Vodacom Business BYOD security solution - BBM Recruitment Competition

Vodacom Business launches BYOD security solution

Bring Your Own Device, or BYOD, is on the rise.  Employees are increasingly using their own smartphones, tablets, and other devices for work. It’s great for employees to be able to use the device that they prefer and can help companies increase productivity and reduce costs, but it can be a major challenge when it comes to managing company network security. Vodacom Business has now stepped in with a new solution which gives IT security managers the tools needed to safely bring BYOD under control.

Vodacom Secure Device Manager is a new Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution developed by Vodacom Business. This solution provides administration functionality for businesses to remotely manage mobile devices and enforce security policies, giving employees secure access to corporate data. The tool can be used for both company-owned and employee-owned devices across the business.

Chris Ross, Managing Executive of Products and Services at Vodacom Business said:

“With around 95% of employees stating that they use at least one personal device for work, BYOD is a reality that company IT security managers simply can’t ignore.

“Although the ability to allow staff to work at any time, from anywhere and on any device provides real business benefits, it also brings significant risks. To ensure that information does not end up in the wrong hands, it’s imperative that companies put security measures in place.”

Vodacom Secure Device Manager is a solution that enables companies to manage all devices using company resources through an internet-based console. Once devices have been added, companies can maintain the security of their data and applications, even if a device is lost or stolen. This is done by ensuring that only authorized and compliant devices have access to the company network, and by locking down and wiping the data from any lost or stolen devices. 

Vodacom Secure Device Manager also enables companies to remotely monitor the health of smart devices and run diagnostics to identify issues and fix problems as efficiently as possible. On top of this, the service allows the viewing of application inventory and data against thresholds in order to simplify the management mobile assets and inventory. Updating or adding new policies, settings, certificates, applications, and software can also all now be managed wirelessly via the internet using Vodacom Business’ MDM solution.

“The web-based console gives companies the ability to control who can access company information and applications via their own smart devices, thereby protecting vital information and helping companies to comply with regulations such as the impending POPI Act,” adds Ross.

Vodacom Secure Device Manager works across key platforms including iOS, Android and Windows Mobile devices. It’s a highly scalable solution designed to support as many or as few devices as needed, making it suitable for use by small businesses as well as large organisations and government departments.

“Companies will also have access to a dedicated Vodacom Business support team to provide the kind of round-the-clock support that our customers have come to expect from us,” adds Ross.

The Great South African BBM Recruitment Contest

Something exciting from BlackBerry just for you:

1.      The competition will run between January 30, 2015 and April 30, 2015.

2.      BBM users in South Africa – on BlackBerry, Android, iOS and Windows Phone – are eligible to participate.  However, participants must already be BBM users by January 30, 2015 in order to qualify to win. 

3.      Participants must recruit new BBM users and add them to their BBM contact list.

4.      Each new recruit must be new to BBM, have a minimum of ten contacts by the end of the contest and send messages regularly.  The 1,000 people who recruit the most new BBM users will receive 1,000.00 ZAR each of airtime credit applied to their mobile prepaid account.

For more info on BBM and The Great South African BBM Recruitment Contest, please visit http://www.bbm.com or http://www.bbm.com/contest/za

This edition by Fred Felton

Twitter @fredfelton 

Tech News Around South Africa

BlackBerry devices are now available for purchase at BlackBerry Store in Vodacom World

BlackBerry customers in South Africa can purchase their devices and accessories directly from the BlackBerry Store at Vodacom World in Midrand.

Customers are now able to experiment the BlackBerry devices before deciding which one will best help them communicate, collaborate and get things done.

The selection includes a wide range of BlackBerry devices including the BlackBerry Passport, which redefines Productivity for mobile professionals with boundary-breaking design and features. The Porsche Design P’9983 smartphone from BlackBerry that combines the unique stylish design of the iconic and timeless Porsche Design brand with the fluid and effortless productivity experience of BlackBerry® 10 technology which will also be available soon.

