Author: Staff Writer

Today, as South Africans experience the first day of the 21-day national lockdown, Springbok Rugby Captain, Siya Kolisi, will head up a digital fist-bump relay in an attempt at the Guinness World Record for the longest social media fist-bump relay in a 24-hour period. MTN SA will also temporarily change its slogan from “everywhere you go” to “everywhere you stay” in an effort to encourage South Africans to observe the call to stay home during the national lockdown. The relay, initiated by MTN, stands as a reminder of the importance of social distancing at this time, but it is also…

MultiChoice has set aside R80 million to ensure that current productions are able to pay full salaries of cast, crew, and creatives for the months of March and April, by when hopefully we will have the worst of the disruptions behind us. This is part of the several measures, aimed at safeguarding the incomes of cast, crew, and creatives as well as the sustainability of production houses. Through the MultiChoice Talent Factory, the company will be launching an online learning portal that will support over 40 000 members of the industry to gain access to courses and online masterclasses, so they can continue to hone their craft…

Vodacom is in full support of the measures announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in a bid to contain the spread of Covid-19 and help to flatten the curve of infections in South Africa. The Minister of Trade and Industry, Ebrahim Patel, has announced that South Africa’s telecommunications workers will be exempt from the Covid-19 national lockdown as digital infrastructure is deemed a critical service. To that end, both fixed-line and mobile telephony systems must be maintained during South Africa’s 21-day lockdown. “While we are all feeling anxious about the health and wellness of loved ones, family, colleagues and members of…

While South Africans face the challenge of curbing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, Momentum Short-term Insurance (MSTI) is determined to help alleviate the financial burden by giving clients early access to R26 million in future no claims and safety bonuses. To provide immediate financial relief, clients can now opt to take an early cash benefit from their Rewarder bonus (no claims bonus). In addition, clients can also opt to cash in early on their Safety Bonus. MSTI rewards clients with a cashback Safety Bonus of up to 30% of their annual car and home insurance premiums depending on their…

Several people have been arrested for allegedly disregarding South Africa’s lockdown rules that officially kicked in at midnight on Thursday, News24 reported. SABC News reported that the South African Police Service (SAPS) raided taverns and clubs where people were gathering and drinking in the early hours of Friday morning. Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a three-week national shutdown, as part of wide-ranging interventions to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. 21-day lockdown begins as police patrol Johannesburg CBD SA Under Lockdown I South Africa border to Mozambique closed

Specialist transport insurance underwriting company, CTU, has announced measures to help alleviate the financial burden that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is placing upon the commuter transport industry. Following the COVID-19 update received on 23 March, from South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, regarding the imminent 21-day Lockdown, and the clarity received through the Government Gazette, on what constitutes essential goods and services, CTU has announced that: for the month of April and potentially May, all active CTU policyholders’ insurance risk-premiums will be reduced by 35%, and in addition, no inflationary risk-premium increases will be processed for April and May but will…

Avon has offered a lifeline of much-needed sanitary amenities to shelters and institutions working with survivors of gender-based violence in Diepsloot, in the north of Johannesburg, to help them protect themselves and their families against possible infection from coronavirus. The donation is in line with Avon’s quest to complement government’s initiatives of providing support to vulnerable women during the 21-day nationwide lockdown. Abused women are often disempowered and dependent financially on their abusive spouses, including for provision of critical amenities such as soap and sanitizers. “As a company for women, we believe that we have an ethical and moral obligation…

SA Taxi today announced that it will implement interim debt repayment assistance measures to help certain of its minibus taxi operators to navigate their financial commitments during the 21-day lockdown period. SA Taxi, a vertically integrated business platform that creates a sustainable environment for the minibus taxi industry will assist clients in good financial standing by providing payment relief to minimise the negative economic impact of the Covid-19 national lockdown on their business. The payment relief for minibus taxi owners will commence on 1 April 2020 and be available for the full month. In addition, clients insured through SA Taxi…

The introduction of MTN’s 20MB daily data lifeline comes at a critical time when South Africans will depend on connectivity during the 21-day lockdown. The free daily data is available for use on Ayoba, an instant messaging app and can be used for text, video, audio and image sending and receiving – as well as for keeping up to date on the outside world via Ayoba news and entertainment channels. This home-grown instant messaging platform has functionalities similar to WhatsApp. What sets Ayoba apart, however, is that it allows users to also communicate with users who use basic and feature…

Minister in the Presidency, Jackson Mthembu, says government’s classification of media work as an essential service during the COVID-19 national state of disaster and lockdown is a measure to ensure South Africans and the international community have access to vital information during this time. “In South Africa, space, airtime and social media engagement devoted by quality journalism to the outbreak and the national response, has contributed in reducing misinformation, the negative impact of fake news and unfounded panic emerging from some social media users and other sources,” Mthembu said. He expressed government’s appreciation for the role played by media in…