South Africa: MTN pumps $17mln into Gauteng network as part of national upgrade drive
The provincial spend will support the acquisition and construction of new base stations and capacity upgrades to more than 70 sites.
It also includes enhancements to battery backup, site security, and energy resilience, with generators set to be deployed across the province.
'The R300m investment, part of the national rollout to enhance the company's digital capabilities, will lead to improvements in battery, site security, and energy facilities,' said Machawe Dlamini, general manager for Gauteng Operations at MTN SA.
The upgrades are expected to boost both coverage and network performance, bringing improved LTE and 5G access to urban and rural areas across Gauteng by the end of 2025.
The investment forms part of MTN's 'Ambition 2025' strategy, aimed at expanding access to digital services and closing the digital divide.
This follows MTN's recent announcement of a R480m network upgrade in KwaZulu-Natal.
All rights reserved. © 2022. Bizcommunity.com Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
7 minutes ago
- Zawya
Orange Money Group and fintech JUMO join forces to expand credit services in Africa
Orange Money Group and JUMO have partnered to grow financial inclusion in Africa, focusing on microcredit for the unbanked. The collaboration leverages JUMO's data analytics and AI expertise for secure mobile credit requests and low risk repayments. Orange Money Group ( and banking as a service financial technology provider JUMO, have partnered to enhance digital financial services across Africa. This collaboration aims to extend Orange Money Group's services to include additional microcredit solutions for unbanked populations. The partnership With over 100 million customers in sixteen countries across Africa and the Middle East, Orange Money Group facilitated more than EUR 160 billion in transactions in 2024. JUMO has disbursed over $8 billion to more than 31 million African customers, matching expertise and a desire to scale with Orange Money Group. This partnership will enable Orange Money Group to advance its financial inclusion strategy by introducing new microcredit services to their customer value proposition. The collaboration with JUMO leverages their data analytics and artificial intelligence capabilities refined over 10 years to optimize credit allocation, reduce the cost of risk for lending to < 4% and grow sustainable portfolios. This strategic alliance will enable the rollout of various credit products across multiple markets from a multitude of funders, creating a new microfinance marketplace for the unbanked in emerging markets, with an initial focus on Francophone Africa. JUMO's leading expertise in asset allocation and credit risk management makes them a key partner for Orange Money Group in Africa. Orange Money Group customers will be eligible to securely request credit through their mobile devices, without needing a bank account or collateral. JUMO has developed a range of short-term and installment loan products for consumers, merchants and distributors with limited access to these services. They use trained AI algorithms to assess credit risk and facilitate the immediate flow of capital through their partnerships with pan-African banks and development finance institutions. JUMO's AI-driven technology for banks and payments ecosystems will provide Orange Money Group the opportunity to introduce real-time app-based and USSD lending to their African customers. The offering is multi-country, multi-product, and multi-funding with plans to launch in Burkina Faso imminent, to be followed by Mali and Botswana. The customer experience This partnership delivers a streamlined user experience that combines financial inclusion with cutting-edge technology. The process is as follows: Users access the service via their Orange Money Group wallet They request an amount of credit JUMO's AI technology evaluates eligibility based on transactional data If validated, the amount is immediately credited to the user's wallet. Repayment is made automatically according to agreed terms. Aminata Kane, CEO of Orange Money Group comments: 'After developing transfer and payment services used thousands of times every second, we now aim to support our customers in their personal projects, as well as help them manage everyday emergencies. In recent years, Orange Money has expanded its portfolio with highly accessible small loan offers. By partnering with JUMO, we aim to accelerate this momentum, roll out these services across a wide range of countries, and combine our expertise with their technology to deliver support that is even faster, more transparent, and better tailored to the needs of all our customers'. Andrew Watkins-Ball, JUMO CEO and founder: ' We are proud to have been chosen to partner with Orange and we are excited to connect Orange customers with products from the market leading banks that run on our platform. This collaboration, built on top of Orange Money Group's mobile payments and money transfer platforms, will provide customers with great financial choices and allows our bank partners to grow in new markets'. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Orange Middle East and Africa. Press contacts: Stella Fumey; OMEA; Guste Rekstyte; Orange; comms@ About Orange Money Group: Orange Money, a pioneering solution for financial inclusion, is used every month by more than 43 million people across 16 countries in Africa and the Middle East. Orange Money Group, in coordination with local Orange Money entities and Orange Bank Africa, is responsible for defining the mobile financial services strategy for the Middle East and Africa region. It provides local entities with operational support to help them accelerate their growth, establish new partnerships, support their compliance plans, and develop new value-added activities that meet market expectations. About Orange Middle-East and Africa (OMEA): Orange is present in 18 countries in Africa and the Middle East and has 161 million customers at 31 December 2024. With 7.7 billion euros of revenues in 2024, Orange MEA is the first growth area in the Orange group. Orange Money, its flagship mobile-based money transfer and financial services offer is available in 17 countries and has more than 100 million customers. Orange, multi-services operator, key partner of the digital transformation provides its expertise to support the development of new digital services in Africa and the Middle East. About JUMO: JUMO has built AI-led financial technology that powers banks to deliver a new generation of digital credit and savings products to millions of entrepreneurs in Africa. We work with partners, such as banks, e-money operators and payments providers, to facilitate high-tech information and money management systems. Since founding in 2015, JUMO has disbursed over $8 billion dollars to more than 31 million people in Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Côte d'Ivoire, South Africa, Benin and Cameroon. Our administration of over 250 million individual loans has proven that microcredit in Africa is imperative, impactful and sustainable. With unmatched speed to market and low infrastructure costs, JUMO aims to bring banking to everyone, everywhere, anytime.
