The consequences of unchecked e-waste disposal extend far beyond waste generation. It threatens public health, environmental sustainability, and community wellbeing. For example, hazardous chemicals can seep into the soil and water when e-waste is dumped or burned, thus polluting ecosystems and endangering public health. People living near informal recycling sites, especially waste-pickers and repairers, face direct exposure to toxic fumes and materials, which can lead to various long-term health risks. This is a crisis we need to be taking seriously. 



There are certainly solutions to be pivoted. For instance, informal repairers play a key role in South Af- rica’s e-waste ecosystem by refurbishing discarded electronics for resale and creating affordable repair options for township residents. WasteAid, with support from the Dixon Foundation, has launched an E-Waste Repair and Reuse Programme in Johannesburg. 



The initiative provides training in electrical repair and business skills by equipping local repairers with tools and knowledge to improve their micro-businesses. Participants learn to repair small domestic appliances using reclaimed e-waste components. Many repairers now source parts from local waste collectors instead of buying new ones, which strengthens the community’s waste-to-repair cycle. There is certainly scope to expand this program to other parts of Africa. Alongside programs such as this, it is also necessary to invest in certified e-waste recycling plants to ensure the safe handling of hazardous materials while recovering valuable resources from discarded electronics. Urban mining, for instance, focuses on recovering metals from discarded electronics. 



Moreover, setting up accessible collection centers in communities makes it easier for people to dispose of old electronics properly instead of dumping them in landfills. This, of course, requires governments and electronic manufacturers alike to also teach people how to properly dispose of e-waste and repair devices instead of replacing them.



Other solutions included Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Policies where governments use incentives to ‘nudge’ behavioral changes from manufacturers. Through subsidies or tax breaks, governments can encourage electronics manufacturers to take responsibility for the recycling and safe disposal of their products. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) offers guidance to standardize EPR policies across countries by outlining principles and trade-offs to improve their effectiveness. These policies support recycling goals, fund waste collection and recycling, and provide data on production and waste management.



Companies like Apple and Samsung already offer trade-in programs where customers can return old devices for credit towards new ones to ensure proper recycling and reuse. In tandem with these policies, right-to-repair laws should be considered. These laws require companies to provide repair manuals and spare parts to consumers, and independent repair shops help extend product lifespans and reduce e-waste. These laws have already been implemented in the European Union in 2023 and across some parts of the United States and there is already mounting pressure for these laws to be considered in other countries.



As Africa looks to tackle its burgeoning e-waste challenge, we need to combine policy with sustainable recycling solutions–this is how we really combine advancement with revolution.

EWASTE – a glut of CRTs and electronics

Expert-Speak: Turning The Tide On Tech Trash: Africa’s E-Waste Revolution

The lithium-manganese-rich cell, developed with LG Chem, uses far less cobalt and nickel than current lithium-ion cells. It’ll be produced in the U.S. and show up in large pickups and SUVs in 2028.



General Motors, which sells the biggest lineup of electric vehicles in the U.S., plans to slash the cost of its rechargeable pickups and large SUVs by thousands of dollars thanks to a new type of battery that uses more of the cheap material manganese and much less of expensive metals cobalt and nickel while still offering a long driving range.



The lithium-manganese-rich (LMR) cathode, which has been in development by GM and battery partner LG Energy for a decade, will cut the cost of battery packs in electric vehicles like the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Hummer and Cadillac Escalade by more than $6,000, GM’s vice president of battery propulsion Kurt Kelty told&nbsp;Forbes. It has nearly the same driving range as “high nickel” lithium-ion cells now used in most EVs while competing on price with cheaper lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cells from Chinese battery makers that are heavier and offer less range, he said. The new batteries are also durable enough to be recharged frequently for at least eight years.



“We look at this as a game-changing battery for EV trucks, and that&#8217;s really going to set the new bar for performance in this particular segment,” said Kelty, who built up Tesla’s battery operations for over a decade and previously worked for battery maker Panasonic. “With LMR we can actually deliver over 400 miles of range while reducing our costs.”



