Author: Staff Writer
A rethink of how companies approach B-BBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment) is needed given sluggish targets of late. Failure to meet these targets can be attributed to one thing, and one thing alone: cost. Yet, the true value of B-BBEE and empowerment is its ability to positively change people’s lives and driving skills development is one of the best drivers to do this. This is according to Prudence Mathebula, co-founder and managing director of Dynamic DNA, a 51% black female-owned, B-BBEE level two accredited QSE training and skills development provider. All the elements on the B-BBEE scorecard require some financial investment from…
Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit, the top three crypto exchanges in the world by web traffic, has called for the traditional markets to embrace the change being driven by crypto. Speaking at the Pantera Blockchain Summit Asia this week, Zhou discussed the growing convergence between traditional financial institutions and crypto. “The infrastructure is already in place and large institutions are already exploring and engaging at multiple levels with crypto leaders,” he commented. But he said, “Wall St could do a lot more to truly embrace the innovation in the market and remain relevant.” adding that traditional financial service…
iiDENTIFii, a biometrics tech firm, has raised $15 million or R272 million in growth capital. The round was led by African investment company Arise whose cornerstone investors include Rabobank Partnerships, Norfund, NorFinance and FMO. This is, to date, the largest African Series A in the identity verification space. iiDENTIFii is a world leader in biometric authentication. Its advanced face authentication technology securely authenticates users via their cellphones or PCs within seconds. iiDENTIFii operates across several industry verticals and is used by the largest pan-African banks, insurers and mining houses for both customer and employee authentication. Its customers include Standard Bank,…
The last two years have undoubtedly triggered new and exciting internet usage habits across South Africa, and the country’s townships have been no exception. Vuma’s 2021 Fibre Reach Survey indicates that considerably more homes are upgrading to fibre internet in these communities. In addition, more people are now streaming their favourite content and opting for a fixed internet fee in 2021 compared to the previous year. Vuma’s survey reveals that almost all surveyed township residents (96%) now understand the benefits of upgrading to uncapped high-speed fibre internet, contributing to this technology’s high uptake. In addition, most residents (90%) see the…
In 1999, CNN published an article with the headline: “Is the internet maturing?” The author referred to the first airline tickets being sold online and said the internet was ‘going ordinary’ – in other words, no longer the playground of the tech-savvy, but more ubiquitous in the average Joe’s life. Cloud, say experts, is going ordinary too. “Cloud, just like the internet back in the day, is revolutionising the way people think about their infrastructure,” says Andrew Cruise, Managing Director of Routed, a local VMware Cloud Verified and VMware Principal Partner. “The conversation really started changing during the pandemic. Before,…
Ukheshe’s SME in-a-box solution is making tangible changes to the lives of millions in Zambia through a partnership with Digital PayGo, improving financial inclusion and enhancing business dealings for entrepreneurs. Digital PayGo, a local Zambian fintech driving a mobile-first approach, enhancing the digital payment space for SMEs, is the first partner to utilise Ukheshe’s SME in-a-box solution to its fullest extent and provides a range of virtual financial services to its customers. “We’re so proud to be the technology partner enabling Digital PayGo in their partnership with Zambian bank Zanaco and Mastercard to implement this solution,” says Mark Dankworth, President…
Vodacom’s zero-rated ConnectU platform, designed to provide South Africans with free access to information and life-changing online resources, has grown exponentially, with over 34 million unique users accessing the platform over the past two years. This equates to an average of 3.5 million new unique users’ month-on-month. Boosting Education, Jobs, Social, Health, Safety & Security, Government, and Small, Medium, and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMME) pillars, ConnectU is helping millions of South Africans, with Jobs, Health and Education ranking as the top three visited pillars for users. The Education pillar provides zero-rated access to universities, TVET Colleges, Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, Vodacom’s…
SweepSouth, an online home services platform with presence across Africa, today announced that it has completed an US$11m investment round led by Alitheia IDF (AIF), Africa’s first and largest gender-lens private equity fund. The size of the round, which is SweepSouth’s largest to date, is a result of strong growth in the company’s valuation and social impact since the previous funding round. Current investors Naspers Foundry, The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, and Futuregrowth Asset Management all committed to participate in this new round, as did new investors Endeavor Catalyst, Endeavor’s Harvest Fund II, Caruso Ventures, and E4E Africa. Co-founded…
