Author: Gugu Lourie
The Black Elite, a minibus taxi rewards programme is slowly gaining popularity among taxi drivers. Black Elite, a card-based consumer programme that offers fuel rewards to minibus taxi operators, could become a considerable banking operation if its backers follow through their stated vision. The fuel rewards programme was launched in April 2018 by SA Taxi, an independent minibus taxi financier, in collaboration with Taxi Choice, the commercial arm of the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO). “Through engagement with the industry, SA Taxi aims to leverage off of its telematics systems and Black Elite fuel rewards programme to develop its…
The Roman poet Quintus Horatius Flaccus, known in the English-speaking world as Horace, might have been summing up today’s Cell C when he wrote that “the mountains will be in labour, and will give birth to a ridiculous mouse”. By selecting an insider associated with what is termed a ‘Vodacom Cabal’ in the corridors of the company, as the acting CEO, Cell C board led by Kuben Pillay made their company look ridiculous. To make matters worse even workers at Cell C mock their executives as “Vodacom Cabal’ on social media. They claim the cabal is derailing the growth of…
Yolanda Cuba, Chief Officer of Strategy and M&A of Vodacom Group, seems to be on the move again. The former chief executive officer at Vodafone Ghana might have let the cat out of the bag through her post on the Facebook page, stating: “Where God guides, He provides”. The experienced executive, who was once tipped to take over from Shameel Joosub at Vodacom as CEO by TechFinancials, further states on her Facebook page: “So these new dreams and aspirations He has planted in my head, He says He will provide for… Here goes nothing…#nextchapter.” Clearly, Cuba has already left the offices…
Cell C yesterday threatened to sue the Information Communication and Technology Union (ICTU), which represents close to 1 300 striking workers in the mobile phone company. The mobile phone operator, which as loggerheads with the union, also threatened to dismiss employees engaged in an ‘unprotected strike’. The strike action by ICTU which commenced yesterday is over a dispute between Cell C and the union regarding the non-payment of 2017/18 outstanding performance bonuses. The ICTU – an affiliate of the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) led by Zwelinzima Vavi – has been served by Cell C with a notice of intention to impose final written…
A Cell C executive who oversaw compensation and benefits at the mobile phone company has, according to insiders, been ‘fired’. TechFinancials has reliably learned that Wayne Heard, Cell C’s executive for compensation and benefits, who started working for the company in February 2013, left last month. Cell C did not respond to queries on the matter since yesterday. However, Cell C has previously stated that they do not comment on reasons why executives leave the company, except for the CEO. On Saturday impeccable sources at Cell C told TechFinancials that Heard was initially suspended just after compiling a “correct head count” of…
Cell C workers affiliated to the Information Communication and Technology Union (ICTU) will embark on a full-blown strike from tomorrow in all nine provinces, the union said on Sunday. “For us, this is a fight we are not prepared to lose because we are waging it against stubborn management that has no interest to the worker’s needs,” Origenous Mogoatlhe, ICTU Deputy President, told TechFinancials. ICTU is an affiliate of the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU), which is led by Zwelinzima Vavi. The union represents close to 1,300 members at Cell C. In February, Cell C workers led by ICTU engaged in a…
Mobile phone operator Cell C says it will seek an interdict in the labour court to ground the planned strike by the workers affiliated to the Information Communication and Technology Union (ICTU). The strike action by ICTU which is expected to start on Monday is over a dispute between Cell C and the union regarding the non-payment of 2017/18 outstanding performance bonuses. For more read: Cell C Workers To Embark On A Full-Blown Strike According to the notice of motion and founding affidavit sent to ICTU, Cell C is planning to seek an urgent interdict at the labour court tomorrow at 10 am. The…
The Information Communication and Technology Union (ICTU) says it wants to see a “stable, thriving and corruption free Cell C” company. “We are for cleaning Cell C for it to be a profitable company, and for workers to enjoy their 8 hours at work,” Origenous Mogoatlhe, ICTU Deputy President, told TechFinancials. ICTU is an affiliate of the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU), which is led by Zwelinzima Vavi. The union is currently engaged with Cell C to finalise the signing of a collective agreement. Last week, ICTU members at Cell C delivered a memorandum requesting Cell C to…
Top Cell C executive – regarded as the company’s key manager in retaining and attracting customers – is leaving the company as problems mount for the struggling cellphone company. The mobile phone operator is currently facing a strike action, which has resulted in a lockdown of its head office in Waterfall, Johannesburg since Wednesday. The company has since suspended workers and they will attend a mass hearing on Monday at the head office, resulting in the closure of Cell C stores. The departure of Michelle Beetar, Cell C’s chief customer officer, is a blow to the company. She was hired…
It doesn’t make sense for SANTACO to buy shareholding or invest in SA Taxi, which is owned by JSE-listed Transaction Capital. In my opinion, it is a bad move to partner with this independent minibus taxi financier. For more read: SANTACO Buys 25% Stake in SA Taxi for R1.7 Billion This is not an emotive argument that simply says that SANTACO is not at liberty to make money or invest. Who am I to make such a judgement? I have argued before in 2007, in my blog titled Gugled published by Fin24, that the minibus taxi industry should be floated…