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Vodacom drives digital access in education through Virtual Classroom platform

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Vodacom drives digital access in education through Virtual Classroom platform

PRETORlA – The Vodacom Foundation, in partnership with the Department of Basic Education (DBE), has launched the Virtual Classroom solution with a robotic and coding component at Dr WF Nkomo Secondary School in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, yesterday. The digital platform supports Vodacom’s commitment to accelerating access to digital education in under-resourced areas of South Africa.

Takalani Netshitenzhe, Director of External Affairs, Vodacom South Africa says: “The virtual classroom was approved by ICASA at the height of Covid-19 with a view to government and the operators creating a conducive environment for the teachers and learners mainly in schools in the poorest communities  to deliver and access teaching and learning material remotely. Covid-19 was a game changer that exposed the huge inequalities in education, and thus, following the roll-out of the temporary spectrum obligation roll-out of the six mandated virtual classrooms, the Vodacom Foundation is now rolling out the virtual classroom solution in its thirteen schools of excellence.”

“This virtual classroom, complimented by a robotics and coding component, takes the Foundation’s education ecosystem to another level of the comprehensive approach to education which prepares learners to deal with societal ills through psychosocial support and to embrace the fourth industrial revolution. When the entire project is complete across the thirteen schools, about 14 000 learners will benefit from this virtual classroom initiative in partnership with the Vodacom Foundation,” says Netshitenzhe.

The virtual classroom offers a fully kitted e-learning end-to-end solution with  internet connectivity in the entire school. The network enables the school to also connect to educational broadcasting centres and other schools to share resources and expertise remotely. In addition, learners and educators are equipped with data-enabled digital devices to connect to each other, regardless of location. They can also access curricula-aligned content, as well as platforms such as Microsoft Office 365 Education, 2Enable and Vodacom e-School, for better learning outcomes.

“Virtual Classroom is ensuring our school’s educators and learners can be more productive through connectivity. Online access, robotics and coding have the potential to grow young minds so that they are equipped with knowledge and digital skills to find their place in the future,” Mr Chauke, School Principal at Dr WF Nkomo.

UNICEF suggests that globally, only one in three school-age children have internet access at home, while only 50-60% of secondary schools and only 40% of primary schools around the world have connectivity. This ‘digital divide’ is greater in less developed countries.

“Vodacom remains committed to addressing the digital divide within our education sector, particularly in rural and underperforming schools in the country. By partnering with government and other organisations to increase access to digital technology, we can help transform educational outcomes for those who need it most, and ultimately, build a more inclusive digital society,” concludes Netshitenzhe.

 

The Shoprite Group increased solar capacity by 82% in 12 months

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The Shoprite Group increased solar capacity by 82% in 12 months

The Shoprite Group increased solar capacity by 82% in 12 months, easing pressure on the national electricity grid 

Over the past 12 months, the Shoprite Group has increased its installed capacity of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems by 82% to 26,606 kWp. The 143,674m2 of solar panels at 62 sites, is equivalent to the size of 20 soccer fields.  

This is enough to power the equivalent of 3,735 households for one full year, thus easing the pressure on the national electricity grid. 

Despite the marked progress, the Group is still focused on growing its solar-powered and renewable electricity installations while improving energy efficiency to reduce its environmental footprint, further reducing added strain on the national electricity grid. Other initiatives include a drive to reduce electricity consumption by installing LED lights at its sites, which has saved 399 million kWh to date. 

Using renewable energy and embracing energy efficiency is part of the Group’s plans to reduce indirect greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change. 

In the last financial year, the Group has increased its total renewable installations from 32 to 62. These now produce 40,894 MWh – 11,614 MWh more than in November last year. 

At the same time, the Group has increased its fleet of solar-powered trailers by 234, to a total of 1,041.  

“We are incredibly proud of our increased use of renewable electricity, and we intend to build on this in the coming years to meet our science-based emission reduction targets, including net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050,” says Sanjeev Raghubir, Shoprite Group Sustainability Manager.  

“Furthermore, we’ve saved more than R16 million in electricity costs in the past year through our solar PV systems and these additional savings are passed on to our customers.”

FlySafair collaborates with five artists to add a touch of wonder to its cabins

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FlySafair collaborates with five artists to add a touch of wonder to its cabins

30 September 2022, Johannesburg –Low-cost carrier FlySafair is decorating the cabins of five aircraft with original artworks commissioned from local artists.

“As the leading domestic airline in the country we want to be sure that we do our part in celebrating our people and our heritage”, says Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer at FlySafair.

The airline selected five local artists and commissioned them to develop artworks to decorate the aircraft interiors with imagery that celebrates South Africa and its people.

Passengers can already spot Michael Chandler and Ndumiso Nyoni’s artworks in the airline’s aircraft, while Zinhle Zulu, Joh Del and Yiull Damaso’s pieces are gradually being installed as the maintenance schedules allow.