Zawya
7 minutes ago
- Zawya
2025 Country Report on Cameroon: the African Development Bank urges the country to strengthen capital mobilization for sustainable growth
The African Development Bank Group ( officially launched its 2025 Country Report on Cameroon in Yaoundé on 22 July 2025. The launch ceremony featured frank and wide-ranging discussions on the country's economic challenges. Country reports form part of the African Development Bank's African Economic Outlook 2025 which provides an annual assessment of the economic performance and outlook of the continent's 54 countries by examining growth trends, socio-economic challenges, and development progress. The 2025 AEO report was released last May during the Bank Group's Annual Meetings held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, under the theme 'Maximizing Africa's Capital for Sustainable Development. "Making Cameroon's Capital Work Better for its Development," highlights the levers that will enable the country to strengthen domestic resource mobilization and boost inclusive and resilient growth. It calls on the government, the private sector, civil society, and development and financial partners to collectively re the drivers of the country's structural transformation. The ceremony was attended by members of the Cameroonian government, notably representatives from the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Trade as well as the business sector. The report paints a picture of an economy in recovery, with estimated growth of 3.6 percent in 2024, mainly by continued investment in infrastructure and strong momentum in manufacturing industries, which have benefited from efforts to transform local agricultural and textile products. The country paper relies on a detailed analysis to identify sectors where Cameroon can make progress, particularly in mobilizing domestic resources, strengthening governance, improving the business climate, digitalization and optimizing its natural capital potential. The report also identifies several priority reforms to enable Cameroon to transform its potential into concrete growth drivers, including reducing tax exemptions and accelerating digitalization, restructuring strategic public corporations, particularly in the energy and refining sectors. Report findings also stress the importance of strengthening governance, transparency and the rule of law through greater accountability and the publication of the financial statements of public corporations. This includes the need to adopt the National Integrated Financing Strategy (SNFI) to diversify funding sources and leverage carbon market opportunities. Consolidating the financial sector, processing commodities locally and developing regional infrastructure round out the list of priorities. Finally, the report calls for preserving macroeconomic balances by gradually reducing fuel price subsidies at the pump while supporting investment spending, prioritizing concessional financing, accelerating development in insecure areas and strengthening budgetary capacity to better absorb shocks. Ameth Saloum Ndiaye, African Development Bank Senior Country Economist for Cameroon and Godwill Kan Tange, Country Economist for Cameroon, presented the report's main findings. They emphasized the report's concrete proposals to optimize the use of budgetary resources, as well as the country's natural, human and financial capital, with a view to stimulating more inclusive and sustainable growth. The presentation also explored key issues such as public corporation reform, governance, debt management, industrial development, vocational training and the challenges of mobilizing innovative financing, as well as sovereign debt ratings for African economies. "The African Development Bank Group commends the Cameroonian authorities for their commitment to implementing a National Integrated Financing Strategy, which is currently being adopted and should enable the country to diversify financing sources for its development agenda. This means that the report is fully aligned with the government's priorities," said Mamadou Tangara, Head of Operations, speaking on behalf of the Bank's Director General for Central Africa. The Secretary General of Cameroon's Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Jean Tchoffo, representing the Bank's Governor for Cameroon, welcomed the Bank's recommendations, which are aligned with the National Development Strategy 2030 (SND30). "This report comes at a key moment, as we are conducting a mid-term review of the implementation of our National Development Strategy 2020-2030,' Tchoffo said. 'We are convinced that its recommendations will enrich our thinking and strengthen our efforts to return to solid, sustainable and inclusive growth and accelerate the structural transformation of our economy." Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Zawya
7 minutes ago
- Zawya
Significant progress made in implementing State Capture Commission recommendations
