Author: Gugu Lourie
The Information Communication Technology Union (ICTU) said on Friday that Cell C has served retrenchment notices to all its staff members. ICTU is an affiliate of the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU), which is led by Zwelinzima Vavi. The union is the sole worker representative at Cell C. “Today, ICTU is having a meeting with Cell C management and their major shareholder, Blue Label Telecoms, at their BLT offices in Sandton,” ICTU spokesperson, Thabang Mothelo, told TechFinancials. “Key issue is the possible retrenchment of 960 staff. All 2500 staff members have been served with retrenchment notices.” JSE-listed Blue Label Telecoms…
SASSA KwaMashu Local Office has been temporarily closed until further notice after an official tested positive for COVID-19. The Department of Health has been requested to conduct tests on all affected officials (31). Whilst awaiting results, these officials will be on self-isolation. SASSA management has arranged for the decontamination of the office concerned. “Clients are encouraged to use these alternative local offices Phoenix, Inanda or Durban Local Office for all social grants applications or services,” said SASSA. As of yesterday, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 111 796. Case Data Province Total cases for 24…
Telkom is targeting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as part of its revenue diversification strategy. Small and medium businesses have the biggest impact on a successful gross domestic product. However, South Africa has one of the highest failure rates for these businesses compared to other developing countries. Telkom Small and Medium Business (SMB) aims to be a go-to place for all small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to connect and to grow. Telkom SMB’s goal is to shift from pure connectivity products to e-commerce and expand to adjacent offerings in IT, procurement, financial services and many more – all delivered through…
MTN has reached a significant milestone by recording 100 million active data users on its networks across Africa and the Middle East, the telco revealed on Thursday. The South Africa-based company has a total base of more than 257 million customers in 21 markets. Growth through scaling data and digital services is central to its strategy. The group is overcoming barriers to greater mobile internet adoption by extending its 3G and 4G coverage, accelerating smartphone adoption and transforming prices. MTN wants to bridge the digital divide by ensuring that rural people in Africa and the Middle East are connected to…
Jaguar Land Rover has partnered with the City of Oslo to launch the world’s first high-powered wireless taxis. In a programme known as ‘ElectriCity’, the global vehicle manufacturer will join Nordic taxi operator Cabonline (NorgesTaxi AS), the region’s largest charge point operator Fortum Recharge, US technology developer Momentum Dynamics and the City of Oslo to build wireless, high-powered charging infrastructure for taxis in the Norwegian capital. The project will be the first wireless high-powered charging system for electric taxis in the world and by providing a charging infrastructure model that can be implemented almost anywhere, it will help the rapid…
The Liberty Fighters Network (LFN) is going to court again today to fight the lockdown restrictions. Earlier this month, LFN launched a court case against the lockdown restrictions in May, arguing they were unlawful and violated South Africa’s Bill of Rights. For more read: Lockdown Makes No Sense – Says South Africa’s Court The high court in Pretoria bought their argument and agreed with them before handing down a ruling that said some of the restrictions were irrational and trampled the rights of citizens. For more read: Court Rules SA’s Lockdown is Invalid. What is the End Goal? Mass Graves… The…
Two weeks ago, Bryan Habana – World Cup-winning Springbok star – announced the launch of MatchKit.co, an innovative platform that gives athletes a ground-breaking solution towards growing their commercial brands. Habana and his team at the award-winning creative sporting agency, Retroactive, have created a mobile tech play that reinvents the way athletes – of every tier and discipline – monetise their careers in a simple and cost-effective way. “MatchKit has connected with more than 2.1 million fans since its public launch,” Mike Sharman, co-founder of Retroactive, told TechFinancials on Wednesday. To date, the app has had 4,800 views on its…
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has lambasted the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa’s (USAASA) decision to put out a near-identical tender for the provision of television sets to over 111 000 learners. The first tender in this regard (USAF-IDTV/01/2020) was cancelled without being awarded. Nomsa Marchesi, the DA’s Shadow Minister for Basic Education, said this was reported that the original tender could cost up to R160 million. The tender process closes on 2 July 2020, after which the television sets will reportedly be distributed to Grade 12 learners. This process will take approximately two months which means by…
