Author: Gugu Lourie

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…

Cell C is terminating its franchisees and taking over some of them without compensating the owners, insiders have claimed. This year, Cell C is scheduled to take-over about 12 stores from their owners, internal documents seen by TechFinancials reveal. The internal document details Cell C’s “Franchise Take Backs and New Store Rollout 2018”. Cell C’s plan for the take-over of more franchisees stores: The list of franchisees kicked out of their own stores by Cell C include; Amproz, Abomanzi, A-Tech, Bertolox, Prytanya, Shalom Creative Projects, and Verbiplex. Asked to comment on the development, which started way back in 2015, owners…

Cell C Executives – who have already received a massive windfall in success bonuses – are going ahead with the initial public offering (IPO) plans billed for either next year or 2020. This is despite the fact that Cell C’s floating on the JSE is dependent on market conditions improving. The move has raised suspicions it may be a ploy by the company’s bosses to earn millions more. When asked, Cell C told TechFinancials – two months ago – that the mobile phone operator is still considering listing, subject to market conditions. Since then there was no evidence that Cell…

The Cell C board did not approve hefty bonuses to the company’s executives and senior staff, insiders have revealed. Earlier this month, TechFinancials reported that Cell C staff have asked the company’s chairman and board to investigate why executives and senior staff were paid hefty bonuses in light of the firm’s poor performance. This after the staff was informed they would not be paid any bonuses this year because the mobile phone operator had not met its EBITDA 2017 targets. It has since emerged that the company has paid three executives – led by Cell C CEO Jose Dos Santos…

It’s a pretty momentous occasion for us here. We are turning five, and it’s nice to look back at the first five years we had, but even more exciting to think about what the next five might have in store. The first article was published on the 10th of September 2013. To venture into the unknown, I was influenced by Sumner Redstone’s quote: “Success is not built on success. It’s built on failure. It’s built on frustration. Sometimes it’s built on catastrophe.” As things get tougher (as they always do – publishing is not for the faint-hearted) I always get…

Workers at Cell C have asked the company’s chairman and board to investigate why executives and senior staff were paid hefty bonuses in light of the firm’s poor performance. A group of workers calling themselves “The Concerned & Frustrated Employees of Cell C” have raised the matter with chairman Kuben Pillay. Workers have been informed that they will not be paid any bonuses this year because the mobile phone operator had not met its EBITDA 2017 targets. The workers have since found out that the company has paid three executives – led by Cell C CEO Jose Dos Santos – a…