Author: Staff Writer
Short-term insurer King Price is diversifying its business into the South African life insurance market. King Price announced on Friday it has received regulatory approval for its acquisition of life insurer Stangen from JSE-listed African Phoenix Investments. The deal is valued at R140 million. The move allows King Price to achieve its ambition of gaining a running start into the local life insurance market, said chief executive Gideon Galloway. The insurer plans to launch the King Price life brand within the next 12 months and forecasts that life products will make up half of its revenue within the next decade.…
South African payment technology platform Ozow has broken through the R10bn milestone in transactions processed – and is looking at doubling the number of users on its platform in 2020 as part of aggressive expansion plans. Ozow enables merchants to receive and process payments from any South African with a bank account across all payment environments, allowing people who do not have debit or credit cards to transact quickly and safely. More than 4 million consumers have already used Ozow, which has the vast majority of ecommerce leaders like Take A Lot, MRD and Superbalist as registered merchants business users…
The iconic Volkswagen Polo – a modern-day legend when it comes to car sales in South Africa, has been dethroned by the mighty Ford Ranger. According to George Mienie, AutoTrader CEO, the Ford bakkie was the top-selling used vehicle in South Africa during the second half of 2019. “We have just released the next iteration of our Car Industry Report covering the period 1 July to 31 December 2019, and this is one of the most notable facts to have surfaced” he notes. The Volkswagen Polo is, after all, a vehicle that clocks up one sales achievement after the other.…
Good lawyers are expensive, let us be honest. So much so that when one needs a contract or legal document, its generally prohibitively expensive, with the result that you either go without, or you end up hacking a contracting together yourself without the legal knowledge necessary to ensure that all bases are covered. Hello Contract is changing all of that for the ordinary South African business. The startup provides South Africa’s first fully automated business legal document webshop. The platform, which focusses on entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized enterprises will bring automated business contracts and documents to these businesses at massive…
Teraco has announced that Africa’s largest Internet Exchange Point (IXP), NAPAfrica, has reached a landmark with 1 Terabit per second (Tbps) of peak traffic. According to Andrew Owens, Manager of Interconnection & Peering at Teraco, this is not only a significant milestone for the exchange, but also for the continent. “The NAPAfrica members, including global content and cloud providers, over 250 telecommunication providers, managed service providers and a growing enterprise base, are the driving force behind achieving this momentous goal,” says Owens. Launched in 2012, NAPAfrica first recorded traffic of 532Mbps. Eight years later the exchange has reached 1Tbps, showing…
While there haven’t been any reported cases of the Corona-virus in South Africa, entrepreneurial locals are already selling masks and “survival kits” online at higher than average prices. According to Gumtree SA Marketing Manager Estelle Nagel, the surgical masks sell for between R6 – R13,00 each on the site, but prices will go up even further. “In other markets, these masks are being sold at 600% mark-ups.” Nagel says the site is removing adverts purporting to 100% prevent Corona-virus infections and similar claims. “Some sellers are selling welding masks and construction-grade facemasks (used for working in dusty conditions during demolition),…
After more than five years of connecting domestic workers with clients for homes and businesses, SweepSouth, the online cleaning service, is diversifying its offering to customers with the launch of SweepSouth Outdoor. With bookings currently available through the SweepSouth website – with the app soon to be updated – SweepSouth clients in Johannesburg and Cape Town can now book an Outdoor SweepStar to assist with outdoor necessities whether it be gardening, pool cleaning, making sure that the outside of your windows are sparkling clean or even helping with carrying boxes when moving. SweepSouth is looking to launch the service in…
Controversial Net1 UEPS Technologies (Net1) has appointed former mobile phone operator Cell C’s chairman Kuben Pillay to its board. The JSE and Nasdaq-listed firm, which is a shareholder in struggling Cell C, said Pillay’s appointment as an independent non-employee director is effective June 1, 2020. The company added that he will also serve on the nominating and corporate governance, audit and remuneration committees. Pillay served as the non-executive chairman of Cell C from August 2017 to October 2019. “I am very pleased that Kuben will be joining our Board,” said Christopher S. Seabrooke, chairman of Net1. “His qualifications and broad…