“We approached the five different artists with the same brief: get people excited about exploring their own backyard again. And we’re delighted to say that each artist exceeded our expectations in their own way.”

This was the first time any of the artists had been asked to create a piece for the inside of an aircraft. Zinhle Zulu relished the unusual challenge and saw it as an opportunity to tackle a new canvas. She sought to celebrate South Africa’s heritage and incorporated different cultural symbols as well as parts of the Coat of Arms.

Michael Chandler put pen to paper and doodled his way across South Africa, drawing iconic landscapes like Table Mountain, Johannesburg’s cityscape and even a Karoo windpump. Ndumiso Nyoni drew inspiration from a FlySafair flight to Durban where he noticed the diverse group of passengers all moving in the same direction. He chose to recreate this in his design that includes a mix of symbols and signifiers to highlight the different cultures you’ll find in South Africa.

Joh Del’s piece is a celebration of travel starting again. He uses indigenous flowers in a composition that looks as though they have been thrown into the air in jubilation. Yiull Damaso wanted to capture the sense of calm he feels on a flight and chose to illustrate the serene blue crane using his iron and copper rust technique.

“It has been wonderful to see how each artist approached the brief and added their unique creativity to their piece,” says Gordon. “We hope our passengers love the cabins and their new look as much as we do.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 5 Principles of Green Economy

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The 5 Principles of Green Economy

Exploring what a green and fair economy looks like in principle – and in practice

Humanity faces serious challenges in the coming decades: climate change, biodiversity loss, growing inequality, and more. These systemic global crises cannot be tackled in isolation, because they are all interconnected. But our economic systems are not fit enough to deliver a good balance of environmental and social goals

Economies are, at heart, a collection of rules and norms that reward some behaviours and punish others. In their current form, our economies incentivise overconsumption, degrade communal bonds, and destroy natural wealth. But this is not inevitable or unavoidable; it is simply how our economies have evolved to operate. To solve these problems, a new economic vision is required.

The vision: a fair, green economic future

Our vision of a green economy is one that provides prosperity for all within the ecological limits of the planet. It follows five key principles, each of which draws on important precedents in international policy, and which together can guide economic reform in diverse contexts.

1. The Wellbeing Principle

A green economy enables all people to create and enjoy prosperity.

  • The green economy is people-centred. Its purpose is to create genuine, shared prosperity.
  • It focuses on growing wealth that will support wellbeing. This wealth is not merely financial, but includes the full range of human, social, physical and natural capitals.
  • It prioritizes investment and access to the sustainable natural systems, infrastructure, knowledge and education needed for all people to prosper.
  • It offers opportunities for green and decent livelihoods, enterprises and jobs.
  • It is built on collective action for public goods, yet is based on individual choices

2. The Justice Principle

The green economy promotes equity within and between generations.

  • The green economy is inclusive and non-discriminatory. It shares decision-making, benefits and costs fairly; avoids elite capture; and especially supports women’s empowerment.
  • It promotes the equitable distribution of opportunity and outcome, reducing disparities between people, while also giving sufficient space for wildlife and wilderness.
  • It takes a long-term perspective on the economy, creating wealth and resilience that serve the interests of future citizens, while also acting urgently to tackle today’s multi-dimensional poverty and injustice.
  • It is based on solidarity and social justice, strengthening trust and social ties, and supporting human rights, the rights of workers, indigenous peoples and minorities, and the right to sustainable development.
  • It promotes empowerment of MSMEs, social enterprises, and sustainable livelihoods.
  • It seeks a fast and fair transition and covers its costs – leaving no-one behind, enabling vulnerable groups to be agents of transition, and innovating in social protection and reskilling.

3. The Planetary Boundaries Principle

The green economy safeguards, restores and invests in nature.

  • An inclusive green economy recognizes and nurtures nature’s diverse values – functional values of providing goods and services that underpin the economy, nature’s cultural values that underpin societies, and nature’s ecological values that underpin all of life itself.
  • It acknowledges the limited substitutability of natural capital with other capitals, employing the precautionary principle to avoid loss of critical natural capital and breaching ecological limits.
  • It invests in protecting, growing and restoring biodiversity, soil, water, air, and natural systems.
  • It is innovative in managing natural systems, informed by their properties such as circularity, and aligning with local community livelihoods based on biodiversity and natural systems.

4. The Efficiency and Sufficiency Principle

The green economy is geared to support sustainable consumption and production.

  • An inclusive green economy is low-carbon, resource-conserving, diverse and circular. It embraces new models of economic development that address the challenge of creating prosperity within planetary boundaries.
  • It recognises there must be a significant global shift to limit consumption of natural resources to physically sustainable levels if we are to remain within planetary boundaries.
  • It recognizes a ‘social floor’ of basic goods and services consumption that is essential to meet people’s wellbeing and dignity, as well as unacceptable ‘peaks’ of consumption.
  • It aligns prices, subsidies and incentives with true costs to society, through mechanisms where the ‘polluter pays’ and/or where benefits accrue to those who deliver inclusive green outcomes.