“BlackBerry 10 devices maximize users’ communications, collaboration and productivity thanks to their iconic keyboard experience, battery life, integrated hub and ease of sharing information and photos across social networks – and they are now available for purchase directly at the BlackBerry store,” said Martin Fick, Senior Country Product Manager at BlackBerry South Africa.

In the BlackBerry Store, customers will also benefit from technical advice, support for device set ups, software upgrades and much more.

The BlackBerry Store is open 9:00am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm Saturday and 9:00am to 2:00pm on Sundays and public holidays. Be sure to pop in from 5 to 7 December and 12 to 15 December for great special offers and fun in-store activities to celebrate the new look shop.

Vodacom superfast 4G is a first for SA

Vodacom recently unveiled the next development in 4G technology, capable of downloading an entire 1Gb movie in less than a minute. This is the first time that this has been achieved on a live mobile network in South Africa using a smartphone, and shows the potential of mobile technology to supply the country’s broadband needs into the future.

During the test, which was conducted directly on a mobile handset and used carrier aggregation technology, download speeds of 270 Mbit/s were achieved. At this speed an entire music album could be downloaded in 10 seconds. This is approximately four times faster than the fastest speed achieved with LTE technology on Vodacom’s network.

Speaking about this test, Vodacom Group’s Chief Technology Officer Andries Delport said:

“Vodacom prides itself on innovation and being the first to bring new developments to South Africa, and this next step in 4G technology gives an idea of just how far mobile technology has evolved.”

These trials follow the recent completion of a multi-billion rand six year-long radio network renewal programme which has seen every single Vodacom base station in South Africa replaced with new equipment.

Delport said:

“We’ve just completed the longest and probably the most complex engineering project in Vodacom’s history which involved switching out the equipment at every single site across the country. This new equipment means that all of our base stations are 4G ready, meaning that Vodacom is ideally positioned to support Government’s broadband objectives. We’re looking forward to rolling this higher speed technology out as soon as additional spectrum becomes available.

“In addition to this, the new equipment is more easily configured to handle future upgrades and is better for the environment, with reduced energy consumption and a smaller footprint compared to the old technology. Thanks to this project, Vodacom’s South African network is amongst the most advanced in the world.”

The upgrade programme, which began in Mpumalanga in June 2008, was completed on 15 September 2014 in the Free State and consisted of swapping out the equipment in over 10 000 base stations. The net effect of this investment project is that Vodacom customers will have an improved network experience with faster data speeds, more stability and fewer dropped calls.

Delport concluded:

“The radio network swap project is about much more than superfast speeds. We’ve also been investing heavily to make sure that we have the capacity to handle the massive growth in call and particularly data volumes in South Africa. Broadband access is one of the keys to economic development and thanks to this project we’re ready and able to play our part.”

For more on Vodacom’s network renewal programme watch the interview between Aki Anastasiou and Andries Delport -http://youtu.be/-hVVXA41c3o​

Presenting The Load Shedding App

Eskom has just released The Load Shedding App.

It is available on the Apple Store and on Google Play. 

There is also a version for mobile browsers.

You can get it here:  https://myeskom.co.za/app/index.html

This edition by Fred Felton

Twitter @fredfelton 

Now you can pay staff via mobile phone with Vodacom m-pesa

Pay staff via mobile phone with Vodacom’s m-pesa

The latest generation of the Vodacom m-pesa electronic platform provides an ideal mechanism for employers to pay staff salaries and ad-hoc expenses via mobile phone.

With m-pesa, companies have a low-cost and easy solution for making payments to all staff, even those who don’t have a bank account. Employees can use their m-pesa account as a wallet to hold their salary, and with the m-pesa Visa card they can then withdraw cash from any ATM as well as pay for goods and services using any point of sale machine.

Tracy Lipworth, general manager of Future Force Fields Solutions which is part of the TCC Group, has seen significant benefits from introducing the m-pesa platform to pay salaries and expenses to around 800 staff members around the country.

“Previously, we had a lot of problems transferring to bank accounts and also took a bit of a risk when making cash payments. By moving to Vodacom m-pesa, our staff get paid via their mobile phones. They also have debit cards so they can access their funds at various retail outlets and automatic teller machines throughout South Africa,” she said.

