Author: Staff Writer
SA’s Wireless Application Service Providers’ Association (WASPA) advises mobile users that they should expect to receive educational SMS (Short Message Service) text messages to do with the current COVID-19 emergency. “Aside from expecting these messages disseminated by the country’s mobile network operators (MNOs) and wireless application service providers (WASPs), mobile consumers should also be aware that they cannot opt-out of these vital communications,” says Ilonka Badenhorst, General Manager of WASPA. Government has mandated that MNOs, in particular, should twice daily transmit educational text messages relating to combatting the current pandemic. In this regard, WASPA draws the public’s attention to Clause…
MultiChoice announced on Monday it has invested R4.5 million in Bay TV, Soweto TV and Tshwane TV. The investment is part of MultiChoice’s continued efforts to support the local video entertainment industry. Each of the selected stations will use the R1.5 million funding for the creation of fresh, new content. Towards the end of 2019, MultiChoice called on community TV stations across the country to submit original content ideas for consideration. “Through our infrastructure, technology and empowerment initiatives, we empower an entertainment supply chain which, in turn, supports local business and communities touched by our business. For community TV stations, this…
Facebook wants to take on Twitch and YouTube with a new dedicated mobile gaming app, according to a report by The Verge. The app is set to be introduced on April 20th. It will only be available on Android devices at first. The company has plans to release the app for iOS devices once “Apple approves them.” Facebook’s gaming app will largely curate and focus on the streaming community, according to The Verge. “Investing in gaming, in general, has become a priority for us because we see gaming as a form of entertainment that really connects people,” Fidji Simo, head…
As the taxi industry counts the costs of the COVID-19 pandemic, intergovernmental consultations on a Taxi Industry Relief intervention are at an advanced stage. This was confirmed by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula during a virtual meeting with the National Taxi Alliance (NTA) on Sunday. “The Departments of Transport, Small Business, Labour, Trade and Competition as well as the National Treasury have agreed to support the industry and are currently looking at various modalities of assistance,” the Transport Ministry in a statement said. The meeting was to discuss the effects the COVID-19 national lockdown regulations and directions were having on the…
Correctional Services says five more officials have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing to 99 the total number of cases in Correctional Services. “The number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Correctional Services has increased by five officials, thus bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 99,” the department said on Saturday. The five new cases of officials are as follows: one at Limpopo Regional Office, two in East London and two in Worcester. The total breakdown of confirmed cases at Correctional Services is as follows: Eastern Cape Officials – 31 Inmates – 56 (remains the same as previously reported) Western…
President Cyril Ramaphosa has chaired a virtual meeting of the President’s Coordinating Council (PCC), which discussed measures to strengthen and intensify the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The virtual meeting was held on Saturday, as South Africa marked day 23 of the national lockdown. On Thursday, 9 April, President Ramaphosa announced a two-week extension of the previously announced 21-day national lockdown, which is part of efforts to slow the spread of Coronavirus. The previous meeting of the PCC, which was held on 4 April 2020, assessed the effectiveness of the original 21-day lockdown period. The PCC agreed on the…
Efforts to ensure the repatriation of South Africans stranded abroad are continuing, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said on Saturday. “Negotiations are ongoing with countries and other stakeholders to allow stranded South Africans to travel,” said the department in a statement. The department has assured South Africans stranded abroad that no effort will be spared to ensure their repatriation amidst the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Efforts to repatriate citizens are constrained by regulations introduced to limit the movement of people globally in a bid to curb the spread of the virus. “Many countries across the world have instituted…
Transnet has donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worth R5.2 million as part of the national effort to stop the spread of the COVID-19. The donation from South Africa’s largest freight company comes after the government’s call for businesses and individuals to contribute to the fight against the virus. The handover of the PPE took place at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) on Saturday. Most of the donated equipment will be used at this hospital. The hospital, which offers healthcare services to people in Soweto and surrounding areas, will receive 18 500 PPE kits, including 5 000 litres of…
