Author: Gugu Lourie
OLX Group – the world’s leading classifieds platform focused on emerging markets, both mobile and online – has attracted 22 million new customers in full-year 2021. The Prosus-backed classified group announced today that average monthly users reached 322 million by year-end, compared to 300m the previous year. The classified group also recorded 58 million new listings and 116 million active app users, with 19 million unique listers each month and 4,1 million paying listers. Prosus said in a statement that OLX Group became profitable overall in 2020 and remained so this year, despite the initial challenges of the pandemic and…
You can now buy wine at BP petrol stations after the retailer was granted a liquor licence. The retailer today launched a wine to-go offer through the Pick n Pay Express forecourt convenience store at BP Radiokop, north of Johannesburg. “In line with bp’s new strategy to ‘adapt to and grow its convenience and mobility business,’ our primary objective is fully to leverage innovation to unlock new value for our customers,” said Belinda Petersen, bpSA head of convenience. “Our strategic partnerships with South Africa’s leading brands such as Pick n Pay and Mr D place us on the front foot.”…
In South Africa, Vodacom has to maintain and improve its extensive network to differentiate itself, remain competitive and ensure positive consumer sentiment. Furthermore, the Vodafone-owned telco has to ensure that the quality of its service is in line with government regulations. The South African Government has also recently introduced a carbon tax that will further increase the operating costs of running Vodacom’s network sites. Vodacom also felt the pressure of the increased demand for digital products during COVID-19. In South Africa, Vodacom says this was further exacerbated by load shedding, which adversely affects its electricity supply and thereby increased dependency…
Maya Makanjee, a former Chief Officer, Corporate Affairs at Vodacom, has been named as the non-executive chairman of JSE-listed tech group Datatec. Makanjee replaces long-serving non-executive chairman Stephen Davidson on 1 March 2022. Davidson was appointed as non-executive chairman of Datatec on 1 February 2007. “I am delighted to be passing the chairmanship of Datatec to such a distinguished successor who has been a highly respected and trusted board colleague for the past few years,” Davidson said. Maya Makanjee has also been appointed to the Nominations Committee with effect from 1 July 2021 and her current role as Chairman of…
A black-controlled consortium called K2020893770 is buying Sybrin, a subsidiary of JSE-listed tech firm EOH, for R334 million. The business currently sits under EOH Mthombo. The consortium comprises of One Thousand & One Voices Management (Mauritius) Ltd (“1K1V”) and Crossfin Technology Holdings (Pty) Ltd (CFTH) and their black economic empowerment partners led by Isaac Mophatlane. Mophatlane is co-founder of Business Connexion, rebranded by parent company Telkom into BCX, with his late brother Benjamin Mophatlane. EOH said the base purchase price, after adjusting for net debt, non-operating assets and working capital, equates to an enterprise value (EV) of R410 million implying…
Relativity Space, a 3D printed rocket startup, has secured $650 million (R8,8 billion) in funding to scale its Terran R, its fully reusable, entirely 3D-printed launch vehicle. Investment round led by Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, with new investors including funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, Centricus, Coatue, and Soroban Capital, in addition to participation from existing investors Baillie Gifford, K5 Global, Tiger Global, Tribe Capital, XN, Brad Buss, Mark Cuban, Jared Leto, and Spencer Rascoff The Terran R will be entirely reusable and capable of launching 20,000kg to low Earth orbit, starting in 2024 at the company’s launch…
Telkom has unveiled the June Big Deal, which brings more streaming, gaming and monate to your home. The June Big Deal is a SIM-only package that is available for R199/m x24. You get a total of 80GB on SmartBroadband 20GB Wireless. That’s 40GB Anytime data + 40GB Night surfer data. Make it an even bigger deal, and a smoother connection by adding a WiFi router for an extra R70 PM. “Connect to a mobile device of your choosing and take monate with you wherever you go. Let your friends and family join in on the monate with a LTE WiFi…
Huhtamaki, a global key advanced manufacturer of sustainable packaging solutions, is setting up a new manufacturing unit in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. The new manufacturing unit is to serve its existing and new egg packaging customers in the KwaZulu-Natal area with a broad range of locally produced packaging solutions. The new facility will be located close to one of South Africa’s main export ports, enabling competitive exports of egg packaging for customers across East Africa. “The addition of a unit in KwaZulu-Natal is an important addition to our fiber packaging footprint in South Africa not only providing efficiencies in our…
PnP Mobile, which was launched last November, is introducing 1G of data for R20 less at R79 with a 12-month data expiry term. The offer is available to purchase until 11 July 2021. PnP Mobile customers also qualify to earn free data rewards each month when linking their Smart Shopper card to their SIM. A tiered rewards system for Smart Shoppers enables them to earn up to 2.5GB in free data rewards each month. In addition, Smart Shoppers earn loyalty points when purchasing PnP Mobile service products. Smart Shoppers will earn data rewards in addition to loyalty points when shopping…
Retailer Pepkor – the owner of Pep, Flash, Capfin, Incredible Connection – has appointed new independent non-executive directors to its board including ICT industry veteran Isaac Mophatlane. Today, the JSE Listed retailer Pepkor announced new five directors to its board consisting of Mophatlane, Paula Disberry, Ian Kirk, Hester Hickey, Zola Malinga. “The appointments have been made with the objectives of enhancing and widening the skill set of the board and to strengthen the independence and diversity components of the Board,” said the company. Herewith below the profiles of the new non-executive directors Mophatlane is the Managing Director of Randvest Capital…