Author: Staff Writer

FNB, one of South Africa’s most innovative banks, is deploying a marketing ploy to convince other banks customers to trust it with their money. The FirstRand-owned bank is for the first time opening its award-winning Banking App for all consumers in South Africa to experience and engage with, further encouraging and empowering you to manage your money better. Aptly named, the FNB AppVenture, all customers regardless of who they currently bank with, will have the opportunity to explore and experience the benefits and features of the FNB App. Non-FNB customers can stand a chance to win one of two R1…

The 14th Avon Justine iThemba Walkathon was held at Marks Park in Johannesburg on Sunday, 20 October with 20 000 participants in attendance. Aimed at breast cancer awareness, the event was attended by numerous celebrities including legendary actress Lillian Dube, former Bafana Bafana shot-stopper, Brian Baloyi, comedians Skhumba Hlophe and Jason Goliath as well as Neo and Kaya FM presenter Kgomotso Matsunyane. The event began with a 8km and 5km walk along the scenic suburb of Emmerentia. Upon completion participants were treated to aQuelle water to help them refresh ahead of an exciting line-up of performers which included multi-award winning…

In pursuit of its goal to contribute to bridging the financial divide, MTN Group has granted third parties access to its Mobile Money (MoMo) Access Programming Interface (API) platform. The open API enables developers and programmers to innovate on the platform and develop products and other solutions that will create a wider range of digital financial offerings for MTN’s customers. To further foster innovation and enhance financial inclusion, MTN is inviting developers and entrepreneurs, across five countries, to participate in the MoMo API Hackathon. The Hackathon, run in partnership with Ericsson (MTN’s MoMo technology partner), will give app developers based…

Volvo Cars has announced a ground-breaking global incentive scheme, branded the Recharge campaign, whereby the buyers of all-new hybrid plug-ins will receive a full refund for all electricity used in the first year of ownership. And the great news for South African motorists is that the Recharge campaign is also being rolled out in the country – meaning a year of free electricity is also available. According to Greg Maruszewski, managing director of Volvo Car South Africa, the Recharge campaign offer will be applicable to all plug-in hybrids ordered from October 16. “In South Africa, this offer applies to the…

Moblicks, a Johannesburg-based mobile and digital advertising technology firm, says South African brands making the move to new forms of advertising must insist on independent location data verification. “The local digital advertising space is awash with numbers since the advent of new social media and mobile marketing platforms that lend themselves to rich reporting,” says Shaun Rosen, Mobiclicks CEO. “With the digital advertising marketplace remaining unregulated and an estimated $19 billion wasted on advertising fraud globally, clients must insist on third-party verification of the data served to them by digital advertising partners.” Location-based marketing continues to advance in leaps and…

MTN South Africa’s CFO, Sandile Ntsele, will be moving from his current role to support MTN Group CFO Ralph Mupita on several strategic projects that are key for the execution of MTN’s Group strategy. The move is effective from 01 November 2019. Ntsele has been with MTN for 20 years in numerous capacities and across various markets like Nigeria, Cameroon and Zambia, playing an integral role in driving strategic, commercial and financial stewardship for the business. Sugentharen Perumal, current Executive for MTN Group Finance, responsible for Group Finance Operations and Revenue Assurance and Fraud Management (RAFM), will assume the role…

To celebrate 25 years of connecting South Africans, Vodacom customers will share over R100 million worth of prizes through its 2019 ‘Shake!Up Summer’ promotional campaign. Available exclusively to customers on the country’s leading network, Vodacom customers will simply need to “Shake” their devices to win a share of over R100 million in prizes including cash, data, cars, vouchers for a year, international holidays and much more. This year, for the first time ever, Vodacom has introduced functionality that allows customers to interact, engage, as well as ‘Shake’ using WhatsApp as a platform. Vodacom is a digitally-led telco that is constantly…

MTN, South Africa’s second-largest mobile phone operator by subscribers, has earned two awards. It received the coveted MyBroadband Mobile Operator of the Year and Internet Service Provider of the Year. While Godfrey Motsa, MTN SA’s CEO, was named IT Personality of the Year. The awards were presented to MTN SA at the MyBroadband Conference & Expo held today at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg. The Best Mobile Network Award is based on the results from MyBroadband Speedtests which evaluate the coverage and quality of mobile networks. The Internet Service Provider of the Year Award is based on the average…