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has urged aviators to comply with the regulations and directions of the Disaster Management Act aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19. In a statement on Saturday, the Minister appealed particularly to pilots and drone owners to comply with the regulations put in place as part of South Africa’s COVID-19 national lockdown. The Minister’s plea follows reports of a surge in the number of applications for permission to fly remotely-piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), commonly referred to as drones. “The SA Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) had also received a handful of requests from small private aircraft owners,…
African private sector has a major part to play in supporting governments to defeat COVID-19 in Africa. That is one of the main messages from an emergency session of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa’s partnership initiative, African Influencers for Development (AI4Dev). Some of Africa’s top business leaders joined UNDP Africa to focus on the actions needed for a coordinated continent-wide response to the COVID-19 crisis. The AI4Dev initiative is at the heart of UNDP’s new partnership strategy for Africa, engaging with African champions who are already working to drive sustainable development across the continent. It is a powerful coalition…
The Solidarity Fund has started delivering food parcels to more than 250 000 families across South Africa. The Solidarity Fund, which receives donations from corporates, citizens and foundations, has made R120 million available for food relief for distressed families. The Fund is working with the Department of Social Development (DSD), four major non-profit organisations (NPOs) in the food security sector, and with faith and community-based organisations across the country to ensure maximum reach, especially in rural areas. The Fund will act as a coordinator for the distribution efforts to maximise reach and scale. Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Solidarity…
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has postponed the May/June amended Senior Certificate and National Senior Certificate Examination due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 350 000 part-time candidates were to sit for the matric examination. Those who were meant to sit for the exams include candidates who did not meet the pass requirements in the 2019 final exams, as well as those who sought to rewrite to improve their marks. DBE Director-General Mathanzima Mweli wrote a letter to the heads of the provincial Education Departments, confirming the changes to the plan for the examinations. The outbreak of COVID-19 led…
The Presidency says it has declined the request of the Gauteng Liquor Forum for its members to sell alcohol during the declared National State of Disaster and lockdown. “The restriction on the sale of liquor will remain,” said the Presidency on Friday. The decision was communicated to the forum’s attorneys on Friday via the offices of the State Attorney. “The President [Cyril Ramaphosa] and government as a whole remain committed to financially supporting businesses in distress during this period. The President has carefully considered the representations made by the Gauteng Liquor Forum. “These, however, have had to be weighed up…
South Africa has confirmed a total of 2 783 COVID-19 cases, having conducted 100 827 tests to date. Gauteng has the highest number of cases with 1 018 people testing positive for the virus, followed by the Western Cape at 717 cases, KwaZulu-Natal at 591 cases, Eastern Cape at 246 cases, Free State at 100 cases, Limpopo has 26 cases, the North West has 24 cases, Mpumalanga has 23 cases and the Northern Cape has 16 cases. There are 22 unallocated cases. “Today we regrettably report two new COVID-19 related deaths. Both deceased are from the Western Cape,” Minister of…
The JSE inaugural #Trade4Solidarity campaign has raised R34.4 million to be donated to the Solidarity Fund. The #Trade4Solidarity campaign was held over two days on Wednesday and Thursday this week, all revenues that the bourse earned across all asset classes were donated to the Solidarity Fund. The fundraising effort was launched in response to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s appeal to the country for donations to the Solidarity Fund. The Solidarity Fund is a special vehicle set up to help government and civil society fund South Africa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to prevent further transmission and support those affected by it. JSE…
Vodacom has welcomed ICASA’s approval of its application for temporary spectrum in all of the 700, 800, 2300, 2600 and 3500 bands. In addition to the accelerated R500 million in network infrastructure investment announced on Wednesday by Vodacom, the mobile phone operator said the temporary assignment of the spectrum will help alleviate network congestion during the COVID-19 lockdown in South Africa. In recent weeks, mobile network traffic has increased by circa 40% as more people work from home and turn to online services for entertainment. This additional spectrum will be made available from the date which the temporary license is…
The Pan African Chamber of Commerce, today, announced the appointment of Phumza Dyani as Chief Innovation Officer and leader for the Africa Innovation Centre. Dyani’s appointment is effective today. Currently, the chief marketing & sales officer for Broadband Infraco, Dyani will be part of the digital economy and digital inclusion committee which seeks to bring together innovators, leading thinkers and actors from industry, Government, Academia and Non-Governmental Organisations, to advise African Governments through the AU and other regional economic communities on how to best meet their objectives to build the digital economy and eliminate digital divides. As Chief Innovation Officer…