Forge Academy & Labs is looking to enrol 15 youths for their newly launched 5G Certification and Cloud Practitioner programme in partnership with MICT SETA. The programme will lay the foundations for critical 5G and CLOUD computing skills in high demand in the ICT sector. Forge Academy & Labs recently partnered with MICT SETA and signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will offer students the following: Accredited 5G and cloud computing skills training Ecosystem building Workforce development programmes Public policy The ‘short skills’ programme, designed by Forge in collaboration with Nokia Bell Labs and AWS, begins on 15 October…
The Shoprite Group now helps its suppliers with access to funding at the most affordable rates with the launch of a new supply chain finance product. The CredX finance product, which is often cheaper than bank financing, is available to all of the Group’s suppliers and is expected to assist especially SMMEs, for whom cash flow constraints and access to affordable funding are significant business growth obstacles in South Africa. The benefits include: An affordable financing product from a trusted business with an all-inclusive interest rate and no additional fees; 100% of invoice value available for financing; No further on-boarding requirements as the…
Vodacom has launched the YouTube ‘Buy & Get’ promotion which gives customers free YouTube data for simply buying a qualifying 7-day or 30-day data bundle. For instance, a qualifying 7-day or 30-day 1GB data bundle, will give a customer 500MB YouTube bundle (valid for 7 days) tagged-on for free, whereas a 2GB data bundle at R149 will give a customer a free 1GB YouTube bundle valid for 30 days. In addition to this YouTube ‘Buy & Get’ promotion, customers are now also able to purchase ‘Double Your Data’ YouTube social bundles, which doubles the value of the social bundle. With…
MTN Group today announced the appointment of Fatima Laher as Group Executive: Group Legal, effective 1 October 2022. Laher re-joins MTN from Samsung Electronics, where she has held the role of Head of Africa Disputes, for the past six years. Lele Modise, Group Chief Legal and Regulatory officer said, “Fatima is adept at providing expert strategic and innovative advice to senior leadership in the prestigious institutions she has worked for locally and internationally.” “As Executive: Group Legal, Fatima will provide support in overseeing all legal areas and managing legal risk, supporting strategic projects and initiatives across MTN Group, as well…
Mercedes-Benz South Africa is pleased to announce the appointment of Beate Mey as the PR and Internal Communication Specialist for Mercedes-Benz Vans. In her role, Beate will be responsible for media releases, internal communication, dealer communication as well as managing media engagement and friend of the brand interactions for Mercedes-Benz Vans. Beate is a content and communication enthusiast, who loves to take on challenges with an open mind. After graduating as the Dux Litterarum and Artium in her hometown of Mbombela, Beate went on to obtain her BCom in Business Management from the University of Pretoria. Currently, Beate is completing…
For Mercedes-Benz customers who opt for an all-electric or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicle, the smartphone app Mercedes me Eco Coach offers the support of a personal trainer for environmentally conscious driving. So far, the app is providing more than 50,000 users with helpful and fun advice on the best way to make the most of an electric drive. Of those downloads, more than 24,000 are by users in Germany. The carmaker is celebrating this milestone by offering vouchers for its Mercedes me Charge service, which are available as prizes in the integrated bonus scheme with a 50 percent discount. Users can…
Vodacom is spending R300 million this financial year on the Limpopo network, which will go towards expanding broadband coverage in remote areas of the province that have not had access to internet services, and help to drive inclusion for all. “We are very excited about our network investment for the Limpopo region this financial year, as we aim to ensure that all our customers will benefit from a quality network experience, particularly in rural areas. Expanding access to connectivity forms part of our commitment to building an inclusive digital future while assisting with stimulating socio-economic growth in the province,” says…
If you drive around Johannesburg, Durban or Cape Town, you may have been lucky enough to see Pineapple Tech’s new billboards in the wild. If not, we’ve got you. The first anti-advertising insurance campaign – the consequences are hilarious… One: Pineapple Two: Three: Four: Five: Six: Seven: Eight: Nine: Ten: Eleven: Twelve: Thirteen: Fourteen: Fifteen: Sixteen: Ok, one more: For their first ATL campaign since launching in 2017, Pineapple has created the campaign of “100% pure insurance, 0% other stuff”. No gimmicks, no trickery, no BS. And for this, their campaign reflects the no BS approach with an honest, dry…
As loadshedding escalates across the country, MTN South Africa is working around the clock to protect customer’s connectivity, with an aggressive rollout of batteries, generators and alternate power supplies. MTN’s priority is keeping its customers connected and to this end, the company is exploring practical and innovative solutions to the power crisis. Michele Gamberini, the Chief Technology and Information Officer at MTN SA says increased loadshedding is a challenge for battery recharging. “Despite us having placed thousands of batteries at our sites across the country, the efficacy of those batteries greatly reduces once we pass stage 4 load shedding.” Gamberini…
