Tems joins other members of the ownership group, including actor Issa Rae and footballer Juan Mata.



Two-time Grammy winner Temilade &#8216;Tems&#8217; Openiyi has joined the ownership group of San Diego FC as a club partner.



The Nigerian singer-songwriter made the announcement today on X (formerly Twitter), expressing her excitement: &#8220;Proud to support SDFC’s @right2dream initiative, empowering young talent on and off the field. Can’t wait for what’s ahead @mls!&#8221;



San Diego FC, also known as San Diego Wave FC, is a professional soccer team based in San Diego, California. The team competes in Major League Soccer (MLS).

The Fashion Awards 2024 Presented by Pandora –  Show

Two-Time Grammy Winner Tems Joins San Diego FC Ownership Group As Club Partner

Nigeria won the hosting right for the establishment of the Africa Energy Bank (AEB) Headquarters in July 2024, after it competed with Ghana, Algeria, South Africa, and Benin Republic.



The Africa Energy Bank (AEB) is set to launch in the first quarter of 2025, with an initial equity investment of $5 billion from member nations and shareholders.



Following the January 28 operationalization deadline, Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Heineken Lokpobiri confirmed at a conference today that the bank will begin operations in the country&#8217;s capital Abuja.



&#8220;The building is ready, and we are only putting finishing touches to it, by the end of this quarter, this bank will take off,&#8221; Lokpobiri reportedly said.



The bank, a joint initiative between African Export-Import Bank (AfreximBank) and the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO), aims to support Africa&#8217;s energy transition goals and fund oil and gas projects across the continent.



According to Lokpobiri, the AEB is expected to reach an asset base of $120 billion within the next five years.

Investors Pile Into Longer-Dated Nigerian Bonds to Lock in Rates

New Energy Bank In Q1 2025, Targeting Asset Base Of $120 Billion Within The Next Five Years

Excavation works initiated in 2016 led to the creation of the world&#8217;s largest single-train petroleum facility, capable of refining 650,000 barrels of crude per day, in Nigeria&#8217;s commercial capital Lagos.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
&#8220;We can go 100% in 30 days.&#8221; – Devakumar Edwin
</blockquote>



The Dangote Refinery, owned by Africa&#8217;s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is set to hit full capacity in 30 days, according to the refinery&#8217;s head.



Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Dangote Industries Limited, responsible for the oil and gas business, reportedly confirmed the refinery was currently operating at 85% capacity and &#8220;we can go 100% in 30 days&#8221;.



This development comes on the heels of the refinery&#8217;s shipment of two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco.



The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, described as Africa&#8217;s largest oil refinery, began production in January 2024.



At full capacity, the $20 billion facility aims to produce 327,000 barrels per day of gasoline, 244,000 barrels per day of gasoil/diesel, 56,000 barrels per day of jet fuel/kerosene, and 290,000 metric tons per year of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Nigeria’s $21 Billion Dangote Mega Oil Refinery Opening

Africa’s Richest Man’s Oil Refinery Reaches 85% Capacity, Aims For Full Production In 30 Days

Google apps 2018

Google Calendar Cuts Pride Month, Black History Month And More Observances—Here Are All The Companies Rolling Back DEI

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



Billionaire and government efficiency czar Elon Musk said at a virtual summit last week, which was published online Saturday, that he’s not interested in buying TikTok, despite earlier reports suggesting China was interested in selling the app to the Tesla executive.



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



Musk spoke at the&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/QVbRG2J1Saw?feature=shared" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">WELT Economic Summit</a>&nbsp;on Jan. 28, a German conference held by the media conglomerate AxelSpringer, stating he has not placed a bid to buy the app and is “not chomping at the bit to acquire TikTok.”



“I don’t have any plans for what would I do if I had TikTok,” Musk said, suggesting he could evaluate how harmful or productive the app’s algorithms are.



Musk compared acquiring TikTok to his purchase of Twitter, now called X, stating he felt the Twitter purchase was important because he wanted to “preserve freedom of speech,” but he said he’s not sure if that same logic applies to TikTok because the only reasons he sees for a potential acquisition would be economic.



Musk, however, has previously voiced opposition to a TikTok ban in&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1781387457193230338" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">multiple</a>&nbsp;social media&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1880975630646612254" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">posts</a>, calling it contrary to freedom of speech.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Did China Want Musk To Buy Tiktok?</h2>



<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-14/china-discusses-sale-of-tiktok-us-to-musk-as-one-possible-option" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/china-officials-internally-discuss-option-of-tiktok-sale-to-musk-bac0a224" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a>&nbsp;reported in January Chinese officials had discussed the possibility of selling TikTok to Musk to avoid a ban in the United States. China had discussed a potential sale to Musk as a way to work with the then-incoming Trump administration, and one idea floated included Musk’s X taking ownership of TikTok, Bloomberg reported. TikTok, however, denied these reports, with a spokesperson telling&nbsp;<a href="https://variety.com/2025/digital/news/tiktok-elon-musk-sale-china-pure-fiction-1236273557/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">multiple</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://fortune.com/2025/01/14/elon-musk-buying-tiktok-pure-fiction/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">outlets</a>&nbsp;the idea of a Musk sale is “pure fiction.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What’s Going On With Tiktok—and When Could It Be Banned?</h2>