5. The Good Governance Principle

The green economy is guided by integrated, accountable and resilient institutions.

  • An inclusive green economy is evidence-based – its norms and institutions are interdisciplinary, deploying both sound science and economics along with local knowledge for adaptive strategy.
  • It is supported by institutions that are integrated, collaborative and coherent – horizontally across sectors and vertically across governance levels – and with adequate capacity to meet their respective roles in effective, efficient and accountable ways
  • It requires public participation, prior informed consent, transparency, social dialogue, democratic accountability, and freedom from vested interests in all institutions – public, private and civil society – so that enlightened leadership is complemented by societal demand.
  • It promotes devolved decision-making for local economies and management of natural systems while maintaining strong common, centralized standards, procedures, and compliance systems.
  • It builds a financial system with the purpose of delivering wellbeing and sustainability, set up in ways that safely serve the interests of society.

The green economy is a universal and transformative change to the global status quo. It will require a fundamental shift in government priorities. Realising this change is not easy, but it is necessary if we are ever to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Source:The 5 Principles of Green Economy | Green Economy Coalitionhttps://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/news-and-resources/the-5-principles-of-green-economy

OCTOBER CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH

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OCTOBER CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH
  • Cybersecurity is an increasingly relevant topic in all areas of life, both business and personal
  • More and more global companies, such as Santander, have cybersecurity training programs and offer bonuses to employees who know how to detect cyber scams, such as phishing
  • The lack of specialised skills in cybersecurity will be one of the most important challenges that organisations will have to face in the coming years.

Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions globally, marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month by highlighting the need for each and every individual to prioritise cybersecurity, in both their business and personal lives, in order to fend off the ever-increasing risk of cyberattack.

For companies, cyber risks are increasing all the time. In fact, according to Check Point Research (CPR), attacks increased by 59% compared to last year. Here in Africa, the weekly average of impacted organisations in 2022 is 1 out of 21, with an organisation on the continent being attacked on average 1,896 times per week in the last six months.

A recent World Economic Forum report revealed that 95% of cybersecurity problems are caused by human error, and if you add the global cyber skills shortage to the mix, then you have the perfect storm for a cybercriminal. The 2021 (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study showed that we are lacking almost three million cybersecurity professionals worldwide.

In light of this, some organisations have started to implement cyber initiatives for their employees. For example, Santander, a multinational financial services company, recently launched an incentive scheme whereby employee responses to phishing attacks are considered as part of the overall company bonus policy.

Check Point Software has also implemented various training initiatives to boost cybersecurity skills in the workforce across Africa. In Kenya, together with Strathmore University, Check Point SecureAcademy runs free training sessions with lecturers and students. And since 2021 in Johannesburg, together with Get Informed and local partners, Check Point Software has been offering cybersecurity training courses and internships to under-privileged youth in the community.

Having people and staff that are well trained in cyber hygiene is one of the best foundations for good cybersecurity, and so, for Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Check Point Software provides some useful information to help companies identify attacks.

  • Phishing: this is a technique that is often successful due to a lack of employee training. Often in the form of an email, it is when a cybercriminal will impersonate a colleague, company or institution to obtain personal data to then sell, use for identity theft or to launch further cyberattacks. It’s important to be careful when receiving emails, particularly any that include an unusual request. You should check the sender address is legitimate, check for grammar errors and any misspelled words, and don’t click on any unfamiliar links or open attachments.
  • Malware: this is malicious software that is designed to harm a device or network. In order for it to be successful, the victim has to install such software on their computer, which is usually done by clicking on a malicious link that automatically installs it, but it can also enter through a file such as an image, document or video attachment. Again, it is crucial to be careful when receiving emails that contain links or files, and only download software from official stores.
  • Ransomware: this is a type of malware attack that blocks access to systems unless a ransom is paid. For some time now, there has been double and even triple extortion ransomware, capable of blackmailing the victim’s customers too.  Like malware, it usually enters a device through a link from a trusted company or a file downloaded to it. Therefore, it is very important not to download anything from an unknown user and utilise multi-factor authentication.

To avoid becoming a victim of phishing, malware and ransomware, Check Point recommends:

  • Enabling two-factor authentication: sign into your accounts with both a password and one other method. It could be a question, biometric data or a one-time code sent to your device. This creates an extra layer of security that prevents an attacker from being able to access an account with just a password.
  • Using strong passwords: using the same keyword for everything, or simple combinations such as ‘123456’ or ‘password’, is making it too easy for cybercriminals. There are now a multitude of platforms that can generate strong, difficult-to-guess passwords with upper- and lower-case letters, numbers and symbols. Although we can also create them ourselves, it’s important to remember to use different combinations for each service.
  • Learning how to recognise phishing: when an attacker sends a phishing email, there are usually some common identifiable traits such as misspellings or the fact that it asks for credentials to be entered. A company will never ask for a customer’s credentials on email. If in doubt, always go to the official page or platform of the company you want to access.
  • Always keeping software updated: it is always advisable to update to the latest version of a company’s software as this is the way that they correct security errors of previous versions.