“Not everyone has a bank account, and this certainly isn’t a unique challenge facing Future Force Fields Solutions. We’ve found that m-pesa is a simple and extremely user friendly way for us to pay all staff regardless of their circumstances, and I’ve got to believe that it would work well for other companies facing similar issues.”

According to Lipworth, her company loads m-pesa as a payment beneficiary and makes a large electronic funds transfer upload and then an easy bulk payment to its staff via their mobile phone numbers. Staff can transfer money via their phones to family and friends wherever they are in South Africa. 

“Not only is this easy for us, it means that our staff are paid quickly and have very low transaction costs. The security aspects are also very solid as FICA identification legislation is applied. If someone loses their phone, they simply replace the SIM card as their electronic wallet is still intact. Debit cards can provide an important back-up facility,” she added.

m-pesa was started in Kenya and has also built up a strong user base in countries such as Tanzania and Mozambique. Lipworth is hoping that Vodacom m-pesa will soon be able to be used for cross border transactions as her company is keen to expand its operations into some neighbouring countries.

“The m-pesa platform provides a seamless, low cost and real time disbursement system for salaries, loans and grants that is low risk and easy to audit. It’s as close to cash that you can get, without being exposed to the risks associated with its handling in South Africa,” said Herman Singh, Managing Executive for m-commerce at Vodacom.

Vodacom Introduces Voice Passwords

At Vodacom your voice is your password - a South African security first

Voice biometrics, the practice of using a person's unique voiceprint to provide security access, is gaining traction worldwide and Vodacom has now implemented this technology in South Africa.

              

In a first for the country, Vodacom customers can register for Voice Password via the My Vodacom app or through the customer care call centre on 111 / 082 111. Once successfully registered and the sample voiceprint has been recorded, Voice Password is ready for use. In future interactions, all that is needed is to repeat a pass-phrase for the system to verify against the recorded voice print. Access will then either be granted, or in the instance that the voice print is not recognised, the user will be informed that they have provided invalid credentials.

The non-intrusive nature of this technology, supported by deployment at some of the world’s largest enterprises, is pushing the adoption of voice biometrics into the mainstream. Research has shown that 80% of consumers view voice biometrics positively due to the secure and convenient authentication experience.

With the increasing focus on combatting identity theft and fraud, voice biometrics provide a timely solution that uses a person’s natural voice pattern to log in to their profile. It is extremely difficult to forge someone’s voice. Dialect, speaking styles, and pitch differ from person to person, making attempts to impersonate a voice or provide recordings to gain fraudulent authentication impossible due to the distinctive details of the voice print recorded at set up.

“Logging in can be a tedious experience – it’s always been a necessary but somewhat inconvenient process. Voice Password changes this and gives Vodacom customers a simpler, worry-free customer experience. It’s a great example of using technology in a win-win, increasing convenience and at the same time improving security” says Dee Nel, Managing Executive, Vodacom Customer Care.

  

How do I use it?

My Vodacom app - The feature is currently available to all Android users using the My Vodacom app. Customers can download the MyVodacom app from Google Play or from the Vodacom app store. An iPhone version is due to be launched soon.

Vodacom Customer Care - Vodacom Customer Care currently offers the service to customers who have chosen English as a preferred language, with a rollout programme to all customers coming in the near future.

For more info visit: www.vodacom.co.za/voicepassword or call Vodacom Customer Care on 082 111.

Vodacom rolls out Fibre to Business - FNB has Xbox One For You - Altech launches Node

Vodacom rolls out Fibre To The Business

Vodacom Business announced the launch of Fibre To The Business (FTTB) services in South Africa. The initial rollout phase of Vodacom’s new Broadband Connect Fibre service sees broadband connectivity of up to 100Mbit/s coming to selected business parks in Gauteng, Cape Town, and Durban. This new service means that businesses of all sizes that operate out of business parks will have access to high speed and high capacity data connections. This opens up a range of services to drive cost savings, improve efficiencies and increase competitiveness.