The United States is still seeking to broker a deal with China that lets the app continue to be used in the United States ahead of the ban’s extension deadline in April. After TikTok&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2025/01/20/tiktok-ban-live-updates-trump-halts-ban-for-75-days-after-ceo-attends-inauguration/">briefly went dark</a>&nbsp;for more than 12 hours in January, the app returned with a message thanking Trump for his efforts—before he took office—because he had promised to extend the ban deadline. Trump signed an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/application-of-protecting-americans-from-foreign-adversary-controlled-applications-act-to-tiktok/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">executive order</a>&nbsp;on his first day in office extending the deadline for ByteDance to divest from the app by 75 days. Trump has since suggested the U.S. and China could jointly own TikTok, though he has also advocated for a “<a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/trump-vance-tiktok-deal-0e3b8bc1" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">bidding war</a>.” Several parties have expressed interest in purchasing TikTok, including “Shark Tank” judge and investor&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/22/kevin-oleary-says-he-will-love-to-do-a-tiktok-deal-but-law-prevents-its-acquisition.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Kevin O’Leary</a>, who said he put $20 billion “on the table” alongside billionaire and Project Liberty nonprofit founder Frank McCourt. YouTube’s most-followed star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/21/business/mr-beast-buy-tiktok-ceo/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">MrBeast</a>, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has also expressed interest in buying TikTok as part of a group of investors led by Jesse Tinsley, founder and CEO of Employer.com. Trump has also claimed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/trump-says-microsoft-is-talks-acquire-tiktok-2025-01-28/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Microsoft</a>&nbsp;is in talks to purchase the app.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Further Reading</h2>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2025/01/26/these-billionaires-companies-and-investors-could-buy-tiktok-as-oracle-reportedly-weighs-deal-with-trump/">These Billionaires, Companies And Investors Could Buy TikTok—As Trump Eyes ‘Bidding War’ With Microsoft</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2025/01/14/heres-how-much-elon-musk-could-buy-tiktok-for-as-china-reportedly-eyes-deal/">Here’s How Much Elon Musk Could Buy TikTok For—As China Reportedly Eyes Deal</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)

Cannes Lions International Festival Of Creativity 2024 – Day Three

Elon Musk Says He Has No Plans To Buy TikTok

Namibia’s first president, Sam Nujoma, passed away on Saturday at the age of 95, following three weeks of hospitalization in the country’s capital Windhoek. Nujoma, who was formally recognized as the ‘Founding Father of the Nation’ by a 2005 parliamentary decree, played a defining role in the country’s struggle for independence. As one of the founding members of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) in the 1960s, he led the resistance against South African rule, eventually securing Namibia’s independence in 1990.



His passing was announced by Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba, who acknowledged the profound impact of Nujoma’s leadership. &#8220;Our founding father lived a long and consequential life during which he exceptionally served the people of his beloved country… The foundations of the Republic of Namibia have been shaken,&#8221; said Mbumba.



Nujoma led the country for three terms, from 1990 to 2005, and was widely credited with stabilizing Namibia post-independence. His policy of national reconciliation encouraged white citizens to remain and contribute to the economy, particularly in agriculture. His administration also championed women’s and children’s rights, introducing policies such as mandatory child maintenance payments.



However, his leadership was not without controversy. While he was revered for his role in liberation and state-building, his tenure also drew criticism for its political rigidity and intolerance of opposition.



International tributes have poured in following his passing. King Charles III described his contribution to democracy as &#8220;immense”, while South African President Cyril Ramaphosa hailed him as an &#8220;extraordinary freedom fighter”. African Union Commission Chair Moussa Faki Mahamat called him the &#8220;epitome of courage”, and Kenya’s President William Ruto lauded him as a &#8220;visionary leader.&#8221;



As Namibia reflects on Nujoma’s passing, his legacy remains deeply embedded in the nation’s history.



From spearheading the fight for independence to guiding the country through its formative years, his leadership shaped modern Namibia. His influence extended far beyond Namibia’s borders, earning both admiration and scrutiny. As the country prepares to lay its founding father to rest, his impact on Namibia’s trajectory — both its triumphs and its challenges — will continue to be debated for generations to come.

Dr. Sam Nujoma addresses the United Nations

Namibia’s First And Founding President Sam Nujoma Passes Away At 95

Qualification for Zimbabwe to the next Africa Cup of Nations finals comes at an important juncture for football in the country, which has been under a dark cloud for years.



Government interference in the running of the sport led to a ban by world football’s governing body FIFA, forcing Zimbabwe to miss an entire Africa Cup of Nations qualifying cycle.