“Cybersecurity Awareness Month is an important time to not only raise awareness of cyber-safety but to drive real action among individuals. Most cyberattacks occur because of human error so it is in our hands to improve cybersecurity, both at home and at work. This is an essential activity in which we all have a part to play,” says Pankaj Bhula, Regional Director for Africa at Check Point Software. “The term ‘If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem’ fits perfectly when it comes to cybersecurity and users.”

 

About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. 

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (www.checkpoint.com) is a leading provider of cyber security solutions to corporate enterprises and governments globally.  Check Point Infinity´s portfolio of solutions protects enterprises and public organisations from 5th generation cyber-attacks with an industry leading catch rate of malware, ransomware and other threats. Infinity comprises four core pillars delivering uncompromised security and generation V threat prevention across enterprise environments: Check Point Harmony, for remote users; Check Point CloudGuard, to automatically secure clouds; and Check Point Quantum, to protect network perimeters and datacenters, all controlled by the industry’s most comprehensive, intuitive unified security management; Check Point Horizon, a prevention-first security operations suite. Check Point protects over 100,000 organizations of all sizes.

Bonitas 2022 contributions continued for 2023

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Bonitas 2022 contributions continued for 2023

Bonitas Medical Fund, one of the leading medical schemes in South Africa, has announced its 2023 product line up. Lee Callakoppen, Principal Officer of Bonitas says, ‘Our average increases for the year would have been 5.9% – well below the current inflation rate of 7.6%. The good news is that we’ve put a price freeze on contributions for the first quarter of 2023, to offer our members some respite. This effectively means an increase of 4.8% over the 12 months. We have also shared exactly what members can expect to pay from 1 April 2023, so that they can make informed decisions.

Bonitas Medical Fund celebrated its 40th anniversary this year and has evolved and expanded its capabilities over the past four decades in response to the needs of a growing membership base.

‘It’s always a delicate balancing act between keeping increases as low as possible while maintaining the stability of the Scheme,’ says Callakoppen. ‘The guidelines, set out by the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) in Circular 44 of 2022, requested medical schemes to keep contribution increases for 2023 below CPI. However, over the past decade medical scheme contribution increases have outpaced inflation by around 4%. We are delighted to have kept these well below CPI itself. In fact, by applying very low contribution increases since December 2020, the Scheme has effectively passed R1.4 billion in savings back to members.

And, with the challenges we’ve seen recently in the healthcare industry, we know that promoting sustainability is key. So, we’re happy to boast excellent financial indicators from high solvency ratios, strong reserves and a high claims-paying ability. Not only is the Scheme financially sound with over R7.4 billion in reserves but, over the last 36 months we have signed up 190 000 new members. This figure is significantly higher than the size of most schemes in the industry,’ says Callakoppen.

Even better for long-term sustainability, the average age of new Bonitas Medical Fund members is about 15 years younger than the current membership. It demonstrates that we are succeeding in attracting a younger, healthier profile, which is highly sought after in the industry.

The future of healthcare is anchored on primary and preventative care as well as sustaining well-being, as opposed to responding to illness. One of the key healthcare trends is the rise in non-communicable or lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer. 80% of these conditions are caused by lifestyle risk factors which is why we offer a range of Managed Care programmes aimed at assisting members understand and manage their conditions.

Cancer care

Cancer prevalence is one of the key concerns facing South Africans and is increasing year on year. Last year, we announced our partnership with the South African Oncology Consortium – the largest network of oncologists in the country to enhance the offerings of our cancer programme including screening for early detection, treatment and palliative care. For 2023 we have restructured benefits to be unlimited for PMB cancers, on all options.

Diabetes

The latest data from the South African Health Quality Assessment, shows that Bonitas has an effective disease management programme and better outcomes than the industry standard for diabetic members, with improved metrics for Hb1Ac, statins and cholesterol.

But, as we always look for ways to improve, we are proud to introduce a benefit of R51 000 per family per year for an insulin pump or continuous glucose monitor for type 1 diabetics over 18 years.

Mental health

We are pleased to announce that we’ve introduced an innovative new digital solution, called Panda, to support our members in managing their mental wellness. Panda, a free to download app, offers everything from audio sessions with peers and mental health experts to one-on-one virtual consultations with mental health professionals. We encourage our members to complete a mental health questionnaire in the Bonitas Member App to assess their mental health status. Panda will be available from October 2022.