The LMR packs will be made by Ultium Cells, the GM-LG Energy battery joint venture, in Michigan and Ohio, with a goal of getting most of the lithium, manganese and other raw materials from non-Chinese suppliers. GM also plans to cut battery costs by shifting to a flat “prismatic” cell instead of the traditional cylindrical form. “That alone is going to reduce the number of parts in our battery packs by over 50% and that makes a huge difference,” Kelty said.



GM significantly trails Tesla as the largest seller of EVs in the U.S., but that could change in the next few years as it continues to build out its lineup and finds ways to make them more affordable. It can also take advantage of its rival’s sagging sales thanks to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2025/03/27/things-are-bad-at-tesla-theyre-about-to-get-much-worse/">many of its core buyers being increasingly turned off by CEO Elon Musk</a>. Though Tesla currently tops U.S. electric sales–delivering 128,100 in the first quarter versus GM’s 31,887–GM estimates it now makes more battery cells than any other automaker in the U.S., including Tesla. It also supplies batteries for Honda and Acura brand EVs, in addition to a dozen Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC models. (Tesla makes more battery packs overall, mainly using high nickel lithium-ion cells supplied by Panasonic.)



Using less cobalt and nickel, which can respectively cost more than $30,000 and $16,000 a ton, and more manganese–which is less than $1,000 a ton–could be a major boost for EV sales. That’s because reducing costs, while simultaneously improving performance is critical to getting more American drivers to shift to EVs from gasoline-powered cars and trucks, especially as the Trump Administration works to eliminate federal incentives to buy them.



Since he arrived at GM in 2023, Kelty has focused on helping the company build up both its battery production operations as well as finding new domestic sources of key components such as lithium, rare earth metals and other critical minerals needed for the market that China now dominates.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lithium-ion-alternatives">Lithium-ion Alternatives</h3>



Over the past two decades, EV makers have dramatically improved the energy density and reduced the cost of lithium-ion batteries, but the range of those gains is becoming more incremental, said Kelty, who’s worked in the industry for more than 30 years. While GM is the first automaker to announce plans for LMR, other alternatives include lithium-sulfur cells, which Stellantis is experimenting with; sodium-ion batteries that China’s CATL and BYD are developing; solid-state cells that Toyota and Volkswagen want to commercialize; and lithium-metal batteries, a chemistry GM, Ford, Mercedes-Benz and other companies see as a longer-term low-cost, high-powered option.



The LMR cells are going to heavy, large EVs first as that will likely be the biggest opportunity for big cost savings, Kelty said. New electric models like the Chevrolet Equinox, Blazer and revamped Bolt hatchback, due later this year, won’t initially get the new chemistry as those models are already designed to be price-competitive with LMC packs, Kelty said. Over the next two years, before the LMR packs go into production, GM and LG Chem will continue to refine their chemistry.



“One reason we&#8217;re not going to market next year is because there&#8217;s a few more little tweaks we can do,” Kelty said. “We know we can get that last little bit out of it. And in 2029 and 2030 you&#8217;re going to see even further improvements.”



Separately, the Energy Department said on Tuesday that Ultium Cells, the GM-LG battery venture, paid off its low-interest $1.8 billion loan about seven years ahead of schedule. The loan, which closed in December 2022, was used to build battery cell factories in Ohio and Tennessee.



GM shares rose about 1% in Tuesday trading to $50.17. They’re down about 6% this year.

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South Africa’s workforce contracted in the first quarter of 2025, as unemployment continued to climb, heightening economic concerns.



According to Statistics South Africa&#8217;s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), the number of unemployed persons rose to 8.2 million, a 237,000 increase from 2024&#8217;s final quarter. This translates to a 32.9% unemployment rate–1% higher than last year&#8217;s Q4.



Of South Africa&#8217;s nine provinces, six contributed to the rise in unemployment.



KwaZulu-Natal endured the biggest hit as employment numbers declined by 104,000, followed by Eastern Cape (83,000), Northwest (57,000), Limpopo (55,000), Mpumalanga (43,000) and Northern Cape (12,000).



