Author: Gugu Lourie

MTN Group announced on Thursday that it has added Active MTN Mobile Money (MoMo) customers increased by 2.2 million to 51.1 million. “We advanced financial inclusion, reaching 51 million MoMo customers in 16 markets, processing almost 20 000 transactions a minute, with the value of transactions up 67.2% year-on-year to $175.5 billion or R2.7 trillion,” said Ralph Mupita, CEO of MTN Group. Mupita said the group as it establish and scale its payment platform, the number of active merchants accepting MoMo payments increased by 58.3% year-on-year to 626 033 and the total value of MoMo merchant payments rose by 46.5%…

MTN Group announced on Thursday that it has added 4.1 million new data users in the quarter to September 2021 to reach 119 million total data subscribers. The company attributed this a robust demand for work-from-home services, digital entertainment as well as online education. Africa’s biggest mobile phone operator said this growth reflected a 52.6% growth versus the same period in 2020. The group said as a result data revenue grew by 34.5%. “It’s been a busy quarter, and I’m particularly pleased with the sustained operational momentum across our businesses,” said MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer Ralph Mupita.…

Anglo American has appointed local insider Duncan Wanblad as its new CEO, replacing Mark Cutifani, the  JSE-listed mining group announced on Wednesday. Cutifani is retiring next year after nine years in the role. South African-born Wanblad will assume his new role on 19 April 2022. “I am honoured that the Board has given me the opportunity to lead this great company and our wonderful colleagues around the world. Having started my career underground as a junior engineer, I have never lost sight of what it takes to produce the metals and minerals that are ever more vital to support our…

South Africa’s online farm-produce marketplace HelloChoice is now reaching over 2,300 agricultural produce buyers and sellers. They have joined HelloChoice via its website and mobile app, trading over R150 million in the first three years. The marketplace aims to modernise the traditional buying and selling of agricultural products such as vegetables, fruits, meat, dried beans and grains. HelloChoice also announced today an upgraded and enhanced version of the mobile app, bringing new features for both buyers and sellers. Responding to buyers’ needs to get the latest and up-to-date real-time offers as soon as they are available, the updated mobile app…

Mercedes-Benz today announced that it will be offering Dolby Atmos Music to a range of its top car models, providing the ultimate in-car audio experience to its customers and allowing listeners to connect with music to its fullest. The Dolby Atmos experience will be built into the optional Burmester high-end 4D and 3D sound system as well as integrated into the Mercedes-Maybach and shortly afterwards in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, turning the Mercedes-Benz vehicles into state-of-the-art concert halls on wheels. Powered by a total of 31 loudspeakers and eight sound transducers, also known as exciters, which will also be mounted into…

Facebook changed its corporate name to Meta as part of its bet on the next digital frontier called the metaverse. The change came after the social network giant came under fire for spreading misinformation and other issues. On Thursday, CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced Meta, which brings together our apps and technologies under one new company brand. Meta’s focus will be to bring the metaverse to life and help people connect, find communities and grow businesses. “As we embark on this next chapter, I’ve thought a lot about what this means for our company and our identity,” Zuckerberg said in the…

Pick n Pay ASAP!, formerly known as Bottles, is firing on all cylinders as shoppers see value in the grocery delivery mobile app. The retailers announced on Wednesday that comparable headline earnings per share (HEPS) swelled by 90.9% year-on-year, a resilient performance in a period marked by unprecedented civil disorder in South Africa and the resumption of government restrictions on alcohol sales in response to the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. HEPS is South Africa’s main profit gauge. Pick n Pay said it entered the financial year with positive trading momentum, and delivered a strong first-quarter result, with sales…

SA’s Telkom has recently partnered with Shop Lenovo to offer broadband solutions to customers of Lenovo. Through this partnership, Lenovo customers can now get laptops with varied Telkom Smart Broadband data packages. Telkom deals that are now bundled with selected Lenovo laptops are available through the Lenovo online store at www.shoplenovo.co.za on 24 months and 36 months contracts. These launch offers include a Mi-Fi router and for a limited period a wireless mouse, Microsoft Office 365 and a backpack. “We are thrilled to partner up with Lenovo to expand our customer reach and address their technology needs; it’s the perfect…

SEACOM, a fibre-led telecoms provider and owner of extensive ICT infrastructure across Africa, has announced a 100 Gbps upgrade for its IP network. This investment will allow Internet Service Providers (ISPs), CDN’s, Global and African Providers to leverage SEACOM’s network infrastructure to access the increased flexibility, scalability, and capacity that this upgrade will enable and will also benefit downstream connected business and Internet end-users in the region. SEACOM launched the first submarine cable system on the East Coast of Africa in July 2009, providing the continent with fast, reliable, and cost-effective fibre connectivity. In 2014, SEACOM pioneered 10 Gbps IP…

The Competition Commission has approved the acquisition of Fast+Furious by DPD Laser. The announcement is big news for an industry rapidly consolidating to cope with the demands of South African e-commerce due to the pandemic and its ongoing lockdowns. Most importantly, the acquisition is a key signal that, while South Africa may be struggling with record unemployment, some sectors are growing beyond expectations to satisfy the demands of new digitally-driven markets and South Africa’s awakening to the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The acquisition is expected to notably increase DPD Laser’s presence and influence in the express distribution market. DPD Laser’s majority…