Author: Gugu Lourie

The University of South Africa (Unisa) has partnered with MTN and will contribute R59,7 million over a period of two months to provide students with data. As part of the deal, all registered Unisa students will receive 30GB of data per month (10GB anytime and 20GB night time) for a period of 2 months from mid-May to mid-July 2020. The data will enable students to take part in the Unisa May/June 2020 examinations. Students may use the data and connectivity during this period to conduct other academic activities such as the submission of assignments online, online contact with the university…

Distell, the R17.3 billion South African alcohol empire behind Savanna cider, Amarula, Oudemeester and Bernini, is looking at expanding its business into the lucrative sanitiser market. Last month, Distell began producing hand sanitisers and other hygienic products at its production facilities as part of its efforts to help curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Distell announced on Friday it has donated 105 000 litres of sanitiser to both the South African government and NGO’s to support the need for responsible self- isolation and good hygiene practices in vulnerable communities. It has also generated R8 million worth of revenue from…

South African drugstore chain Dis-Chem Pharmacies is planning to buy Baby City, a one-stop-shop with a range of branded baby products. Dis-Chem will spend R430 million to buy 100% of shareholding in Baby City from its owners, the Aronoff family. The South African drugstore chain informed investors on Friday that it recognises that the characteristics of the baby product sector align with the those of the pharmacy sector. The company added that both sectors are extremely resilient to perpetual new entrants – the baby sector sees approximately 900 000 new babies annually. Dis-Chem’s current offering is very focused on the FMCG and…

Most of South Africa may be moved to Level 3 of lockdown, which would allow for the easing of some restrictions and enable bottle stores to sell booze. Under level 3 regulations, the sale of alcohol is allowed between Monday and Wednesday and from 8am to noon. However, an independent liquor store organisation has warned that this will inevitably create “a pressure-cooker situation where customers will stand in massive queues in the streets, and will boil over into frustration and even possible violence and looting.” In a submission to the government, the Liquor Traders Association of South Africa (LTASA) proposes…

South Africa’s confirmed COVID-19 cases stood at 12 739 on Thursday night, with 19 more deaths recorded. “Regrettably we report a further 19 COVID-19 related deaths. This brings the total national deaths to 238,” said Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize. The Minister expressed his condolences to the loved ones of those who passed on, while also thanking healthcare workers who cared for the deceased. As of Thursday night, the Eastern Cape had 1 569 cases comprising 12.3% of the national average, the Free State 145 cases, Gauteng 2 135 cases which comprised 16.8% of the national average. KwaZulu-Natal recorded 1…

The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) says more than a million unemployed people have applied for the R350 monthly COVID-19 relief grant. “What we did when we started, we realised that when we reconciled, 60% of people who made the application were not supposed to,” Sassa spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi, told ENCA. The special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress grant of R350 a month for the next 6 months will be paid to individuals who are currently unemployed and do not receive any other form of a social grant or UIF payment. Watch ENCA interview with Letsatsi, below: Also read:…

South Africa’s metered taxi, minibus taxi, bus and coach services industries are essential for the growth of the South African economy. Minibus taxis remain the most popular choice of transport for about 69% of South Africa’s commuters, generating an estimated R50 billion in fares annually, according to a recent report by ResearchAndMarkets. Buses and metered taxis continue to lose ground on e-hailing services. The Bus Rapid Transit system has been a failure, with high capital expenses, subsidies and low ridership undermining the plan to provide fast, affordable public transport. Taxis are used by about 69% of households compared to 59%…

The rapid growth in internet usage in Africa represents a significant opportunity for some of the world’s largest tech firms. With internet penetration rates estimated at an average of 24%, it remains the only continent where over half the total population is without internet access. China Mobile International, Facebook, MTN GlobalConnect, Orange, stc, Telecom Egypt, Vodafone and WIOCC are betting on this as they partner to build the most comprehensive subsea cable to serve the African continent and Middle East region. The companies announced today that they will partner to build 2Africa, a 37,000km long subsea cable to interconnect Europe…

