The Media Online’s weekly round up of people, account and business moves in media.
This week’s BIG move: Uhuru selected as a local OEM partner for Telkom
In a landmark move for South Africa’s technology and manufacturing landscape, Uhuru Consumer Electronics has been officially selected as a local Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in the RT 15 Contract by National Treasury.
The partnership positions Uhuru as a key player in local smartphone design, assembly and distribution, supporting Telkom’s commitment to digital inclusion, localisation and the empowerment of South African tech enterprises.
Through this collaboration, Uhuru will manufacture aand supply smartphones and connected devices optimised for Telkom’s infrastructure for its government sales, while also enabling Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options through Uhuru’s recent approval with Float Payments to service its wider audience in South Africa.
Uhuru has also partnered with Peach Payments for accepting payments across platforms and regions. These payments included but not limited OTT and Mobile money payments. Building a truly convenient, synchronised payments module for Uhuru through partnerships. This innovation makes device ownership more accessible for millions of South Africans and small businesses, aligning with both companies’ missions to expand digital participation across the country.
“This partnership represents a critical step in building a more inclusive digital economy,” said Othibile Keitumetse, Telkom business executive. “Uhuru brings a unique combination of innovation, agility, and consumer reach that complements Telkom’s national network strength. Together, we aim to put affordable, high-quality devicesand services in the hands of every South African.”
According to Daniel Thebe, Founder and CEO of Uhuru Consumer Electronics, the partnership is both a technological and symbolic milestone: “Being selected as a local OEM by Telkom validates our vision for African-made technology. Uhuru was built to connect the disconnected, service the connected and through this partnership, we’re turning that vision into continental impact. This isn’t just about devices, it’s about data (access) and digital dignity.”
People moves
Publicis Groupe Africa launches CSI pilot programme with Soma Foundation to equip unemployed youth with future-ready digital skills
Publicis Groupe Africa (PGA), in partnership with the Soma Foundation, has launched a CSI pilot programme introducing young people to robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and coding, aimed at equipping unemployed youth with practical, future-ready digital skills.
The three-month pilot programme, launched in late 2025, was delivered at the Riversand Incubation Hub in Fourways, Johannesburg, and targeted unemployed youth between the ages of 18 and 26. A total of 24 unemployed youth enrolled in the programme, which combined hands-on, classroom-based learning with mentorship and coaching.
The curriculum covered coding and robotics, software development, AI and IoT (4IR), digital technologies, 3D printing, and entrepreneurship training, enabling participants to gain both technical capability and an understanding of how digital skills translate into real-world applications.
“For Africa to compete meaningfully in a technology-driven global economy, we have to start earlier and be intentional about skills development,” says Koo Govender, CEO of Publicis Groupe Africa. “This programme is about creating access – giving young people the opportunity to build relevant skills, confidence and pathways into the digital economy.”
Global cohort joins Journalism Innovation and Leadership Programme in milestone year at the University of Lancashire
Twenty senior news executives from eight countries — including first-time representation from Brazil, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates — have joined the 2026 cohort of the Journalism Innovation and Leadership (JILeaders) Programme at the University of Lancashire.
Bush Radio’s Brenda Leonard; Amaka Obioji, founder and managing editor of Diaspora Africa; Sipho Kings, publisher and co-founder of The Continent newspaper; Karen Thorne, station manager of Cape Town TV; Wynand Louw, head of creative and content of POP24 at Media24; and Jerusha Raath, publisher for News24, comprise the South African cohort.
Now in its sixth year in its current format, JILeaders brings together editors, newsroom leaders and media innovators from across four continents to tackle the strategic, economic, and societal challenges reshaping journalism.
The programme is a part-time, distance-learning postgraduate leadership pathway, designed for working professionals. Participants can progress from a Postgraduate Certificate to a Master’s degree, and ultimately to a unique PhD by Portfolio, focused on generating insights for action through applied, practice-based research.
Founded and led by Dr François Nel, Reader in Media Innovation and Entrepreneurship, JILeaders builds on more than two decades of journalism leadership research and education at Lancashire.
Lisa MacLeod, chair of the JILeaders Board of Industry Advisors and director at FT Strategies, said: “JILeaders is not a short course or a quick fix. It is a sustained investment in people who are already shaping news organisations. The programme creates a rare space for leaders to think more deeply about strategy, culture, and sustainability — and to learn from experts and peers facing similar challenges in very different contexts. That sense of community and long-term perspective is why industry continues to support it.”
Business moves
Good Things Guy launches SA’s first user-driven charity directory
The Helpers, South Africa’s first user-driven charity directory, has officially launched — and it’s changing the way South Africans engage with causes, support each other and access urgent help.
The platform was created by the team behind Good Things Guy, South Africa’s leading good news platform, in celebration of their 10th birthday in 2025. And while the name may be new, the roots of The Helpers go back to one of the most difficult periods in recent memory: the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During lockdown, our inbox was flooded daily,” says Good Things Guy founder Brent Lindeque. “People weren’t just sharing stories, they were reaching out for help. Urgently. Whether it was food, shelter, safety from abuse, or help for animals, the need was overwhelming. That’s when we realised: people needed more than just good news. They needed a way to find help fast.”
