NAIROBI/LAGOS, Nigeria (Reuters) &#8211; An Eritrean father yearning to be reunited with his four children after 15 years apart. An American woman adopting a Nigerian toddler. A Nigerian man desperate to be with his American wife and children. 



These are some of the families waiting to see how they will be affected by President Donald Trump’s expansion of the U.S. travel ban.



Awet, who asked that Reuters use a nickname to avoid reprisals against his family, fled Eritrea in 2005. He is now a U.S. citizen.



Awet described how he hugged his four young children hard, whispering only to his weeping mother that he was leaving forever. For three days, he said, he hid under rocks by day and dodged hyenas and soldiers at night as he tried to cross the border.&nbsp;



Awet spent four years as a refugee in Ethiopia and Kenya before being resettled to the United States in 2009. When a 2018 peace deal between Ethiopia and Eritrea made it possible for the children to leave Eritrea safely, he finally dared hope he would see them again.&nbsp;Awet had been trying to bring his children over on family visas for the past year.



But on Friday, Trump, a Republican, issued an expanded version of his travel ban that suspended immigrant visas &#8211; a category that includes family visas &#8211; for Eritreans and Nigerians.&nbsp;The other countries with new restrictions are Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Tanzania and Sudan.



U.S. Homeland Security acting Secretary Chad Wolf said the restrictions were needed because the six countries had failed to meet U.S. security and information-sharing standards. But U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, called the ban “discrimination disguised as policy.” [nL1N2A020Z]



“Trump’s new law, for us, it’s very hurtful,” said Awet, speaking by phone from his home in the United States. “At least let the children in &#8230; those who want to come to be with their mother or father.”



Awet said he is still praying that he will see his children &#8211; now aged 14-18 &#8211; again one day. Their mother is in the Middle East.



“I’m leaving it to God,” he told Reuters.



“God and a lawyer,” his attorney Kari Scofield chimed in.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">“YOU ARE POWERLESS”</h3>



In the West African powerhouse of Nigeria, 37-year-old Californian Lynsey Elston is waiting to find out if or when her newly adopted daughter will be able to meet the rest of the family back in the United States.



The former social worker always wanted to adopt. Three-year-old Eliana Ezinne arrived at her home in Nigeria on Christmas Eve 2019 after years of paperwork, interviews and uncertainty.



“This is my child,” she said as she cuddled the sleepy girl. “I can’t be separated from my child.”



Hasan Shafiqullah, head of the Immigration Law Unit at The Legal Aid Society in New York, told Reuters that Elston can apply for Eliana’s citizenship only from inside the United States, and Eliana can enter only on an immigrant visa.



The 2017 version of the travel ban outlines which groups can qualify for waivers, including adoptees, and the expanded ban says it will follow the same guidelines. But the system for obtaining waivers has proven opaque and difficult to navigate, and there is an ongoing federal lawsuit challenging the government’s implementation of the process.



“The emotion I am feeling is anger,” Elston said at her home in an upscale neighbourhood of Lagos.



In the same city, a 38-year-old Nigerian man quit his job last month as he prepared to move to the United States with his two toddlers and wife &#8211; all U.S. citizens. He asked for anonymity to avoid prejudicing his visa application.



The man said his mother and two sisters, also U.S. citizens, live in America, and he studied there and lived there for a decade. He wanted his children to grow up near his family, he said, and he considers America his second home.



Asked what he will do if he cannot get a visa to move with his family, he drew in a long, slow breath and went silent.



“I’m afraid to even consider that,” he said at last. “You really are powerless.”



Reporting by Ayenat Mersie and Libby George; Additional reporting by Mica Rosenberg in New York; Writing by Katharine Houreld; editing by Alexandra Zavis and Leslie Adler

Families in Africa fear impact of U.S. immigration ban, what you need to know…

By Chris Bishop 



The owners of the luxury Westin Hotel in Cape Town could have slept soundly last night knowing they were guaranteed to make at least R3.5 million ($233 226) as the Africa #MiningIndaba2020 and its nearly 7,000 delegates rolled into town.