JSE-listed technology group Altron on Thursday announced a raft of measures to preserve cash amid the economic upheaval created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite Altron’s resilience, with 62% of its income being annuity based, COVID-19 is expected to have a negative impact of mid-single digit on last financial year revenues. “To limit the impact on profitability, a number of cost savings initiatives have been implemented for the 2021 financial year which include cancelling all cash absorbing projects, freezing recruitment, promotions, and salary increases as well as halving all bonuses for Group Executive Officers, Managing Directors and First Line Managers for the…

MTN on Thursday reduced its capital expenditure guidance for 2020 to between R2 billion and R22 billion, revised from R28.3 billion guided at the 2019 full-year results. “The current environment is marked by significant uncertainties. It is still too early to assess the economic impact of the pandemic on our customers and reliably quantify the direct or indirect financial effects on our business,” the company informed investors on Thursday. “The remainder of the year will be shaped by the ramifications of the pandemic, and we will continue to update all stakeholders as the effects become clearer.” The company said its…

MTN added 2.9 million data users across its operations in Africa and the Middle East in the first quarter financial results for the year ended 31 March 2020, bringing its total user base to just shy of 99 million subscribers. “We are not only focused on managing the risks brought about by COVID-19, but also on the opportunities it creates in the accelerated digitalization it has brought about,” Rob Shuter, MTN Group CEO, said on Thursday. “We believe we are well-positioned as a company to benefit from this evolution, especially given our focus on growth in our data, digital and…

President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Wednesday evening that South Africa’s COVID-19 hotspots to remain in level 4 as most parts of the country move to level 3. “We will immediately begin a process of consultation with relevant stakeholders on a proposal that by the end of May, most of the country be placed on alert level 3, but that those parts of the country with the highest rates of infection remain on level 4,” Ramaphosa said. “It is important that we maintain stringent restrictions in these areas and restrict travel out of these areas to parts of the country with…

President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation at 20h30 this evening, Wednesday 13 May 2020, on South Africa’s ongoing measures to manage the spread of the coronavirus through the implementation of a risk-adjusted strategy. #COVID19 | President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation at 20h30 this evening, Wednesday 13 May 2020, on South Africa’s ongoing measures to manage the spread of the coronavirus through the implementation of a risk adjusted strategy. #CoronaVirusSA #day48oflockdown #StayHome pic.twitter.com/zeFw8peqAN — Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) May 13, 2020 The President’s address follows a number of meetings of Cabinet and the National Coronavirus Command…

The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting every industry. For the minibus taxi industry, at current level 4 restrictions, limits on operating hours have been relaxed enabling activity between 5am and 7pm, however constraints on passengers per trip and long-distance travel continue to apply. “Over the past few weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the indispensable nature of the minibus taxi industry as the dominant form of public transport in South Africa,” David Hurwitz, the CEO of JSE-listed Transaction Capital, said on Wednesday. “This, together with the minibus taxi industry’s defensive character, will assist in its quick recovery and smooth transition to…

The South African motor industry, which was brought to a complete halt for almost two months due to regulations to curb the spread of COVID-19, can now start selling vehicles again. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition yesterday published a Government Gazette, which details precise directions regarding the sale of cars and emergency automobile repairs during alert Level 4 of the Covid-19 National State of Disaster. The direction, effective immediately, allow the motor industry to start selling vehicles once again. Significantly, car dealers are now allowed to sell both new and used cars while original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and…

SA Taxi Rewards, a minibus taxi rewards programme, is slowly being embraced by South African taxi drivers as it continues to evolve in ways aimed at further benefitting the industry. The 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). The SA Taxi Rewards programme was previously known as Black Elite. The programme was aimed at leveraging the minibus taxi industry’s purchasing power to negotiate better pricing to benefit minibus taxi operators, associations and ultimately the entire industry.…

SA Taxi, a vertically integrated minibus taxi platform, is using technology to slowly transform the behaviour of drivers and provide commuter safety in the minibus industry. SA Taxi, which is owned by JSE-listed Transaction Capital, is vertically integrated into the minibus taxi industry. The company is using its telematics and other data accumulated from its rewards programmes to proactively drive behavioural changes in the minibus taxi industry. Also read: SA Taxi Wants to Use Tech to Revolutionize Minibus Taxi Industry As an essential service, the industry operated under national guidelines during the lockdown with only the transportation of essential service…

