Govt supports banks access to fingerprint data

SMS direct marketing contravenes CPA

The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) allows sending unsolicited direct marketing communications (which is commonly seen as spam by many consumers) under certain conditions. However, if one looks more closely, it turns out that it is simply not possible to comply with these conditions with SMS communications. Before sending out direct marketing messages to a database of contacts, a company would have to ensure the following in terms of the CPA: Check if recipients have already opted-out from direct marketing messages [...]

Consumer Commission tackles high roaming fees

National Consumer commissioner, Mamodupi Mohlala, has revealed that the commission has set its sights on tackling the high cost of international roaming for cellphone users.

Briefing the National Assembly’s Trade and Industry Portfolio Committee, Mohlala said the commission would seek the advice of experts around international roaming fees.

The commission says it is currently looking into cellphone and internet service providers that provide pre-paid data but do not allow consumers to carry over unused data to the next month.

R1.5bn handled over FNB banking app

FNB has seen over R1.5billion in transactions via its Banking App, since its introduction in July 2011. “Since launching six months ago, we have 100 000 active clients, far exceeding our expectations. It has been one of the most popular App downloads in South Africa, ranking first in the Finance category of the Apple App Store and a regular in the top 4 overall free Apps in South Africa,” says Farren Roper, head of Products and Markets for FNB Connect. [...]

ISPA calls for clarity on consumer Act

The Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) has sounded warning bells over what it calls the apparent intention of the National Consumer Commission to apply Section 63 of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) to data or other electronic services. “If Section 63 of the CPA is deemed by the Commission to be applicable to the payment in advance for data and other electronic services, we predict that it will have the effect of driving up prices considerably. This at a time [...]

FNB partners with PEP

FNB and PEP have announced a partnership which will see the bank’s eWallet money transfer solution available at PEP stores countrywide. CEO of FNB, Michael Jordaan says that the partnership is a milestone for the bank in its efforts to use innovation and technology to make banking available to South African consumers. “With this partnership we are further extending banking services to all South Africans, with or without a bank account. This will enable them to send and receive money [...]

The pillars of HR outsourcing

Outsourcing a strategically important business function such as Human Resources is a difficult business decision to make, says Riaan Terblanche, the Managing Director of HRO, an EOH company.

“Companies are concerned about aspects such as losing control over knowledge and processes ranging to the pitfalls surrounding total quality management.”

Recent statistics show that more and more companies ranging in the 1000 to 20 000 headcount bracket are outsourcing their Human Resource activities in an effort to cut costs, says Terblanche.

Knott-Craig joins Cell C

Cell C has appointed Alan Knott-Craig as the new CEO of the mobile operator, effective from 1 April 2012.  Knott-Craig’s appointment follows the departure of former CEO, Lars Reichelt, in July. Reichelt, who had been with CellC since 2009, had replaced Jeffrey Hedberg who left to join Virgin mobile South Africa. Cell C says the appointment of Knott-Craig – who is the former Vodacom CEO – followed a comprehensive search both domestically and internationally. In a statement, Simon Duffy, the [...]

FNB cellphone banking transactions top R2.7bn

FNB says its cellphone banking channel processed in excess of 25 million transactions in December 2011 with a transaction value of over R2.7 billion - compared to R1.7 billion seen in December 2010. The bank now has more than 3.5 million cellphone banking users.  Ravesh Ramlakan, CEO FNB Cellphone Banking Solutions says the growth of the service is due to its simplicity and the convenience that it offers customers. “The channel allows you the freedom and ability to bank anywhere, [...]

Vodacom appoints CFO

Mobile operator, Vodacom, has appointed Ivan Dittrich as Chief Financial Officer and executive director of Vodacom Group. He is expected to join the Group on or about 1 July 2012. Dittrich joins the Group from Datatec where he has been the chief financial officer since May 2008 and executive director on the board of Datatec since March 2008. Prior to that he held a number of senior executive positions for the past 12 years at Datatec including that of group [...]

Social media and employment relationships

In a time when most people’s lives are voluntarily exposed on social media sites and social and political views are equally freely divulged on blogs, it begs the question whether an employer has the right to terminate an employment relationship based on inappropriate comments made through such channels or for excessive usage of emails for personal purposes.  The answer is the typical legal one: it depends on the circumstances. Clear cut policies and the inclusion of certain peremptory clauses in [...]