Author: Akin Naphtal

Absa has revealed it launched its first data science and engineering academy. This academy is designed to foster emerging talent in the field of data and aims to transform its first cohort of 20 learners into data specialists, with advanced knowledge and skills to deliver value across the data lifecycle. According to the company, “Data Science and Engineering has become a scarce and critical skill due to the ever-expanding volume of information in the digital age”. The increasing growth of devices and online platforms implies a growing demand for individuals who can effectively navigate and interpret data. This skill is…

Latin American fintech Clara has launched a payment account in Brazil that it expects will help it reach 6 billion reais ($1.23 billion) in transactions in 2024, the company announced earlier this week, as it eyes growth in the region’s largest economy. Clara, which also provides corporate cards and expense management solutions, said the new product would allow clients in Brazil to expand their payment methods, adding bank slips and express wire transfers (TEDs) to its traditional credit card. The firm said it expects to more than double the number of clients served in Brazil next year with the new…

Pan-African mobile operator MTN SA has announced an opening voluntary severance package (VSP) and voluntary early retirement (VERP) for eligible employees, as part of its ongoing focus on cost-efficiencies and streamlining. According to an MTN statement, the offer has been extended to all departments and business units, and it is not targeting any specific figure. “The focus will remain on streamlined but sustainable operations, to best serve our customers,” it says. During a town hall meeting with CEO Charles Molapisi recently, MTN launched discussions with employees and key stakeholders, including the Communication Workers Union (CWU). “VERPs and VSPs are only…

Cotribute, an award-winning embeddable fintech platform helping credit unions grow deposits, loans and membership has announced it has received the Access Provider Certification of Global Know Your Customer (GKYC) from FIS® (NYSE: FIS), a global leader in financial services technology. The certification is awarded following the successful integration of FIS’ GKYC module with Cotribute’s digital loan application and account opening platform to provide community banks and credit unions with a modern, frictionless experience that expedites onboarding while controlling fraud. The GKYC solution provides a real-time decisioning solution for identity verification and fraud detection designed to reduce friction during the customer…

JSE-listed retailer Pepkor announced recently that Pep sold eight million cellular handsets during the year, 50% of which were smartphones. The retailer said the growth in consumer demand for smartphones exceeded product availability in certain smartphone product lines. With the aim of making smartphones affordable for customers, a cellular handset rental product was developed and is being tested in 180 stores. “To date, 120 000 cellular rentals have been provided through both the group’s internally developed capability and third parties,” said Pepkor. The company added that Pep achieved very pleasing results with strong like-for-like sales growth of 9% in H2FY23…

Vodafone Foundation and UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, have moved to help educate refugees through the Intant Network Schools (INS) digital platform, with both foundations highlighting the importance of educating refugees and the need to increase development investment in this area. This happened during the Connected Education event, held on 28th November. It featured a host of high-profile speakers, including Vodafone Group CEO, Margherita Della Valle, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations at UNHCR, Raouf Mazou, Deputy Secretary General of the ITU, Tomas Lamanauskas, and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, poet, and activist, Emi Mahmoud, The speakers noted that the population of forcibly…

In a world where connectivity has become an absolute necessity for daily life, one internet service provider in South Africa has consistently risen to the challenge. Cool Ideas, known for its unwavering commitment to speed and reliability, has claimed the title of the fastest internet service provider in the nation. Holding the top spot on Ookla and Steam for over three consecutive years, the average speed delivered by Cool Ideas is of 70 Mbps, compared to the national average of 50 Mbps. Based in Johannesburg, Cool Ideas currently services over 50,000 South African users across 35 networks monthly, through its…

Estonian ride-hailing company Bolt has laid off over 5000 Kenyan drivers over the past six months due to non-compliance and safety-related issues as part of Bolt’s commitment to increasing safety, and ensuring the well-being of both riders and drivers. Bolt, which operates in over 15 towns and cities in Kenya, is also planning to invest KES 20 million ($130,000) in safety-related practices. The company’s decision comes after the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) asked Bolt to address safety concerns raised over the years, including instances of physical assaults on passengers and the unauthorized selling of Bolt driver accounts to…

More than one million Zambians have signed up for digital identity cards. This is part of the Integrated National Registration Information System (INRIS) project, which will result in the implementation of a digital national registration card. INRIS is the Department of National Registration, Passports, and Citizenship’s legal identification information management system. Over the following decade, the effort hopes to enrol 10 million people. Zambia has begun the third phase of the project’s enrollment, which is taking place in the Central and Luapula provinces, as well as 79 national registration district offices across the country. The Permanent Secretary for the Central…

Kenyan digital payment platform, iPay, has teamed up with Visa to introduce Tap Ulipe, a technology that simplifies digital payments for merchants and customers. The solution is integrated into a portable MobiGo 2 device and allows merchants to accept contactless payments without investing in POS machines. iPay serves over 10,000 merchants and the move is part of its long-term strategy to provide the latest advancements in digital payment technology. Merchants can use the Tap to Ulipe app on their Near Field Communication-enabled smartphones to accept contactless payments. Visa Kenya Country Manager Eva Ngigi-Sarwari said the partnership between iPay and Visa…