Commerce

Matimba Mbungela, chief human resources officer at Vodacom Group. (Image source: Vodacom Group)

Vodacom Group has been recognized as Africa’s top employer by the Top Employers Institute for the second consecutive year. This prestigious honor has also been awarded to Vodacom Group, Vodacom South Africa, Vodacom Mozambique, Vodacom Tanzania, and Safaricom Kenya

The accolade is based on companies’ performance in key HR domains, including people strategy, work environment, talent acquisition, learning, and employee well-being.

“We are incredibly proud to be certified as the Top Employer in Africa for the second year in a row. We believe that the well-being of our employees contributes directly to our ability to fulfil our purpose of connecting for a better future. By continually enhancing our Employee Value Proposition through empathetic and inclusive policies and practices, we are cultivating a workplace culture where people feel valued, empowered, and inspired to reach their full potential,” said Shameel Joosub, CEO of Vodacom Group.

In 2024, Vodacom expanded its Employee Value Proposition by introducing offerings that underscore its commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment. Through the principles of Compassion, Acceptance, Respect, and Empathy (C.A.R.E.), the company’s wellness initiatives now include support for all life stages, such as menopause, and an extended family responsibility leave policy.

“Maintaining our position as Africa’s Top Employer once again demonstrates our dedication to enabling our employees to thrive. However, our focus on nurturing talent and career development in the tech industry extends to the millions of young people across the continent who are the future of work. There is an urgent need to prepare the next generation for the rapidly evolving digital economy. To this end, we have launched the Digital Skills Hub, with the goal to equip one million young people in Africa by 2027 by providing access to self-paced, digital skills training for those aged between 18 and 35,” said Matimba Mbungela, chief human resources officer at Vodacom Group.

Developed in partnership with leading tech organizations such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft, the Vodacom Digital Skills Hub is focused on enhancing digital literacy across Africa. It aims to address the digital skills gap in eight African countries, including South Africa, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Lesotho, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya.

The Digital Skills Hub is designed to inspire young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by offering engaging, practical training. One of the first programs available through the hub is AWS Educate, which complements Vodacom’s existing online learning platforms. AWS Educate provides a broad library of self-paced online training, covering topics such as cloud fundamentals, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

“As we embark on a new year, we want to encourage young people, whether they’re students, job seekers or aspiring entrepreneurs, to benefit from the Digital Skills Hub. By supporting digital skills training as a Top Employer, we are empowering the next workforce and ensuring that everyone can connect to a better future,” concluded Joosub.

Joel Yarbrough, CEO of Moment. (Image source: MultiChoice)

Africa's rapidly growing population offers immense potential for economic expansion. A robust and innovative digital payments ecosystem will be critical in unlocking this growth, write Joel Yarbrough, CEO of Moment, and Craig Coetzer, MultiChoice Africa group executive head of delivery & operations

Africa is a dynamic and creative hub for business, brimming with opportunities. However, it comes with its share of challenges, such as currency devaluation, political instability, and service disruptions. Navigating these obstacles requires more than financial investment—it demands building trust, fostering relationships, and understanding the nuances of local markets.

For those willing to invest time and effort, the potential rewards are immense. By 2050, Africa’s population is projected to reach 2.5 billion. As confirmed by the World Bank, the continent’s people are increasingly embracing digital technology to improve their lives, access education, send remittances, and launch small businesses. These advancements underline the value of investing in Africa’s human development.

Payments as the Growth Engine

Amid Africa’s growth story lies a key business opportunity: payments. Streamlining and standardizing payment systems can unlock significant value in the continent’s evolving financial landscape.

One organisation poised to lead this charge is MultiChoice, Africa’s premier video entertainment provider for nearly 40 years. With 23.5 million customers across over 50 markets and more than 100 million monthly viewers, MultiChoice has built extensive relationships to facilitate payments for its services, including DStv, GOtv, and Showmax.

Recognising the potential in its payment ecosystem, MultiChoice has partnered with General Catalyst and Rapyd to launch Moment, a platform designed to establish the most extensive payment network across Africa.