Do you want to be part of the biggest breast cancer awareness walkathon globally? This is your last chance to register to participate in the 14th annual iThemba Walkathon which will be hosted on Sunday, 20 October at Marks Park in Johannesburg. Entries can still be made for walkers and runners who wish to take part in the 14th edition of this iconic event, which attracts nearly 30 000 participants each year. Avon Justine will once again host the iThemba Walkathon in partnership with the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), Wings of Hope and Look Good…Feel Better “One in…

Efforts to revive the country’s sluggish economy and create much-needed employment are set to receive a major shot in the arm with the launch of Mara Phone’s first cellphone manufacturing plant in South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa, as part of the recently launched District-Based Development Model, will later this week launch the Mara Phone Plant at Dube Trade Port in KwaZulu-Natal. Announcing the District-Based Development Model during the State of the Nation Address in June, President Ramaphosa said the approach would focus on the 44 districts and eight metros to speed up service delivery, ensuring that municipalities are properly supported…

Checkers, Africa’s largest supermarket group has introduced its new rewards programme, called Checkers Xtra Savings. The new programme is to compete with Pick n Pay’s SmartShopper and Woolworths’ WRewards. Checkers Xtra Saving has no points, tiers and Levels. Just instant cash savings on your groceries and drinks. Partnering with SA’s biggest brands, Checkers Xtra Savings is launching with incredible savings ranging from essentials such as 35% off OMO washing powder to premium deals with R1000 off Johnnie Walker Blue Label whisky, and so much more in between. The Checkers Xtra Savings Programme gives customers extra cash savings on more than…

FNB announced on Tuesday the launch of First Business Zero. First Business Zero is digital on platform business bank account offered by FNB from 1 November 2019. The offering is designed specifically for sole proprietor businesses with an annual turnover up to R5 million and can be opened on the FNB App within a few minutes using our “Selfie” process to identity and verify the user. The key features of the First Business Zero proposition include no monthly account fee, unlimited free POS card swipes, inter-operable QR code for accepting payments, linked saving pocket to ring-fence savings and earn interest,…

Entrepreneur-led Investment growth partner Silvertree Holdings has invested growth capital and operational resources in South African skincare brand SKOON. SKOON. is- a successful natural skincare collection that uses best-in-class, natural and non-toxic ingredients in scientifically lab-formulated combinations. SKOON. sells its products to a local customer base via its own website, skincare salons, as well as leading retailers, such as Faithful to Nature, Wellness Warehouse and Superbalist. It is the fastest-growing skincare brand on Faithful To Nature and ranked in the top 5 best-sellers on the site. In the month of October, SKOON. will launch in three Edgars Beauty stores, housing…

MTN has launched its Summer YouTube Contract Promotion, which is offering new and existing customers 20GB YouTube Data and up to 50GB Anytime Data when they sign up or upgrade to selected price plans. Customers can use the free data to catch up on their favourite series, upload, download, stream and watch YouTube content. The free data can be used at any time of the day and is available for the first 30 days of the customer’s contract. “MTN has been connecting South Africans for 25 years. Throughout all the years, MTN has remained committed to offering our customers solutions that…

MTN announced on Friday the appointment of Djibril Ouattara to the position of MTN Ivory Coast CEO. The appointment is effective 1 November 2019. The appointment follows the departure of former CEO, Freddy Tchala in September. Djibril is a seasoned executive with experience spanning more than 15 years in telecoms. In his most recent role as CEO of MTN Congo Brazzaville, he made significant strides in delivering on the company’s BRIGHT strategy, the company said. He has implemented a successful turnaround including a network transformation which won MTN Congo Brazzaville the award for ‘best network’ in the country for two…

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2019 to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea. The prize is also meant to recognise all the stakeholders working for peace and reconciliation in Ethiopia and in the East and Northeast African regions. When Abiy Ahmed became Prime Minister in April 2018, he made it clear that he wished to resume peace talks with Eritrea. In close cooperation with Isaias Afwerki, the President of…

Using a speed test to indicate the likely experience of an Internet customer is like trying to gauge a car’s performance simply by looking at its speedometer. That’s according to Huge Networks Commercial Director, Rad Jankovic, who says there are other ways to more accurately measure Internet Service Provider (ISP) performance. “Internet speed tests are unreliable indicators of Internet customer experience. They are limited by factors that are not related to the capacity of the Internet line such as everything from the physical distance to the server to congestion on the local LAN. There are too many variables that can…

The Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA), in collaboration with Investec as lead sponsor and supported by Sanlam Investments, today announced the shortlist of nominees for the 2019 SAVCA Industry Awards. The winners across four categories will be announced at a gala dinner to be held on 7 November 2019. The official shortlist for the 2019 SAVCA Industry Awards finalists are: GoMetro: Use innovative technology GoMetro aids public transport planning in emerging markets by mapping commuter movements; Aerobotics: Utilise drone technology, Aerobotics helps to improve farmers’ yields by analysing crops to detect pests and diseases early on;…

MTN South Africa, the country’s second-biggest mobile phone operator by subscribers, announced on Thursday that it has reached 95% 4G coverage across the country. The company disclosed this in a statement celebrating 25 years of “keeping the people of South Africa connected and having a positive impact on their lives”. Looking back to 1994, the company hosted the first-ever call on its network when there were just four million landlines in South Africa and only 1% of black South Africans owned a phone. Just ten years later, MTN had signed up 10 million subscribers, with penetration into rural areas and…

Johannesburg Internet Exchange announced on Thursday it is increasing its backbone capacity. The exchange said INX-ZA has signed an agreement with Dark Fibre Africa (DFA) by which the wholesale connectivity provider will donate fibre to the community-run, multisite Johannesburg Internet Exchange (JINX). The DFA donation will specifically provide JINX with redundant no-cost, high-speed fibre between the Isando and Parklands Internet exchange point location. This will enable JINX to make use of wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) technologies, radically enhancing the exchange’s backbone capacity. Historically, one piece of fibre counted as one link. The agreement between DFA and JINX will see WDM technologies…

China Mobile is interested in buying South Africa’s struggling third-biggest mobile operator by subscribers, Cell C. On Sunday, a source with knowledge of the matter told ITWeb – an online technology publication – that talks are taking place between Cell C and China Mobile, saying “a deal is imminent”. The speculation comes as struggling Cell C continues to drag down the shares of the JSE telecoms group Blue Label Telecoms, which owns almost half of the cellphone group. Last month, Cell C reported R8 billion net loss, after-tax, for the year ended-May 2019. As of 31 May 2019, no value…

Just after a year of restoration, BMW South Africa revealed its latest classic project car as a limited edition “homologation” special developed specially by BMW Motorsport for South Africa. Today BMW South Africa unveiled its latest restoration project – the track-inspired BMW 530 MLE – at the “Home of BMW Legends”, BMW Group Plant Rosslyn. Now, the meticulously prepared BMW 530 MLE has enjoyed its first showing at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn in the company of four BMW Group South Africa employees who were on hand to build the original more than four decades ago. Restored by Luis Malhou of…

FNB announced on Tuesday its plan to grow its national footprint by opening more branches. The bank said it will be adding seven more branches to its existing national footprint of 619 branches in South Africa. Before the end of its financial year, the bank plans to open additional branches in the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng and the Western Cape. Chief Executive of FNB Points of Presence, Lee-Anne van Zyl says on average, FNB branches service approximately 1.6 million customers per month using digital zones (self-service terminals) and in-branch service consultants. “The branch network is very important in our…

MTN today announced the launch of e-SIM technology for postpaid customers. The e-Sim technology is available on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 42mm. These watches are only available to customers purchasing a 2-4-1 deal with the Samsung Galaxy Note10 or Note10+ on the newly upgraded MTN Made For Me or Sky Price plans. Jacqui O’Sullivan, Executive for Corporate Affairs at MTN South Africa: “We invested substantially in building the best mobile network in South Africa with the aim of offering our customers the best in innovation and experience to match.” New and existing postpaid customers who sign-up or upgrade on MTN…

CredoLab, an alternative credit scoring FinTech company, has launched in South Africa to help financial institutions and other lenders credit score more people, especially those who are new to bank and new to credit. Launched in Singapore three years ago, CredoLab develops bank-grade digital scorecards using smartphone device metadata. CredoLab signed up two banks and a leading airtime credit provider in SA earlier this year. CredoLab’s sales director for Europe and Africa, Michel Massain, was in the country last week meeting other large financial institutions, credit bureaus and consumer lenders. “You need a credit score to participate in the economy but…