Author: Staff Writer

MTN SA’s business activities in 2021, which include capital infrastructure investments, operating expenses, and tax revenue contribution to the country, contributed to GDP and have been pivotal in driving economic growth. “These contributions resulted in the creation of approximately 146 487 direct, indirect, and induced jobs across the ICT value chain and other sectors,” according to KPMG study published last week. The recent True Value assessment, conducted by KPMG, underscores MTN’s commitment to our nation. According to the report, the measurable Social Value of Jobs stood at an encouraging R1.9 billion, which refers to quantified impact of jobs created beyond…

With ecommerce in South Africa breaching the R55 billion a year barrier, home delivery has become a way of life for the country’s consumers. Yet delivery isn’t the right fit for every retailer’s customer base or business model. Each merchant should balance the potential revenue gains against the costs and drawbacks of home delivery. That’s according to Gerhard Le Roux, head of capital growth at Capital Connect, a fintech that offers fast and flexible business funding to South African retailers. He says that fleets of delivery bakkies and scooters have changed the shape of fast-food and grocery retail since the pandemic, contributing…

Meltwater in partnership with Absa Bank, is delighted to announce the opening of applications for the highly anticipated MEST Africa Challenge Startup Pitch Competition. Early-stage technology startups operational in Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Kenya, and South Africa are invited to participate in this prestigious competition to showcase their innovative businesses and entrepreneurial prowess. The application period begins today and will close on 9th October 2023. The MEST Africa Challenge offers exceptional benefits to participating startups. The winner will receive a substantial equity investment of USD 50,000, providing crucial financial support to accelerate their business growth. In addition, the winner and other…

For a couple of remarkable young women, exposure to sought-after technological skills isn’t just a chance to improve their own career prospects – it also allows them to act as role models and bring about positive change in their communities. Two young women, Ntombifuthi Mwale and Samukelisiwe Dube, are both beneficiaries of Huawei’s bursary programme which offers students, from disadvantaged backgrounds, an opportunity to flourish and accomplish their aspirations and academic goals while also ensuring they are equipped to enter the workplace. The programme is open to second, third, and fourth-year students studying across a broad range of fields, including…

Members of the South African team which took a top spot in the 2022-2023 Huawei Global ICT Competition held in Shenzhen, China recently are still riding high following their success. The two University of KwaZulu Natal graduates, Lutho Sigidi and Nqubeko Asanda Shabalala and University of Johannesburg graduate Terry-Anne Fredericks have all been employed by Huawei and, recently were singled out for praise by South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa when he visited the Huawei Campus. The remarks came during President Ramaphosa’s official opening of the Huawei Innovation Centre, which showcases Huawei’s latest and most innovative digital technologies and solutions such…

MTN SA has announced the expansion of its innovative eSIM functionality to prepaid customers, a game-changing feature that enhances the way customers connect and communicate. The eSIM, which is a digital version of the physical SIM card, is now available to all customers and will provide seamless connectivity and linkability to a range of devices.  With the expansion of the eSIM functionality, MTN is reinforcing its commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences and staying at the forefront of digital innovation in the telecommunications industry. This advanced technology eliminates the need for physical SIM cards and unlocks a host of benefits…

Transformation in the workplace, specifically as it pertains to gender equality, has been an ongoing issue in South Africa. As August is national women’s month, TrendER/infoQuest, a leading online South African research supplier, conducted a survey with working women to assess their perceptions of the progress made in this regard. The research was conducted at the beginning of August 2023 and 160 employed women were interviewed across all industries and all job levels. Decision-making in the workplace  One in two (51%) women believe that the decision-making power of women in the workplace has improved, while 64% claim that in their…

Vodacom today announced  that customers will receive 30% more airtime when they recharge through the VodaPay super app. This value-added airtime lasts 365 days – keeping customers connected for longer. Customers can use this airtime to make calls, buy voice bundles, SMSs or convert it into data bundles to access the internet. “We are excited to give customers additional value in the form of airtime, particularly at a time when the cost of living is high with South Africans facing persistent price pressures. Our goal is to exceed customer expectations by providing value and convenience. With the 30% more airtime,…

MTN South Africa has unveiled MyMTN Prepaid Funeral Khava, aimed at offering South Africans an accessible and budget-friendly insurance coverage when they may need it most. South Africans can now protect their families from financial burdens after a loss for as little as R75 per year.   Under its new Khava brand, MTN’s prepaid funeral insurance is the first of a range of insurance products designed for the local market. Backed by Sanlam and facilitated by aYo Intermediaries South Africa, the funeral insurance offering aims to cater to the unique needs of the SA market. MyMTN Prepaid Funeral Khava offers a…

Retail Capital, a division of TymeBank,  recently announced the launch of ChatSME, a Large Language Model (LLM) designed to empower and revolutionise how South African entrepreneurs grow their businesses. This generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) model aims to provide easy access to valuable knowledge and resources, fostering growth and success in the vibrant, and crucially important SME (small medium enterprises) community. In a world inundated with search engines, online learning platforms, and digital tools, accessing business information has become easier, but not necessarily safer. For many business owners, concerns about the risks associated with OpenAI platforms and potential leaks of proprietary…