What started as a small ‘Charity’ section on the Good Things Guy website quietly curated by editor Tyler Leigh Vivier quickly grew into a vital resource, and now, into The Helpers, a fully searchable, centralised directory of trusted charitable organisations across South Africa.
What makes The Helpers unique is its user-first design. Visitors can search by location, type of support, or cause, making it easy to find or offer help based on specific needs. From organisations supporting gender-based violence survivors, to school feeding schemes, trauma counsellors, legal aid services, climate action groups, and spay & neuter programmes, the platform already spans dozens of categories and continues to grow daily.
All organisations are reviewed to ensure credibility and impact.
Introducing SA’s Bookmarks Digital Rankings
Seventeen years of industry data and award-winning digital work culminated in a landmark moment for South Africa’s media and marketing landscape as IAB South Africa released the Bookmarks Digital Rankings 2025, the first official ranking system recognising excellence across the country’s digital ecosystem.
Developed in collaboration with The Loerie Awards Company, the Rankings marked the first time IAB South Africa consolidated award outcomes into a formal benchmark, delivering a transparent, standardised and objective framework for assessing long-term performance across companies, brands, educational institutions, and individual practitioners.
Rankings are derived from points allocated to Bookmark awards (Gold, Silver, Bronze, Craft, and Finalist distinctions), leveraging a methodology adapted from the established Loeries scoring model.
The inaugural Company Rankings highlight excellence across agencies, brands, production companies, and educational institutions:
- Ogilvy takes the top spot as South Africa’s number-one-ranked agency, followed by TBWA\ Hunt Lascaris Johannesburg and Joe Public
- KFC South Africa leads the Brand Rankings, with City Lodge Hotels and Daily Sun in second and third place, respectively
- Among production companies, Darling Films secures the number-one position, while IIE-Vega tops the College/University rankings.
Mediatech Africa 2026 theme reflects growing convergence across technology sectors
Mediatech Africa, the continent’s largest showcase of professional audiovisual, unified communications, broadcast, film, content creation, and live event technology, has announced its official theme for the 2026 edition: Converge. Connect. Create
Running from 30 June – 2 July 2026 at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Johannesburg, Mediatech Africa will celebrate the convergence of technology sectors that are increasingly driving how industries work together, create content, and connect audiences.
“Truthfully, it wasn’t part of some grand plan,” says Simon Robinson, show director of Mediatech Africa. “Our distributors were already working across sectors, so it made sense for the show to do the same. Looking back, it turns out we were living the ‘convergence’ story long before it became a global trend. Converge. Connect. Create. sums up exactly where the industry is now.”
The 2026 edition of Mediatech Africa promises three days of hands-on technology showcases, live demonstrations, and networking opportunities, with a strong emphasis on solutions for real-world environments across Africa.
Jacaranda FM extends partnership with the Pretoria Capitals for fourth year
Jacaranda FM has announced the extension of its partnership with the Pretoria Capitals for a fourth consecutive year. As the official radio partner, Jacaranda FM will continue to amplify the team’s journey through the Betway SA20 cricket league, bringing fans closer to the action.
This renewal builds on Jacaranda FM’s longstanding commitment to supporting local sports teams. The station has been a steadfast backer of the Titans cricket team for over 30 years and the Blue Bulls rugby team for more than 15 years, making the Pretoria Capitals a natural addition to its roster of fan favourites.
Since joining forces in 2023, the partnership has heightened excitement around the Betway SA20 tournament, South Africa’s premier T20 competition, which features world-class talent and high-stakes matches that unite cricket enthusiasts across Gauteng and beyond.
The Betway SA20, set to kick off its 2026 season on 26 December, promises another round of electrifying cricket with teams like the Pretoria Capitals showcasing top players in fast-paced T20 format games. Jacaranda FM’s involvement will include special broadcasts, exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes content, ensuring listeners feel part of every boundary, wicket, and victory.
Seven In 10 News Consumers Say International News Matters More than Ever Before
CNN International Commercial has unveiled the results of a new global study on international news, conducted by independent research company Differentology. The study surveyed 2 400 international news consumers in 20 markets – spanning Europe, USA, Africa, Middle East, Latin America, Asia-Pacific – to understand how audiences navigate an increasingly complex news environment, the role international news plays in their daily lives, and the trends shaping news consumption.
Jo Tenzer, director of audience insights at CNN International Commercial, commented: “This study paints a picture of consumers saying that international news matters as they look for trusted sources in a world of endless content and rising misinformation. As people navigate social media, short form and instant content, they are still seeking credibility and context. That’s why CNN stands out in this study as the most trusted and reliable international news brand, giving people the clarity and depth they need to truly understand the world.”
The study shows that international news has never been so important. Seven out of 10 people believe that its role is more important than ever. However, local media outlets are highly relied upon too, even though international media outlets are still considered more important and are widely associated with being credible, respected and offering in-depth analysis.
