Author: Gugu Lourie

South Africa has recorded 80,412 confirmed coronavirus cases, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Wednesday evening. “Since the start of the outbreak, there have been 80,412 confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa,” he said. “Of these, 44,331 people – or around 55% – have recovered. That means there are currently 34,407 active cases in the country. “Yet, as we know, the cost in human lives could have been far higher. We took a decision early in the development of the disease in South Africa to restrict international travel and gatherings with the declaration of a National State of Disaster and subsequently…

South Africa is to open restaurants, accommodation, conferences, cinemas, casinos, salons and beauty spas, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Wednesday evening. Ramaphosa addressed the nation on developments in South Africa’s risk-adjusted strategy to manage the spread of COVID-19. Lockdown Level 5 was introduced in South Africa on 26 March 2020. South Africa moved to a level 3 lockdown on 1 June 2020. Visit SA’s #1 online gambling site www.SouthAfricanCasinos.co.za for the best online casinos & mobile casinos for play in South African Rand (ZAR). Get a free no deposit casino bonus when joining these recommended casinos:  Springbok Casino, Europa Casino,…

Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou has accused the United States of providing a “grossly inaccurate [and] misleading” summary of evidence to the Canadian court hearing her extradition case, arguing that the case should be thrown out as a result, according to the South China Morning Post. The 2013 presentation forms the basis of US claims that Meng defrauded HSBC by lying about Huawei’s business in Iran, allegedly in breach of US sanctions, and that she should be sent to New York to face trial. “Ms Meng will submit that the Requesting State’s summary of evidence … is grossly inaccurate and based…

As Africa braces itself for the peak in COVID-19 cases, the continent is launching the Africa Medical Supplies Platform, an innovative marketplace to enable all African governments to access critical supplies, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Wednesday. According to President Ramaphosa, Africa has over 250 000 confirmed infections and about 6 700 deaths. “Although the number of infections in Africa is currently lower than elsewhere in the world, there is an expectation that the worst is still to come, with dire social and economic consequences,” he said. As it stands, Africa is in dire need of medical supplies, testing equipment…

This International Day of the African Child, MTN announced it is supporting the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) to help mobilise funds for children and families across Sub-Saharan Africa affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. MTN is doing this by enabling SMS fundraising throughout a month-long campaign to raise funds for those most severely impacted by the virus on the continent. All proceeds raised through the campaign will be donated in full to UNICEF and WFP, who are supporting COVID-19 affected communities across Africa. The pandemic’s closure of schools is putting at risk the futures…

Planet42, a South Africa based FinTech startup that focuses on providing access to mobility to the underbanked, has raised R41 million ($2.4 million). The seed round was led by Change Ventures. Private backers include Martin Villig (Bolt), Ragnar Sass (Pipedrive), Marko Virkebau (MeetFrank), Kristjan Vilosius (Katana MRP), and several other Estonian tech entrepreneurs. The company launched as CarGet in 2017 to service South Africa, a market well-known to co-founder and CFO Marten Orgna, who ran African Investments for Trigon Capital. Planet42 partners with dealerships across South Africa to offer access to a personal car to its largely underbanked clientele (9…

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, to request that she makes an urgent Executive Statement to the National Assembly on the status of the special R350 Covid-19 Relief of Distress Grant. Applicants remain disappointed as their concerns are posted on social media were once again ignored by the South African Social Services Agency (SASSA) and the Ministry of Social Development. Despite weeks of cries from the unemployed on Twitter seeking answers about their applications for the jobless grant, SASSA and the Ministry of Social Development remained mum until today. For more read: SASSA Ignores R350…

Sun Exchange, South Africa’s first peer-to-peer solar leasing platform, today announced it has secured a R50 million ($3 million) investment by ARPF, a Mauritian private equity fund advised by London-based ARCH Emerging Markets Partners Limited. This investment marks the close of a R67 million ($4 million) Series-A funding round by Sun Exchange. Sun Exchange will use the funds to scale its solution and expand into new markets across Sub-Saharan Africa, enabling platform users to solar power schools, clinics, farms, cell towers, water plants, businesses and other organisations across the continent. The funds will also bolster marketing activities and substantially grow…

FNB on Tuesday apologised to customers for the inconvenience caused due to some functionality being temporarily unavailable on banking channels. “While most banking services have not been affected and remain available to customers, we are pleased to report that the challenges experienced with respect to Foreign Exchange, Prepaid Telecommunications as well as our Share Trading services have been resolved,” FNB said in a statement. On Monday, FNB confirmed that customers were unable to buy airtime, data and electricity on the bank’s online platforms. “Our teams are working to resolve issues related to Lotto, PayPal, Prepaid Electricity and FNB Connect, which…

The minister for communications and digital technologies, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams is back at work after serving her suspension. Ndabeni-Abrahams was suspended by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 8 April 2020 after she was found to have contravened the government’s lockdown regulations. “Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams is back at work,” Mish Molakeng told TechFinancials on Tuesday. She was placed on special leave for two months – one month of which would be unpaid, after a photo of her having lunch with the former deputy minister of higher education Mduduzi Manana at his home during the lockdown. She also paid admission of a guilty fine…