Jun 17

PRO-TREAT BOOKS – BETTER THAN WE COULD HAVE IMAGINED

Most of our customers are now using Pro-Treat Books, our digital treatment platform, which has grown into a tool more powerful, intuitive, and useful than we could have imagined − thanks to your positive feedback and suggestions, which we continue to integrate. Pro-Treat Books is as big a leap for... read more →
  • June 17, 2026
Jun 17

IS THE INFORMAL ECONOMY MOPPING UP UNEMPLOYMENT?

One in every three South Africans is unemployed. That’s the official tally – 32.7%, to be exact – based on the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for Q1-2026. It is the worst unemployment rate among major economies and one of the world’s highest. But is that number exaggerated? Capitec CEO Gerrie... read more →
  • June 17, 2026
Jun 17

ARE UNIVERSITIES BECOMING OBSOLETE?

Universities have long been accused of being “ivory towers” – expensive and elitist institutions disconnected from the real world. Is any such disconnection growing? Are universities keeping up with the pace of change in the real world as the digital age advances, and is this even possible? In short, is... read more →
  • June 17, 2026
Jun 17

SA’S RENEWED OPTIMISM

There’s a new mood in South Africa. It’s hard to measure, but we certainly feel it. Across our towns and across the country, the people we encounter on the streets, interact with socially, and do business with, are showing a new confidence and optimism. Not too long ago, there was... read more →
  • June 17, 2026
Jun 17

HOW FRIENDSHIPS CHANGE THE WORLD

Life, business, politics… It all comes down to human relationships. And even the most difficult of deals can be settled through finding common ground. In one telling of the story, South Africa’s transition to democracy was navigated by enemies who became friends on a fishing trip. It all started in... read more →
  • June 17, 2026
Apr 21

WELCOME TO FAMILY BUSINESS RF GEVERS

Kelvin Bland, the operations director at Vryheid-based sawmill and treatment operation RF Gevers, was taught in the old school way. “My mentor always taught me adapt to change,” he said. “I was told that at a sawmill, there are a thousand things that could go wrong in a single day.... read more →
  • April 21, 2026
Apr 21
pro treat system dolphin bay

PRO-TREAT INTELLIGENCE CATCHES ERRORS BEFORE THEY HAPPEN

Sometimes, operators need an assistant so alert that it will speak up to help prevent errors even before they happen. That’s where Pro-Treat Books’ Intelligence comes in. Pro-Treat Intelligence is a new feature of Dolphin Bay’s Pro-Treat digital treatment books, which alerts plant operators when their treatment process moves outside... read more →
  • April 21, 2026
Apr 21

SHOULD I GIVE MY CHILD A CELL PHONE?

For years, we had refused to buy our young son a phone. Everything changed with a short, astute observation from my stepdaughter. “But he has no way of chatting with his friends at home,” she said. “When I was young, we had a landline.” Ben* is a laatlammetjie, way younger... read more →
  • April 21, 2026
Apr 21

NO EASY FIX TO THE FUEL PRICE PROBLEM

Like all industries, the timber trade has been deeply affected by the sudden spike in fuel prices. Since the United States and Israel began their attack on Iran on 28 February, global oil prices have increased by 40% or more. The result is soaring petrol and diesel prices, with knock-on... read more →
  • April 21, 2026
Feb 18

FORGING YOUR NICHE

Flux Trend futurist Bronwyn Williams and business strategist Pierre du Plessis gave fascinating, and at times hilarious, advice for entrepreneurs at Heavy Chef’s The Futurists event last month. Heavy Chef is an entrepreneur-support platform and community. At the event, the speakers described the ‘soup of uncertainty’ that entrepreneurs are facing,... read more →
  • February 18, 2026