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Stone is a strategy and communication consulting firm that has added significant value to respected brands and client organisations since 2008...

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Kevin Aron, Principal Officer at Medshield Medical Scheme

Supporting mental health – prioritising access in a time of rising pressure

JOHANNESBURG - Last week, South Africa joined the rest of the world in marking World Mental Health Day (10 October). It is a significant opportunity to shed light on mental health, reduce stigma, and foster open conversations. However, here is the question: should mental health remain a once-a-year concern, or must we make continuous access and implementation our daily priority?

Why your “why” matters when choosing a medical aid

JOHANNESBURG - Healthcare is one of the most important long-term investments you will ever make. Yet for many South Africans, selecting a medical aid can feel overwhelming – with too many plans, too much jargon, and too little time. As a result, people often end up either over-insured, paying for benefits they never use, or under-insured, left exposed when they need care most.

Why climate change is reshaping health and healthcare funding

JOHANNESBURG - When we consider the threats to our health, we tend to focus on the obvious: chronic illnesses, poor nutrition, or physical inactivity. However, another force is quietly accelerating health risks and driving up medical costs: climate change.

Medshield is committed to building a sustainable healthcare future

JOHANNESBURG - Are you curious about what makes businesses stand out in our current environment? It's certainly not about the bottom line and the financials anymore. It's about how they impact the world – the environment, the societies in which they operate, and their governance structures. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles have become indispensable in a world grappling with climate change, social inequalities, and corporate accountability. While sectors like mining, energy, and manufacturing have typically been under the ESG spotlight, healthcare is now stepping into focus.

Why medical schemes must lead the green shift

JOHANNESBURG - When you think about what drives healthcare costs, you might picture hospital stays, chronic illness, or rising treatment expenses. But what if one of the most significant emerging risks to your health – and your medical aid's sustainability – is the environment? From the air we breathe to the waste we generate, environmental conditions shape healthcare outcomes and costs. As pollution increases and climate-linked diseases become more common, environmental health is no longer a parallel concern. It is a healthcare issue and a strategic imperative.

The future of medical schemes depends on technology, trust and transformation 

JOHANNESBURG - In an era where technology advances are transforming every aspect of our lives, accessing information about healthcare should be just as seamless and efficient. The complexities of dealing with a medical scheme can seem daunting, and technology can significantly reduce these complexities and improve access to the right information at the right time - imagine effortlessly managing your healthcare needs online, much like booking travel or managing your finances.

Mandisa Ntloko-Petersen, Group CMO of SEACOM

Closing the gender gap in the ICT industry through mentorship

JOHANNESBURG - Over the past decade, transformative technological advancements, such as smartphones, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and 5G, have revolutionised our daily lives. These innovations have opened up a world of possibilities beyond what we could have imagined a mere ten years ago. However, this technological progress has also highlighted a significant gender gap. Women remain vastly underrepresented in the ICT sector, particularly in technical roles.

Why the Internet’s backbone needs urgent protection

By Alpheus Mangale, SEACOM Group CEO

JOHANNESBURG - In a world where the Internet powers everything from banking to healthcare, education, security, and even our social lives, we rarely stop to think about the invisible infrastructure keeping it all connected.

Heidi Bartis, Hoofuitvoerende Beampte: Academy for Environmental Leadership SA (AEL)

AEL BIED 'N UNIEKE OPLOSSING VIR STUDENTE SONDER BEVESTIGDE UNIVERSITEITSPLASING

UPINGTON - Die ongekende vraag na universiteitsplasings in Suid-Afrika beklemtoon 'n groeiende krisis in die land se onderwysstelsel. Met meer as 100,000 studente wat sonder universiteitsplasings gelaat is vir die 2025 akademiese jaar weens ‘n rekordaanvraag, is die skerp realiteit duidelik: die kapasiteit van tradisionele of hoofstroom hoëronderwysinstellings kan nie tred hou met die toename in studentetal nie.

Heidi Bartis, Chief Executive Officer at AEL

AEL PROVIDES A UNIQUE SOLUTION FOR STUDENTS LEFT WITHOUT CONFIRMED UNIVERSITY PLACEMENT

UPINGTON - The unprecedented demand for university placements in South Africa underscores a growing crisis in the country's education system. With over 100,000 students left without university placement for the 2025 academic year due to record demand, the stark reality is apparent: the capacity of traditional higher education institutions cannot keep pace with the surge in student numbers.

Freben Serfontein, Lead Solution Architect: Customer Solutions, MPN at Vodafone Business UK

Unveiling the power of innovation - Vodafone's Mobile Private Network transforms Extreme E-racing

Extreme E is a radical off-road racing series in the most remote corners of the planet impacted by climate change. Eight teams, consisting of one male and one female driver, racing to highlight global issues and inspire the next generation. Ten races across five incredible locations, highlighting the effects of climate change and how Extreme E works with changemakers to be part of the solution. Racing starts with two qualifying sessions, each consisting of two five-car heats. Then, a pair of official races determine the event winner. Qualifying is designed so that each team competes in two heats, one for each session.

Dr Brent Abrahams, coordinator of Emerging Scholars Initiative, Africa Centre for Scholarship (ACS), Stellenbosch University International

Mapping Conservation Ecology as a multi-disciplinary and integrated field of study - The AEL

I've always been interested in 'nature', in fact, many things – but 'nature' was a constant. When it came time to choose what to do after school, having applied to join the military to study engineering, amongst other things, in the end it was Conservation Ecology that stood out. But why?

Thought leadership