President Cyril Ramaphosa says resolving the energy crisis is critical to ensure that the economic and investment potential of the country is realised. This as South Africa was plunged into Stage 6 load shedding for the second time this year, prompting the President’s urgent return to the country during an international trip. Households have had to deal with bouts of up to four hours of load shedding at least twice a day since Sunday morning, with load shedding slightly eased to Stage 5 by Tuesday morning. “Solving the electricity crisis is necessary if we are to realise the potential of…
Root, a Cape Town-based startup that’s building infrastructure for the digital insurance economy, is partnering with Mr Price Money to offer a simplified life insurance product to the retailer’s existing credit customers. Mr Price Money is a division of the Mr Price Group Limited and an authorised Financial Services and Credit Provider. Within this division is Mr Price Insurance, offering relevant and affordable insurance products to customers through value, choice, and convenience. The Life Matters product, underwritten by Guardrisk, joins a range of insurance products that Root already hosts for the group. The product requires no medical examination and customers…
People of the troubled Ditsobotla Local Municipality in the North West province would be happy to know that they have an ally in the Southern African Institute of Government Auditors (SAIGA). The Institute, today, announced that it has taken on the challenge and responsibility of championing the custom of putting “Citizens First”. The culture needs cultivation among professionals, particularly in government institutions. Therefore, leading by example, SAIGA Steps up to the Mark to help improve governance issues in Ditsobotla. The North West municipality forms part of the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality. “We are engaging Ditsobotla, and plans are afoot…
Huawei South Africa is looking for tech-savvy women business owners to apply for the 2022 Women in Tech digital skills programme, which provides free online training in Cloud Computing, Digital Marketing and Leadership Development. The programme seeks to help women advance their skills and use new technologies to grow, improve, and digitise their businesses, giving them an edge in the digital economy. This year, there are also prizes for the top three entrepreneurs who will be chosen at the end of the 5-day online training. The training comprises three courses: cloud computing and how it benefits SMMEs, digital marketing for…
Today, as Avon celebrates 136 years in business as a brand that supports and uplifts women by giving them an opportunity to be active participants in the economy through its direct-selling model, the multinational beauty company has made an Impact Challenge that will continue to create better futures for women. Globally, women only make 77 cents for every dollar earned by men according to the United Nations (UN). As a result, there’s a lifetime of income in eulogy between men and women with more women retiring into poverty. In South Africa, the labour market is more favourable to men than…
Huawei South Africa won the prestigious Digital Innovator Award at The State IT Agency’s (SITA) Digital Public Service Awards ceremony which took place this week in Durban. The event was attended by Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni and Deputy Minister Philly Mapulane of South Africa’s Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, as well as industry CEOs, government ministers from four African countries, and officials from the International Telecommunications Union. The 14th Annual GovTech Conference, themed ‘Reshaping the citizen experience through enhanced service delivery’, is the leading South African ICT event focusing on public sector ICT service delivery. The Conference brings the Government…
South African youth have affirmed their affinity to the Avon brand by choosing Avon as the Coolest Make-up Brand for the 12th consecutive year. The beauty and skincare company was bestowed the honours at the 2022 edition of the Sunday Times GenNext Awards. The Sunday Times GenNext Awards, now in their 18th year running, is the leading annual youth brand preference and consumer behaviour event. The Sunday Times GenNext survey remains the leading barometer of what South Africa’s youth find on-trend and aspirational, and delivers insights that are valued by brand management, advertising, and marketing professionals. Young people are among…
inq., a Convergence Partner company, today announced its official launch in Cameroon. The global Edge solutions provider said the expansion is the next step in the company’s overarching strategy to provide cutting-edge technological solutions globally and connect African economies to the rest of the world. “As a leading global Edge solutions provider, this milestone allows us to deepen our footprint in West and Central Africa and drive edge services within one of the fastest-growing ICT markets on the continent,” says Dr. Andile Ngcaba, Executive Chairman of inq.. “It also allows us to connect the growing Cameroonian market with businesses all…