BY MODERN OPULENT GAZETTE

In Philipstown, a small Northern Cape town in the heart of the Karoo, children have spent more than a decade turning discarded wire, scrap metal and recycled materials into intricate handmade cars. It is a tradition that has become a source of pride for the community, but two of those cars have now travelled considerably further than the town's annual three-kilometre racing course. Handcrafted Ferrari replicas made by artisans from the Philipstown WireCar Foundation travelled thousands of...

For runners who need a little more support from their shoes, stability has traditionally come with a compromise. The added structure can sometimes make a shoe feel heavier or more controlling, which is why the latest generation of ASICS' GT-2000 series is taking a different approach. The new GT-2000 15 is designed around the idea that stability does not have to interfere with how naturally a runner moves. Instead, ASICS has focused on making the shoe lighter, softer and more responsive while...

Dating is already awkward enough without having a room full of comedians watching your every move. That is exactly what makes Dating #NoFilter South Africa work, and when the show returns for its third season, Bravo Africa is bringing another 20 commentators along for the ride. Season Three will premiere on Bravo Africa (DStv 124) at 19:00 on Sunday, 18 October, with comedian, actor and television personality Jason Goliath returning to lead the commentary team. Production is already underway,...

Apple never fails to disappoint when it comes to the cinematics of its product launches, and this year’s event was no different. The company opened with not one, but multiple cinematic scenes before finally arriving at the moment that perhaps mattered just as much as the products themselves: Tim Cook handing over to John Ternus with a simple, “That’s your guy,” marking the beginning of a new era for Apple as Ternus takes over as CEO. From there, Apple got straight into business. This time,...

Spring is usually the season for a wardrobe refresh, but knowing what to buy can be easier said than done. This September, Mall of Africa is giving shoppers a slightly more personal way to approach the new season with Unlock Your Style Palette, an interactive experience designed to help visitors discover the colours that complement their individual style. Running from 4 to 13 September 2026, the experience brings together Mall of Africa’s extensive fashion offering and AI-powered colour...

Women's Month may have come to an end, but the conversations around the women shaping South Africa's creative industries are far from over. Sony Alpha and ORMS brought the month to a close on Sunday, 30 August, with Framed By Women, a brunch-style panel that put creativity, visual storytelling, career growth and female leadership firmly at the centre of the conversation. Held in Cape Town, the event brought together women from across the creative landscape for a morning that was less about...

South Africans have never really needed much convincing to gather around good food, good music and good company. Now, one of the country’s biggest lifestyle festivals is entering a new chapter with Absa stepping in as its headline sponsor. The Absa Delicious Festival in partnership with SABC will return to the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit on 10 and 11 April 2027, bringing together the combination that has made Delicious such a fixture on South Africa’s cultural calendar: music, food, creativity...

Every vineyard is a long-term investment in an uncertain future. As climate conditions shift, markets evolve and new technologies emerge, producers are being challenged to make decisions today that will shape South African wine for generations to come. Wine has always been an industry built on patience, where great vineyards are measured in generations, not seasons. But as environmental and commercial pressures change, tradition alone is no longer enough to guarantee resilience. Innovation is...

Homeownership in South Africa is increasingly being shaped by women. According to Standard Bank data, approximately 70% of home buyers in 2025 were women, highlighting a significant shift in the country’s property landscape and pointing to a growing generation of women taking ownership of their futures through the spaces they call home. While purchasing a home is often viewed primarily as a financial milestone, it can also represent something far more personal. For many homeowners, the...

South Africa has had a particularly cold week, and the conversation in homes across the country inevitably turns to one thing: how do we keep warm? Gas heaters become the centre of attention, blankets migrate from cupboards to couches, and finding the warmest spot in the house suddenly becomes a competitive sport. For households with air conditioning, however, there is another option that can offer warmth without requiring someone to keep moving a heater around the house. Samsung is...

Behind every birthday bouquet, congratulations hamper, sympathy arrangement or late-night apology is something far more meaningful than a transaction. There is a relationship, a milestone or a moment when someone decided another person deserved to be acknowledged. Ryan Bacher For Ryan Bacher, co-founder and Managing Director of NetFlorist, those moments have offered an unusual window into how South Africans express love, gratitude, support and care. After 25 years in the gifting business,...

Every time an organisation traces a security breach back to a single click, a rushed approval or a document shared through the wrong application, it is tempting to blame human error. It is a familiar diagnosis, and an appealing one because it reduces a complex security failure to one person's decision on one particularly bad afternoon. The solution then appears equally straightforward: more training, more warnings and more reminders for employees to stay vigilant. The problem is that the same...