READ: <a href="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/zdnl-mc/2020/01/30/will-sa-regain-its-top-spot-in-gold-mining-what-to-expect-from-miningindaba2020/">Will SA regain its top spot in gold mining? What to expect from #MiningIndaba2020</a>



The Mining Indaba – the biggest mining gathering on the planet – kicks off tomorrow Monday and the organisers say more than 40 African ministers and the President of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio will attend. Mining accounts for 80% of Sierra Leone’s exports – mining everything from mineral sands to diamonds and iron ore &#8211; and its president wants to revive the economy by rewriting the country’s mining law.



 Tune in daily from 3-6th February as CNBC Africa brings you all the action from #MiningIndba2020 brought to you by Brand South Afric<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InvestInSAMining?src=hashtag_click">a #InvestInSAMining</a> 



All 26 editions of the Mining Indaba have been held in Cape
Town. Joanna Kotyrba, Head of Marketing for the Mining Indaba attributes this
to Cape Town being South Africa’s top conference destination on the African
continent and it is considered as one of the premier business events
destinations in the world. 



“By hosting Mining Indaba events in Cape Town, we not only
ensure our events attract top delegates from around the world, but we are also
supporting the city and province’s goals of economic growth and job creation in
the areas of conferencing, tourism and hospitality,” she told CNBC Africa.



Many of Africa’s top politicians are staying in the 4,500 hotel rooms that are a 10-minute walk from the Cape Town International Convention Centre where the Mining Indaba will be held throughout this week. Word is in the Cape Town hotel business that every one of these rooms are sold out this week. It is part of a wave of currency that comes with the many conferences held in Cape Town that see a surge in demand for cars, hotels and food right down to airport shuttles and shoeshines.



One of the hotels that make up the 4,500 rooms a hop-skip
and a jump from the Mining Indaba is the plush Westin Hotel on the doorstep of
the conference. Its 500 rooms are sold out, according to sales and marketing
director Stacey Hopkins. This means the hotel takes at least R3.5 million in
revenue every night that it is packing them in from the Mining Indaba.



“The Mining Indaba is good for business in Cape Town,” says
Hopkins.



“We have struggled against a water shortage for a long time
and conferences are helping us improve business.”



Hopkins said matters were improved even more for the hotel
business in that many Mining Indaba delegates choose to extend their stay in
Cape Town around conference to make time for holidays and business
meetings.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

How #MiningIndaba2020 is bringing in millions for tourism in Cape Town

By Gary van Staden, Senior Political Analyst at NKC African Economics 



Malawi is bracing for trouble ahead of the Constitutional Court ruling on the presidential election challenge due to be handed down on Monday, February 3. 



Political leaders, foreign missions, and the security
establishment have pleaded for calm and for all citizens to accept the ruling.



The Court will deliver its ruling at the Lilongwe District
Registry of the High Court on the unprecedented challenge to the outcome of the
presidential poll held last May, which was lodged by the opposition Malawi
Congress Party (MCP) and United Transformation Movement (UTM). 



In the election, President Peter Mutharika, flagbearer of the
governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), was re-elected and defeated
Lazarus Chakwera of the MCP by some 159,000 votes. Mr Chakwera alleged in court
papers that he was the rightful winner and called the result &#8220;daylight
robbery&#8221;. The applicants asked the Court to declare the election outcome
null and void. 



Several clashes between opposition supporters, security forces,
and DPP supporters followed the disputed elections. Last August, the
Constitutional Court agreed to hear the case and the hearing was concluded in
December, with the decision due within 45 working days. The five judges hearing
the case were allegedly subjected to offers of bribery, an issue reported to
the Malawi Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).



Ahead of the highly anticipated outcome, with emotions running high,
foreign heads of mission in Malawi have urged all political leaders and
citizens to respect the court decision. Ambassadors and high commissioners from
the US, UK, Japan, Norway, Germany, Ireland, and the European Union appealed in
a joint statement for calm and respect. 



On Tuesday, January 28, Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Commander
Vincent Nundwe promised tight security ahead of the decision. The MDF and the
Malawi Police Service have implemented a number of security measures to ensure
stability and calm in the wake of the announcement. 



Given the highly charged atmosphere ahead of the Court ruling, it
is inevitable that some clashes between rival supporters will occur, whatever
the outcome. We believe, however, that if such clashes do take place, they will
not pose any long-term threat to security or to overall political stability. 



Mountains of evidence from officials, the electoral commission,
political parties, IT experts, and individuals were heard over several months
from those supporting and opposing the application, and the danger is that both
sides have reason to feel optimistic over the outcome. 