As the country takes steps to address the fight against the spread of COVID-19, BMW South Africa is stepping up to help the cause. Last week, the company responded the call for help from the Gauteng Department of Health for donations of face masks and other protective gear for emergency services personnel. Recently the company handed over 40 000 high-quality protective respiratory (FFP2) face masks to the department in order to help protect health services workers. Many essential services use BMW vehicles and it is critical to the success of the national lockdown that these people remain mobile. 15 BMW…
Two South African entrepreneurs have developed a ground-breaking testing kit that promises to significantly speed up the process of identifying positive COVID-19 cases. Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Fellows Daniel Ndima and Dineo Lioma have developed a testing kit that provides results in just 65 minutes, through their company CapeBio. Testing is a pillar of any campaign against coronavirus, not only because it identifies infected individuals but because it also provides an idea of how the virus may be developing within the country. Once scientists potentially understand its spread, the government can plan resources accordingly. This is why the qCPR kits…
MTN has been crowned the most valuable telecom brand in Africa, as the “Everywhere You Go” brand continues to deliver solid overall performance for the year, despite challenging economic conditions and regulatory challenges in some markets. In a recent annual report by Brand Finance, a leading independent brand valuation consultancy recognised MTN for its focus on customers and providing a high-quality service across all its markets. “Amid these unprecedented times in fighting a global pandemic, MTN Group is humbled by the Brand Finance recognition and our progress in rising through the ranks of this year’s Telecoms 150 report,” said MTN…
Investec Group CEO Fani Titi is among the top four executives of its South African business who, along with the chairmen of the Investec Group and the South African bank boards, are donating part of their compensation to honour the example set by President Cyril Ramaphosa and his government in helping to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. “Investec is very conscious of the extreme pressure that individuals, businesses and industries are under as a direct consequence of COVID-19. We are inspired by those on the frontlines and by the overwhelming sense of generosity of South Africans,” said Titi. Along with…
The JSE’s Board of Directors and the Group Chief Executive Officer have pledged as much as 30% of their earnings to the Solidarity Fund for the next three months. Members of the JSE Executive will also be making contributions. The JSE pledge was announced as the bourse completed the second day of its two-day #Trade4Soldarity campaign. The fundraising will include all fees earned from trades across all asset classes by the JSE and market participants on Wednesday 15 April and Thursday 16 April. The fundraising effort was launched in response to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s appeal to the country for donations…
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has assigned an emergency temporary spectrum to telecommunications operators to ensure connectivity for all during the National State of Disaster period. The Authority has considered applications for temporary radio frequency spectrum assignments in the 700MHz, 800MHz, 2300MHz, 2600MHz and 3500MHz bands, including the use of Television Whitespaces (TVWS) in an effort to ensure connectivity for all during the National State of Disaster period. “Of all applications received, only seventeen (17) were found to be in line with the criteria and conditions outlined in Annexure A of the Regulations which, among others, required…
South Africa has 2 605 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with Limpopo and the Eastern Cape recording their first deaths. “It is with regret that we inform the public that the COVID-19 related deaths is now 48. “We note that two provinces, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape, have also recorded their first deaths. We convey our condolences to the families. “We continue to speak strength and appreciate our dedicated health workers, who are faced with these circumstances daily,” said the Health Department on Thursday. The number of tests being conducted continues to rise, with the total number of tests conducted to date being…
Work is underway to prepare Gauteng’s public health infrastructure for the period when the COVID-19 pandemic may peak. With Gauteng as the country’s epicentre, with 930 of the 2 506 confirmed cases, the province has cleared some of its existing hospitals and declared them COVID-19 facilities. “This has helped us to make available 555 standard beds and 308 ICU beds. We are also putting up new permanent wards in Kopanong, Jubilee, Chris Hani Baragwanath and George Mukhari Hospitals. This will add 800 new beds, which will be used for different purposes. “This intervention will help speed-up our existing plans to…