Broadband Connect Fibre uses the latest Passive Optical Network (PON) technology to give an unparalleled experience. With this new service, businesses will be able to access rich content experiences via the Internet that were previously only available to large corporate customers. These services include video collaboration, voice over internet protocol (VoIP), Hosted PBX, Office365, Cloud Backup and other data applications.

Since 2008, Vodacom has spent more than R2 billion investing in fibre transmission which connects its more than 10,000 cellular base stations and now forms the backbone of this new FTTB service.

“Most people don’t realise it, but underneath every mobile network is a high speed fixed network connecting the base stations. We’ve invested billions of rands in building our fibre optic network, meaning that we now have the critical mass to offer customers across South Africa access to the latest technology including FTTB,” said Vuyani Jarana, Chief Officer for Vodacom Business.

“Our new FTTB service paves the way for true cloud and other next generation services while opening the door to a new level of efficiency, mobility and cost savings,” added Jarana.

Vodacom Business’ Broadband Connect Fibre service provides SMEs with bundled uncapped internet access, a router and optional fixed-line VoIP which delivers as much as 30% savings on phone calls. Rapid deployment including the connecting and upgrading of fibre cables is part of the service, and all installation costs are covered by Vodacom. The plans, which are tailored to meet the needs of all sizes of business, offer a range of connection speeds from 5Mbit/s to 100Mbit/s.

Importantly, as part of its roll out plan, Vodacom will in the future be offering customers the option of installing additional equipment in their premises to, in effect, set up a dedicated mini mobile base station. This equipment, which uses the fibre connection to route cellphone traffic back into the network, will give the best possible mobile signal and eliminate any troublesome coverage spots in the office.

“A cornerstone of Vodacom’s Ready Business ethos is that our customers should have the fastest, most reliable connection,” says Jarana. “With the most extensive network across South Africa and proven reliability, we are positioned to offer world class broadband solutions that give SMEs and office park managers a clear business advantage.”

Discussing the rollout plans from here, Jarana said:

“We’re particularly excited about our acquisition of Neotel and what this will mean for the speed at which we can rollout broadband services. If given regulatory approval, we’ll be able to add Neotel’s 22,000 km of fibre to our existing network and then fast-track the provision of high speed connectivity not only for businesses but also for homes across South Africa. By doing this, we’ll be in the best possible position to support Government’s Broadband 2020 objectives.”

Jarana shared some additional insight into Vodacom Business’ FTTB strategy in an interview with Aki Anastasiou, visithttp://youtu.be/neBT4G-CSOY​ to view the interview.

For more information on how to apply for Vodacom Broadband Connect Fibre and pricing information, visithttp://www.vodacombusiness.co.za/business/solutions/internet/bbc-fibre

FNB opens pre-orders for the XBOX ONE

Qualifying FNB customers can now pre-order and secure the much anticipated XBOX ONE through FNB’s smart device offer.

The deal gives customers the choice between either the XBOX ONE console as a standalone deal or the XBOX ONE Kinect. Each deal includes one or more full length games, including FIFA 15 in the R399 per month offer. The inclusion of the games allow users to plug-and-play as soon as they receive the device, saving them the time and money of having to download the full game.

“Expanding our smart device range to include gaming consoles has proved to be popular, contributing to 5% of total devices sold over the last 12 months,” says Kartik Mistry, Head of FNB Smart Devices. 

“While our main motivation with the smart device offer is to provide the means for customers to bank digitally, we cannot deny the increasing move towards a connected lifestyle and home.”

Orders can be placed at www.fnb.co.za or by calling 087 736 7270

Altech launches Node: A world-first in entertainment technology and smart home solutions

Allied Technologies Limited (Altech) announced the launch of Altech Node, the world’s first fully converged home gateway console, offering the latest in movie entertainment, TV series, sports and business content, Internet access, and wireless smart home solutions.

Altech Node gives immediate access to more than 700 hours of entertainment without any buffering, with 10% to 20% of movies and TV shows updated monthly as older content is replaced with the latest and greatest releases. And through Node compatible accessories, it creates a smart home environment that can be directly controlled from the television screen.