Crumbling infrastructure has also cost the country dearly as Zimbabwe’s national team, as well as their clubs competing in continental competition, have been disqualified from hosting matches at home as their stadiums have been deemed not up to international standard.



That meant that Zimbabwe had to play their entire 2025 Cup of Nations qualifying campaign away from home, including using Uganda and South Africa as their ‘alternate’ home venue.



But despite the handicap, the Warriors advanced to next year’s finals in Morocco, where they will be competing in African football’s showpiece for the sixth time and have been drawn with Egypt, familiar foes South Africa and Angola in the pools stage.



It has proven a quick success for the German coach Michael Nees, returning to Africa for the first time in almost a decade after previously working in Rwanda, the Seychelles and South Africa.



He has galvanized the team into a more effective unit and saw them see off the challenge of both Kenya and Namibia to finish along with Cameroon in the top qualifying places in their group.



The 57-year-old was always confident of success with Zimbabwe, as he tells FORBES AFRICA.



“This is a football country. They love, they adore football. You need to go around the county, to watch the games, then you feel the real football,” he said.



His first task was to blend the mix of home and overseas-based players, many of them second-generation Zimbabweans from the diaspora born in Britain.



“You rely always on the mixture of players abroad, who play in very good leagues, and local players. It must always be some sort of mixture. Sometimes one group will dominate, sometimes maybe the other group will dominate. But I don&#8217;t think I will ever call 25 players from overseas clubs only,” he explained



“Conditions (in Africa) are not like in a professional environment in Europe. The pitches are more difficult, so the game must be a little slower, because they need time to control the ball. It cannot be a fluent passing game, like it would be on a nice pitch. So we have to recognize that that and this is where local players who can use the conditions better have a role to play.



“You need to see that you get a team harmony, where there is no superiority and inferiority, where everybody is respected and regarded,” he adds.



“Some were fortunate to be born in the right place at the right time, and maybe get the right education and training, but that doesn&#8217;t mean that a player who grew up with inferior conditions has less talent. He had maybe had less conditions to develop his talent, but maybe the talent is still hidden, and we need to unlock that potential.”



“We have to take it step by step, from training to training, from match to match. I think that would be for us, the best approach. In this group, I’d say South Africa, with seven home games in 10 matches, have the best opportunity ever to go to a World Cup. I mean, which team has seven home matches?



We don&#8217;t have home matches. Nigeria, on paper, would have the second-best chance, but they’ve had problems the group. But I don&#8217;t think the group is decided yet,” he says, hinting that Zimbabwe might yet have a say in the tussle for a World Cup place.

Football – 2025 AFCON Qualifiers – Namibia v Zimbabwe – Orlando Stadium – Soweto

‘This Is A Football Country’: The 57-year-old Coach Confident Of Success With Zimbabwe

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA) against the backdrop of South Africa’s evolving political and economic realities. Addressing Parliament in Cape Town City Hall today, he outlined an ambitious framework for national renewal, emphasizing economic revitalization, infrastructure investment, and the country’s place in the shifting global order.



The address came at a critical moment: the first full year of South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU), rising geopolitical tensions, and an economy striving to recover from years of stagnation. While Ramaphosa painted a picture of resilience and reform, the challenges of implementation remain a formidable test.



Economic Recovery And Infrastructure



Ramaphosa placed economic growth and job creation at the heart of his administration’s priorities. “Our most urgent task is to grow our economy so we can create jobs, reduce poverty, and improve the lives of all South Africans,” he stated, setting a 3% GDP growth target as a crucial milestone. However, this target may be difficult to achieve given existing economic constraints.



South African economist Dawie Roodt offers a measured perspective. “If we get kicked off AGOA, it’s not the end of the world, but everything adds up. We could see economic growth well below 1.5%, and that will have serious consequences,” he tells FORBES AFRICA. While the government’s infrastructure plans are extensive, structural challenges may pose obstacles to reaching this ambitious growth rate.



With GDP growth struggling to surpass 1.5% in recent years, achieving the government’s 3% target will be a significant challenge. While infrastructure spending is a key strategy, Roodt cautioned that it alone may not be enough to drive the necessary economic expansion.



To stimulate growth, his government has committed to a R940 billion ($51 billion) infrastructure investment over three years, including R375 billion ($20.3 billion) in spending by state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Projects range from modernizing ports and railways to the completion of the Polihali Dam in the Lesotho Highlands, ensuring water security for key industrial hubs.



Infrastructure reform extends to energy, where South Africa’s ongoing transition away from Eskom’s monopoly is set to redefine the electricity sector. “We must put the risk of loadshedding behind us once and for all,” Ramaphosa affirmed, touting the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act, which enables private investment in generation and transmission networks. The government also aims to mobilize over $13 billion in international climate funding to support the Just Energy Transition (JET).



