The future of IT & AI

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 In the not-so-distant future, the world of IT will have undergone a seismic shift. Gone were the days of traditional employment, where companies hires full-time employees to fill specific roles. Instead, the gig economy had taken over, and IT professionals will be embracing the freedom and flexibility that cames with freelancing. Companies had caught on to the benefits of project-based hiring, where they could tap into a global talent pool and scale up or down as needed. Job postings  floated online, and skilled freelancers would bid on projects that matches their expertise. Seasoned IT professionals, making the transition to freelancing in these  years, builds reputations on these  platforms like Toptal and Upwork, and their calendars will always be filled with exciting projects. Skilled  IT engineers helps big compernies to launch their new products. Their projects, some  complex, with tight deadlines, and the clients willing to pay top dollar for the ri...
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'We won't go back until it's safe' — Rio Tinto closes SA operations over violence

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 30 June 2021 - 16:50

BY FELIX NJINI
Mining firm Rio Tinto has halted its operations in KwaZulu-Natal after recent violence. File picture.
Mining firm Rio Tinto has halted its operations in KwaZulu-Natal after recent violence. File picture.
Image: Supplied

Rio Tinto Group declared force majeure on customer contracts at Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) after escalating violence forced it to suspend activity at the mineral sands operation in SA.

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MD Werner Duvenhage said the company was prioritising the safety of its 5,000 workers at RBM, which exports titanium dioxide slag used to create ingredients for products including paint, plastics, sunscreen and toothpaste.

The closure of Rio’s only South African business follows the death last month of RBM manager Nico Swart, who was shot on his way to work.

It has become impossible for us to run the business. We won’t go back until it's safe for our people.
Werner Duvenhage, RBM MD

“It has become impossible for us to run the business,” Duvenhage said by phone. “We won’t go back until it's safe for our people.”

The suspension of operations at RBM is a blow to the South African government’s efforts to attract new investment to the country. Violence around RBM forced the operation to temporarily shut in 2019, with work subsequently halted on a $463m (R6.60bn) expansion project.

In recent weeks, mining equipment and infrastructure has been destroyed and access roads blocked. SA mining operations are frequently dogged by community protests which relate to issues ranging from poor municipal services to labour conditions. Duvenhage said there have been reports that the latest violence may be connected to youth unemployment.

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RBM’s furnaces are being run on low power as they can’t be shut down completely. The company is engaging regional and national government to get a better understanding of the cause of the violence, Duvenhage said.

SA’s mines and energy ministry didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from Bloomberg.

For more articles like this, please visit bloomberg.com

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