Benefit Booster

Launched last year, the Benefit Booster was one of the most innovative changes to hit the medical schemes industry and aimed at supporting our preventative care strategy. It unlocked R446 million in additional benefits for members to extend their day-to-day benefits. For 2023, we’ve opted to adjust the benefits limits in line with utilisation with enhancements seen on several plans.

Designated Service Provider (DSP)

We implement networks to negotiate the most favourable tariffs for our members so they can avoid out-of-pocket expenses and get more value. These networks are carefully selected to maintain high levels of healthcare, aligned with our brand promise of providing quality healthcare. We have restructured our options to include a wider hospital network component. In 2023, 85% of our members will be within a 30km radius of a network hospital – with a presence across all nine provinces in line with the footprint of our member base.

This includes a GP network of over 4 400 of the most efficient practices in the country, an extensive pharmacy network, with around 2 500 practices to dispense chronic, acute and over-the-counter medicine through Scriptpharm. Our dental network, through DENIS, is one of the largest on the continent – providing access to around 3 000 practices while our optical network through PPN gives members access to over 2 300 practices.

Medicine formulary

We have aligned our medicines formulary to the WHO’s Essential Medicines List (EDL) to promote affordability and accessibility to clinically approved medicines, in support of Universal Health Care and promotion of medicine adherence for our members.

Hospital-at-home

The technology-enabled Hospital-at-Home service brings all the essential elements of in-hospital care to a patient’s home, without moving away from evidence-based clinical protocols and state-of-the-art 24hr vital sign monitoring. 1 200 members have used the offering to date – equating to around 6 000 days in hospital. We are extending the offering to include: A programme for re-admissions, screening and disease prevention, alternative to stepdown facilities and kidney dialysis at home.

Savings

We’ve amended our rules to allow members to use their savings as they deem fit for the new year. This allows members flexibility as they can use their saving for co-payments and avoid out-of-pocket expenses on certain plans. We’ve also increased savings by up to 9.4% – depending on the plan selected. Day-to-day benefits have been restructured and increased on our traditional plans as well.

Exclusive offers and discounts

With the current economic challenges facing the country, we know everyone is constantly looking for added value and ways to save money every month, including our members. This dovetails with our objective of providing members with access to additional value, through exclusive offers and discounts, that adds meaning to their lives.

For 2023, we’ve partnered with top providers in the industry for exclusive offers across a range of categories including: Lifestyle, wellness, gap cover, short-term insurance, life insurance and credit solutions.

As South Africans face increased challenges around inflation, fuel and electricity hikes, Bonitas Medical Fund remains committed to providing quality healthcare, at affordable prices, while ensuring the sustainability of the Scheme.

The new generation of the HUAWEI nova series are now available in stores

Huawei Technologies Africa
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The new generation of the HUAWEI nova series are now available in stores

The Huawei Consumer Business Group South Africa has announced that its latest HUAWEI nova editions, the HUAWEI nova 10 Pro and HUAWEI nova 10, are now available in South African stores.

The HUAWEI nova 10 Pro and HUAWEI nova 10 bring together innovative and cutting-edge craftsmanship, that is enhanced by the chic Star Orbit Ring classic design. More especially, the smartphones have evolved the front camera capabilities with newly added features, which allow the HUAWEI nova users to express themselves more confidently while staying in trend.

Capture vlogs on the go with a multi-camera shooting experience

Using the powerful camera system of the HUAWEI nova 10 Pro and the HUAWEI nova 10, users can create vlogs that unleash their creativity.

With upgraded autofocus capabilities of the dual front cameras, the HUAWEI nova 10 Pro can intelligently switch the focus of different subjects within the camera, and through the Showcase Focus function allow the subjects to be clearly displayed even in vlogs filmed indoors. Meanwhile, users can utilise multiple cameras of the smartphones to shoot simultaneously, offering a multi-camera shooting experience with a combination of dual front cameras, both front and back cameras, as well as picture-in-picture shooting, all while portraying the fine details of the subject’s face, make-up, and accessories. For outdoor shots with wide fields-of-view, users can freely adjust the zoom to easily shoot 0.7X~5X zoom videos on top of leveraging on the front camera’s powerful dual autofocus capabilities, capturing scenic images in their surroundings.

The HUAWEI nova 10 Pro and HUAWEI nova 10 also incorporate Petal Clip, a one-click video creation app that includes motion photography, video stabilisation, colour grading, audio pick-up, and editing technologies for high-quality vlog production, which means there’s no need for extra equipment

100W HUAWEI SuperCharge Turbo

Equipped with the 100W HUAWEI SuperCharge Turbo, the HUAWEI nova 10 Pro allows users to stay fully charged, in a short period of time.  To activate the Turbo Mode, users need to connect the phone to a power supply and then tap the charging icon. It only takes 10 minutes to quickly charge the phone from 20% to 80%, while fully charging the phone in just 20 minutes, which brings users an unprecedented and instant fast-charging experience. The HUAWEI nova 10 Pro also packs a 4500mAh battery in its slim and compact body. While the HUAWE nova 10 has 66 W HUAWEI SuperCharge and a 4,000 mAh battery.