In addition, the truth often seems not to matter in Malawi’s
political environment, so anticipating the outcome becomes little more than
guesswork. We will wait for Monday and then assess Malawi’s political
direction.

Malawi on the brink

By South Africa&#8217;s Treasury 



The International Monetary Fund (IMF) published the outcome of its Article IV Consultation with South Africa, which was held from 6 – 21 November 2019. Part of the surveillance function, as prescribed in the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, requires that the IMF visits each member country twice a year to conduct economic and financial assessments of government policies and provide policy recommendations. The IMF staff held meetings with the South African government, the South African Reserve Bank, stateowned enterprises (SOEs), business, organised labour, and academia. The outcome of their consultation is summarised in an Article IV Report, which was also considered by the IMF Executive Board. 



IMF Findings 



The IMF states that South Africa has undeniable economic potential, which remains largely untapped. However, it notes that downside risks to the economy going forward, include: (i) weak economic growth, (ii) deteriorating fiscal and debt positions and (iii) difficulties in the operations of state owned enterprises (SOEs). 



The IMF’s baseline scenario assumes that partial reform implementation and continued governance improvement will lift business confidence and gradually allow a limited recovery of investment and consumption. It forecasts South Africa’s growth to gradually increase from 0.4 percent in 2019 to 0.8 percent in 2020 and to 1.0 percent in 2021. However, it warns that per-capita growth will continue to contract in the near term. 



The IMF recommends that South Africa creates a conducive environment for private sector investment and takes a decisive approach to implement structural reforms in order to boost economic growth. These include reducing the cost of doing business, streamlining operations of SOEs, releasing the spectrum, improving governance, promoting competition in product markets and addressing labour market issues. 



Government’s response 



National Treasury acknowledges the difficult juncture South Africa is at. It projects subdued short-term growth, but expects a stronger recovery in confidence moving forward that would result in GDP growth of 1.7 percent by 2022. Average inflation expectations for 2019 have fallen from 6 percent to 4.5 percent. Most recently, in January 2020, the South African Reserve Bank cut its repurchase rate by 25 basis points, taking into consideration inflation expectations. 



Enquiries: Communications Unit Email: media@treasury.gov.za Tel: (012) 315 5046 



The economic outlook is subject to risks, both domestic and external. Domestically, failure to address governance and operational issues, specifically at State Owned Enterprises (SOEs), would continue to weigh negatively on the outlook. National Treasury is mindful of the fiscal risks that SOEs, particularly electricity utility Eskom, present to the fiscal framework. Furthermore, there is commitment to resolve the challenges facing South African Airways (SAA). The airline has been placed under voluntary business rescue to improve its financial position. Externally, the performance of the global economy has an impact on South Africa, as an open, small economy. 



Government has progressed in implementing many of the reforms to revive the economy, however, more urgency is required in the speed of implementation. 



Finally, National Treasury remains committed to implementing prudent fiscal policy to achieve a low primary balance, excluding Eskom provisions, by 2022/23 in order to ensure a stabilisation of debt by 2025/26. Government continues to work towards moving South Africa forward and realising strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth that will improve the lives of all South Africans.

IMF assesses SA’s economy. These were its findings…

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Retired Eskom insider and now the newly appointed chair of the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa, Dave Nicholls gave a presentation at the Free Market Foundation. Nicholls served Eskom as Chief Nuclear Officer accountable for all Eskom’s nuclear activities and he echoed the sentiments recently issued by finance minister on the role of nuclear power in dealing with South Africa’s electricity shortage.

Dave Nicholls: How to solve SA’s energy crisis

By Alexander Winning



JOHANNESBURG, Jan 21 (Reuters) &#8211; South African Airways (SAA) has cancelled some domestic flights between its Johannesburg hub and Cape Town and Durban, and some international flights to Munich, the state airline said on Tuesday, as it fights for its survival.



SAA is running short of cash after the government failed to provide 2 billion rand ($137 million) of emergency funding it promised when the airline entered a form of bankruptcy protection last month.



&#8220;These cancellations represent a responsible strategy to conserve cash and optimise the airline&#8217;s position,&#8221; SAA said in a statement, adding that it was working to accommodate affected customers on other flights.



