Author: Gugu Lourie

South African Airways (SAA) is putting someone else in charge in a bid to turnaround the ailing national carrier. The South African National Treasury said on Thursday that former Chief Officer for Vodacom Business Vuyani Jarana will be taking the reins as CEO at SAA. He will commence his duties after Vodacom has officially released him. He is responsible for Vodacom Enterprise Business National Treasury believes that Jarana is a right person to turn around the ailing national carrier. It said Jarana has, among others, transformed and positioned Vodacom Business as a growth engine of Vodacom, growing its contribution to…

Rob Shuter has been CEO of MTN for close to five months and is already stirring things up at one of the emerging markets’ biggest mobile phone operator by subscribers with a call to step up the telco’s plans to win more mobile data and digital services customers. “In fact, if you look at this big growth engines of data and digital services, I think MTN already made a good start,” declared Shuter during the interim results presentation at the company’s headquarters in Fairlands. In the six months to end-June, MTN recorded a 9.1% rise in data users putting its…

MTN, Africa and the Middle East biggest mobile phone operator, swung back into profit for the six months to end-June, as it signs up more data and mobile money service customers. In a competitive Africa and Middle East market where regulatory uncertainty increases every day, MTN has reported a 217 cents headline earnings per share (HEPS) versus a 271 cents headline loss in the same period last year, hit by the Nigerian regulatory fine of 474 cents. HEPS is the main profit gauge in South Africa. The group also added 2.7 million active mobile money customers in the period, pushing…

Are you looking for the best on-demand cleaning services? The On-Demand Economy is defined as the economic activity created by digital marketplaces that fulfil consumer demand via immediate access to and convenient provisioning of goods and services. The on-demand cleaning services are one of the fastest growing industries in the country. There are more than 900 000 domestic workers in South Africa, so it is one of the biggest sources of employment in the country. There is a great opportunity for many people find employment and be uplifted by on-demand cleaning platform. Here we offer an overview of some of…

Cassper Nyovest, Family Tree CEO, delivers his brand new music video for his 2017 Single ‘DESTINY’, off his 2017 studio album titled “Thuto”. The DESTINY single music video is caught up in the world of virtual technology. Watch the Video Below: Twitter fans of the super star are loving the video and have created a #DestinyVideo hashtag. By the time of publication, the video was approaching 40 000 views on YouTube. Here is Twitter reaction below: I think this guy nailed it. #DestinyVideo 🔥😢 He Got to explain the depth of @CassperNyovest Visuals on Destiny 😎😎 @TeamNyovest4 pic.twitter.com/ZgbTedx4Ox — #SameStageAsCassper (@RealSuffo)…

South Africa’s Pick n Pay initiated a voluntary severance package (VSP) in April to remove 10% of roles and functions in its business because of improvements in technology. The retailer said on Monday in its trading update published on the JSE that the VSP is now complete and the company has removed close to 10% of roles and functions. “The Voluntary Severance Programme is one of several steps we have taken to make our business more competitive in what is a tough trading environment. For reasons of timing, it will have a material impact on our first half result,” said…

Don’t be left in the dark with what’s disrupting the financial services industry in South Africa. The FinTech (Financial Technology) sector is experiencing explosive growth in the country. It is revolutionising the financial services landscape and it has created a new marketplace for innovation. It is revolutionising the financial services landscape and it has created a new marketplace for innovation. It helps the unbanked to have access to digital financial services. South African FinTech firms are expanding into the rest of the African continent as it offers growth opportunities. Here are the top 10 South African FinTech companies, in no…

South African government has taken an initiative to amend the National Land Transport Act in an effort to accommodate e-hailing services which include Uber, Zebra and Taxify. “As we speak there is an amendment bill in parliament which is being assessed by the portfolio committee on transport,” Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi said. Addressing a media briefing on Thursday on the outcome of the meeting between the Department of Transport, the Meter Taxi Associations and the E-Hailing Operators, the Minister said public hearings on amending the act are expected to start soon. “We cannot predetermine the outcome of the amendment bill…

African Rainbow Capital (ARC), an investment firm founded by business mogul Patrice Motsepe, has acquired 20% stake of wireless broadband operator Rain, previously known as Wireless Business Solutions. “We are delighted to partner with ARC and look forward to the strategic value they bring to the team”, Paul Harris, Rain Chairman, said in a statement on Friday. “In addition, they enhance our already significant BEE (black economic empowerment) ownership credentials”. ARC is a fully black-owned and controlled investment company with stakes in various financial services businesses. To date, Rain has rolled out over 1 000 sites and 1 500 base stations…

A universe of linked devices, services and people is the key to a new era of competitiveness. Imagine a universe of intelligent products, processes and services that communicate with each other and with people over the internet. From smartphones and smart meters to medical devices and sensors, connected devices collect data that creates efficiencies and reduces waste for consumers and companies alike. The Internet of Things (IoT)will transform companies and countries, opening a new era of economic growth and competitiveness, according to the global consulting firm Accenture. Researcher IDC predicts that the IoT market will reach $7 billion in 2020…