General

Just attended the Banking 2.0 panel with my colleague from FNB, head of digital strategy in the personal banking segment at FNB. The following is an interview style summary of some of the amazing content that was discussed. The Panel comprised of CEOs from Mint.com, SmartyPig, LendingClub.com and Credit Karma. Andy: So with all the […]

I truly thought I was dreaming when I listened to Helen Zille explaining away her MEC’s sexual indiscretion as none of our business, using the same mouth used to condemn Jacob Zuma for having “unprotected sex with a mistress”. Equally, I had to pinch myself when Julius Malema using his motor mouth to attack Helen […]

In the last post, I was quite excited by the application of location-based services in a community that has the infrastructure to generate enough traffic. I’d like to temper that exuberance with some considered thinking. It involves a good story, and a not-so-good story. And one word, for which I have my “banking” experience to […]

Checked into my first hotel in Austin, a little one night stop before hitting the Hampton Inn and Suites with the rest of the SA delegation. My bag didn’t arrive — which carries on a long and stormy relationship I have with baggage. And airlines. Ahem. Delta. Anyhoo, the Delta Airlines lady was wonderfully pleasant […]

So I’m winging my way off to Austin, Texas for the SXSW Conference. I’m on the connection flight via Atlanta, blogging this while 30000 feet or more in the air. Yup. Go Go Wifi on Delta flights. I’ll do a speed test ;) (Update: Speed Test gave me over 100 kb / second — that’s […]

And we’re off. I’m sitting at OR Tambo airport, having a farewell Castle Draught before embarking on a mind-numbing, Stillnox induced flight to Atlanta and then Austin. Bumped into Mike Stopforth. He was having lamb shank. Something I don’t know? So here’s the deal for SXSW (follow the #sxswSA tag on Twitter). I’m going to […]

“No, we haven’t seen any lions yet.” The lady from the BBC radio station sat across from me in our lounge, fidgeting with her recording equipment. Her face was serious; perhaps she had not realised I was only joking? They had driven from Cape Town to Somerset West that morning, she and her lady friend, […]

The ANC’s never in short supply of shady characters in senior positions, whether in government or its party structures. One would be forgiven for thinking that the criteria for a senior leadership position at the moment is having a tainted integrity, character and morality — a criminal record or criminal charges would be preferred. Not […]

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan announced a “new growth path” for the South African economy — one that would signify a “turn-around” and “achieve the kind of transformation required to draw the millions of unemployed into the economy”. The finance minister envisaged the current budget to be “labour-absorbing”, “to raise employment of young school-leavers by … […]

By Sphiwe Hlongane Mamelodi Sundowns have once again stumbled at the final hurdle of the Absa Premiership, but there are some positives to be taken frm their showing in this past season. The arrival of world renowned Hristo Stoichkove, and the signing of a few quality players proved to be the spark the Brazilians were […]

So the nominations are in and the fierce lobbying, counter lobbying and electioneering starts. This elections, while not necessarily being the most crucial in the history of the organisation (in its many incarnations) will give us a view of just how much it has matured from the politics and cronyism riddled mess it was up […]

So Heinrich Brussouw is out of rugby till next year. While it is indeed bad news for Cheetahs and the Springboks, it is important to look at the factors that contributed to his injury rather than the superficial circumstances of it. I say this having read an article in Wednesday’s Business Day where the prophet […]