Author: Staff Writer

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) says a move to level 3 lockdown, which will commence from 1 June 2020, will enable the agency to accelerate the pace of paying out the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress grant. “At the moment SASSA is operating with a third of its staff during level 4 and a move to level 3 will increase human resource capacity drastically so that payments are made quicker than it is the case currently,” said SASSA CEO Totsie Memela. Memela said that much progress has been made in preparing for the payment of large numbers of…

Africa has marked the 57th Africa Day amid the Coronavirus pandemic with African Union Chair, President Cyril Ramaphosa, calling on the continent to use the global crisis as an opportunity to re-imagine a new Africa. Africa Day is celebrated on 25 May 2020 and marks the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). Africa has not been spared from the COVID-19 pandemic with almost 96 000 people infected with almost 3 000 having lost their lives. Delivering the keynote address on the Africa Day special virtual broadcast on Monday, President Ramaphosa said the pandemic will have a lasting impact…

MTN announced on Monday that it remains the ‘Most Admired African Brand’ based on spontaneous consumer responses in Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands 2020 survey released on Monday. MTN is also the only African brand in the rankings of the ‘Most Admired Brands in Africa’. In a survey carried out in 27 countries, representing around 80% of the population and the GDP of Africa, the group is now also considered one of the continent’s most admired media brands. MTN Mobile Money – through which MTN provides more than 35 million Africans access to financial services – remains one of Africa’s…

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…