Author: Staff Writer
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…
Customers who purchase the Apple Watch Series 3 and 5 cellular will have seamless connection with their primary number through eSIM technology, thanks to Vodacom OneNumber. Customers that purchase this device will get free three months VAS and will not pay the once off connection fee of R98. Vodacom Pricing Apple Watch Series 3 GPS + Cellular, 38mm R 7 599,00 Apple Watch Nike Series 3 GPS + Cellular, 42mm R 8 359,00 Apple Watch Series 5 GPS + Cellular, 40mm R 12 699,00 Apple Watch Series 5 GPS + Cellular, 40mm R 12 699,00 Apple Watch Series 5 GPS…
Vodacom SA today announced it will offer the Apple Watch Series 5, featuring an Always-On display, breakthrough communication, fitness and health capabilities along with built-in cellular. To help Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS + Cellular) customers get started, Vodacom SA will also offer a special introductory cellular trial. Customers will be able to pre-order Apple Watch Series 5 beginning Friday, 15 May 2020 at Vodacom.co.za and will be available starting on 22 May 2020. For complete pricing details, please visit Vodacom.co.za. Apple Watch Series 5 debuts an Always-On Retina display that never sleeps, so it’s easy to see the time and other important information, without raising or tapping…
Global market research company Euromonitor International predicts the luxury goods industry will be hit the hardest in 2020, across all FMCG markets, due to coronavirus (COVID-19). According to the webinar ‘Luxury and COVID-19: Effects on the Industry’ the global luxury goods market was set to grow by 3% in 2020 to reach over US$1 trillion. However, due to the global disruption caused by COVID-19, the industry is set to decline by 18% in Q2 2020. “Luxury shopping behaviour, channel dynamics and travel plans are seeing inevitable shifts as a result of lockdown,” said Fflur Roberts, head of luxury goods research at Euromonitor International. “With…
Honoris United Universities, the first and largest pan-African network of private higher education institutions which has Durban-based MANCOSA and Regent Business School as affiliates, has joined forces with the world #1 coding bootcamp, Le Wagon, to provide a free online web development course as the network integrates coding as a skill into its employability ecosystem. The short but intensive online course will introduce students to the relevant coding skills required to become a beginner software developer and provide an opportunity for them to collaborate with developers, designers and other digital professionals. The objective of the course is to enable a…
Vodacom announced on Wednesday that it will use Google’s high-flying balloons to provide Internet service to un-served and under-served parts of Mozambique. The Vodafone-owned company said it had entered into a partnership with Alphabet, the parent of Google, to bring network access to previously uncovered populations via stratospheric internet balloons. Alphabet’s Loon will help Vodacom Mozambique provide service to un-served and under-served parts of the country with a network of floating cell phone towers that operate 20 kilometres above Earth. Mobile network access will be expanded to Cabo Delgado and Niassa provinces of Mozambique. The Loon solution will provide a…
MTN Business has donated 5 000 smartphones, each preloaded with 3GB of data, to the Limpopo Provincial Department of Health to be distributed to field workers for the conducting of tests, screening of citizens and tracing of people who may have come into contact with patients that have been found to have coronavirus. In addition to smartphones, MTN has also pledged to conduct free after-sales services such as repair device replacement, on-site device support, service and account management. As of 11 May 2020, 54 confirmed cases of coronavirus were reported in Limpopo, with 3 deaths and 28 recoveries, according to…
South Africa recorded 698 new COVID-19 cases, with a total of 11 350 cases and 206 deaths. There were no new deaths recorded overnight. “A total of 369 697 tests have been conducted to date with 13 630 done in the past hours,” Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize said on Tuesday. The Western Cape recorded 484 new cases and has a total of 6 105 cases; Gauteng recorded 43 new cases and has a total of 2 014 cases. The Eastern Cape recorded 148 new cases and has a total of 1 504 cases; KwaZulu-Natal has 22 new cases and…
With the rise of the soundbar as a preferred sound solution in homes, there are many to choose from, however, not all soundbars are created equally. There are some very distinguishable differences that you should be aware of to help you navigate these choices. Below is an easy guide on what to take into consideration when buying a soundbar. Cheaper is cheaper for a reason: as many manufacturers chase to go cheaper and cheaper in the search of making their products more attractive to the consumer, it’s important to know that this comes with a consequence. Cheaper products typically mean…
The chairperson of the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) Dr Clarence Mini has passed away from COVID-19 complications, the council body confirmed on Tuesday. “Today, we wake up to the sad news of the passing on of Dr Clarence Mazwangwandile Mini, the Chairperson of Council for Medical Schemes (CMS),” said Grace Khoza, general manager for stakeholder relations at the CMS. “This indeed is a sad day for the CMS and the medical schemes industry as a whole. Dr Mini contracted coronavirus (COVID-19) and was hospitalised for more than a month, and all of us were hoping that he would pull…
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga will this week announce the department’s preparations with regards to the reopening of schools. At Thursday’s media briefing, the Minister is expected to provide details that include the final dates and detailed plans, for the phased approach to the possible reopening of schools. The scheduled briefing follows a series of meetings the minister held with stakeholders in the basic education sector on Monday. The purpose of the meetings was to consider the state of readiness for the reopening of schools. “These consultative sessions happened ahead of the Minister’s return to the National Coronavirus Command Council…
The Hashtag #DStvMustFall is trending again on Twitter as South Africans call for the pay-TV operator to reduce its prices in South Africa. DStv has been accused of playing repeat shows. A petition with as many as 217 000 signatures has been circulating on social media, urging DStv to give customers a subscription reprieve. The petition was launched on the 29th of April 2020. Some viewers are calling for a DStv package that will allow them to select their own channels. #DstvMustFall @DStv we need your prices to decrease, allow users to choose whatever package at no extra cost…