A transformative platform

Moment began processing payments for MultiChoice in January 2024, initially serving DStv and Showmax. By November 2024, it handled 35% of MultiChoice’s revenue and had expanded its services to other enterprises. Operating in 44 African countries, Moment supports over 200 local payment methods, including mobile money, credit and debit cards, bank transfers, and digital wallets.

By facilitating the transition from cash to digital payments, Moment enables users to access better financial opportunities, lower costs, higher-quality goods and services, and the broader digital economy.

Building a Future-Ready Ecosystem

To meet the demands of Africa’s large enterprises, Moment has developed a cloud-native infrastructure capable of managing high transaction volumes and mitigating disruptions from power outages and network issues.

Moment’s financial reconciliation and settlement system simplifies daily processes, enabling enterprises to allocate resources efficiently and access fast, accurate financial reports. Through a single API, businesses gain access to an unparalleled network of payment channels, reaching over a million in-person locations across spaza shops, modern retail outlets, and online platforms tailored to local market needs.

To prepare clients for the future, Moment is championing real-time payments. For instance, it introduced PayShap in South Africa, enabling “consumer-to-business” real-time payments via the RPP system. Similar partnerships are underway in the SADC region and Nigeria, paving the way for broader adoption of real-time payments.

Simplifying Complexity

MultiChoice’s foray into payments stems from the sector’s inherent complexity, marked by diverse service agreements and fluctuating exchange rates. By streamlining the landscape, Moment offers a flexible platform capable of addressing the unique challenges of each market.

For enterprises, the benefits are clear. Moment’s automation reduces the burden of manual financial operations, allowing businesses to focus on growth and customer engagement. One merchant, for example, previously employed 75 staff for reconciliations—tasks now simplified with Moment’s technology.

Driving Africa’s Growth

Africa presents unparalleled opportunities, particularly in payments, which form the backbone of its economy. Efficient and cost-effective payment systems are essential to unlocking the continent’s full potential.

Through its partnership with MultiChoice, Moment is at the forefront of this transformation, building a foundation for sustainable growth. As Africa’s population expands, the importance of innovative payment solutions like Moment will only grow, shaping the continent’s future for decades to come.

John Siemon, chief technology officer at Siemon. (Image source: Siemon)

Siemon, a leading provider of network infrastructure solutions, has unveiled its 2024 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report

This report reaffirms Siemon’s dedication to sustainability, social responsibility, and strong governance practices, highlighting the company’s role as a pioneer in ESG efforts within the information communication technology sector.

Commenting on the release, John Siemon, chief technology officer, said, “Our 2024 ESG Report underscores Siemon’s commitment to driving meaningful change across all aspects of our business. Achieving the EcoVadis Gold Rating, investing in state-of-the-art tools for ESG reporting, and being recognised as a Great Place to Work for the second consecutive year reflect the strides we have made. At Siemon, sustainability and ethical business practices are embedded in our DNA. Together with our employees and partners, we are charting a course toward a more sustainable and equitable future.”

The report highlights several significant achievements from the past year, including:

• 2023 Gold EcoVadis Rating: Siemon received a gold rating from EcoVadis, placing it among the top 5% of companies worldwide for its ESG performance.
• Advanced ESG Reporting Tools: Siemon has invested in cutting-edge tools such as 3E Exchange, Greenly, and One Click to enhance transparency, reporting accuracy, and decision-making processes.
• Great Place to Work Recognition: For the second consecutive year, Siemon has been named a Great Place to Work, reflecting its outstanding workplace culture.

Building on these successes, Siemon has maintained its focus on minimizing environmental impacts through innovative product designs and sustainable packaging. The report also outlines the company’s alignment with global sustainability initiatives, such as the Responsible Business Alliance Code of Conduct, the United Nations Global Compact, and its commitment to the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) for achieving Net Zero.

John Siemon concluded, “As we celebrate these accomplishments, we recognise the importance of staying at the forefront of ESG innovation. This report reflects directly on the level of engagement and commitment from every Siemon employee and supplier to our values and code of conduct. It is through this engagement that we minimise adverse environmental impacts and foster personal and social wellness within our organisation, industries, and communities.”