&#8220;SAA will be reviewing further possible flight schedule amendments over the coming days.&#8221;



The airline is one of several South African state entities, including power company Eskom, mired in financial crisis after nearly a decade of mismanagement.



State companies&#8217; financial problems are seen as one of the biggest threats to Africa&#8217;s most industrialised economy and have helped push the country&#8217;s credit rating to the brink of junk status.



SAA said flight cancellations on the domestic and Munich routes were planned until Friday.



A booking system used by travel agents showed that 19 SAA flights had been cancelled so far, according to a representative of a local travel agent.



The airline&#8217;s business rescue practitioners held talks with the government at the weekend to try to find a solution on the promised funding, but failed to reach a breakthrough.



On Sunday, the public enterprises ministry said it was still talking with the National Treasury to raise funds for SAA.



Last week, a senior trade union official said SAA might have to suspend some flights and delay salary payments if the government didn&#8217;t come up with a plan to provide the 2 billion rand soon.



($1 = 14.5682 rand) 



(Reporting by Alexander Winning; Editing by Jason Neely and Barbara Lewis)

SAA cancels some flights as airline fights for survival

Embattled airline South African Airways is selling some of its fleet. In a tender document, the airline says it is selling nine Airbus A340-300 and a 600 model aircraft as well as 15 spare engines and 4 auxiliary power units for an unspecified amount. SAA is currently in business rescue and is waiting for R2 billion lifeline from the National Treasury to stay in operation into next month.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/SAA-aircraft.png" alt="" class="wp-image-353625" width="764" height="560" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/SAA-aircraft.png 899w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/SAA-aircraft-300x220.png 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/SAA-aircraft-768x564.png 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/SAA-aircraft-80x60.png 80w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/SAA-aircraft-696x511.png 696w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/SAA-aircraft-572x420.png 572w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 764px) 100vw, 764px" /><figcaption> The National Treasury www.etenders.gov.za</figcaption></figure></div>

SAA_Wikimedia

SAA aircraft up for sale

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 16 (Reuters) &#8211; The United Nations World Food Programme said on Thursday that a record 45 million people in the 16-nation Southern African Development Community faced growing hunger following repeated drought, widespread flooding and economic disarray.



Southern Africa is in the grips of a severe drought, as climate change wreaks havoc in impoverished countries already struggling to cope with extreme natural disasters, such as Cyclone Idai which devastated Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi in 2019.



Zimbabwe, once the breadbasket of southern Africa, is experiencing its worst economic crisis in a decade, marked by soaring inflation and shortages of food, fuel, medicines and electricity.



&#8220;This hunger crisis is on a scale we&#8217;ve not seen before and the evidence shows it&#8217;s going to get worse,&#8221; the WFP&#8217;s Regional Director for Southern Africa, Lola Castro, said in a statement.



&#8220;The annual cyclone season has begun and we simply cannot afford a repeat of the devastation caused by last year&#8217;s unprecedented storms.&#8221;



The agency plans to provide &#8220;lean season&#8221; assistance to 8.3 million people grappling with &#8220;crisis&#8221; or &#8220;emergency&#8221; levels of hunger in eight of the hardest-hit countries, which include Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini and Malawi.



To date, WFP has secured just $205 million of the $489 million required for this assistance and has been forced to resort heavily to internal borrowing to ensure food reaches those in need, it said.



In December, the United Nations said it was procuring food assistance for 4.1 million Zimbabweans, a quarter of the population of a country where shortages are being exacerbated by runaway inflation and climate-induced drought.



&#8220;Zimbabwe is in the throes of its worst hunger emergency in a decade, with 7.7 million people – half the population – seriously food insecure,&#8221; the agency said.



In Zambia and drought-stricken Lesotho, 20% of the population faces a food crisis, as do 10% of Namibians.



Castro said that if the agency does not receive the necessary funding, it will have no choice but to assist fewer of those most in need and with less.



(Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Jon Boyle and Giles Elgood)

UN food agency says record 45 million people across Southern Africa face hunger

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 15 (Reuters) &#8211; South African telecoms company Telkom SA told unions on Wednesday it could cut up to 3,000 of more than 15,000 staff as it struggles with declining performance in fixed voice and fixed data services.



Like other African telecoms firms, Telkom, in which the government holds a stake of about 40%, is trying to keep pace with a surge in demand for the internet and data with growing smart phone usage.