According to Craig Venter, Group Executive Altron TMT / Chief Executive Officer: Altech, Node is like a DVD store in your home.

“At any time viewers can choose from a selection of hundreds of blockbuster movies on transactional video on demand – TVOD, in full 1080p High Definition, and 400 recent movies on subscription video on demand – SVOD. And what is especially brilliant about the way we have set up the Node, is that the content is streamed, and regularly updated, via satellite to the Node’s internal 1TB hard drive, so viewers don’t pay for massive Internet downloads and can access content literally the moment they decide to view it, with no delays and no buffering.”

Node maintains a carousel library of content on its hard drive, the majority of which can be accessed as part of the monthly subscription fee of R299. Node incorporates a once-off device cost of R3 499, unless customers opt to purchase the Node over a 24-month period at approximately R190 per month, depending on the selected data bundle. Free installation is included in the cost. Added to this is the fact that customers are not tied into long term contracts.

The latest blockbuster movie releases can be viewed for R25 and enjoyed for unlimited viewing over a 48 hour period. With a wide range of subscription video-on-demand titles, including movies and series, customers will be spoilt for choice. Sports fans and followers of business news and current affairs can catch up on the latest developments through up-to-date highlights packages.

Node is also unique in that it is an instant e-commerce platform that allows users to buy data, airtime and pre-paid electricity, and pay for municipal and utility services such as Eskom or Telkom – all from the comfort of their home and without the use of a computer.

In addition to the Node’s entertainment capabilities is its smart TV and smart home functionality that enables users to download Android apps, access the Internet and email, and control home appliances using Node branded Smart Plugs.

“In today’s high security conscious world the wireless camera and motion sensor capabilities of the Node are a tremendous value-add. With just one or two clicks of a button on the Node’s remote control, you are able to view up to four Node video cameras wirelessly on your TV screen or via another connected access device such as an iPad or cell phone,” says Venter.

“Node is much more than video on demand. It is an entertainment hub, a streaming server, a Wi-Fi hotspot, an e-commerce platform, a home automation and energy management system, a home security system, and a telephone and videophone, all in one and completely integrated. It is the most sophisticated home gateway in the world and is a true reflection of Altech’s mission to provide its customers with value-added products, services and solutions through the convergence of Telecommunications, Multi-media and Information Technology,” adds Venter.

“Our advertising payoff line for Node is: ‘One day we’ll wonder what we ever did without it’. Inherent in that statement is the notion that nothing like it has gone before, and that’s because nothing has,” concludes Venter.

Available at: 

Altech Autopage Cellular, Cell C, Dion Wired, Game, HiFi Corporation, Hirsch’s, Incredible Connection, JetMart, Makro, Pick ‘n Pay Hyper and other leading retailers.

Other key features of the Node include:

*        Node’s YouTube functionality that allows viewers to set up their own video playlists using another device, such as a smartphone, and queuing them to play on their TV;

*        Node’s built-in media player, MyMedia, which allows content to be played off other devices, such as the Altech Node branded and packaged USB flash drive, which enables users to also add and view their favourite home videos and holiday photos on their TV.

*        Node’s wireless Internet functionality turns it into a Wi-Fi hotspot and allows for up to 5 devices – the TV, computer, smartphone and tablet – to be connected simultaneously to stream content to these devices. No more fighting over which movie or TV series to watch!

*        Users can download Android apps for use on the Node, such as Internet radio streaming. For the kids there is the added advantage of access to hundreds of games to keep them entertained for hours.

*        Node offers Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony, allowing for two handsets and almost free on-net calling. Users can also videoconference via the Node.

*        Node is a home automation and energy management device. Using ZigBee peripheral devices, users can control house lights and switch on appliances such as geysers, either via the TV or remotely with a smartphone.

*        Node is secure, with state-of-the art encryption for movie payments, e-commerce and interfacing with other devices.

*        Node is easy to install. Users can do it themselves, even with the most rudimentary technical skills, and install their own automation and security equipment. And Node comes standard with an 80cm satellite dish – the new standard for Africa.

