Author: Gugu Lourie
Standard Bank’s customers are slowly embracing digital banking as they ditch brick and mortar banking. Africa’s largest bank by assets informed investors on Thursday that lockdowns encouraged customers to transition to its digital channels. The bank announced on Thursday that digital transaction volumes increased 78% in South Africa, and comprised 99% of total transactions, while in Africa Regions volumes increased 24% and comprised 94% of total transactions. “Physical transactions are expected to continue to decline as the transition to digital accelerates post-COVID-19,” said the bank. “Despite the pandemic-related disruptions, Personal and Business Banking (PBB) SA released several new digital capabilities…
Without a satellite dish and its associated cabling, you can now enjoy all the DStv content you love, as well as hit shows from other streaming services. All you need is a reliable home internet connection, a DStv Streama device and a television set. DStv Streama offers all of the best content customers have come to enjoy, including an array of sports, entertainment, news and kids’ content. With the Streama’s selection of applications such as Showmax and YouTube, it presents all your viewing options in one place, so that you can seamlessly switch between applications to view the content of…
As at the end of July 2020, Curro had more than 400 learners enrolled in Curro Online, South Africa’s largest private education group revealed on Wednesday. “Curro is committed to making quality education more accessible to learners in southern Africa,” the group informed investors. The private school group announced in May the launch of a “new school” that offers online-only teaching in the midst of the pandemic which provides remote teaching and learning for learners. It is the first online school which aims to provide a flexible education model, with classes taught by current Curro teachers. Teachers guide pupils through…
Quoin Rock Wine Estate’s unique terroir has facilitated the creation of a range of exceptional Quoin Rock and Namysto wines. The release of their Vine Dried Sauvignon Blanc 2019 once again raises the bar with a sensational addition that can only be likened to liquid gold. The winemaker’s tasting notes best describe this sublime release: “Aromas of dried pineapple and mango with roasted sweet spices all complement a fascinating and refreshing palate of apricot pips and honey.” A phenomenal wine to end dinner with, the Vine Dried Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect companion to the stellar Quoin Rock range. Ideally,…
Equity Express Securities Exchange (EESE) has warned people not to fall for the WhatsApp scam, enticing investors to trade in Phuthuma Nathi shares or promise to grow their investment. This comes after several WhatsApp groups have been targeting vulnerable people. The scammers send messages to investors using WhatsApp. They try to entice investors to trade in Phuthuma Nathi shares or promise to grow their investment. “We have received notification that shareholders have received WhatsApp messages requesting shareholder information and enticing shareholders to trade their shares,” said EESE. EESE said Phuthuma Nathi and its transfer secretaries/verification agents, Singular Financial Services, would not send shareholders…
YeboYethu, the broad-based black economic empowerment arm of Vodacom, is looking for thousands of shareholders who are owed close to R74 million. “YeboYethu has a number of shareholders to whom unclaimed dividends of R73 742 748 are owed,” Zarina Bassa, YeboYethu’s chairman, revealed in the company’s latest annual report. “As a result of shareholders not updating their contact details regularly, we are unable to contact these shareholders, notwithstanding significant cost and efforts in trying to trace them.” The Vodacom YeboYethu empowerment scheme was established in 2008 and allowed black people to purchase Vodacom SA shares at a discount. This year…
Momentum Metropolitan, a JSE-listed insurer, has told customers it was hit by a data breach. The insurer informed investors on Monday morning that a third party ‘unlawfully accessed’ a limited portion of data of a subsidiary of the group. The company said it became aware of a data breach on its network on Thursday 13 August 2020 and immediately activated its IT security incident plan, which included the implementation of additional systems monitoring and the reinforcement of its IT security. “The group’s IT teams have been working non-stop to ensure that service to clients remains unaffected,” said Momentum Metropolitan. “In…
To understand the new smart monitors and other pro devices of tech health, we should look to Silicon Valley and the quantified movement of the latest generation. Apple’s Watch records exercise, tracks our moves throughout the day, assesses the amount of time we are stood up and reminds us to get up and move around if we have been sat for too long – let’s not forget Tim Cook’s “sitting is the new factor” line. Routinely evaluating your risk factors for various medical conditions, screening for cancer and other diseases, and assessing your lifestyle habits helps you stay healthy. It’s…
To understand the new smart monitors and other pro devices of tech health, we should look to Silicon Valley and the quantified movement of the latest generation. Apple’s Watch records exercise, tracks our moves throughout the day, assesses the amount of time we are stood up and reminds us to get up and move around if we have been sat for too long – let’s not forget Tim Cook’s “sitting is the new factor” line. Routinely evaluating your risk factors for various medical conditions, screening for cancer and other diseases, and assessing your lifestyle habits helps you stay healthy. It’s…
When I woke up today, I found myself reflecting on the works of Niq Mhlongo, one of the most high-spirited and irreverent new voices of South Africa’s post-apartheid literary scene. I decided to reread Mhlongo’s short story collection “Soweto, Under the Apricot Tree”. In this collection, the author describes his hometown as a place that always seems to hold surprises for both the characters and the reader. When I reached page 10 of the book, a thought crossed my mind that I should visit Soweto, South Africa’s biggest township. It is so big, it’s practically a city in its own right.…