Author: Gugu Lourie

MTN announced today that it has rolled out over 2 500 5G sites across its markets, mainly in South Africa and Nigeria. “In 2022, we rolled out 1 570 5G sites, mainly in South Africa and Nigeria, bringing our total number of 5G sites to 2 527,” Ralph Mupita revealed in MTN Group’s intergrated annual report. “We increased smartphone penetration to 58.0% of our customer base (up 3.8pp), as we continued our push for greater digital and financial inclusion.” MTN is rolling out 5G after winning spectrum in the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) auction. Additional spectrum is…

Ralph Mupita, the boss of Africa’s largest mobile phone firm MTN, was paid R69 million in 2022 financial year compared to R84.2 million in 2021. The total package of R69 million was made up of a R8.7 million salary and a R10.8 million in short-term incentives, plus R29 million million in long-term incentives (LTI) bonus. Group chief financial officer Tsholofelo Molefe scored R19.8 million, including a base salary of R8.2 million, short-term incentives of R10.2 million, while Group Chief Operating Officer Jens Schulte-Bockum received a package of R56 million. Board chairman Mcebisi Jonas received R4.8 million, including a R3.1 million…

The worldwide hydration drink phenomenon, PRIME, will be widely available to local fans – at the supermarket price of only R39.99 – as Checkers is confirmed as the official South African retail partner.   PRIME has become an international viral sensation following its hugely successful launch in January 2022 by YouTube sensations Logan Paul and KSI who, combined, boast around 100 million social media followers.  From Monday 1 May 2023, PRIME will be sold at selected Checkers and Checkers Hyper stores and on Sixty60 in the Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. It will roll out to the rest of South Africa during the month.   Customers are invited to join Checkers and TikTok South Africa…

The City of Cape Town has allocated R80 million to fight crime through various technological measures, including dash and body cameras, video surveillance and drones. “Just over R48 million has been earmarked for additional and replacement CCTV cameras around the city in the new financial year, as well as the gunshot detection technology,” the city said in a statement. The R48 million budget is part of the proposed R432 million capital budget for 2023/24. The city’s Safety and Security Directorate said its investment in its CCTV footprint is well documented, and this investment continues, guided by the CCTV Rollout Plan.…

The Ocean on 76 Collective, led by Founder and CEO Prins Mhlanga, has announced the acquisition of Digiworx, an experiential marketing company. The Ocean on 76 Collective is thrilled to bring this calibre of experience to its current team as part of a deliberate move to bolster its fiercely competitive digital platform capabilities. According to Nomakhosi Skosana, Chief Operations Officer at Ocean On 76 Collective, Digiworx is an intriguing, female-led company that will complement our ecosystem of mobile marketing offerings. “This incredible 12-year-old business provides opportunities for increased growth and expansion attributable toward its impressive corporate clientele.” Founder and Managing…

TooMuchWifi, a Cape Town based internet service provider (ISP) is on a mission to improve connectivity for underserved communities. Accessing unlimited data must not be considered a luxury, it has become an essential part of our daily lives. Having no internet is a significant impediment to making a living, getting an education, registering a business or accessing the knowledge that exists on the web. It puts people from underserved communities, like Townships, at a disadvantage. Despite the need for a reliable internet connection, South Africa is among the countries with the most expensive data options in the world. According to…

Nashua, a subsidiary of JSE-listed electronics group Reunert, marked fifty years of operation at an event in Johannesburg this week and is repositioning itself as a Total Workspace Solutions provider. Nashua has certainly come a long way since 1979, when it first flighted an iconic television ad featuring legendary American Actor, Director, Writer and Producer Orson Welles. But the pay-off line Welles delivered in that ad remains core to Nashua’s Ethos all these years later: ‘Saving you time. Saving you money. Putting you first’. Nashua was established in 1973 as a specialist in the sale and service of liquid toner…

South Africa’s EasyEquities teams up with GCash, the largest and fastest growing mobile wallet in the Philippines, to help revolutionize the investment landscape for the Filipinos. “The partnership of two market-defining fintech companies can help revolutionize the investment landscape in the Philippines by making it a more accessible, friendly and affordable activity for everyone,” said Martha Sazon, President and CEO of Globe Fintech Innovations Inc, owner of Gcash. EasyEquities, which is owned by JSE-listed Purple Capital, will to bring managed portfolios of US shares to all Filipinos. The launch of this exciting partnership will be preceded by a Fantasy Investing…

Capitec boss Gerrie Fourie’s total remuneration has been cut by R30 million or 33% to R62 million in the 2023 financial year. The banking group announced in its 2023 annual report that Fourie’s total remuneration is R62 million, down from R92 million in 2022. The total remuneration consists of a guaranteed salary, which includes R16,9 million and R5,4 million in short-term incentives and R39,7 million in long-term incentives. Andre du Plessis, Capitec’s CFO, received total remuneration of R31 million for the 2023 financial year compared to R60 million in 2022. The banking group’s top four executives received a total of…

App-only bank, Bank Zero, today announced a new partnership with another innovative fintech player, iKhokha. This will provide business customers with a card machine solution with zero monthly rental fees, which seamlessly integrates with Bank Zero’s zero-fee bank account. “Business banking has remained stuck in a quagmire of high fees, poor service delivery and no real choice,” explains Michael Jordaan, chair of Bank Zero. “However, the landscape is rapidly changing thanks to innovative partnerships.” “Traditional banks focus on becoming platforms, which, in essence, force customers to get products from that one bank. Bank Zero is different. We embrace ecosystem thinking…