State Capacity And Governance Reform



Ramaphosa acknowledged the systemic failures in public service delivery, from failing municipalities to persistent corruption in state institutions. Acknowledging the urgent need for reform, he announced a new model for public service recruitment, strengthening the Public Service Commission’s role in appointing directors-general and SOE executives.



Municipal service failures remain a pressing concern, with unmaintained roads, disrupted electricity, and inadequate water provision plaguing local governance. In response, the government will establish ring-fenced utilities for water and electricity in struggling municipalities to ensure revenue is reinvested into infrastructure.



South Africa–U.S. Relations And Foreign Policy



The speech took on a notable diplomatic tone, reflecting South Africa’s role in an increasingly fragmented global order. Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to multilateralism, highlighting its G20 presidency as an opportunity to champion Africa’s economic interests on the global stage.



However, relations with the U.S. remain complex. The Biden administration’s recent decision to suspend some HIV and TB program funding for Africa — which accounts for 17% of South Africa’s HIV spending — was met with concern. “We are looking at various interventions to address the immediate needs and ensure the continuity of essential services,” Ramaphosa stated, underscoring the country’s reliance on international partnerships.



South Africa’s stance on Palestine and its International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against Israel has also drawn U.S. scrutiny. While South Africa upholds its position on human rights and territorial sovereignty, Washington’s view on the country’s geopolitical alignment remains cautious, particularly given its engagement with BRICS and growing economic ties with China and Russia.



Jobs, Trade, And Business Confidence



Addressing unemployment, particularly among youth, Ramaphosa reaffirmed the expansion of the Presidential Employment Stimulus, which has created 2.2 million work opportunities. However, he emphasized that private-sector growth is crucial to sustainable employment, urging businesses to engage with the SAYouth.mobi platform and expand workplace experience programs.



On trade, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) remains a pillar of South Africa’s economic strategy. With the country positioning itself as a regional hub for green manufacturing, electric vehicles, and digital services, Ramaphosa reiterated South Africa’s ambition to lead Africa’s industrialisation wave.



Economist Roodt further emphasizes the risks beyond trade: “If the U.S. stops buying our government bonds, that’s when we’ll be in real trouble. The rand will tank, inflation will spike, and the entire financial system could come under strain.”



The mining sector, a historical backbone of the economy, is also poised for reform. A modernized mining rights system, expected this year, aims to unlock investment in exploration and critical minerals, strengthening South Africa’s position in the global commodities market.



Challenges Ahead



Despite the optimistic tone, economic realities pose significant risks. With GDP growth struggling to surpass 1.5% in recent years, achieving the 3% target will require more than infrastructure spending. Structural challenges — from inefficiencies in SOEs to regulatory red tape — continue to hamper investor confidence.



Furthermore, political stability within the GNU remains untested. With ideological differences between the ANC, DA, IFP, and other coalition partners, policy coherence will be a major determinant of success.



Ramaphosa’s message was clear: South Africa has the potential to emerge stronger, but execution will determine its trajectory. Whether the government’s ambitious reforms translate into real economic growth and global competitiveness will be the ultimate test.

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State-of-the-Nation Address

South Africa’s 2025 State of the Nation Address: Economic Vision, Global Relations, and National Challenges

On Wednesday morning, the X account of Tanzanian billionaire Mohammed Dewji posted a 10-second video of the bearded tycoon sitting in his home office with a piece of paper on which he had scribbled one word: $Tanzania. Dewji, who is CEO of the conglomerate METL Group and owner of a professional football team in Dar es Salaam, is a popular figure in Tanzania, with over 2.2 million followers on X (known previously as Twitter). His account posted several times on Wednesday morning promoting the token, including instructions on how to buy it.



But Dewji says he had no involvement in the project and that his X account has been hacked. The video purporting to be from Dewji is actually a deepfake: a video in which a person&#8217;s voice and body have been modified by AI to construct a false reality, typically for purposes of misinformation.



“my account has been hacked 😢,” Dewji wrote to&nbsp;Forbes&nbsp;in a WhatsApp message on Wednesday afternoon at 1:18pm eastern time. Dewji adds that his team previously reported the hack to X and that he remains locked out of his account.



Even after several of his posts hawking $Tanzania were taken down, Dewji’s account continued to promote the scam. At 2:56pm eastern time, a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/moodewji/status/1887228880143937595" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">post</a>&nbsp;promoting the cryptocurrency’s launch was shared. Then two minutes later, a second apparent deepfake&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/moodewji/status/1887229328951550180" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">posted</a>&nbsp;by Dewji’s account showed the tycoon in a new room, insisting that he hasn’t been hacked and holding up the same sheet of paper. “My name is Mohammed Dewji and I’m trying to verify myself. This is what you told me to write: Tanzania with the dollar sign,” the fake Dewji says. The post’s caption reads: “im not hacked i hope i can verify myself that way $tanzania will be out in 2H.” That video has received over 30,000 views as of 10:09pm eastern time Wednesday. Two additional deepfakes of Dewji promoting the token were posted at&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/moodewji/status/1887251542794764314" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">4:26pm</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/moodewji/status/1887254899819487476" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">4:40pm</a>&nbsp;eastern. All of these videos were still active as of 10:09pm eastern time Wednesday. The hackers also modified Dewji’s account settings so that other users could not respond to his posts.