The lightweight design and seamless refresh rate

The HUAWEI nova 10 Pro comes with a thickness of 7.88mm and weighs at 191g; while the HUAWEI nova 10 is much thinner and lighter, with a thickness of 6.88mm and weighs at 168g. Both models are lightweight and ultra-thin, making them easy to hold.

Be it playing games, watching videos or browsing photos, the latest Huawei nova series smartphones focus on vivid screen displays and detail enhancement, allowing users to immerse themselves in a visual feast. The HUAWEI nova 10 Pro and the HUAWEI nova 10 supports 1.07 billion colours, a high refresh rate of up to 120Hz, and 300Hz touch sampling rate which offer users a smoother user experience, whether it is daily operations, web browsing or other smartphone interactions.

A faster and more seamless way of connecting 

Thanks to the Super Device features, these Huawei nova series have different menus into the Control Panel with a simple swipe; users can explore the Control Panel and get quick access to audio playback, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings, as well as making it easier to control multiple devices as if they were controlling just one device.

Users can tap on the HUAWEI MatePad icon to activate Smartphone-Tablet Multi-screen Collaboration; or tap the HUAWEI MateBook icon for Smartphone-PC Multi-screen Collaboration or tap the HUAWEI FreeBuds icon to seamlessly switch their audio output to their Huawei earbuds.

With the distributed file system, the HUAWEI nova 10 Pro and the HUAWEI nova 10 can also function as wirelessly connected external storage units for the PC, meaning users can access the files they want more easily than ever before.

When users are drafting an email on a PC, they can add smartphone files as an attachment or when they see an image they like when browsing the internet on the PC, they can save an image directly to their smartphones.

The HUAWEI nova 10 supports Wi-Fi enhancement, and 4K QAM modulation which brings a faster upload and download speeds with a theoretical peak rate of up to 3.2Gbps, offering super-fast, smooth downloads and fast sharing.

Coming this October, HUAWEI will have on offer, the new HUAWI nova Y90 with 6.7-inch full view display, 50MP AI triple camera, 5000 mAh big battery, 40W SuperCharge

Where to buy

The new HUAWEI nova 10 Pro, priced at R15,999, and HUAWEI nova 10, priced at R12,999 are now available from selected retail stores and the HUAWEI online store

The HUAWEI online store has special bundle deals for the new HUAWEI nova 10 Series.

In October only, HUAWEI will gift online buyers a HUAWEI Freelace worth R1499 when they purchase the HUAWEI nova 10 Pro and the HUAWEI nova 10 between 14H00 and 15H00 daily. While stocks last. T’s & C’s Apply

HUAWEI has paired its latest Watch Fit 2 and Band 7 to create amazing, discounted bundle deals for online store purchases for the HUAWEI nova 10 pro and HUAWEI nova 10.

  • HUAWEI nova 10 Pro / HUAWEI nova 10 with a HUAWEI WATCH FIT 2 Active -the HUAWEI Watch Fit is discounted from R3299 to R2499.
  • HUAWEI nova 10 Pro / HUAWEI nova 10 with a HUAWEI WATCH FIT 2 Classic – the HUAWEI Watch Fit is discounted from R3499 to R2599.
  • HUAWEI nova 10 Pro / HUAWEI nova 10 with a HUAWEI Band 7 – the HUAWEI Band 7 is discounted from R1699 to R1499.

Promotional Period: 01 October to 31 October. While stocks last.

FlySafair Reveals New Branding

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FlySafair Reveals New Branding

Low-Cost carrier FlySafair revealed a refreshed logo and new aircraft paint scheme in their Johannesburg hangars on Friday as the airline welcomes their 25th aircraft into their fleet.

The first aircraft to don FlySafair’s new look is a Boeing 737-800 New Generation aircraft.

“This is the 25th aircraft in our fleet and we’re excited to use this opportunity to add a little freshness to our look”, says Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer at FlySafair.

FlySafair have managed post-pandemic recovery and growth well over the past two years. This month the airline will operate upwards of 122 flights a day, which is a 36% increase on October 2021 and 67% more than what the airline operated in October 2019, before COVID.

inside the Boeing 737-800 artists Ndumiso Nyoni

“FlySafair has been around for 8 years now and after everything we’ve overcome we decided it was time to update our image a bit”.

The airline’s refreshed logo maintains the familiar pink and blue colouring with a subtle modernisation of the lettering. A new addition is a heart-shaped icon smartly constructed by joining the stems of two location pins.