Samsung Galaxy S20, a new series of flagship devices that fundamentally change the way we capture and experience our world, is now available at MTN from R649 per month for 36 months and R899 per month for 24 months on MTN Made For Me XS. The Samsung Galaxy S20 range, unveiled on 11 February, introduces a brand-new camera architecture that combines AI with Samsung’s largest image sensor yet for stunning image quality. Along with the camera, the Galaxy S20 makes the experience of everything we love to do with our phones easier and better – enjoy personalised music for every…
MTN sees progress in shutting down battery theft syndicates. Seven individuals were arrested, a total of 55 batteries were recovered, and four vehicles with tools were confiscated in a series of operations across the country in the past few days. In one of the biggest hauls to date, members of the South African Police Services (SAPS) arrested a suspect at the Beit Bridge point of entry in possession of 32 batteries. His vehicle including a trailer were also impounded. In another successful operation in Greytown in Kwa-Zulu Natal, three suspects were apprehended after a tip-off while they were still inside…
JSE-listed technology group Altron’s acquisition of Ubusha Technologies for R360 million this week got the green light from the Competition Commission. In a statement, Altron said security is one of Altron’s growth areas and the acquisition will give impetus to the company’s strategy and growth targets. Other growth areas include cloud, IOT and data analytics. Altron acquired the identity security company in December 2019. Founded in 2003, Ubusha, as a next-generation IT security services provider enables dynamic authentication and authorisation, identity management and governance and privileged account security for leading local and international banking, financial services, insurance, telecommunications and retail…
OLX Brazil, an online marketplace that is owned by Dutch-listed Prosus, announced on Wednesday it has agreed to buy 100% shareholding in its competitor Grupo ZAP for 2.9 billion reais ($642 million or R9.8 billion). OLX Brazil and Grupo ZAP, currently among the most relevant players in the online real estate classifieds and advertising sector in Brazil, are highly complementary platforms. The merger will help boost the real estate market, offering a better range of services with a broader database of properties. With Grupo ZAP, OLX Brazil will be able to offer its users more than 12 million listings from…
The BMW Group is opening a new chapter in its history with the unveiling of a pure-electric Gran Coupe. The BMW Concept i4 takes electric drive to the core of the BMW brand and heralds a new era in Sheer Driving Pleasure. The i4 represents a look ahead to the BMW i4, slated to enter production in 2021 as the BMW Group’s first all-electric model in the premium midsize class. It brings electrification to the core of the BMW brand,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. “The design is dynamic, clean and elegant. In short: a…
Pick n Pay has launched an online scheduled grocery delivery service that enables customers to set up an automatic weekly or monthly delivery of items they buy regularly. Removing the hassle of manually placing regular online orders for essentials, this new online shopping feature, called Grocery Genius, offers customers an easy and more convenient way to re-stock products – from the week’s groceries to monthly pantry and household items. Pick n Pay was the first retailer to launch online grocery shopping in South Africa and has now become the first supermarket to introduce this future-focused grocery service. Gaining traction overseas…
Pan-African telecommunications service provider, Seacom, and Tata Communications, a global digital infrastructure provider, have joined forces to offer high-speed, reliable pathways between Africa, Europe and Asia to meet the growing demand for connectivity linking these regions. Reflecting the increasing appetite for investment into Africa, this partnership allows Seacom and Tata Communications to leverage each other’s regional and global networks to address enterprises’ connectivity requirements. Seacom’s dedicated subsea cable system runs up the east coast of Africa and connects to India in Mumbai. Given Tata Communications’ strong presence in the Indian subcontinent, Seacom customers can connect seamlessly onwards into business hubs…
The first web TV platform dedicated to sports clubs and athletes opened in October 2018 and has already won over 33,000 users and web TV channels for sports clubs in more than 50 countries, with over 1.5 million visits in the first month of the year alone. The company had already announced, in September 2019, that the channel “Sport in France” launched on the initiative of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF), had joined the platform to develop the promotion of all disciplines, all federations and their clubs. The company is developing its blockchain-based technology by allowing users…