Following a series of COVID-19 tests conducted last Friday, two Kaizer Chiefs players’ results have come back positive from the laboratory, the club announced on Tuesday. According to a statement published on the club’s website, a total of 70 individuals, including players, members of the technical team and other club officials were tested for COVID-19 in preparation for the restart of the 2019/20 season. “At the time of doing these tests, players and officials were screened and monitored by healthcare workers and team doctors. None of the people tested showed any signs or symptoms of COVID-19,” the statement reads. “All…
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) on Tuesday issued a statement on Twitter regarding the R350 COVID-19 Grant, which said ‘nothing at all’. “There is no fixed payment date for the special Covid-19 SRD grant. The applicant will be paid for each month as long as they still meet the qualification criteria. Every month the application will be verified to ensure that the applicant still qualifies for that particular month,” SASSA wrote in its official Twitter. There is no fixed payment date for the special Covid-19 SRD grant. The applicant will be paid for each month as long as they…
Telkom is investing in future technology based on software-defined networks (SDN), which allows for the creation of a framework to support more data-intensive applications like big data and virtualization. “Telkom has enjoyed the benefits of copper over the last 30 years. It has served us well. We are currently investing in technology that will power Telkom for the next 30 years,” Sipho Maseko, Telkom CEO said. Telkom’s capital investments totalled R7.8 billion in the year to end-March 2020, with capital expenditure in the mobile business up 22.1% to R3.7 billion. The company said the accelerated investment in the packet-optical transport…
The successful delivery of broadband-led propositions by Telkom and pushing its mobile business to deliver solid financial results caught our attention. This resulted in Telkom Mobile delivering a 54.4% rise in service revenue from a higher base to R12.6 billion to remain the fastest growing mobile business in the country. One of the things that we found to be of interest is the fastest growth in subscriber numbers for Telkom Mobile. “This was underpinned by our ongoing network investment and successful broadband-led proposition, which continue to resonate well with customers,” said Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko. “Despite ongoing competitive threats with changes…
Telkom’s wireless service is more reliable than its copper-based technology and is less susceptible to interruptions as a result of adverse weather conditions, faults and cable theft. The South African telco first announced the transition from copper-based technology to wireless in 2015 noting that the migration would be done as a phased approach. Having successfully migrated over 96% of prepaid fixed-line customers, Telkom is now migrating postpaid fixed copper-based voice and/or DSL customers to fibre and wireless. Telkom today announced its financial results for the year ended 31 March 2020, which showed that fixed-line decline 29.3% to 1.6 million versus…
Mining companies are in a frenzy to supply Eskom with coal, which they frequently transport from Mpumalanga towns by road using very heavy trucks. With no end to Eskom’s appetite, coal mines are booming. To satisfy the power utility, road trips have to be made through Bethal and Morgenzon towns. Observers say these frequent trips by heavy trucks laden with coal are destroying the road network of these small towns in Mpumalanga. And the observers also claim the state is an idle spectator. The amount of damage to the road infrastructure of the small towns in Mpumalanga is staggering. Roads…
All South African citizens who qualify for social relief and economic support packages have received funds. However, the jobless are still waiting and not even sure if they are eligible or approved to get the R350 allocated to them. On 21 April, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a R500 billion stimulus package to deal with the negative economic impact of COVID-19. As part of the package, Ramaphosa revealed a special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress grant of R350 a month for six months to be paid to jobless individuals. He said the relief grant excluded anyone who already receives any other…
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will submit urgent parliamentary questions to the Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, to ascertain how her department and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) have spent the billions of rands in funding that have been redirected towards social relief. DA Shadow Minister of Social Development Bridget Masango said in a statement on Thursday that it has been two months since the President’s announcement and the nation is still in the dark on how these monies have been disbursed. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on 21 April 2020, that the government “will direct R50 billion towards…
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) announced on Thursday it has paid 1,2 million people their R350 Social Relief Grant. “Our aim is to pay the right grant to the right people,” SASSA CEO Totsie Memela said in a statement. So far, 3.2 million applicants have been approved and 1.2 million have been paid, said SASSA. The agency added that payments are still in progress and SASSA still needs to do a verification check before any payments can be made. It said applicants are processed daily but the major source of delays comes from the necessary verification process which…