It is also grappling with organisational and operational inefficiencies linked to fixed voice and data services, which require more staff to install, maintain and market, it said in a letter to unions seen by Reuters.



The telecom provider said it will consider voluntary severance and early retirement packages for employees affected by phase one of the job cut, which will affect employees at Openserve and the Consumer divisions from January to April.



The affected jobs include support employees, specialist, operational employees and supervisory and management levels in its wholesale division Openserve, the consumer unit as well as in its corporate centre.



The announcement comes two days after retailer Massmart Holdings, majority owned by U.S. retail giant Walmart , said it could cut up to 1,440 jobs under a plan to close some stores as it struggles to grow sales in a tough economy.



Telkom, which runs South Africa’s biggest fixed-line telecom network, is migrating customers to mobile voice and data as well as fibre, where it is one of the small players in a market dominated by Vodacom and MTN Group.



&#8220;The deterioration in the economic climate, increased operational, regulatory and competitive constraints, coupled with continuing rapid migration from fixed voice and data business have all had a major ongoing negative operational and financial impact on Telkom,&#8221; it said.



&#8220;For Telkom to survive the current and anticipated tough trading conditions, it is imperative to seek and implement measures which will drastically reduce costs, eliminate inefficiencies and improve operational and financial performance in the interest of securing its continued commercial viability and employment for the majority of the employees.&#8221;



Telkom said it wants a leaner structure in its Openserve and group IT division and a focused skills set in line with the new business demands of a mobile focused business. While in consumer, the unit needs to be more market driven and customer focused.



(Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Susan Fenton and Elaine Hardcastle)

South Africa’s telecoms company Telkom could cut 3,000 jobs -letter to unions

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) &#8211; South African retail sales rose 2.6% year-on-year in November following a revised 0.4% increase in October, Statistics South Africa said on Wednesday.



On a month-on-month basis, sales were up 3.1% and up 1.2% in the three months to the end of November compared with the same period last year, the statistics body said.



Reporting by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo; Editing by Alexander Winning

South Africa’s retail sales rose 2.6% year/year in November

LAGOS (Reuters) &#8211; MTN Nigeria shares rose 10% on Monday to their highest in two weeks after the country’s attorney general withdrew a $2 billion tax demand against the South African telecoms firm.



The company and attorney general both said on Friday that Nigeria’s attorney general had withdrawn the tax case.



Reporting by Chijioke Ohuocha; Editing by Jan Harvey

MTN Nigeria shares up 10% after government withdraws $2 billion tax case

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1110" height="555" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/shop-now-sign-tablet-1110x555.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-353226" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/shop-now-sign-tablet-1110x555.jpg 1110w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/shop-now-sign-tablet-300x150.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/shop-now-sign-tablet-820x410.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/shop-now-sign-tablet-768x384.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/shop-now-sign-tablet-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/shop-now-sign-tablet-696x348.jpg 696w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/shop-now-sign-tablet-1068x534.jpg 1068w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/shop-now-sign-tablet-840x420.jpg 840w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/shop-now-sign-tablet-1920x960.jpg 1920w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/shop-now-sign-tablet.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px" /><figcaption>E-shopping Online Business Promotion Shopaholic Concept</figcaption></figure>



By Derek Cikes



Consumer demands for a frictionless, personalised experience which caters for their lifestyle needs are set to drive online retail trends in 2020.&nbsp; The result is a focus on creating a customised experience that supports and enhances shopping in the virtual environment, facilitating the buying journey.



Derek Cikes, Commercial Director at payment fintech Payflex,
shares the top 8 online retail trends for the year ahead.



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Omnichannel retailing</li></ol>



As shoppers expand their touchpoints with a brand, the online and bricks-and-mortar channels will increasingly merge into a seamless omnichannel experience within the brand ecosystem.&nbsp; In order to facilitate this, merchants need to provide shoppers with an integrated shopping experience across all channels that allows shoppers to browse, shop and return items across in-store and online channels. 



 2. Pop-up Shops



2020 will see pop-up shops expanding beyond
brand awareness to provide shoppers with a curated shopping
experience.&nbsp;&nbsp; Leveraging the scarcity and exclusivity principles
associated with these temporary storefronts, shoppers will have access to novel
or limited brand items.&nbsp; Brands in turn will have the opportunity to
engage one-on-one with their customers while collecting shopper data.