“Our aim has always been to connect people with who and what they love through our love of flying and so when we saw this concept about bringing two places together and forming a heart it just seemed like an obvious symbol for what we aim to do every day”.Gordon says

The airline’s paint scheme has also been refreshed with the addition of a new navy-blue stripe to the aft section and tail, which is highlighted by a crisp white fuselage.

“We wanted to find something elegant and sophisticated, but simple. The more complex a paint scheme the more costly it works out to be”.

Ever conscious of their low-cost roots FlySafair assures customers that even their new paint scheme has cost saving front of mind.

“It seems pedantic but the pigments in darker colours of paint actually make the paint weigh more, so keeping the aircraft largely white means we save money on fuel which helps to keep ticket prices lower”.

As the leading domestic airline in the country we want to be sure that we do our part in celebrating our people and our heritage”, Gordon says.

The airline selected five local artists and commissioned them to develop artworks to decorate the aircraft interiors with imagery that celebrates South Africa and its people.

Passengers can already spot Michael Chandler and Ndumiso Nyoni’s artworks in the airline’s aircraft, while Zinhle Zulu, Joh Del and Yiull Damaso’s pieces are gradually being installed as the maintenance schedules allow.

FlySafair has managed post-pandemic recovery and growth well over the past two years. This month the airline will operate upwards of 122 flights a day, which is a 36% increase on October 2021 and 67% more than what the airline operated in October 2019, before Covid.

5 methods for meeting customers at their pain points instead of just selling

LnT Desk
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5 methods for meeting customers at their pain points instead of just selling

Every business is founded to solve a customer problem, and the vast majority of products and services are designed to alleviate a specific customer pain point. But it is still important to let each customer know how their specific problems are being solved. 

One of the best ways to build brand credibility is to understand a customer’s journey and build long-term relationships with them. In this article, we ask industry professionals how they meet the needs of their customers.

Always look for the next pain point – and solve it 

According to Aisha Pandor, co-founder of SweepSouth, Africa’s largest on-demand home services platform, if you truly want to make a difference with your business, you must always be on the lookout for the next pain point. By doing so, Pandor says, you’ll soon make an impact.

 

“At SweepSouth empowerment means earning higher than market rates and giving people the power to choose who they take work from, where, and at times that suit them. As such, empowerment is also about connectivity, and technology is one of the most important enablers of connectivity. Through our platform we wanted to leverage that potential to ensure that domestic workers and other home service providers are able to connect with as many work opportunities in the most convenient way possible,” Pandor says. 

Build engagement with customers

It’s no secret that we live in a time of unprecedented technological acceleration. Nowhere is that more true than in the customer experience space. Things that ten years ago seemed completely impossible are now commonplace and almost expected.

“Many organisations want to make changes in line with accelerations in technology and customer experiences, but the range of options available out there stops them from even starting, or worse, they settle for an option that they deem to be “good enough,” comments Brent Haumann, Managing Director at digital communications firm, Tilte.

Importantly, however, is that as technology accelerates, so do customer expectations, and what was considered good enough yesterday is not good enough for tomorrow. It is critical that organisations aim to meet and even exceed these expectations, because if they don’t, their competitors will happily oblige. “The problem is that engaging customers is not about sending an email or introducing a chatbot.” Anyone can do that. It’s about how to get your customers to actually engage with your brand and build a loyal relationship that will see their customer lifetime value grow. This is a lot more difficult and requires expertise in these spaces.” concludes  Haumann

Enhance the user experience

While the use of technology to streamline customer-facing processes is an integral part of SME growth, the user experience of such technology can often become a pain point for the business if the right tool is not chosen. “While SMEs need technology to reduce manual tasks and automate repetitive processes, complicated software packages and platforms can be more of a hindrance than a help. “In fact, as many as 70% of startups fail within the first five years, according to research from the University of the Western Cape, because they don’t have the technical support they need to get the basics done,” says Andrew Bourne, Regional Manager, Africa – Zoho Corporation.

Integrated, seamless solutions need to meet the needs of the user, regardless of the scale of the business. This means having a full-featured Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system that will improve  the user experience and enhance customer service. 

Provide access across borders

It’s no secret that mobile money has revolutionised the financial services industry, allowing individuals to transact within and across borders – opening up a world of possibility for small business owners on the continent. However, consumer pain points such as a lack of access to financial services, high transaction costs, and regulatory requirements still hurt interoperability and the cross-border payments innovations that are key for scaling access across Africa.  

Remittances, as an example, are important to African countries, but the cost of intra-African money transfers still remains high. In South Africa, the average cost of sending remittances was 8.14% in 2020 as against the global average remittance fee of 6.01%. Not only are billions lost to high transaction costs, but they also limit financial inclusion and aid to the vulnerable. 

MFS Africa has been driving the next step in this revolution, addressing this pain point by bringing more possibilities, more connections and more interoperability to the mobile money user. The organisation’s full-service digital payments network now connects over 400 million mobile money wallets, over 200 million bank accounts and over 150,000 agents in Nigeria.

