The school year began on Wednesday in South Africa, and for many families, the cost of school uniforms remains a major financial burden. Retailer Pep and banking group First National Bank (FNB) say they are offering relief through a heavily discounted school shoe promotion.

However, questions remain around access, reach and whether such initiatives are sufficient to address broader affordability challenges. Our Reporter Lebogang Mabange has more.

The school year began on Wednesday in South Africa, and for many families, the cost of school uniforms remains a major financial burden. Retailer Pep and banking group First National Bank (FNB) say they are offering relief through a heavily discounted school shoe promotion.
However, questions remain around access, reach and whether such initiatives are sufficient to address broader affordability challenges. Our Reporter Lebogang Mabange has more.

In-depth financial issues, profiling of African businesses doing well internationally, stocks & market updates.

In-depth financial issues, profiling of African businesses doing well internationally, stocks &amp; market updates.

Business Africa

Africa in Business

Pep and FNB offer relief to South African parents through a heavily discounted school shoe promotion

Discovery, a South African financial services and private healthcare group, says it will absorb the cost of a claims system error that resulted in the overpayment of certain Above Threshold Benefit (ATB) claims in 2025, affecting more than 16 500 members. The announcement follows the company’s notification to clients at the beginning of January 2026 about an error in the processing of medicine claims between January and December 2025. 

MediCheck, which represents more than 1 500 affected members, has welcomed Discovery Health’s decision to carry the full financial burden of the claims processing mistake rather than seeking to recover the overpaid amounts from members of its medical scheme. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Mark Hyman, CEO of MediCheck.

Discovery, a South African financial services and private healthcare group, says it will absorb the cost of a claims system error that resulted in the overpayment of certain Above Threshold Benefit (ATB) claims in 2025, affecting more than 16 500 members. The announcement follows the company&rsquo;s notification to clients at the beginning of January 2026 about an error in the processing of medicine claims between January and December 2025.&nbsp;
MediCheck, which represents more than 1 500 affected members, has welcomed Discovery Health&rsquo;s decision to carry the full financial burden of the claims processing mistake rather than seeking to recover the overpaid amounts from members of its medical scheme. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Mark Hyman, CEO of MediCheck.

Discovery Health to take on the cost of a claims system error that led to the overpayment of certain claims in 2025

The Association of Communications and Technology (ACT), an industry body representing telecom companies including Cell C, Liquid, MTN, Rain, Telkom and Vodacom, is calling on over-the-top (OTT) services such as Netflix, WhatsApp and YouTube to help cover the costs of South Africa's network infrastructure. The organisation proposes that these platforms make “fair share” or “fair contribution” payments towards building and upgrading networks.

Thami Ngubeni spoke to Tech Analyst Brendon Petersen.

The Association of Communications and Technology (ACT), an industry body representing telecom companies including Cell C, Liquid, MTN, Rain, Telkom and Vodacom, is calling on over-the-top (OTT) services such as Netflix, WhatsApp and YouTube to help cover the costs of South Africa's network infrastructure. The organisation proposes that these platforms make &ldquo;fair share&rdquo; or &ldquo;fair contribution&rdquo; payments towards building and upgrading networks.
Thami Ngubeni spoke to Tech Analyst Brendon Petersen.

The Association of Communications and Technology wants Netflix, WhatsApp and YouTube to help cover the costs of South Africa's network infrastructure

The World Economic Forum (WEF), in partnership with Marsh and Zurich Insurance Group, has released the Global Risks Report 2026, which highlights that global business leaders are confronting mounting challenges as deepening geopolitical divides, coupled with rapid technological and societal shifts, continue to reshape the business landscape over the next 12 months.

 

The report also notes the emergence of a new era of global competition, with all 33 identified risks expected by business leaders to increase in severity over the next decade. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Spiros Fatouros, CEO of Marsh Africa and South Africa.

The World Economic Forum (WEF), in partnership with Marsh and Zurich Insurance Group, has released the Global Risks Report 2026, which highlights that global business leaders are confronting mounting challenges as deepening geopolitical divides, coupled with rapid technological and societal shifts, continue to reshape the business landscape over the next 12 months.
&nbsp;
The report also notes the emergence of a new era of global competition, with all 33 identified risks expected by business leaders to increase in severity over the next decade. Thami Ngubeni spoke to Spiros Fatouros, CEO of Marsh Africa and South Africa.

Pep and FNB offer relief to South African parents through a heavily discounted school shoe promotion

In 1 playlist(s)

Africa in Business

Social links

Recent clips