*        Node is easy to use. It has no buttons on its front face but comes with a remote control with an interface on each side – one being a QWERTY keyboard. And its RF remote control means line-of-sight isn’t necessary when using it. Users can also turn their smartphones into remote controls. Node’s customisable carousel-style navigation layout is easy to master. It also features one HDMI out port, two HDMI in ports to switch multiple HDMI ports into your TV, and an Ethernet connector and Wi-Fi for connectivity.

*        Node is extremely cost effective to operate and should users utilise the YouTube function extensively and require more cellular data, they can immediately top up their data via the Altech Node. Cellular pre-paid airtime can also be purchased through the Node.

More information on the Altech Node can be found at: www.node.co.za or visit Node on Twitter (@AltechNode); Facebook and YouTube.

 This edition by +Fred Felton 

R1 billion Vodacom network upgrade for Gauteng - FNB brings you digital banking for under R100 - Jobs in Digital

R1 billion Vodacom network upgrade for Gauteng

Vodacom is busy upgrading its network big time.

Here are some of the improvements:

• Another 239 3G Sites added
• Additional 473 LTE Sites across South Africa
• 74.5%  of Vodacom sites are now connected using self-provided high capacity transmission.

Bringing this investment story closer to home, Shane Hibbard, Managing Executive for Vodacom’s operations in Gauteng explained that:

“I’m pleased to announce that in excess of R1 billion has been earmarked for network investment in Gauteng in the current financial year. Of this amount, a large portion will be used to upgrade and increase Gauteng’s 3G coverage in the major townships. By the end of March 2015 we will add more than 400 new 3G sites.''

On top of this, Vodacom is also in the process of growing its LTE footprint in the province. To this end around 600 new sites will be live in Gauteng by April next year. This will grow Gauteng’s current LTE coverage from 25% of sites to 38% of sites in the region.  

“With 4G/LTE, video and music downloads can be accomplished in a fraction of the time of traditional 3G services. The areas we’ll be focusing on increasing LTE coverage are the business hubs and urban areas such as Pretoria, Bryanston and Rosebank as well as in the major townships.”

These developments are being done to cater for the massive data traffic  and to provide more new capacity. 

(Source - Vodacom) 

FNB brings you digital banking for under R99 per month 

FNB will be adding a tablet to its smart device range for customers at R99 per month.

The Lenovo Ideatab which comes with a free protective cover includes 3G and WiFi. 

It has a 7 inch touch screen and long lasting battery life.  The tablet is paid off over 

24 month, interest free period.  

It can be ordered from FNB's website or by sending a SMS with 'data' to 31138.

The bank has also introduced the FNB Guru desk - a service centre that customers can contact to get help on anything from how to download the FNB App, to how to set up their new device. 

FNB Guru Desk available Mon - Fri 8am to 5pm on 087-736-7270 

Ts & Cs apply for this offer.

(Source - FNB) 

Jobs In Digital

PrintWild in Ballito is looking for a Digital Marketing Strategist

For more info: http://www.printwild.co.za/blog/were-hiring/

This edition by +Fred Felton 

News on the Smart Kicka & #FutureBanking & USSD Push

Vodacom has recently launched the Smart Kicka.

What is it?  Well it is a more affordable smartphone.  The aim is to get more South Africans onto the internet.
''At the moment only 27% of people living in South Africa's emerging markets have access to a smart device, we aim to double that number in the next year'' said Phil Patel, Vodacom's Chief Commercial Officer.

The Vodacom Smart Kicka is priced at R549, runs on Android 4.4 KitKat operating system, has 4GB memory, a 3,5''screen and two MP camera. The device also comes with five free 50 MB Power Bundles to get people connected straight away.