Small towns in Mpumalanga are seriously considering going to court to force the Govan Mbeki Municipality (GMM) and Lekwa Local Municipality (LCM) to provide electricity, water, and improve road infrastructure. The local Ridge Times reports that a committee consisting of residents and local businesses people from both eMzinoni, Bethal and Milan Park, has been formed. The committee has been named as the Bethal and eMzinoni Community for Service Association. The association has already begun the process of taking legal action against GMM. “We all have the same goals in mind. We want to tackle our current situation and the years…
South Africa has recorded 80,412 confirmed coronavirus cases, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Wednesday evening. “Since the start of the outbreak, there have been 80,412 confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa,” he said. “Of these, 44,331 people – or around 55% – have recovered. That means there are currently 34,407 active cases in the country. “Yet, as we know, the cost in human lives could have been far higher. We took a decision early in the development of the disease in South Africa to restrict international travel and gatherings with the declaration of a National State of Disaster and subsequently…
South Africa is to open restaurants, accommodation, conferences, cinemas, casinos, salons and beauty spas, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Wednesday evening. Ramaphosa addressed the nation on developments in South Africa’s risk-adjusted strategy to manage the spread of COVID-19. Lockdown Level 5 was introduced in South Africa on 26 March 2020. South Africa moved to a level 3 lockdown on 1 June 2020. Visit SA’s #1 online gambling site www.SouthAfricanCasinos.co.za for the best online casinos & mobile casinos for play in South African Rand (ZAR). Get a free no deposit casino bonus when joining these recommended casinos: Springbok Casino, Europa Casino,…
Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou has accused the United States of providing a “grossly inaccurate [and] misleading” summary of evidence to the Canadian court hearing her extradition case, arguing that the case should be thrown out as a result, according to the South China Morning Post. The 2013 presentation forms the basis of US claims that Meng defrauded HSBC by lying about Huawei’s business in Iran, allegedly in breach of US sanctions, and that she should be sent to New York to face trial. “Ms Meng will submit that the Requesting State’s summary of evidence … is grossly inaccurate and based…
As Africa braces itself for the peak in COVID-19 cases, the continent is launching the Africa Medical Supplies Platform, an innovative marketplace to enable all African governments to access critical supplies, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Wednesday. According to President Ramaphosa, Africa has over 250 000 confirmed infections and about 6 700 deaths. “Although the number of infections in Africa is currently lower than elsewhere in the world, there is an expectation that the worst is still to come, with dire social and economic consequences,” he said. As it stands, Africa is in dire need of medical supplies, testing equipment…
This International Day of the African Child, MTN announced it is supporting the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) to help mobilise funds for children and families across Sub-Saharan Africa affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. MTN is doing this by enabling SMS fundraising throughout a month-long campaign to raise funds for those most severely impacted by the virus on the continent. All proceeds raised through the campaign will be donated in full to UNICEF and WFP, who are supporting COVID-19 affected communities across Africa. The pandemic’s closure of schools is putting at risk the futures…
Planet42, a South Africa based FinTech startup that focuses on providing access to mobility to the underbanked, has raised R41 million ($2.4 million). The seed round was led by Change Ventures. Private backers include Martin Villig (Bolt), Ragnar Sass (Pipedrive), Marko Virkebau (MeetFrank), Kristjan Vilosius (Katana MRP), and several other Estonian tech entrepreneurs. The company launched as CarGet in 2017 to service South Africa, a market well-known to co-founder and CFO Marten Orgna, who ran African Investments for Trigon Capital. Planet42 partners with dealerships across South Africa to offer access to a personal car to its largely underbanked clientele (9…
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, to request that she makes an urgent Executive Statement to the National Assembly on the status of the special R350 Covid-19 Relief of Distress Grant. Applicants remain disappointed as their concerns are posted on social media were once again ignored by the South African Social Services Agency (SASSA) and the Ministry of Social Development. Despite weeks of cries from the unemployed on Twitter seeking answers about their applications for the jobless grant, SASSA and the Ministry of Social Development remained mum until today. For more read: SASSA Ignores R350…