[Netprophet 2011] African ecommerce market has a long way to go

[Herman Manson: @marklives] A billion Africans and 50 million bank accounts. In South Africa, credit cards are used by only 16.5% of the population (2008). No African country comes close to 1% of total retail spend spent online - the magic figure which constitutes the tipping point for digital retail growth (in SA, ecommerce has a 0.4% share of the retail market, while in countries such as Egypt and Nigeria, the figure stands at 0.01%). No wonder, then, that the ecommerce market in Africa hasn't bloomed. 12 May 2011 18:55

Dario Milo and media law: is legal sky a limit for journalists?

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] There is some substantiated regulation of what the media can do and what it cannot do, but the balance must be struck between what the law has prescribed and freedom of expression, Prof Dario Milo, Wits University media law visiting professor and Webber & Wentzel partner, said last week in Johannesburg at the two-day Regulations and Rights media conference. 15 Mar 2011 14:01

IAJ calls for training course applications

South Africa's Institute for the Advancement of Journalism (IAJ) and the International Institute for Journalism (IIJ) in Berlin, Germany, of the GIZ - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit - are inviting mid-career journalists to apply for a two-week training course on Reporting regional integration - the history, politics and economics of SADC. 23 May 2011 11:11

Social media, popular revolt: cure against African dictators?

[Issa Sikiti da Silva: @sikitimedia] The events and developments of the past six months in Africa have demonstrated that the rise of social media has not only revolutionised the business environment, but also redefined the political scene by shaking the foundation of dictatorship, lack of service delivery and corruption for the first time since the dawn of independences. 5 Jul 2011 10:14

Loerie Awards adds PR category for 2011

The Loerie Awards has introduced a PR category to this year's awards. Public Relations Industry of Southern Africa (PRISA) spokesperson Bridget von Holdt believes the move is indicative of the importance of strategic communication in the overall communication mix and that the inclusion of PR exposes other industries to the real value of strategic communication and its vital role in brand management. 20 Apr 2011 13:11

Red carpet treatment for Loeries

In line with international festivals, the 33rd Annual Loerie Awards have upscaled and this year the festival weekend, 16-18 September 2011, features black tie affairs, with red carpet, at its new venue, the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). Tickets to the awards ceremonies are limited to 1500 per night and an additional 1000 tickets will be available for the Official Party. 6 Apr 2011 08:59

Africa's five major trends for potential growth

[Issa Sikiti da Silva: @sikitimedia] Population growth, rapid urbanisation, adoption of new technologies, unlocking of abundant resources and the deepening of the financial sector are the five major trends that are set to drive Africa's economic growth, Simon Freemantle, Standard Bank Africa senior analyst, told a media roundtable in Johannesburg, South Africa, yesterday, Thursday 6 October 2011. 7 Oct 2011 09:56

2011 Maputo International Ad Festival set for May

The sixth Maputo International Advertising Festival will take place from 25-27 May 2011, AMEP - the Mozambican Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations Association announced yesterday. The festival recognises advertising agencies, producers and communications companies worldwide especially from Africa and the Indian Ocean regions. 23 Feb 2011 07:22

Chirundu becomes one-stop border post

Zambia and Zimbabwe have signed a bilateral agreement that will see the transformation of Chirundu into a one-stop border post - and that will reduce transit times for imports and exports through border. 12 Sep 2007 14:24

Brand Africa Forum to present first Brand Africa 100 awards

Pan-African consumers can now vote for their most admired and valued brands in the inaugural Brand Africa 100 Awards, which coincides with the second annual Brand Africa Forum. The continent's most valued brands will be revealed at an awards ceremony on Thursday, 29 September 2011 at Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa . 15 Sep 2011 14:25

Neo@Ogilvy global CEO talks up role of emerging markets, mobile

[Herman Manson: @marklives] Neo@Ogilvy's global CEO, New-York based Nasreen Madhany, has been visiting South Africa for a corporate summit, where she talked up the role emerging markets will play in the future profitability of her company. 5 Jul 2011 13:30

Right of access to information hampered by govts - media conference

[Issa Sikiti da Silva] The right of access to information is being hampered in many parts of the world, especially in Africa, by government officials wary of journalists' desire to 'embarrass' them, and the state's 'insincere' reason of hiding behind the issue of national security. This emerged today, Wednesday, 9 March 2011, at the Regulations and Rights media conference at Wits University in Johannesburg. [view twitterfall] 9 Mar 2011 13:17

Botswana hospitality industry poised for growth

The Botswana hospitality industry is one of the country's growth areas – and Compass Botswana has identified function catering and remote site catering as two further opportunities for growth. 5 Nov 2007 13:33