The Presidency is today, 28 July 2025, releasing the latest progress report on the implementation of actions arising from President Cyril Ramaphosa's response to the recommendations of the State Capture Commission, showing significant progress across both accountability measures and institutional reforms. President Ramaphosa has also submitted the report to the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the National Council of Province. The report, covering the period up to the end of Quarter 4 2024/25, reveals that of the 60 actions identified in the President's October 2022 Response Plan, 48% are complete or substantially complete, 23% are on track and 29% are delayed but receiving attention. MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS IN ACCOUNTABILITY Criminal Justice Progress The Integrated Task Force, led by the National Prosecuting Authority, is actively implementing 218 criminal investigation recommendations across multiple state capture focus areas. As of March 2025, 21% of these cases were either finalised or enrolled for trial. Just over half were under active investigation. Several high-profile cases are scheduled for trial through 2025-2026, including matters related to the Free State Asbestos Removal Case, SA Express, Bosasa-related cases and Transnet contracts. Four state capture-related cases have already concluded with guilty verdicts. Asset Recovery Success Government has achieved remarkable success in recovering stolen public funds, with total recoveries now reaching nearly R11 billion, a substantial increase from the R2.9 billion reported in October 2022. This includes R2.9 billion recovered by the Special Investigating Unit and R8 billion by the Asset Forfeiture Unit. Additionally, assets worth R10.6 billion are currently under restraint or preservation orders, indicating significant additional recoveries to come. Major recoveries include settlements from ABB (R2.55 billion), McKinsey (R1.12 billion), and SAP (R1.16 billion). INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS TO PREVENT FUTURE STATE CAPTURE Law Enforcement Strengthening The National Prosecuting Authority Amendment Act of 2024 established the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) as a permanent entity with enhanced police powers and criminal investigation capabilities. IDAC officially commenced operations in August 2024. Financial Crime Combat Measures South Africa has implemented comprehensive anti-money laundering reforms through the General Laws Amendment Act of 2022, addressing all the deficiencies identified by the Financial Action Task Force. Among other things, these measures have resulted in a 40% increase in compliance with anti-money laundering requirements between 2023 and 2024. Public Procurement Transformation The Public Procurement Act of 2024 represents a fundamental transformation of South Africa's procurement landscape, consolidating previously fragmented systems into a single regulatory framework designed to enhance transparency and combat corruption. Intelligence Services Reform The General Intelligence Laws Amendment Act, enacted in March 2025, disestablished the State Security Agency and created two separate entities – the South African Intelligence Service (foreign intelligence) and the South African Intelligence Agency (domestic intelligence) – restoring the pre-2009 structure and strengthening oversight mechanisms. Public Administration Professionalisation Government has made substantial progress in professionalising the public service through the National Framework for Public Sector Professionalisation. Key measures include mandatory lifestyle audits for senior officials and supply chain personnel, with 138 departments implementing these audits by 2024. CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission has completed reviews of 10 private sector entities implicated in state capture, with six investigations ongoing. The National Treasury imposed a 10-year ban on Bain&Co from doing business with the South African state, running from September 2022 to September 2032. Professional bodies have taken disciplinary action against implicated professionals, including the permanent disbarment of a chartered accountant by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants, with a R6.1 million fine. LEGISLATIVE ACHIEVEMENTS Several critical pieces of legislation have been enacted to address state capture vulnerabilities: Electoral Matters Amendment Act (Act 14 of 2024): Criminalises donations to political parties in expectation of contracts or influence Judicial Matters Amendment Act (Act 15 of 2023): Introduces corporate liability for failure to prevent corruption Companies Second Amendment Act (Act 17 of 2024): Extends time limits for director delinquency proceedings General Intelligence Laws Amendment Act (Act 37 of 2024): Reforms intelligence services structure and oversight LOOKING AHEAD: 2025-2026 PRIORITIES President Ramaphosa emphasised that while substantial progress has been made, the work continues. Key priorities for the coming year include: accelerating high-profile prosecutions and bringing new cases to court; finalising the Whistleblower Protection Bill for presentation to Parliament; finalising the National State Enterprises Bill as part of SOE governance reform; completing SARS Act amendments based on Nugent Commission recommendations; finalising anti-corruption architecture proposals under consideration by the Executive. "The progress outlined in this report demonstrates our unwavering commitment to ensuring that those responsible for state capture are held accountable and that the systemic weaknesses that enabled this assault on our democracy are permanently addressed," said President Ramaphosa. "We have recovered nearly R11 billion in stolen public funds, strengthened our law enforcement capacity and implemented comprehensive reforms across government. However, our work is far from complete. We remain committed to the full implementation of the State Capture Commission's recommendations and to rebuilding public trust in our institutions." The President emphasised that the effectiveness of these reforms will ultimately be measured by their ability to prevent future occurrences of state capture and restore public trust in state institutions. The full progress report, including detailed annexures on implementation status, new legislation, court cases and asset recoveries, is available on The Presidency website. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.