People with knowledge of AI scams would have been suspicious of the Dewji videos, in which the tycoon appears stilted and robotic. (In the first video, Dewji bizarrely insisted, “I am real”). But deepfake technology has advanced so quickly that less tech savvy consumers may be easily fooled. Deepfake content led to fraud losses of over $12 billion in 2023,&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/financial-services/financial-services-industry-predictions/2024/deepfake-banking-fraud-risk-on-the-rise.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">according to&nbsp;</a>Deloitte.



The Dewji case appears to have been no exception. Over just a few hours, investors put $1.48 million into the $Tanzania token, which was listed on the Solana blockchain,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/lookonchain/status/1887170085070217383/photo/1" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">according</a>&nbsp;to Lookonchain, a blockchain analytics account, earlier today. The scammers appear to be the same people who hacked the X account of former Brazil president Jair Bolsonaro two weeks ago and made off with $1.3 million,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/zachxbt/status/1887177675518640353" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">according&nbsp;</a>to ZachXBT, a scam victim now tracks crypto fraud.



X has become fertile ground for crypto scammers since Elon Musk took over the social media platform in 2022 and slashed content moderation efforts. Many successful deepfakes even&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cloudsek.com/knowledge-base/elon-musk-deepfakes-are-fueling-crypto-scams-a-dangerous-trend" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">show a fake Elon Musk promoting cryptocurrencies</a>. The backers of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnhyatt/2023/11/29/a-crypto-token-pretending-to-be-backed-by-elon-musk-is-running-riot-on-x/">a fake ‘X Token’</a>&nbsp;also have used Musk’s image and name in effort to swindle unsuspecting X users.



“I guess i need to invest more on cybersecurity,” Dewji wrote to&nbsp;Forbes&nbsp;when asked if had any further comment.



X has not responded to a request for comment.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Story updated at 10:14pm on Wednesday to reflect additional deepfakes posted to Dewji’s X account.

Key Speakers on Day Two of The Qatar Economic Forum

African Billionaire’s X Account Hacked By Crypto Scammers

Mitchells Plain, about a 20km-drive from Cape Town’s city center, is a small, densely populated area with its own array of social ills and issues. But for Kiara Scott, it is the place where she first fell in love with the idea of becoming a winemaker.



“I grew up surrounded by – I am trying to find a diplomatic way of saying this – partying and people enjoying beer and hard liquor and all of those things,” Scott laughs, speaking to FORBES AFRICA.



“And I was really interested, I think, in more of the chemistry of wine… that can sometimes have different effects on people… My family was also quite conservative. We were always told to stay away from any alcoholic beverage or drugs&#8230; So, it got me curious.”



Surprisingly, Scott received no pushback from her family when she spoke of her career ambitions – in fact, both her mother and grandmother encouraged her to pursue her passion.



Having graduated from the Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute, in Viticulture and Oenology, in wine town Stellenbosch and with years in the vineyards, the now 32-year-old recently took home the Diner’s Club Winemaker of the Year Award, making her just one of two women in 44 years to win the title. She was South Africa’s youngest female winemaker, when she was appointed by Brookdale Estate in 2019, and is now the head winemaker at Hazendal Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. &nbsp;



The South African wine industry continues to boom. The Western Cape province’s diverse climate and soil types create the ideal condition for winemakers to grow a variety of grapes. According to a report by Wines of South Africa, there are currently 87,848&nbsp;hectares of vines producing wine grapes under cultivation in South Africa over an area of some 800km in length. The report further states that the industry employed 270,363&nbsp;people in 2019, which included farm laborers, those involved in packaging, retailing and wine tourism.



And although this industry is considered male-dominated, according to London-based wine consumer research and insights specialist Wine Intelligence, “the narrative has been shifting, and today, women are not just participating but leading and shaping the future of winemaking”.



“In the earliest records of winemaking history, women&#8217;s roles were often limited to supporting tasks, despite their significant contributions,” the report in Wine Intelligence states. “Today, the landscape looks dramatically different. Women are winemakers, sommeliers, wine business CEOs, and hold numerous other critical positions within the industry. They bring diverse perspectives and innovations to winemaking, from sustainable practices to experimental techniques.”



Scott, one of only a few young colored women in South Africa and globally who is a winemaker, reiterates that is positive news for the industry.



“There are definitely more women today in the wine industry than when I started. At that time, there were probably only two female winemakers that I was aware of.”



Harking back to challenges of climbing up the ladder, Scott can’t help but smile and say, “I try to have a very the-glass-is-half-full approach and stay optimistic and positive. I think in any industry, in any career, there are definitely challenges, particularly with being a woman, [you will find] gender stereotypes. And then on top of that, also being a colored person, or a person of color, I&#8217;ve definitely had some experiences where that has been negative, but I will say, for the most part, it&#8217;s actually been quite positive.”



