Author: Staff Writer

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…