Many South Africans have expressed valid concerns about the potential for abuse of personal information collected by the government as part of tracking and tracing those exposed to COVID-19 infection. The approach taken, however, appears to be well-balanced, even though the Protection of Personal Information Act of 2013 (POPI) is not yet properly in force. Electronic communication service providers (ECSPs) like ISPs can only provide personal information required to combat COVID-19 to the Director-General of the Department of Health for inclusion in a database which is subject to several restrictions. That’s the word from the Internet Service Providers’ Association of…
GovChat, the South African civic engagement technology platform, announces a partnership with the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to support the digitisation of the COVID-19 social relief grant application process. The partnership with GovChat enables millions of unemployed citizens to access electronically, including via mobile device, the largest social security programme on the African continent. GovChat’s platform, accessed through WhatsApp, FaceBook Messenger, SMS and USSD channels provides a secure application portal for pre-qualifying citizens, automating filling, verification and applicant assessment. GovChat’s technology platform supports the seamless transfer and verification of data securely and in real-time in a way that…
As South Africa’s mining sector slowly reboots production following one of the strictest lockdowns in the world, mining companies have been tasked with taking all necessary steps to ensure the health and safety of all employees and contractors returning to work. Some control measures are already in place to minimise the risks arising from COVID-19, and mines will have to test all employees on a regular basis. This does not have to be an onerous process, says Gerald Naidoo, CEO of Leviathan Viral Testing Africa. “Mobile testing kits are going to become an essential piece of equipment in mines across…
The City of Johannesburg is in the process of reviewing its rates rebates and municipal service charges as part of an expanded social package (ESP) programme to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus on ratepayers. Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Finance Councillor Jolidee Matongo said the City appreciates the financial difficulties presented by the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent national lockdown for both the municipality and residents. “The City’s leadership is hard at work reviewing the ESP programme’s current terms and conditions, which require policy adjustments – with the aim of broadening the net for distressed Johannesburg ratepayers,”…
The cast and crew of Mzansi Magic’s favourite telenovelas are happy to be back at work, following the revision of the nationwide lockdown to level four, last week. The South African government has published regulations that have seen several sectors, including the film and television industry, being allowed to return to work under strict health guidelines. The shooting of new episodes has resumed for hit telenovelas such as The River, Isibaya, The Queen and Gomora. “While the R80 million fund MultiChoice Group established has ensured that the cast and crew continued to receive their salaries throughout the start of the…
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) on Thursday warned against the premature re-opening of schools. This comes after the department became aware that some independent (or private) and public schools were already preparing to reopen much earlier, and even receive learners ahead of the scheduled announcement by Minister Angie Motshekga. In some schools, teachers have already been reporting for duty and parents meetings have been held where plans were announced to have learners back in school in May. “The premature re-opening of schools is not permitted as the department is still finalising COVID-19 school compliance protocols. Uniform standards will be…
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) on Thursday welcomed the Satrix SA Bond ETF to the main board of the JSE in its first virtual listing and the first ETF listing in 2020. The Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) will track the S&P South Africa Sovereign Bond 1+ year Index, which allows investors to automatically reinvest their coupons. The index is market value-weighted and consists of bonds with maturities of one year or more. Valdene Reddy, Director of Capital Markets at the JSE, said the ETF was perfectly suited for investors needing a more defensive asset class while chasing inflation-beating yields and…
COVID-19 has arrived the world over, with a torchlight in hand to cast a light on the shadows that lurk in our society. It’s opening our bottom drawers, and airing the dirty laundry of decades of consumer-driven markets. The world is unequal. The systems we’ve created work only for a few. Suddenly in the absence of our daily hustle, it’s become glaringly evident in many industries. The justice system is one of them. “The COVID-19 outbreak has made an already uncertain future that much more frightening. In times like these, we need to call upon our artists, our writers, our…
FNB and WesBank have approved payment breaks on more than 500 000 credit agreements for nearly 150 000 individual and business customers since 1 April 2020. The relief includes payment breaks and/or credit insurance assistance in excess of R4.3 billion to help customers whose finances have been affected by COVID-19. “Our approach is to offer qualifying customers a payment break by paying installments on their behalf for a period of three months. As a result, we have structured our assistance at prime interest rates to alleviate the financial burden and give customers the flexibility to repay the facility over flexible terms,” FNB…
As South Africa’s economy slowly starts regaining traction during level 4 of the lockdown, MTN has started reopening its network of 410 stores nationwide, subject to strict measures being put in place to enhance the safety of customers and staff. Around eighty percent of MTN’s stores began trading on May 1, with all stores across the network open for trading yesterday. Limited trading hours, a strictly controlled shift system, 2 metre social distancing barrier markings, and regular health-checks are among the key proactive measures MTN has put in place. “Our focus is on continuing to give customers all the support…
Teraco on Wednesday formally confirmed the construction of Teraco Cape Town 2 (CT2), a new 30MW data centre facility. This follows the company’s recent 60MW expansion announcement of its Johannesburg data centre campus in Isando and makes the Cape Town facility the second-largest on the continent. Jan Hnizdo, CEO, Teraco, says that the company is standing by its 2019 commitment to support the South African Government’s investment drive and with this build will be investing billions of rands in South Africa’s digital infrastructure:. “We are truly proud that we can keep investing in the region and make good on our…