For more info visit: http://www.vodacom.co.za/

(Source - Vodacom)


FNB #FutureBanking

For those of you that missed the highlights of #FutureBanking Trends with FNB
check out the hangout here - https://blog.fnb.co.za/2014/07/insights-from-the-2014-efma-retail-banking-summit/

(Source - FNB)

A Secure Banking Channel For Any Mobile Phone

Something new on the horizon is NI (Network Initiated) USSD or USSD Push. This is a faster and more secure way to perform financial transaction authentication than SMS.
Cell Phone users who receive USSD Push notifications are not charged and all responses are free.
It also works with all mobile phones.

USSD Push can also be used to prevent SIM-Swopping fraud.

For more info visit: http://www.aat.co.za/always-active-mobile/ussd-push

(Source - AAT)


This edition by +Fred Felton

Vodacom Journalist Of The Year Awards Open For Entries

VODACOM JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR AWARDS MARK 20 YEARS OF DEMOCRACY – AS VODACOM CELEBRATES ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY

Grand prize of R100 000 for top national achiever

As South Africa marks 20 years of democracy, Vodacom is proud to announce this year’s coveted Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards, as Vodacom itself also celebrates its 20th anniversary.

The awards seek to acknowledge journalists who have shown exceptional commitment to reporting excellence across media platforms, and are recognised as a premier catalyst in rewarding distinction in the ever-more crucial arena of dissemination of news and information. They are recognised as a prestigious career achievement, with the overall winner receiving a R100 000 prize.

Maya Makanjee, Chief Officer for Corporate Affairs at Vodacom Group said: “As Vodacom celebrates 20 years of its mission to empower South Africans to be confidently connected, this year’s theme celebrating 20 years of democracy in South Africa is a great fit for us. Recognising excellence in journalism is a way for us to acknowledge and reward those journalists who are communicating vital news of an extremely high standard.”

Some of South Africa’s finest reporters have been recipients of the prizes in the past. The Vodacom Awards have a proud history of honouring excellence in journalism across a range of categories and have celebrated some of South Africa’s finest journalists. Journalists will be able to enter their best achievements in the following categories for work done in 2013/2014:

•             Television General News

•             Television Feature

•             Print General News

•             Print Feature

•             Radio General News

•             Radio Feature

•             Financial/Economic News

•             Sport

•             CSI/Sustainability

•             Social Media

•             Photography

Editors can also nominate their candidates for:

•             The Editor’s Choice Award and,

The judging panel will vote on:

•             The Lifetime Achiever’s Award that recognises the lifetime contribution made by a single individual to journalism and media in this country.

Regional category winners will receive R5 000 each, national category winners will receive R10 000 each, with the coveted and sought-after national accolade of Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award winner receiving R100 000.

Mary Papayya will convene a judging panel made up of some of South Africa’s most experienced journalists: Elna Rossouw, Collin Nxumalo, Arthur Goldstuck, Professor Johann de Wet, Joe Thloloe, Ryland Fisher, Patricia McCracken and Megan Rusi.

Papayya said: “The standard of entries last year, across all categories, was incredibly high. We look forward to seeing as many entries as possible this year. From major news organisations to community radio stations, we saw some amazing work and we hope to receive even more entries this year.”

The national award ceremony will be held in Johannesburg on 31 October 2014. “We are looking forward to hosting South Africa’s top achievers in journalism again this year, and being able to showcase the fine work produced by the media in our country,” said Makanjee.

“The interest in last year’s award was massive, and the impact of new media platforms was evident as the event trended on social media. This year we expect even more excitement and we really want to encourage journalists from around the country to enter their best work.

“We’d particularly like to invite journalists from community and smaller radio stations and publications to enter their work. Last year the national radio winner came from Radio 786, a community radio station, for his sterling coverage of the farm workers’ strike in the Western Cape,” said Makanjee.

Entries are open from 2 to 30 June; work submitted must have been produced between 1 May 2013 and 30 May 2014. Entries close at 6pm on 30 June 2014. Journalists and editors nominating their Editor’s Choice candidates can enter online through the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards website: journalist.vodacom.co.za  

Alternatively, participants can have their entries collected at their desks by Media Express, one of the sponsors of the awards, or they can be delivered to one of five Vodacom regional offices.

For further information, visit the website: journalist.vodacom.co.za