Author: Staff Writer
MTN announced on Monday that it remains the ‘Most Admired African Brand’ based on spontaneous consumer responses in Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands 2020 survey released on Monday. MTN is also the only African brand in the rankings of the ‘Most Admired Brands in Africa’. In a survey carried out in 27 countries, representing around 80% of the population and the GDP of Africa, the group is now also considered one of the continent’s most admired media brands. MTN Mobile Money – through which MTN provides more than 35 million Africans access to financial services – remains one of Africa’s…
With the economy expected to shrink by an estimated 15% in 2020, direct selling offers an opportunity for South Africans with an appetite for entrepreneurship to generate steady and reliable income, says Mthunzi Mbali, vice-chairperson of the DSA of South Africa (DSA). The government has done a phenomenal job in many respects with regards to encouraging entrepreneurship through various entities offering both intellectual capital and funding support because it recognises that small businesses are the real engine of our economy and a strategic sector when it comes to arresting rising unemployment, says Mbali. “Sadly, many entrepreneurship opportunities require considerable capital…
A partnership between Putco and fleet-management organisation Netstar has enabled the bus company to exponentially improve the safety of its fleet at a time when people are especially reliant on essential bus services. The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown regulations mean that mobility is limited and licensed transport operators such as Putco are responsible for much of the people movement within and between provinces. A network of onboard cameras ensures Putco can monitor adherence to social-distancing guidelines, check that drivers and passengers are wearing masks, that passengers are sanitised when boarding the bus and that there is compliance with lockdown…
The outbreak of coronavirus and the implementation of the nationwide lockdown is threatening the livelihood of millions of people, with Business for South Africa (B4SA) estimating that over a million employees will swell the ranks of the unemployed due to depressed economic activity. In line with its efforts to empower women through an earning opportunity, leading global beauty and personal care company Avon Justine is leveraging its expertise in the direct selling business spanning nearly 130 years by embarking on a recruitment campaign to help those that need extra income and those that don’t have employment. In an unstable economy…
MTN customers are now able to purchase 1GB of data for one day for R29; or pay R149 upfront for a daily allocation of 1GB of data every day for seven days. This amounts to R21 for 1GB a day – with MTN’s all-new EverydayGigs offer. Developed specifically to cater for customer’s daily data usage needs and affordability constraints, MTN’s EverydayGigs is an easy, hassle-free and cost-effective data solution that guarantees daily connectivity for MTN customers. For high-data prepaid usage, customers can purchase a 30GB monthly bundle for just R499 once off and get an allocation of 1GB data every…
Thabiso Hamilton Ndlovu, a Johannesburg-based businessman, has bought Lamborghini, Jeep and three Porsches on the same day. The businessman, who owns Hamiltonn Holdings, has been trending on social media. He bought one Porsche for the kids and another for his mother, and one Lamborghini Urus, two Porsches and two Jeeps for himself, the kids, his parents and wife. It’s people like Hamilton Ndlovu that inspire us to do better in life 🙌🏽. I don’t know him but I can never be so proud 🙌🏽 Congratulations brother ✨💫 pic.twitter.com/lqDK6TODsF — Banele Gumede (@BaneleGumede10) May 24, 2020 According to the company’s website, Hamiltonn Holdings…
South Africans are not happy with Cooperative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma who is believed to be calling for the alcohol and cigarette ban to continue. News24 says they have been reliably informed that Dlamini-Zuma has told the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) this week that the sale of tobacco and alcohol should continue to be banned until the country reaches Level 1 of the lockdown. News24’s source went on to say that no decision had yet been taken, “The discussion goes on and on and there is no finality,” the insider said. Where was minister #dlaminizuma when the decision…
As the country prepares for the reopening of schools, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government has assured parents and stakeholders that all necessary precautions will be taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This follows an announcement by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga on Tuesday that schools will reopen, starting with the return of the teachers on 25 May 2020 and the opening of schools on 1 June 2020 with Grade 7 and Grade 12 learners returning to the classroom. The reopening of schools follows the National Coronavirus Command Council and Cabinet’s approval of the Basic Education Department’s plan to return to…
