Author: Staff Writer

Nigerian ‘Instagram Billionaire‘ Ramon Olorunwa Abbas has been extradited to the US from Dubai to face fraud charges. The Arabian Business reported that Abbas, who is popularly known as “Hushpuppi,” faces criminal charges “alleging he conspired to launder hundreds of millions of dollars from ‘business email compromise’ (BEC) frauds and other scams.” Hushpuppi was arrested last month in Dubai before being handed over to the FBI, according to the US Department of Justice. The Rolls Royce-driving Hushpuppi has 2.5 million followers on Instagram, where he regularly posts photographs of himself posing with luxury cars or boarding private jets. Abbas was part…

The MultiChoice Group announced on Wednesday a long-term, content-driven partnership with Springbok and DHL Stormers captain Siya Kolisi. The ambassadorship extends to all brands under the MultiChoice Group umbrella, including DStv. “I’m thrilled to partner with MultiChoice and DStv, and to be offered such an incredible platform to have a voice, allowing me to connect with my fans in ways I can’t on the rugby field,” says Kolisi. Through the deal, negotiated by Roc Nation Sports, MultiChoice have committed themselves to supporting the work of the Kolisi Foundation, Siya and Rachel Kolisi’s philanthropic platform, which has worked tirelessly on the…

Customers can now make cash deposits directly into their own bank account at any Pick n Pay till point, anywhere in South Africa. Deposits at till points is another first for the retailer as they increasingly become a one-stop-shop where customers can do their shopping and banking at the same time. For many years, customers have been able to withdraw cash from till points and now they can deposit cash, up to the value of R5,000 per transaction, at any Pick n Pay stores, including Clothing stores. Pick n Pay facilitated over R36 billion in cash withdrawals last year in…

Audi has launched the AudiSmart Service plan, an affordable new service offering which is applicable to all Audi vehicles that are 6 to 13 years old (or within a maximum mileage threshold of 270 000 KM), and which fall out of the standard Audi Freeway Plan or Freeway Plan Extension. This progressive new plan includes cover for two years and/or 30 000 KM (whichever occurs first) and includes two minor oil change services at a significantly discounted price. AudiSmart Service ensures that only trained Audi technicians will maintain the vehicle, according to the highest standards of Vorsprung service excellence. Further to this,…

Online trading is taking the African continent by the storm. Forex platforms present a viable earning tool for the local population. Anyone can profit from currency trades remotely — all they need is software and a registered account. These are provided by intermediaries known as brokers. The companies are classified as ECN or market makers based on their revenue source. The former is the purest form of brokerage. Here is why. The foreign exchange is an over-the-counter market. This means buyers and sellers establish a direct connection through intermediaries. Individuals, banks and market traders all partake in the activity. If…

The Competition Tribunal has slapped pharmacy group, Dis-Chem, with a R1.2 million fine for excessively overpricing surgical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. This comes after the company was found guilty following complaints registered by the public. In its order and reasons, the Tribunal found that Dis-Chem contravened the Competition Act for charging excessive prices for three types of surgical face masks to the detriment of consumers during March 2020. The Tribunal considered the background to the COVID-19 pandemic as the economic context in which Dis-Chem had increased its prices on three occasions. This included, among others, the fact that the…

South African company Brand Hubb is using an innovative e-commerce platform to change how South African consumers exchange gifts. “We are expanding our business offering by leveraging technology to improve or reinvent ‘stuffy’ tradition,” says Rob Anderson, CEO of Brand Hubb. “The next big idea is usually found by identifying and resolving areas that cause consumers pain or stress”. Brand Hubb’s Chip In gifting solution is a case in point. It was built to address the pain points that most consumers experience when giving gifts. Finding the perfect gift used to involve spending countless hours trawling through physical stores until,…

JSE-listed 4Sight announced on Tuesday that it has inked a strategic deal with Unplugg Group, a black-owned tech company. As part of the transaction, a new entity to be known as 4Sight Unplugg has been formed. The new company will be 51%-owned by Unplugg and 49% by 4Sight. 4Sight Unplugg’s board will be led by Antony Hlungwane, the CEO of Unplugg. Hlungwane has more than 20 years’ experience in the ICT industry. He is a former CIO of Mr Price and has extensive executive experience in the retail, banking and telecommunications industries. In 2013 and 2015 he was a finalist in…

IT and data science students are invited to apply for the Shoprite Group’s bursary programme for the 2021 academic year. Each bursary comes with a work-back agreement to deepen learning with a strong practical element to gain hands-on experience in the business. “Our IT capabilities are complex, extensive and ever-growing,” confirms David Cohn, the CIO. Most recently the Group was the first retailer in South Africa to launch virtual vouchers and contactless QR payments in direct response to the Covid-19 pandemic. “We operate in an incredibly fast-paced environment, at the forefront of retail innovation. As such we are offering IT…

Online and video medical consultations prompted by COVID-19 restrictions will continue even after the threat of the pandemic has passed because they are convenient, cost-effective and broaden access to healthcare. That’s according to Dr. Steven Holt, CEO of First Care Solutions, a medical services and administration company that is part-owned and -funded by RMB Ventures.  In partnership with Johannesburg-based ER Consulting Inc, in February 2020, First Care Solutions launched its direct telephonic and video consultations for South Africans who require medical attention. “Demand for virtual, online and telephonic medical consultations – or telemedicine, to use the generic term – has…