Western Cape, the only province governed by the Democratic Alliance, saw a 49,000 uptick in workers, a staggering 40,000 better than next-best Gauteng (9,000), while the Free State saw its number of workers rise by 4,000.



Regarding industries, trade took the biggest knock, with its workforce depleting by 194,000. Construction (119,000), Private Households (68,000), and Community and Social Services (45,000) also experienced dwindling figures. The biggest winners include transport (67,000), finance (60,000) and utilities (35,000).



South Africa&#8217;s youth, aged between 15 and 34, remain at risk as the demographic&#8217;s unemployment rate rose to 4.8 million, 151,000 more than the previous quarter.



Simultaneously, the number of employed youth slumped by 153,000 to 5.7 million (46.1%).



Together, these developments have pushed South Africa’s expanded unemployment rate — which includes both active job seekers and discouraged work-seekers—up by 1.2 percentage points to 43.1%.



&#8220;The increase in discouraged work-seekers is a worry because we would want to see people being active in the labor market by either looking for employment or participating,&#8221; Chief Director of Labour Statistics at Statistics South Africa Desiree Manamela said at a press conference.



The growing unemployment rates will undoubtedly instil further public scrutiny on South Africa&#8217;s newly-formed general coalition government, which has yet to show substantial signs of economic growth as it continues to get distracted by in-house disputes.



More business-friendly policies are needed to counteract the nation&#8217;s poor domestic demand. The infrastructure, business, and workers are there, but effective frameworks to harness all three cohesively remain elusive.

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The World Bank estimates that for Nigeria to achieve its ambition of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2030, it would need to grow five times faster than its current pace.



Nigeria’s economy expanded by 4.6% year-on-year in the final quarter of 2024, pushing annual growth to 3.4%—its fastest pace in a decade, excluding the temporary rebound from the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the World Bank’s newly released Nigeria Development Update (NDU).



Titled Building Momentum for Inclusive Growth, the biannual report highlights a cautiously optimistic economic outlook, crediting the acceleration to a stronger fiscal position and improved revenue collection.



The World Bank noted that Nigeria’s fiscal deficit narrowed sharply from 5.4% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023 to 3.0% in 2024, driven by a surge in Federation revenues, which rose from ₦16.8 trillion (7.2% of GDP) in 2023 to an estimated ₦31.9 trillion (11.5% of GDP) last year.



This marks a rare turnaround for Africa’s most populous nation, which has long struggled to convert its natural wealth, especially from oil, into sustained economic development.



Despite previously boasting the continent’s largest economy, Nigeria has historically faced chronic underinvestment in infrastructure, high unemployment, and deep fiscal imbalances worsened by fuel subsidies and volatile oil prices.



“Now, the challenge is to consolidate macroeconomic stability and ignite inclusive growth through deeper, wider structural reforms. There is a need for the economy to generate more and better jobs at scale and reduce poverty,” the World Bank recommended in a statement.



Inflation, while still elevated, is expected to decline modestly, averaging 22.1% this year. The report attributes this trend to tighter monetary policy, which has helped to stabilize expectations after years of policy uncertainty.



The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has faced mounting pressure to restore its credibility after previous years of multiple exchange rates and unorthodox interventions.



The government of President Bola Tinubu, who assumed office in mid-2023, has taken steps to roll back fuel subsidies and unify the exchange rate—a move welcomed by investors but controversial at home, where cost-of-living pressures remain acute. The World Bank emphasized that inclusive growth remains the missing link in Nigeria’s economic story.



“Nigeria can attain 3.6% growth this year by scaling cash transfers, pursuing public-private partnerships like India’s 2010s infrastructure push, and issuing diaspora bonds to tap $20.1 billion in 2023 remittances,” Nigerian analyst Liadi Oluwaseyi Jimoh says to FORBES AFRICA. “Policy reversals, as in Argentina, must be avoided. Without addressing inflation and global risks, momentum could falter.”

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