MTN today implemented the data usage rate service which enables both prepaid and contract customers to monitor their usage history and the effective consumption rate of the last five bundles purchased in the last 30 days. This service can be accessed free of charge by dialling the zero-rated USSD *135# or by using the MTN App. MTN customers will also be presented with an option to access the most affordable bundles based on their unique usage profile as well as information on other products and services to enable them to get the best value for money. USSD steps: Customers will…
Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) announced on Thursday it has to date produced 23 000 face shields and donated thousands of these face shields to the KwaZulu-Natal health sector, dealers, suppliers, as well to its staff. This is part of TSAM’s bid to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the country. The first external benefactor was Prince Mshiyeni Hospital in Umlazi, Durban, receiving 900 face shields in April, while a further 10 000 units will be delivered to other hospitals and clinics during the month of May. “We have long expressed that as an organisation, we are first and foremost a corporate…
The current global COVID-19 pandemic is creating major economic and financial distress for consumers across the globe. Many jobs in the South African economy are already being impacted or at risk due to drastic demand shifts. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on household incomes of South African consumers has stayed broadly stable over recent weeks, but the number of consumers who have lost their jobs has increased sharply since the beginning of April, according to newly released research from TransUnion. This online survey of 1,005 adults in South Africa was conducted on 4 – 11 May, 2020. “The pandemic…
The COVID-19 outbreak looks set to further deepen and accelerate a well-established trend towards ‘cocooning’ in South Africa as families stay home to keep safe and make better use of their finances – a trend that is likely to outlast the pandemic. This is according to new Consumer Pulse research from GfK South Africa into the behaviours of online consumers during the Level 5 lockdown. Some 85% of consumers who usually work full time reported a significant impact on their working habits. Nearly half (47%) of full-time employees were able to work remotely, but among this group, 74% claimed they…
MyWill is an online solution for creating a Will, available as a service on the MyLegal online law platform. MyWill allows anyone to quickly and affordably create a valid Will at a once-off fee of R199 for a Single Will – or pay R250 once-off for a Joint Will. With the recently reported spike in requests for wills, South Africans are waking up to the seriousness of protecting loved ones and their assets, should they pass away. The brainchild of attorney Matthew De Wet, MyWill reimagines the way we think about the legal process behind a Will. The often-complicated process…
A Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) survey has revealed that 8.1% of its respondents lost jobs or closed businesses as a consequence of the COVID-19 outbreak. The survey, titled Wave 2, studied the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment and income in South Africa. Stats SA released the findings on Wednesday. The survey was conducted between 29 April and 6 May. According to the report, almost nine in ten (89.5%) respondents who were employed before the national lockdown remained employed during the lockdown. “The survey also found a decrease in the proportion of respondents who usually derive their income…
Fans of Mzansi’s much-loved telenovelas Gomora, The River and Isibaya will have something scintillating to look forward to as these shows return to the small screen on 25 May. This magnificent news comes in the wake of the easing of lockdown regulations from the beginning of this month, allowing television productions to return to set, albeit with stringent measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Kutlwano Ditsele, the executive producer of the popular telenovela Gomora, expressed his excitement to be back in the hot seat. “The lockdown was a necessity, but we missed being on the set of Gomora. Any opportunity to…
Africa Data Centres, part of the Liquid Telecom Group, has completed the acquisition of a state-of-the-art Tier IV data centre in Johannesburg from Standard Bank, Africa’s largest bank. The acquisition, which has been unconditionally approved by the South African Competition Commission, will prove highly disruptive to the South African data centre and co-location market and consolidates Africa Data Centres’ position as the largest pan-African provider of interconnected, carrier and cloud-neutral data centres. The facility is widely recognised as the most prestigious and highly specified data centre anywhere in Africa, offering world-leading levels of security, resilience and capacity. It is also…
Aspirant data scientists in their final year of study still have until the end of June to apply for a bursary for the 2020 academic year that will see them enter the Shoprite Group’s Data Science Academy in January 2021. Based in Cape Town, the academy offers a year-long programme in which apprentices have the opportunity to extract knowledge and insights from complex data sets involving sales, inventory, consumer spending and much more. A key component of this programme is the mentoring each apprentice receives from an experienced data scientist. These mentors act as guides that help the apprentices navigate…
Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub announced last week that the company will spend R1 billion in the current financial year ensuring the network in South Africa is able to cope with widespread electricity blackouts. The company announced on Tuesday that much of this investment will be used to intensify security around the telco’s base station sites, install additional batteries and generators to ensure connectivity during load shedding. Vodacom said there has been a significant year-on-year increase in the number of battery thefts in its base stations, with the average increase at around 35%. For instance, on average 600 incidents per…
Global technology company Zoho today announced that all its 45 plus business software applications are available at a fixed South African rand price. The move, part of the brand’s global survive-and-serve strategy, seeks to ease the impact of currency fluctuations, especially on small businesses. It also aims to significantly reduce barriers to entry for SMEs who are considering multiple solutions from different global vendors. Zoho, through the Small Business Emergency Subscription Assistance Program, is also offering its existing, qualifying small business customers a three-month waiver on their subscription fees. A number of additional initiatives and resources have been launched for…
As South Africans continue to adjust to new ways of living and working, MultiChoice South Africa has once again expanded its content selection, value and reach. Africa’s most-loved storyteller is opening up a world of online learning, series and movies to its DStv customers from today. “As the nationwide lockdown continues, MultiChoice continues to provide an uninterrupted video entertainment subscription service with the best available content,” says CEO of MultiChoice South Africa, Mark Rayner. “We’re always looking for new and creative ways to add value for our customers – most recently during the current COVID-19 period.” Online Learning Udemy is…
Wesbank has denied claims that it would repossess more than 45,000 vehicles due to non-payment during the national lockdown. It was stated on Twitter today that WesBank was planning to repossess a total of 45 000 vehicles from its customers. Bruh, 45 000 cars. The thing is, what are they going to do with them? They must just leave them & hope the clients catch up. https://t.co/agD6iMT4gz — Sizwe Dhlomo (@SizweDhlomo) May 18, 2020 These claims are false and unfounded, says Lebogang Gaoaketse, WesBank’s Head of Marketing and Communications. The claims on social media that WesBank is planning to repossess…
SureStart Online Financial Services and TPI Insurance, have collaborated to launch Eyethu Funeral, a fully digital solution for distributing competitive funeral cover in South Africa. Consumers can chat to Timothy, the chatbot, on the Eyethu website or WhatsApp line to open their funeral policy. Eyethu funeral policies are underwritten by Guardrisk. Eyethu Funeral has partnered with 1Voucher and Flash in creating a new way for customers to pay monthly premiums. This partnership uses technology to make life easier for informal market consumers. Eyethu funeral policy premiums can be paid using 1Voucher at any of their partners including Flash shops, Pep,…
FNB Life expects to approve approximately R100 million worth of credit life insurance claims by June 2020 for consumers whose finances have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. The insurance provider is a division of FNB, which previously announced relief measures for customers including assistance with credit insurance where relevant. Lee Bromfield, Chief Executive of FNB Life says they are processing between 2000 and 3000 claims a day to rapidly increase the resolution of valid claims while shortening waiting periods. “In some instances, due to lockdown restrictions, some customers take longer to provide the documentation required to validate their claim and…
Although a number of South African law firms have shifted to online consulting solutions, many are under financial strain due to the current delays and limitations at the courts, deeds office, Road Accident Fund and other legal bodies. Only urgent matters are currently being heard, with delays in proceedings impeding billing hours and payment for many firms. Changing rules, misinformation and uncertainty are rife with widespread economic downturns causing a knock-on effect for law firms whose clients are under equal financial pressure. Many law firms need access to capital to get them through this period but are being turned away…
South African smartphone manufacturer Mara Phones is supplying the Department of Health with 500 locally-made Mara X smartphones at no charge to provide a welcome boost to the national department’s fight against COVID-19. Recognising the importance of quality connectivity to encourage more South Africans to stay at home, Mara Phones says it is also pledging to assist those who similarly wish to donate devices to worthy individuals and organisations. “Mara Phones is contributing in two ways towards government’s efforts during these uncertain times,” said Sylvester Taku, Head of Growth at Mara Phones. “We are donating the 500 devices to the…