Author: Gugu Lourie

South African AgriTech Startup Khula has closed a seed round to the value of R20 million led by JSE-listed chemicals giant AECI. The company said on Wednesday that the funds will be used to expand to the rest of the African continent. The AgriTech startup provides small-scale and commercial size farmers with software and a marketplace to grow their business. Khula has been in an intensive pilot over the last three years, working with farmers of all sizes across South Africa. AECI has acquired a minority interest in Khula, as they believe that the platform will enable greater access to…

Sherry Singh, CEO of Mauritius Telecom, today launched the my.t 5G Experience Zones at the Hennessy Park hotel, Ebene, in the presence of Honourable Deepak Balgobin, Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation. With the deployment of four 5G Experience Zones in Ebène, at the University of Mauritius, at Bagatelle Mall and La City Trianon, Mauritius Telecom is propelling Mauritius on the world map of countries that have launched 5G. The country is now among the Top 10 African countries that have deployed this technology. Taking up the 5G challenge on the Mauritian market Singh stated that 5G is a…

MTN announced today that is a step closer to resolving the Afghanistan terrorism lawsuit. In the court papers, American families argue that for more than a decade, MTN has been integral to the Taliban’s terrorist campaign against Americans in Afghanistan. Africa’s and the Middle East biggest mobile phone operator faces a lawsuit filed United States District Court for the District of Columbia for violation of the anti-terrorism act. For more read: MTN To Defend Itself Against US Lawsuit for Alleged Funding the Taliban The American families argue alleges that the company paid the Taliban for protection, providing the insurgency with money…

Payments company Square today announced it is buying Australian “buy now, pay later” provider Afterpay in a $29 billion or R417 billion all-stock transaction. The acquisition aims to enable the companies to better deliver compelling financial products and services that expand access to more consumers and drive incremental revenue for merchants of all sizes. For Square, whose chief executive Jack Dorsey is also Twitter’s CEO, “Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL) presents an attractive opportunity supported by shifting consumer preferences away from traditional credit, especially among younger consumers, consistent demand from merchants for new ways to grow their sales, and the…

Telkom today unveiled the August Big Deal, which is data-packed and here to save you big bucks. The SmartBroadBand 20GB Wireless LTE SIM-Only August big deal offer with 80GB of data is available for R199 a month. The price for the SmartBroadband Wireless Unlimited Business Hours SIM-Only shall be available for the period from 1st July 2021 until 31st July 2021. The Telkom August Big Deal deal includes the following: 20GB Anytime data 20GB Night Surfer data Plus 20GB Anytime data 20GB extra Night Surfer data Huawei or D-Link router for an extra R70 R99 Once-off activation fee Also read: Telkom Enters The…

MTN Nigeria mobile subscribers declined by 7.6 million to 68.9 million for the half-year ended 30 June 2021, impacted by the regulatory restrictions on new SIM sales and activations. Last December, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) announced that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) directed the NCC to embark on another audit of the Subscriber Registration Database again. The regulator directed telecoms firms to stop selling SIM cards while it audits compliance with SIM registration rules. For more read: Regulatory Restrictions On New SIM Sales Bite Into MTN Nigeria Subscribers The restrictions were lifted on 19 April 2021.…

London-listed telecom firm Airtel Africa announced today plans to sell $200 million or R2.9 billion stake in the mobile money business, the Airtel Mobile Commerce BV.  Qatar Holding, an affiliate of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), will invest $200 million in Airtel Mobile Commerce BV. AMC BV is the holding company for several of Airtel Africa’s mobile money operations, and ultimately is intended to own and operate the mobile money businesses across all of Airtel Africa’s fourteen operating countries. Airtel Africa is exploring the listing of the mobile money business. For more read: Airtel Africa Mulls Floating The Mobile Money Business “With today’s…

JSE-listed technology group Altron has appointed Nicholas Bofilatos as Group Chief Financial Officer with effect from 29 July 2021. Bofilatos, who takes over from Cedric Miller, joined Altron in 2019 and was Finance Executive: Change Management. He has more than 15 years’ experience in finance leadership positions and was previously Group CFO at Ctrack Holdings. A Chartered Accountant by training, Bofilatos holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Pretoria as well as a Bachelor of Accounting Science (BCompt Hons) and Certificate in Theory of Accountancy from the University of South Africa. “I am delighted to take over…

“I feel now is the right time for me to step aside and make way for a new leader who will take Telkom to even greater heights,” Sipho Maseko, Telkom CEO, said on Friday. Telkom informed investors today that Maseko will leave Telkom next year. “I will stay on until June 2022 to ensure a smooth transition for my successor. I am most thankful to my colleagues across our country, for trusting me to lead Telkom, and for supporting me throughout this journey of transition.” Maseko joined Telkom eight years ago from rival Vodacom at a time when the organisation…

Sipho Maseko is stepping down as CEO of Telkom after nine years in the job. The company informed investors on Friday that Maseko will depart on 30 June 2022. “The process to appoint a successor is well underway and a designate Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) will be announced in the not too distant future. Sipho would, for the remainder of his tenure, ensure the incoming Group Chief Executive Officer designate’s orderly transition into the role,” Telkom said in a statement. Maseko joined Telkom on 1 April 2013 at a time when the organisation faced severe challenges. During his eight-year…