Author: Gugu Lourie

South Africa-based ThisTree Technology Distribution has partnered with NPP Power, the fourth largest manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries in China, to sell and distribute batteries in the South African market to drive the energy transition. NPP operates five different production facilities, including one in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and four in China (Dongguan, Guangzhou, Henan and Hunan). NPP Power has established sales offices in mainland China and overseas offices in North America, Europe and Africa to establish itself as a global player in the energy transition. NPP is entering the South African market for the first time. The company plans…

Wi-flix, the fastest-growing streaming platform in Africa, has expanded its presence to Zambia following the launch of its packages with MTN. The streaming platform is already available in Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria. The streaming service is now available to consumers in the southern African country, providing over 30,000 hours of the best entertainment to Zambian audiences. MTN Zambia subscribers now have access to thousands of hours of unlimited premium content with the launch of Wi-flix in the Zambian market. Users can take advantage of daily, weekly, and monthly data packages starting as low as K1 + free 50MB for a…

The Empire Partner Foundation has today announced it is pioneering a tech week event, and awards program, which will give South African innovators the chance be recognised for their tech contributions at the inaugural event in Johannesburg at Gallagher Estate, on November 6 2023. The tech week and awards extravaganza will see hundreds of tech innovators gather in Johannesburg for the action packed event. The South African Annual Tech for Innovation and Social Impact Awards will be hosted in collaboration with the MICT SETA. This inaugural event celebrates the work of individuals and organisations in the technology sector who have…

Access Bank Plc’s parent company Access Holdco has raised $300 million to further to strengthen the bank’s capital base as proceeds of this will supplement the capital needs of its African expansion strategy. “The investment takes the form of a Tier 1 capital qualifying mandatory convertible instrument and is expected to improve the bank’s shareholders’ funds and total capital ratios,” Access Holdings said in a statement. PAC Capital Limited (PAC) acted as the Lead Financial Adviser and Fund Arranger to Access Holdco on its recently concluded $300 Million Investment Finance Facility. Speaking in relation to the facility, Humphrey Oriakhi, the…

NovFeed, a Tanzania-based biotech company, has won the $1 million grand prize in the inaugural Milken-Motsepe Prize in AgriTech Awards. The company received the $1 million grand prize for its proprietary technology that converts organic waste into nutritious, sustainable and traceable plant-based protein ingredients and concentrated natural biofertilisers for the food system. The Milken-Motsepe Prize in AgriTech is the first in a series of multi-year, multi-million dollar innovation competitions and programmes to promote technological advancement towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The awards were presented at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, California. View the Milken-Motsepe Prize…

MTN announced today that it has rolled out over 2 500 5G sites across its markets, mainly in South Africa and Nigeria. “In 2022, we rolled out 1 570 5G sites, mainly in South Africa and Nigeria, bringing our total number of 5G sites to 2 527,” Ralph Mupita revealed in MTN Group’s intergrated annual report. “We increased smartphone penetration to 58.0% of our customer base (up 3.8pp), as we continued our push for greater digital and financial inclusion.” MTN is rolling out 5G after winning spectrum in the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) auction. Additional spectrum is…

Ralph Mupita, the boss of Africa’s largest mobile phone firm MTN, was paid R69 million in 2022 financial year compared to R84.2 million in 2021. The total package of R69 million was made up of a R8.7 million salary and a R10.8 million in short-term incentives, plus R29 million million in long-term incentives (LTI) bonus. Group chief financial officer Tsholofelo Molefe scored R19.8 million, including a base salary of R8.2 million, short-term incentives of R10.2 million, while Group Chief Operating Officer Jens Schulte-Bockum received a package of R56 million. Board chairman Mcebisi Jonas received R4.8 million, including a R3.1 million…

The worldwide hydration drink phenomenon, PRIME, will be widely available to local fans – at the supermarket price of only R39.99 – as Checkers is confirmed as the official South African retail partner.   PRIME has become an international viral sensation following its hugely successful launch in January 2022 by YouTube sensations Logan Paul and KSI who, combined, boast around 100 million social media followers.  From Monday 1 May 2023, PRIME will be sold at selected Checkers and Checkers Hyper stores and on Sixty60 in the Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. It will roll out to the rest of South Africa during the month.   Customers are invited to join Checkers and TikTok South Africa…

The City of Cape Town has allocated R80 million to fight crime through various technological measures, including dash and body cameras, video surveillance and drones. “Just over R48 million has been earmarked for additional and replacement CCTV cameras around the city in the new financial year, as well as the gunshot detection technology,” the city said in a statement. The R48 million budget is part of the proposed R432 million capital budget for 2023/24. The city’s Safety and Security Directorate said its investment in its CCTV footprint is well documented, and this investment continues, guided by the CCTV Rollout Plan.…

The Ocean on 76 Collective, led by Founder and CEO Prins Mhlanga, has announced the acquisition of Digiworx, an experiential marketing company. The Ocean on 76 Collective is thrilled to bring this calibre of experience to its current team as part of a deliberate move to bolster its fiercely competitive digital platform capabilities. According to Nomakhosi Skosana, Chief Operations Officer at Ocean On 76 Collective, Digiworx is an intriguing, female-led company that will complement our ecosystem of mobile marketing offerings. “This incredible 12-year-old business provides opportunities for increased growth and expansion attributable toward its impressive corporate clientele.” Founder and Managing…