This intimate connection will also enable
pop-up stores to take on a new position of facilitating brand experiences
rather than only focussing on the commercial aspect of a retail pop-up store.



“By providing a compelling pop-up experience, brands are able to differentiate themselves and establish a unique relationship with their target market,” says Cikes.



 3. User experience



User experience will be optimised by levering online
channels. Simplicity is the key, enabling the user to effortlessly navigate the
website and find and acquire the desired items.



This includes reducing the number of
steps to complete a payment transaction such as the seamless single click
checkout process which can dramatically increase sales conversions.&nbsp; 



“Our experience has shown that the Payflex 1-click checkout process can reduce cart abandonment by a whopping 40% &#8211;&nbsp; a huge benefit for ecommerce merchants,” says Cikes.



 4. Online security



Concerns about online security and privacy are one of the key challenges to growing online sales in South Africa.&nbsp; To provide comfort to shoppers, 2020 will see a focus on creating a secure online infrastructure and being transparent about the use of data, so that shoppers feel comfortable sharing their financial information.&nbsp; 



 5. The customer journey



The year ahead will see online stores
optimizing the customer journey through each touchpoint with the brand.&nbsp;
This will translate into establishing a strong online communications infrastructure,
supporting customers through a variety of online and social media platforms
throughout their purchasing journey.



This optimizes the shopper’s online experience, allowing the next steps to follow naturally &#8211; increasing conversions, customer retention and eventually brand advocacy.



 6. Payment choices



Consumers are increasingly wary of incurring
debt to purchase lifestyle goods, which has opened the door to alterative
non-credit pay later solutions, such as Payflex.&nbsp;&nbsp; 



“Customers want more control of their spending, encouraging the online retail industry to incorporate payment experiences which meet their needs, such as the free spending solution from Payflex which can boost sales by 20-30%,” says Cikes.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="624" height="330" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Payment-Choices-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-353225" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Payment-Choices-1.jpg 624w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Payment-Choices-1-300x159.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px" /></figure>



 7. Online Ubiquity



The increase in social media retailing demands a pervasive online brand presence where shoppers can engage in a seamless experience with the brand and buy products directly from social media channels in a contained, accessible environment such as Instagram.&nbsp; 



 8. Machine Learning



The year ahead will leverage the
capabilities of artificial intelligence and machine learning to provide more
personalised shopping experiences.&nbsp; By using data and search history,
merchants can curate products and services specific to the shopper’s needs and
likes.&nbsp;&nbsp; This results in being able to customize each shopping
experience such as with sites like Amazon, where automatic suggestions are made
in addition to the purchase or music sites such as Spotify or Deeza which
leverage machine learning to provide a personal playlist based on a user’s data
and online search and listening history.



Final Comments



The
inter-relatedness of consumer demands and technological innovations creates one
of the central themes of online retail in 2020 – a symbiotic relationship
between shopper and technology.



“This will play out in new
avenues of innovation which meet consumer demands while leveraging technology
to create a meaningful online experience, moving shoppers further along the
customer journey to facilitate successful conversions,” concludes Cikes.

E-shopping Online Business Promotion Shopaholic Concept

Top 8 retail trends to watch in 2020

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1110" height="624" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/1571595826001_6110064209001_6110061003001-vs-1110x624.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-351211" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/1571595826001_6110064209001_6110061003001-vs-1110x624.jpg 1110w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/1571595826001_6110064209001_6110061003001-vs-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/1571595826001_6110064209001_6110061003001-vs-820x461.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/1571595826001_6110064209001_6110061003001-vs-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/1571595826001_6110064209001_6110061003001-vs-696x392.jpg 696w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/1571595826001_6110064209001_6110061003001-vs-1068x601.jpg 1068w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/1571595826001_6110064209001_6110061003001-vs-747x420.jpg 747w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/1571595826001_6110064209001_6110061003001-vs.jpg 1280w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px" /><figcaption>Jabu Mabuza: How Eskom plans to tackle its debt</figcaption></figure>



 ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA 



President Cyril Ramaphosa has noted the resignation of Mr Jabu Mabuza as member and Chairperson of the Board of Eskom Limited. 



Mr Mabuza tendered his resignation today, Friday 10 January 2020. In his resignation letter Mr Mabuza apologised for Eskom’s inability to meet the commitment it made to the President, the Deputy President and the relevant Ministers at a meeting on 11 December 2019 to avoid load shedding over this period.