Her philosophy of minimal intervention and terroir-driven expression aligns with her interest in creating wines that are as technically exacting as they are bold.



“I have a simple and minimal intervention approach to winemaking. I believe that great wines are made in the vineyard. Year on year, I am aiming to better understand our vineyards and soils to make the work in the cellar easier,” Scott adds. “There have been challenges but nothing is not fixable and for me there is nothing else I would rather be doing than this.”

thumbnail_image001aqa

Change In The Cellar: South African Winemaker On Breaking Barriers In A Male-Dominated Industry

The 2025 Mining Indaba has reached its midway point in Cape Town, South Africa, with the conference taking the theme of Future-Proofing African Mining, Today! However, future-proofing is not proving simple, with the conference abuzz given the recent conflict in the mineral-rich Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), political and economic uncertainty between South Africa and the United States, BRICS developments, and the acceleration of technological development globally.



Panels, discussions, and themes — by design and coincidence — reflect the backdrop against which Mining Indaba 2025 occurs; the localization and maximization of the capture of mineral wealth by African nations, the balancing act between global partnerships, and the integration of sustainable practices.



Mining amidst Geopolitical Tensions This year’s Indaba was marked by unexpected diplomatic drama when President Cyril Ramaphosa missed his keynote address. An official statement cited a scheduling conflict, though widespread speculation links his absence to urgent efforts to mend South Africa’s strained ties with the United States. In his place, Minister Gwede Mantashe took the stage, serving as both the conference’s anchor and a stabilizing force amid escalating tensions between the two nations former President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Sunday: “I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!”, referring to the country’s recent implementation of the Expropriation Bill, aimed at allowing the government to turn idle or speculative land appropriate for use by the state. Later, Trump added in a press briefing: “South Africa&#8217;s leadership is doing some terrible things, horrible things. So that&#8217;s under investigation right now. We&#8217;ll make a determination, and until such time as we find out what South Africa is doing — they&#8217;re taking away land and confiscating land, and actually they&#8217;re doing things that are perhaps far worse than that.” While the presidency maintains that Ramaphosa’s absence was due solely to scheduling, these developments hint at deeper diplomatic challenges affecting Africa’s mining strategy.



Bringing Local Value to Local Production A central theme of the Indaba is transforming Africa’s role from raw commodity exporter to industrial powerhouse. Minister Mantashe stressed during his keynote: “We cannot continue to debate these minerals based on the dictates of some developed nations as if we have no aspirations to accelerate Africa’s industrialization and close the development deficit. Africa must determine its own destiny—harnessing its vast resources not just to export raw commodities, but to build comprehensive, value-added industries.” By championing local value addition, the conference aims to spur investments in processing facilities and downstream industries, creating jobs and reducing vulnerability to global market volatility.



Technological Innovations on Display The Tech &amp; Innovation Hub has emerged as one of the event’s highlights. Live ‘Tech in Action’ demos have showcased disruptive technologies — from robotics in ore extraction to real‑time data analytics optimizing operations. Panels and workshops have also addressed the challenge of integrating artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) into formal frameworks.



Trade and Investment Dynamics Negotiations between the DRC and Zambia over direct copper trading deals reflect a broader shift in global supply chain control. These moves signal an assertive effort by African nations to bypass traditional intermediaries and capture a larger share of resource value — an essential step toward achieving economic sovereignty in an era of technological disruption and realigned geopolitical alliances.



Commitment to Sustainability and ESG Sustainability remains paramount at the Indaba. Sessions have demonstrated how artificial intelligence and data standardization can boost operational efficiency while enhancing environmental stewardship. Panel discussions on tailings safety and zero-harm goals have reinforced the commitment to practices that protect communities and ecosystems. “



Formalizing Artisanal Mining: A Pressing Need A recent standoff at the Stilfontein mine in South Africa — where clashes between artisanal miners and police escalated into violence after a several week-long standoff — has intensified calls for formalizing artisanal mining. Advocates argue that integrating informal miners into the formal economy is crucial not only for improving safety and environmental outcomes but also for recognizing their significant economic contributions.



David Sturmes-Verbreek of global sustainability organization The Impact Facility explained during a panel at the annual event: “It’s about moving from crime to investing in a legitimate sector.”



Call for Collective Action As the 2025 Mining Indaba continues, its converging themes — local value addition, technological innovation, geopolitical recalibration, and sustainability — outline the future of African mining. The conference underscores that progress hinges on collaborative efforts to translate discussions into concrete policies and investments. With continuous dialogue via platforms like Mining Indaba TV, the coming months will be crucial in determining whether Africa can harness its vast mineral wealth for a prosperous, sustainable future.

Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town

African Mining Indaba: New Course Amidst Tumultuous Waters

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Shares of Google parent Alphabet sank in after hours trading Tuesday after the search engine giant’s fourth-quarter earnings&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001652044/000165204425000010/goog-20250204.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;revealed slightly weaker quarterly revenues than Wall Street anticipated and predicted much higher spending in 2025 than expected.



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



Alphabet stock declined 7% to $193 in afternoon trading by 4:35 p.m. EST, equating to a roughly $180 billion loss of market value.



The dive came after Alphabet reported mixed Q4 earnings: Its $2.15 adjusted earnings per share exceeded consensus analyst forecasts of $2.12, while its $96.5 billion in revenue fell just short of estimates of $96.7 billion.



Perhaps most pressing for investors was the company reporting worse-than-expected revenue in its artificial intelligence heavy Google Cloud unit, bringing in $11.96 billion compared to forecasts of $12.19 billion, and guiding for $75 billion in 2025 capital expenditures, far above estimates of $58.8 billion.



Alphabet shares had closed normal trading up 2.5% at a record share price of $207.71.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Big Number</h2>



$72.46 billion. That’s how much advertising revenue Alphabet brought in during 2024’s final three months, easily topping forecasts of $71.66 billion and shattering Q3 2024’s prior record of $65.85 billion.



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



Alphabet is an ad company at its core, with ads accounting for 75% of sales last quarter, including $54 billion from Google and $10 billion from its YouTube video platform. Google is a part of the generative AI arms race with its Gemini chatbot, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2025/01/24/meta-will-spend-record-60-billion-on-ai-this-year-zuckerberg-says-after-trump-announces-stargate-deal-with-openai/">joins</a>&nbsp;fellow Silicon Valley generative AI player Meta in forecasting much higher 2025 spending than Wall Street expected.

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Google Stock Falters As Earnings Report Reveals Weaker-Than-Expected Cloud Sales

The actor and director is on an official four-day trip to Nigeria to support the creative arts and for his ongoing leadership scholarship for girls.



British-Nigerian actor David Oyelowo is in the West African nation, following a seven-year absence, and joined by his wife, Jessica for a two-day, girls-only creative arts summit.



The GEANCO Foundation-organized event, held between January 31 and February 1 at Brightland Academy in Enugu, Eastern Nigeria, brings together approximately 100 girls from around the country for workshops focused on screenwriting, acting, drawing, music, photography, digital art, and dance.



Oyelowo, who was born in the United Kingdom to Nigerian parents, expresses his excitement about being back in the country and his commitment to empowering girls, since 2016, through education via his leadership scholarship program, in partnership with GEANCO.



“It’s been a while since I’ve been back, but the pandemic was a big reason for that,” Oyelowo, who visited Eastern Nigeria for the first time, tells FORBES AFRICA.



“I’m so glad to be back and see the progress we’ve made – from three girls [in 2016] to 44 girls now.”



During their visit, the Oyelowos also visited one of GEANCO’s family health clinics and the Giannis Antetokounmpo-funded community center.



“It’s about access for a community to stand autonomously and grow,” Oyelowo says.



Afam Onyema, CEO of GEANCO, emphasizes the importance of sustainability and scalability.



“We’re not just cutting checks to schools; we’re building a presence in the girls’ lives, providing access to education, healthcare, and creative opportunities,” Onyema says.



Oyelowo touching on the summit experience, says: “Seeing them come out of their shells is the most rewarding part. What you find with some of our girls is that they’re very quiet. They make themselves smaller than they should, especially around men, because they are taking in data that they should make themselves small, that they’re not important. And we’re trying to instill in them that that is the opposite of the truth”.



“And as they begin to believe that, the beautiful surprise is seeing them find their voice, find their joy in experiencing photography, and dance, and AI, and digital art, and acting, and script writing, and all of the things that we are affording them the opportunity to do here.”



He continues that “it’s not about whether you’re going to become an actress or a writer or a photographer or a painter. It’s about giving you life skills that are going to give you choices on the basis of access”.



Oyelowo also elaborates on his continued dedication to the program.



“To have a scholarship named after me, to have the passion I have for girls’ education generally&#8230; I’m dedicated to this.”

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‘I’m dedicated to this’: David Oyelowo On Returning To Nigeria For Creative Arts Summit

When it comes to losing money, Boeing is an overperformer — of historic proportion. On Tuesday, the beleaguered plane maker announced a net loss of $3.9 billion for the fourth quarter of 2024. That makes for a stunning $11.8 billion loss for the year, the second largest in Boeing history.



The lousy news is partly due to the disruption of a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeremybogaisky/2024/10/25/boeing-strike-pension/">seven-week strike</a>&nbsp;by Boeing’s machinists that halted production of the company’s bestselling plane, the 737 Max. It’s also a result of chronic delays and cost overruns on key programs in Boeing’s defense division. And then there are the company’s seemingly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeremybogaisky/2024/02/17/boeing-737-max-workers/">endless struggles</a>&nbsp;to straighten out production problems with the 737 Max and 787.