As South Africa marks Women’s Month, attention naturally turns to the women shaping the country’s future across business, society and industry. Yet some of the most important opportunities for women’s economic participation are emerging in sectors that do not always receive the same attention, including the circular economy. Across South Africa’s glass recycling value chain, women are already playing an important role. They collect recyclable glass, operate buy-back centres, work in...

For years, cosmetic procedures have largely been discussed through the language of surgery. Men, however, are increasingly finding different ways to talk about changing their appearance. “Maintenance”, “Brotox” and “facial harmonisation” have become increasingly familiar terms in conversations around male aesthetic treatments, reflecting a shift in how men approach cosmetic medicine. The focus is often less on having “work done” and more on looking rested, defined or refreshed without...

Entrepreneurs often believe success starts with a great idea. In reality, ideas are plentiful. What separates successful businesses from the rest is the ability to turn an idea into a product or service customers genuinely want and are willing to pay for. That ability to execute is at the heart of Engen The Making Of, a reality-based innovation competition sponsored by Engen and powered by Raizcorp. The competition places 10 entrepreneurs under intense pressure, giving them just four hours to...

From inspiring interiors and contemporary African design to property advice, gourmet food and independent makers, Decorex Joburg returns to transform the Sandton Convention Centre into a five-storey celebration of how South Africans are living, designing and creating today. Taking place from 30 July to 2 August, this year's edition embraces The Soft Life, a theme that explores how thoughtful design can create homes that prioritise comfort, connection and wellbeing. Presented in partnership...

As South Africans marked Mandela Day by dedicating time to community service, businesses across the country also stepped up with initiatives aimed at supporting vulnerable communities during the winter months. Among them was The Glass Recycling Company (TGRC), which partnered with the Fountain of Love Centre by donating blankets and essential groceries to help children, families and elderly residents facing the challenges of winter. Observed annually on 18 July, Mandela Day encourages...

Watching Wimbledon has become more than simply following the action unfolding on the grass courts of London for many South Africans. In recent years, Amex Tennis Town has transformed the Grand Slam into a lifestyle experience, with fans embracing the occasion by dressing in Wimbledon-inspired outfits, gathering with friends and family, and turning the annual watch party into one of the country's most anticipated sporting weekends. That growing appetite for tennis-led experiences was on full...

South Africa's entrepreneurial landscape is becoming increasingly diverse, with women building businesses that tackle some of the country's biggest social and economic challenges. From menstrual health and sustainable manufacturing to artificial intelligence and women's safety, this year's finalists for the 2026 Bold Woman Award by Veuve Clicquot reflect a new generation of founders using business as a vehicle for long-term impact. Now in its fifth year in South Africa, the awards recognise...

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has created a foundation for a more connected African market, but for many businesses, especially small and medium enterprises, the biggest challenge remains turning that opportunity into reality. While trade agreements can open access to new markets, the ability to move goods efficiently across borders remains one of the biggest factors determining whether businesses can scale beyond their home countries. South Africa’s commercial sector is...

Building a business that lasts three decades requires more than surviving market changes. It requires the ability to evolve, understand customers and maintain the relationships that turn first-time buyers into lifelong supporters. For South African photographic, printing and framing specialist ORMS, that journey began in a garage and has grown into one of the country’s recognised creative retail destinations. Founded in 1996 by photographer Mike Ormrod, ORMS started from a passion for...

As South Africa looks to strengthen its future workforce, inspiring young people to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is becoming increasingly important. A mobile science laboratory is helping bring that opportunity directly into classrooms. From 25 May to 9 June, more than 1,200 students from Trinityhouse Schools in Little Falls, Glen Vista and Centurion took part in Merck’s Curiosity Cube™ programme in Johannesburg, experiencing hands-on science...

South Africa’s commercial transport sector keeps the economy moving, from minibus taxis carrying millions of commuters daily to buses and freight trucks supporting the movement of goods across the country. Yet despite the sector’s critical role, many fleet operators continue to view insurance as a costly requirement rather than a tool for protecting business continuity. The challenge, according to industry experts, is not simply a lack of trust in insurers. Instead, it is a broader issue...

Lumi Glo, known for its glow-focused skincare, has introduced two new products designed to target dullness, dehydration, and skin stress. The launch includes a brightening Vitamin C serum and a barrier-repair cream aimed at restoring radiance while keeping skin calm, hydrated, and visibly healthier. From dryness and tightness to a loss of radiance, the products are designed to address some of the most common skincare concerns, especially those that worsen during the colder months. The Super...