Harness technology to enhance the experience

“Solving the customer’s pain point is the foundation of a great customer experience. And experience is everything. We know that more consumers and business buyers are noting that the experience companies offer matters as much as their products.” says Zuko Mdwaba, Area Vice President Salesforce South Africa 

This is all about meeting the customer where they are. Today, customers’ use of social media, knowledge bases, and live chat is near parity with phone and email. With the decline of in-person service since 2020 showing little sign of recovery, the use of mobile apps, online communities, and video support have seen massive expansion over the past two years.

Mdwaba continues that “Given the rising importance of digital channels, strengthening partnerships between service and IT departments is often key to breaking down data silos, saving on software cost, agent empowerment and resulting in faster time-to-market for new technology solutions.” 

By investing in advanced technology, organisations can address customer pain points effectively to achieve greater customer satisfaction, which ultimately boosts engagement and revenue. 

Circle K brand to enter South Africa

Staff Writer
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Circle K brand to enter South Africa

Millat Convenience (Pty) Ltd (“Millat”), a subsidiary of the Millat Group, has entered into a Master License Agreement with Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (“Couche-Tard”) subsidiary that will bring Circle K, one of the world’s leading convenience retail brands to South Africa. This agreement grants Millat the right to open and operate Circle K franchises throughout the country as the exclusive licensee.

The first Circle K store is expected to be opened in the Gauteng province towards the end of October 2022.

Circle K offers fast and friendly service, providing fresh food, hot and cold beverages and other convenience products, as well as fuel, car wash and, in a growing number of locations, electric vehicle charging. Established in 1951 in Texas, USA, Circle K was acquired in 2003 by Couche-Tard, a global leader in convenience and mobility headquartered in the city of Laval, Canada. With Circle K as its global brand, Couche-Tard’s network today consists of nearly 14,100 locations across 24 countries and territories, including approximately 1,900 franchise locations in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania.

Hamza Farooqui, CEO of Millat Group, said his company has worked extensively over the past year to lay the foundation for Circle K’s introduction to the South Africa market.

“This deal once again shows Millat’s strength in bringing willing international brands into South Africa to invest, creating job opportunities and economic growth,” said Farooqui. “Bringing Circle K to South Africa aligns with our concept of introducing customer-centric brands, experiences, and compelling food service offerings. This further speaks to our strategy to play within the leisure, hospitality, food service and convenience segments.”

“As a brand, Circle K is an acknowledged leader in the convenience retail sector, and this deal will allow for disruption in this space as we are a company with extensive expertise in every facet of convenience and retail,” Farooqui added. “We are currently engaging oil majors and property management companies in South Africa to ensure that we have a strong base to begin Circle K’s presence in the coming weeks.”

Circle K

Pat Fitzpatrick, Vice President of Global Franchise for Circle K, said South Africa presents Circle K with compelling opportunities for growth as the brand continues to expand in markets around the world.

“We are always exploring opportunities to bring Circle K to new customers with franchise partners who understand how to build brands in their markets,” said Fitzpatrick. “Millat Group understands the South African consumer, has a strong track record of building retail, hospitality and food service brands in that country and has exciting plans for the Circle K brand. We are very pleased to be working with them to bring to life our mission to make our customers’ lives a little easier every day.”

Millat was represented on this transaction by Dentons. Global franchising partner Babette Marzheuser-Wood led the legal team on the deal with support from senior associate Karolina Cotronei.

Marzheuser-Wood says, “This is one of the most exciting franchising transactions in Africa so far this year: it will bring a world-renowned convenience store brand to a new market of 60 million people.  It was our pleasure to represent Millat on this deal, which is a key milestone in their growth strategy.”

About the Millat Group

The group is a private family office that uses its own balance sheet to bring entrepreneurial solutions to complex commercial problems. The group has a strong investment portfolio which includes real estate, direct investments, and private equity holdings. It owns flagship assets in South Africa and internationally. It deploys its capital and know-how on assets and sectors it deeply understands. Its sectors of expertise include real estate, hospitality, technology, and financial services. 

For more information, please visit www.millatinvest.com.

About Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.

Couche-Tard is a global leader in convenience and fuel retail, operating in 24 countries and territories, with almost 14,100 stores, of which approximately 10,700 offer road transportation fuel. With its well-known Couche-Tard and Circle K banners, it is one of the largest independent convenience store operators in the United States and it is a leader in the convenience store industry and road transportation fuel retail in Canada, Scandinavia, the Baltics, as well as in Ireland. It also has an important presence in Poland and Hong Kong SAR. Approximately 122,000 are employed throughout its network.

For more information about Circle K, please visit www.circlek.com. For more information about Alimentation Couche-Tard, please visit corpo.couche-tard.com/en/

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