Boeing’s financial losing streak now stretches six years, starting with the grounding of the 737 Max in 2019 following two deadly crashes. Its total losses since that time: a staggering $35.7 billion.



Fourth-quarter earnings season isn’t done yet, but Boeing’s dismal 2024 results are almost certain to bolster the company’s lead as the biggest loser in the S&amp;P 500 index since 2019, according to data from FactSet. Uber, which was running a close second to Boeing through 2023, is expected to report a profit for 2024, while third-place Carnival posted net income of $1.9 billion for 2024, reducing its total losses over the past six years to $21 billion.



Looking back over the past quarter century, Boeing ranks sixth among the titans of red ink on the S&amp;P 500. The ignominious No. 1: American International Group. Adjusting for inflation to 2024 dollars to compare apples to apples, the insurer lost an eye-popping $162 billion in 2008 and 2009, as its balance sheet imploded under heavy exposure to the collapse of the housing market amid the Great Recession. That’s over four times Boeing’s total inflation-adjusted loss so far of $39.4 billion. In second place is General Motors, which hemorrhaged an eye-watering $130 billion from 2005 through 2008 in 2024 dollars. It filed for bankruptcy the next year, reorganizing with $33 billion in financing from the U.S. and Canadian governments.https://embedly.forbes.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fdatawrapper.dwcdn.net%2FRghvw%2F2%2F&amp;display_name=Datawrapper&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fdatawrapper.dwcdn.net%2FRghvw%2F2%2F&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fdatawrapper.dwcdn.net%2FRghvw%2Fplain-s.png%3Fv%3D2&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=dwcdn



Where Boeing does rank No. 1: It’s lost the most money among the select group of 27 S&amp;P 500 members that have losing streaks of at least six consecutive years since 1999. In distant second place is the former parent company of the Texas electricity supplier TXU, which lost an inflation-adjusted $28.8 billion from 2010 through 2015, driving it into bankruptcy.



But Boeing is far down the leaderboard of the longest streaks of red ink in the S&amp;P 500. The industrial parts and repair company DEX lost money for 18 years in a row before turning profitable in 2019. SBA Communications and LiveNation are tied for second with 17-year runs of red ink that are thankfully over.



Despite Boeing’s dismal run, institutional investors have been willing to shore up the company’s finances thanks to the company’s fat order book of 5,595 planes, which should convert into billions in revenue if new CEO Kelly Ortberg can get its production lines humming smoothly again. The company raised $24 billion late last year through a sale of stock and convertible debt.



But don’t bet on Boeing’s losing streak ending in 2025. CFO Brian West told analysts on the company’s third-quarter conference call he expected the company to record negative cash flow for the full year.<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeremybogaisky/"></a>

Boeing Union Says Talks Halted On Pensions And Pay Demands

Boeing Is One Of The 21st Century’s Most Unprofitable Companies

Fraud tactics, according to a new report, have been accelerated by emerging technologies such as generative AI, deepfakes, and insider-assisted schemes.



Most fraud cases in Africa involved spoofing last year, according to the 2025 Digital Identity Fraud in Africa Report by Know Your Customer (KYC) provider, Smile ID.



In the context of identity verification and biometric authentication, spoofing refers to the act of presenting fake biometric data, such as a photo or video of someone’s face, fingerprints, or voice, to trick the system into accepting it as genuine.



The report, which analyzed over 110 million identity verification checks across the continent, reveals a sophisticated web of fraud tactics exploiting vulnerabilities in fintech platforms and digital ecosystems.



West Africa emerged as the hotspot for biometric fraud with the highest incidents of spoofing and face-match inconsistencies.



East Africa led in document fraud cases, with a combined rejection rate of 27%.



Central Africa, up by 3%, saw a slight increase in rejected identity verification attempts, with rates climbing to 22%. Meanwhile, Southern Africa experienced a sharp increase, with rejection rates soaring from 9% to 21%, pointing to a surge in fraud attempts linked to the phasing out of the green ID book, a formerly widely-used identity document.



The widespread adoption of biometric verification has strengthened fraud prevention, but also driven fraudsters to develop more sophisticated attack methods.



The report found that fraudulent activities peaked between 7PM and 3AM GMT, with a surge in attacks at 11PM GMT. This suggests that fraudsters are most active during nighttime hours.



“As fraud becomes more sophisticated, KYC solutions must evolve. Machine learning and predictive analytics enable real-time detection of unusual patterns, while automation and adaptability will define the future of KYC. By combining precision and speed, businesses can prevent fraud effectively while ensuring a smooth, secure experience for legitimate users,” Mark Straub, CEO of Smile ID, shares with FORBES AFRICA.



Straub also reiterates the importance of protecting people and integrations from threats of fraud.



“Implementing SOC2 and ISO 27001 security training, device management, and audits can help prevent fraud,” he advises.

Tag: South Africa

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