Twenty eight percent say that their preferred source of information is a social media platform, and 62% seek out User Generated Content (UGC) from international news organisations. UGC from global news outlets is considered 2.5 times more credible than UGC from non-news professionals such as influencers and citizen journalists discussing or reporting the news. Consumers are torn between wanting the speed and immediacy of social media and the assurance and rigour of journalism.
In an environment saturated with content, where misinformation circulates widely on social media, audiences are reaffirming their need for reliable media. 6 out of 10 people are concerned about the credibility of information sources and are looking for platforms that can verify facts, offer in-depth coverage, and provide clear context for understanding global issues.
A community to help entrepreneurs fast-track brand clarity for business growth
Launched this month, Brand Growth Track is a community-led learning pathway for entrepreneurs that provides the practical tools, clarity, and guidance needed to build brands that actually work. Founded by top brand communications strategists Janine Lloyd and Nadia Hearn, the initiative aims to close the gap between passion and profit by empowering business owners with expert-led, real-world strategies.
South Africa’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are widely seen as the panacea for the country’s unemployment challenge, contributing significantly to job creation, social stability and economic welfare. Yet they remain highly vulnerable: Over 65% of SMEs fail within their first two years, largely due to poor market fit and lack of investment in market research.
Among SMEs, a lack of marketing skills—including competition analysis, establishing demand, and ensuring proper product/market alignment—remains one of the leading causes of failure.
“We see so many entrepreneurs wasting time, money, and energy chasing disconnected tactics,” says Lloyd. “Brand Growth Track exists to help them stop second-guessing, get clear on their brand, and apply proven steps that lead to real growth.”
Co-founder Nadia Hearn explains, “We understand that a business and its growth are too important to waste time going in circles. We remove the frustration of trying to build a brand on their own by equipping entrepreneurs with the tools, guidance, and accountability they need to fast-track growth.”
Join the FREE WhatsApp Brand Growth Community here and email hello@brandgrowthtrack.co.za. Follow Brand Growth Track on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube: @brandgrowthtrack. Sign up for the webinar here: https://brandgrowthtrack.co.za/mastermind/webinar
Viu unveils Viu Shorts – vertical viewing for bite-sized drama
Viu, PCCW’s leading video streaming service, has announced an expansion of its content offering with the launch of Viu Shorts, a new vertical video section available on the Viu mobile app. The new micro-drama vertical complements Viu’s extensive offering of premium long-form series and movies, offering viewers a broader range of entertainment.
Janice Lee, CEO of Viu and managing director of PCCW Media Group, said, “We are thrilled to add a new facet to our service with the launch of Viu Shorts. This new feature brings viewers fast-paced storytelling in a 1–3 minute episodic format, perfectly complementing Viu’s extensive offering of premium long-form series and movies. With these bite-sized dramas now part of our offering, we aim to engage our audience according to their content preferences and provide enjoyable viewing for every moment.”
Features of Viu Shorts include a multi-lingual & multi-genre library, mobile optimisation and a freemium access model.
WPP launches Agent Hub on WPP Open
WPP has announced the launch of Agent Hub on its AI platform for marketing, WPP Open. Designed to harness and scale WPP’s collective intelligence, this internal app store acts as a central library, democratising WPP’s world-class expertise by codifying decades of proprietary data, strategic capabilities and deep institutional best practice into advanced AI agents. Agent Hub is the best of WPP, available all the time, for the direct benefit of clients around the world.
Agent Hub launches with a curated set of ‘Super Agents’, instantly arming clients and the company’s 100,000 global workforce with cutting-edge WPP-verified approaches to deliver superior work across any brief. The initial agents include:
Making moves
Tom Hanks fronts WWII docu-series in EMEA wide unmissable TV event
Hearst Networks will bring a major new documentary, World War II with Tom Hanks to audiences across EMEA. The epic multi-part exploration of World War II will be hosted and narrated by Tom Hanks.
The series will air on The HISTORY Channel Africa (DStv 186), on Sky HISTORY in the UK and on The HISTORY Channel across Europe and the Middle East, as part of a coordinated global rollout, with multiple territories around the world broadcasting the series simultaneously.
Over 20 episodes, World War II with Tom Hanks presents a sweeping and definitive retelling of the Second World War, drawing on rarely seen archival material, powerful, evocative storytelling and insights from leading historians. Spanning the origins of the conflict, its decisive turning points, and the human stories at its heart, the series offers a panoramic and emotionally resonant perspective on the war that reshaped the modern world.
“During my formative years, every single adult in my life would make references to two words: The War,” said Hanks. “The lasting effects of WWII on the world and my own family was not lost on me. I am thrilled to partner with The HISTORY Channel to produce this all-encompassing series with a long form format that will give us the ability to tell this important piece of history in its entirety.”
Heather Jones, Chief Creative Officer EMEA and General Manager UK at Hearst Networks, said: “World War II with Tom Hanks is a landmark series with deep relevance across all our markets. It’s a privilege to bring such a powerful and resonant project to audiences throughout EMEA simultaneously. Our ambition is to deliver premium, globally relevant storytelling at scale, and to remind viewers of all ages of the importance of understanding, and reflecting on, the events and impact of this pivotal moment in history.”
Further details, including the premiere date will be shared over the next few months.
