Author: Gugu Lourie

Mix Telematics president and CEO Stefan Joselowitz’ total compensation was R8.1 million in 2013, dropping by R2.4 million from the previous year, according to the vehicle tracking company’s integrated annual report. The total remuneration consist of a R5.5 million salary and allowances, plus R2.6 million performance bonus. Megan Pydigadu, who is the chief financial officer and a member of the board of directors since 2010, also saw her total remuneration drop to R3.4 million in 2015 from R5.5 million in 2014. Charles Tasker, the chief operating officer, saw his total remuneration being cut by R1.79 million to R4.9 million from…

By Ujuh The telecommunication sector is facing a great deal of uncertainty over the future direction of broad based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) rules for the ICT sector. This is reflected in statements made by the largest mobile phone network operator in the country, Vodacom. The uncertainty comes amidst the introduction of news and tougher BBBEE codes of good practice which kicked in at the beginning of May and threatens to cause massive BBBEE downgrades. Corporations in the telecoms space are worried because the new direction of BBBEE rules will come to impact on the process of spectrum allocation. Some…

By Ujuh Vodacom has positioned its enterprise development programme, the Innovator Trust, as a buyer of its black economic empowerment (BEE) shares called Yebo Yethu. This is reflected in the 2014/15 annual report where Vodacom declares that the Innovator Trust acquired more than 540 000 YeboYethu. This, says Vodacom, has come to advance its BBBEE credentials The group said “The Innovator Trust utilised the loan funding obtained from Vodacom to acquire YeboYethu shares from the black public. As a result, the Group reclassified R322 million from equity to liability in terms of IFRS 2: Share-based payments.” The Vodacom YeboYethu empowewrment…

Vodacom boss Shameel Joosub was paid close to R11 million for the year ended-March 2015, after the country’s biggest mobile phone operator paid more than R13.5 billion to equity shareholders and debt funders, and grew subscriber base by 7.2% to 61.6 million. Joosub guaranteed salary rose 5% to R7.3 million in 2015 compared with R6.95 million in 2014. His R10.9 million total remuneration included a R3.7 million bonus, according to the operators’ 2015 integrated annual report. While Ivan Dittich, Vodacom’s chief financial officer was paid a guaranteed salary of R4.7 million, showing a 4.3% increase versus R4.6 million in 2014.…

“The luxury car has a cinema (tablet and TV screens), remote control parking, and massage seats, gesture control for audio and telephone calls, wireless and inductive charging of a smartphone and automatic air-con, etc.” By Staff Writer The new BMW 7 Series was launched this week. With the new BMW 7 Series, BMW has redefined what an exclusive, luxurious driving experience looks like in contemporary, pioneering form. Groundbreaking technologies in the areas of operating systems, intelligent connectivity and interior ambience underline its mission to bring together unbeatable driving pleasure and long-distance comfort in a luxury sedan. The modern luxury car defined by…

By Staff Writer The labour court has, with immediate effect, issued an order interdicting and restraining striking employees and participants from coming within a 100 meter radius of any of MTN’s premises for the duration of the industrial action. The strike by members of the Communications Workers Union (CWU) has been marred by violence and intimidation since it commenced last month. In a bid to safeguard the safety and wellbeing of its employees and to protect its facilities and infrastructure, MTN sought and was successful in obtaining an interdict barring striking employees from disrupting the company’s normal operations and intimidating…

MTN South Africa has expanded its Rush Hour bundles with the introduction of the 100MB data and R2 voice Rush Hour bundles. The new bundles, which are available with immediate effect, will provide MTN customers with additional choice and value for money. The Rush Hour 100MB Data Bundle can be purchased for R10 and will be valid for one hour. In addition, the R2 Rush Hour Voice bundle will be valid for 10 minutes from the time it is activated. Either bundle can be activated by dialling *141*2*776#. “Our Rush Hour bundles provide customers with compelling voice and data solutions…

By Michael Cowling At Apple’s recent World Wide Developer Conference, one of the tent-pole items was the inclusion of additional features for intelligent voice recognition by its personal assistant app Siri in its most recent update to its mobile operating system iOS 9. Now, instead of asking Siri to “remind me about Kevin’s birthday tomorrow”, you can rely on context and just ask Siri to “remind me of this” while viewing the Facebook event for the birthday. It will know what you mean. Technology like this has also existed in Google devices for a little while now – thanks to OK…

By Sunil Maharaj & Simon Barnes Broadband has the potential to be an enabler for reducing poverty, improving education, promoting gender equality, improving health services, ensuring environmental sustainability and providing a platform for global partnerships for development. By some estimates, a 10% increase in broadband penetration in low- and middle-income countries can result in a 1.38% increase in economic growth. Africa has a long way to go before it can reap any broadband dividend. In 2014, only 19% of Africa used the internet compared to the world average of 40.4%, and Europe’s 74.8%. Nor is the rate of broadband penetration growing at…