Absa has become the first major South African bank to invest in the start-up stock exchange  A2X Markets. The stock exchange announced on Wednesday that the banking group has invested in the business. Details of the investment were not disclosed. A2X provides the South African marketplace with a choice of trading venue at a much-reduced cost. A2X achieves this through the use of the latest technology and applying modern and innovative business practices. Many of South Africa’s top companies are already listed on A2X including eight Top40 constituents, three Absa precious metal ETFs and two Investec ETNs. “The team at…

As a result of the novel coronavirus and the steps taken to curb its spread, many businesses face a significant loss of income.  In this context, the South African government is partnering with commercial banks to provide financial support to small and medium-sized firms to enable them to meet their operational needs over the next few months.  Absa, First National Bank, Investec, Mercantile Bank, Nedbank and Standard Bank are ready to accept loan applications from eligible businesses which bank with them, the National Treasury announced on Tuesday. On 4 May 2020, the National Treasury, South African Reserve Bank and Banking…

Scammers are taking advantage of the jobless who are trying to apply for the COVID-19 Special Grant of R350 a month. Ahead of the payouts this week, the Social Development Ministry has issued a scam alert. The ministry has warned unemployed South Africans not to pay R30 towards their application for the unemployment grant. Desperate people have been warned against responding to messages that say: “We help You To Apply for Social Relief of Stress Grants.” The message prompts unemployed South Africans to pay R30 to fast-track their applications for the R350 grant. “The Department of Social Development is urging all…

A total of 356 067 COVID-19 tests has been conducted, of which 14 731 are new tests since yesterday’s report. Case Data “There are 637 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, with the total number of confirmed cases at 10 652,” said Dr Zweli Mkhize, Health Minister. Province New cases Total cases Percentage total Eastern Cape 138 1356 12,7 Free State 0 135 1,3 Gauteng 19 1971 18,5 KwaZulu-Natal 19 1372 12,7 Limpopo 0 54 0,6 Mpumalanga 2 63 0,6 North West 5 50 0,5 Northern Cape 1 30 0,3 Western Cape 453 5 621 52,8 Unknown 0 0 0,0 Total 637 10 652…

One of the most challenging and revolutionary things artificial intelligence (AI) can do is speak, write, listen, and understand human language. Natural language processing (NLP) is a form of AI that extracts meaning from human language to make decisions based on the information.  Derrick van Schalkwyk has set his mind on conquering NLP and is not doing badly so far. This South African-born civil engineering informatics master’s graduate from Stellenbosch University has helped start Kristalic, an applied NLP company based in San Francisco. He founded Kristalic in San Francisco with Filip Kozera and his university flatmate, Jos van der Westhuizen,…

This week millions of jobless South Africans will begin receiving relief grants of R350 each to help them cope with the lockdown.   The temporary-relief grant will perhaps give an accurate figure of the disputed unemployment rate in the country.  Government, unions and employment agencies have varying estimates of the size of the unemployed – anywhere between 5 and 15 million. They, however, all agree the problem is most acute among young people. Stats SA reported that South Africa’s unemployment rate increased by 0,1 of a percentage point to 29,1% in Q3 of 2019. The SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) has, in the…

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) will today open the process for applications of the R350 Special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant for unemployed people. The manner in which qualifying citizens can apply for this grant will be as follows: The new WHATSAPP line will be 082 0468 553 The USSD or SMS Line will be *134*7737# The email address will be [email protected] If an applicant has previously provided a cellphone number to an institution such as the SA Revenue Service or the Unemployment Insurance Fund, and now tries to apply using a different number, “the system will kick…

Vodacom is scaling up its financial services offerings to empower the lives of customers through financial inclusion, and the investment is paying off. The Vodafone-owned operator said Monday it had added 6 million new financial services customers in the year to 31 March 2020, pushing its total customers to 53.2 million clients, reflecting a 12.8% jump compared to the previous year. The technology company said its group financial services revenue rose by 22% to R18 billion. The company’s key market of South Africa contributed R2 billion in revenues after experiencing a 21.5% increase on the back of our popular Airtime…