Bonjour,
Victoria and Delight from Techpoint here,
Here’s what we’ve got for you today:
- Bolt, Uber to ditch defaulting drivers in Kenya
- 10% of Ethio Telecom up for grabs
- South Africa: Your next remote office?
Bolt, Uber to ditch defaulting drivers in Kenya
Bolt and Uber have joined forces with Kenya’s National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to create a system to help remove unprofessional drivers.
The focus is on cracking down on drivers involved in sexual harassment, regulatory violations, and those who overcharge customers by ignoring the platform’s set prices.
The issue comes from drivers switching between different ride-hailing platforms to avoid penalties or bans, especially with new platforms entering the market.
By teaming up with the NTSA, which has access to driver records, the authorities can now suspend or revoke the licenses of drivers who violate the rules. This makes it easier for platforms like Uber and Bolt to deal with defaulters.
The NTSA has asked the ride-hailing platforms to submit lists of drivers who have violated the rules, along with evidence, so they can take the necessary action. This shared system is expected to boost customer safety and ensure better service overall.
Earlier in July 2023, Uber and Bolt introduced an in-app audio recording feature in Nigeria and South Africa to enhance safety for both riders and drivers. The recordings are automatically deleted after 24 hours unless reported, with Bolt keeping them for up to seven days internally.
Let the best of tech news come to you
Join 30,000 subscribers who receive Techpoint Digest, a fun week-daily 5-minute roundup of happenings in African and global tech, directly in your inbox, hours before everyone else.
10% of Ethio Telecom up for grabs
Ethiopia is making big moves by listing a 10% stake in Ethio Telecom, the state-owned telecom giant, on its newly launched stock exchange. This is a major step in the country’s economic reforms, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, which aim to get the private sector more involved in Ethiopia’s economy.
Ethio Telecom, which has held a monopoly for years and serves over 120 million people, is opening up for investors to buy a portion of the company.
After this initial 10% sale, the government plans to sell an additional 45% to private investors, as confirmed by Brook Taye, CEO of Ethiopia Investment Holdings. This will make Ethio Telecom the first company to be listed on the new stock market.
The company’s stronghold in the telecom industry was challenged for the first time in 2022 when Safaricom, a consortium led by Kenya, won Ethiopia’s first private telecom licence.
However, Taye believes there’s still plenty of room for multiple operators in the market, especially when considering services like B2B, B2C, and home broadband. He sees this as a huge opportunity for growth in the sector.
Taye also highlighted that Ethiopia is open to new players in the telecom space, and further liberalisation is part of the government’s plan to modernise the sector, increase competition, and boost the economy. In fact, new legislation is expected soon to allow foreign investors to enter the market, paving the way for even more competition.
South Africa: Your next remote office?
South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs recently announced big changes to its visa system to help boost the economy by attracting skilled workers and foreign investment.
One of the key updates is the introduction of a Remote Work Visitor Visa. This new visa allows high-earning foreign workers to live in South Africa while working for companies based overseas.
The idea is that these remote workers will spend their income on local goods and services, which will help boost the local economy.
Another major change is a new Points-Based System for Work Visas, which is designed to make the visa application process easier.
According to the Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, these reforms are all about removing red tape, making it easier for people to invest in South Africa, and creating more jobs. He even described these new policies as the most “pro-jobs” reforms the country has seen in decades.
The Remote Work Visitor Visa isn’t just about attracting foreign talent — it also benefits South Africa directly. These remote workers will pay VAT on their purchases, meaning they’ll be contributing to the economy even though they’re working for foreign companies.
The government expects this move to support local businesses and create more job opportunities for locals.
The Points-Based System for Work Visas is also a game-changer. Applicants now need to reach a 100-point threshold to qualify for Critical Skills or General Work Visas.
This ensures that only high-skilled professionals can enter the workforce. Plus, to protect lower-wage jobs, anyone applying needs to earn a minimum income that’s double the median wage in the country.
In case you missed them
What I’m watching
Opportunities
- Briter Bridges is hiring for several roles in Nigeria, Kenya, and London. Apply here.
- Piggytech is recruiting a Senior Risk and Compliance Executive. Apply here.
- Kuda is looking for a Product Manager. Apply here.
- Quidax is hiring a Head of Growth and Partnerships. Apply here.
- Kuda is hiring a Senior IOS Engineer. Apply here.
- Meta is hiring software engineers here.
- Follow Techpoint Africa’s WhatsApp channel to stay on top of the latest trends and news in the African tech space here.
Have a fun weekend!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.