The BMW iNEXT is undergoing further testing across the Kalahari desert in South Africa ahead of series production in 2021. Intensive test runs in the freezing cold at the polar circle are now being followed by a contrasting program in the Kalahari, where in addition to extreme heat and solar radiation, permanent dust formation and off-road terrain with its sand, pebble and gravel tracks pose exceptional challenges for the BMW Group’s technology flagship. In this literally hot phase of the series development process, not only do the drive and suspension components of the BMW iNEXT, a car designed for all-electric…
The quest to achieve that elusive, radiant and glowing skin will now be the thing of the past following Avon’s launch of ANEW Essential Vitamin C. This serum, which carries the equivalent amount of Vitamin C found in 30 oranges, delivers 10% powerful, stabilised and pure Vitamin C straight onto the skin. Avon customers who use this new powerhouse anti-oxidant will reap multiple benefits, namely protection against damaging free radicals, significant reduction of fine lines, a more even complexion and improved skin radiance and texture. “The introduction of ANEW Essential Vitamin C serum builds on the pioneering breakthrough that Avon…
As of January 2020, commercial 5G networks have been deployed in 378 cities across 34 countries, according to the new VIAVI report “The State of 5G Deployments,” now in its fourth year. The country with the most cities with 5G availability is South Korea with 85 cities, followed by China with 57, the United States at 50, and the U.K. with 31 cities. In terms of regional coverage, EMEA leads the way with 168 cities where 5G networks have been deployed, Asia is second with 156 cities, with 54 cities covered by 5G across the Americas. Africa is represented by…
Following the launch of the MultiChoice Innovation Fund last week in KwaZulu-Natal, the second in a series of regional seminars around this exciting new funding and development initiative took place in Cape Town today. MultiChoice Group, in partnership with the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, as well as WESGRO hosted entrepreneurs and SMEs under the theme of ‘Spurring a culture of innovation within the SME segment of South Africa’. The seminar aims to further the goals of the Innovation Fund by driving innovation in the tech and video entertainment sector and unearthing entrepreneurs with unique business ideas.…
Minister Stella Ndabeni Abrahams, who heads the Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies, has stressed the need for partnerships and collaboration with global companies like Huawei to grow innovation in the SA ICT sector as the country moves into the era of digitisation. Speaking during a community stakeholder engagement in Mthatha, after the launch of Huawei’s free 5G training for ICT students at the Walter Sisulu University, the Minister said; “It is very important that we understand that through collaboration with global companies like Huawei, we can build on and enhance the ideas that we have.” “That is why when…
The BMW Group will unveil its first pure-electric Gran Coupe on 3 March 2020 at the Geneva Motor Show. The BMW Concept i4 heralds a new era in Sheer Driving Pleasure; it provides a whole new take on the dynamic excellence for which BMW is renowned and blends a modern, elegantly sporty design with the spaciousness and practicality of a four-door Gran Coupe – all while generating zero local emissions. “The BMW Concept i4 brings electrification to the core of the BMW brand,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. “The design is dynamic, clean and elegant.…
This week Uber users in South Africa will have the option of receiving a four-digit PIN code to provide to their driver before starting a trip. This added layer of verification can help ensure users get in the right car and drivers are picking up the correct rider. Most users will be able to set up the PIN verification feature in their app, with the feature rolled out to all users in the coming weeks. Users can opt-in to the PIN code feature by navigating to their app settings and tapping “Verify Your Ride.” From there, users can choose to…
Dread diseases such as cancer not only have a devastating effect on individuals but can also prove to be costly for society, as they can have a potentially large impact on productivity and the overall economy. Every cancer-related death in individuals of working age, as well as every absence from work due to cancer—whether temporary or permanent—represents an economic loss to society. “Cancer is a costly disease, with potentially significant impact on productivity and the economy, meaning that aside from directly affecting the lives of those diagnosed, it potentially also has a largescale knock-on effect on communities. This should certainly…
Public Enterprises Deputy Minister Phumulo Masualle says there is still a commercial case for SA Express, and that it can play a critical role as a feeder airline to service secondary routes and key cities in the Southern African region. Masualle said this after engaging the business rescue practitioners of SA Express, which was placed under business rescue on 6 February 2020 by an order of the Johannesburg High Court. The business rescue process was as a result of legal action undertaken by service provider Ziegler. The service provider, whom SA Express had contended in its responding papers to the…