At this meeting, Eskom presented plans to ensure that the risk of loadshedding would be eliminated during the holiday period until 13 January 2020. Eskom also outlined the risks affecting the national grid.



As the Minister assigned responsibility for Eskom, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has accepted Mr Mabuza’s resignation. President Ramaphosa has expressed his gratitude to Mr Mabuza for serving Eskom and the nation during a challenging period and has commended Mr Mabuza for taking responsibility and accepting accountability for events under his leadership.



Government continues to support the measures being taken by Eskom to restore reliable electricity supply as a matter of priority, and is proceeding with measures to introduce new generation capacity – including self-generation – in the shortest possible time.



In the wake of Mr Mabuza’s resignation, Government will soon announce a re-configured Eskom board with the appropriate mix of electricity industry, engineering and corporate governance experience. . The President wishes Mabuza well in his future endeavours and his existing leadership roles in various sectors of the economy.

Jabu Mabuza: How Eskom plans to tackle its debt

Eskom chair Jabu Mabuza resigns from struggling power utility

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1110" height="785" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-2-2-1110x785.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-353090" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-2-2-1110x785.jpg 1110w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-2-2-300x212.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-2-2-820x580.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-2-2-768x543.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-2-2-1536x1086.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-2-2-100x70.jpg 100w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-2-2-696x492.jpg 696w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-2-2-1068x755.jpg 1068w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-2-2-594x420.jpg 594w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-2-2-1920x1358.jpg 1920w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-2-2.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px" /></figure>



FORBES AFRICA is on the hunt for Africans under the age of 30, who are building brands, creating jobs and transforming the continent, to join our Under 30 community for 2020.



JOHANNESBURG, 07 January 2020: Attention entrepreneurs,
creatives, sport stars and technology geeks — the 2020 FORBES AFRICA Under 30
nominations are now officially open. 



The
FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 list is the most-anticipated list of game-changers on
the continent and this year, we are on the hunt for 30 of Africa’s brightest
achievers under the age of 30 spanning these categories: Business, Technology,
Creatives and Sport.



Each year, FORBES AFRICA looks for resilient self-starters, innovators, entrepreneurs and disruptors who have the acumen to stay the course in their chosen field, come what may.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1110" height="742" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020-1110x742.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-353085" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020-1110x742.jpg 1110w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020-300x201.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020-1536x1027.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020-696x465.jpg 696w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020-1068x714.jpg 1068w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020-628x420.jpg 628w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020-1920x1283.jpg 1920w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Under-30-online-2020.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1110px) 100vw, 1110px" /></figure>



Past
honorees include Sho Madjozi, Bruce Diale, Karabo Poppy, Kwesta, Nomzamo
Mbatha, Burna Boy, Nthabiseng Mosia, Busi Mkhumbuzi Pooe, Henrich Akomolafe,
Davido, Yemi Alade, Vere Shaba, Nasty C and WizKid.



What’s
different this year is that we have whittled down the list to just 30
finalists, making the competition stiff and the vetting process even more
rigorous.&nbsp; 



Says
FORBES AFRICA’s Managing Editor, Renuka Methil: “The start of a new decade
means the unraveling of fresh talent on the African continent. I can’t wait to
see the potential billionaires who will land up on our desks. Our coveted sixth
annual Under 30 list will herald some of the decade’s biggest names in business
and life.” 



If you think you have what it takes to be on this year’s list or know an entrepreneur, creative, technology entrepreneur or sports star under 30 with a proven track-record on the continent – introduce them to FORBES AFRICA by applying or submitting your nomination.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="724" height="1024" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1-724x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-353088" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1-724x1024.jpg 724w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1-212x300.jpg 212w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1-768x1086.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1-1086x1536.jpg 1086w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1-696x984.jpg 696w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1-1068x1511.jpg 1068w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1-297x420.jpg 297w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/poster-1.jpg 1448w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 724px) 100vw, 724px" /></figure>



NOMINATIONS
CRITERIA:



Business
and Technology categories



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Must be an
 entrepreneur/founder aged 29 or younger on 31 March 2020</li><li>Should have a legitimate
 REGISTERED business on the continent</li><li>Business/businesses
 should be two years or older</li><li>Nominees must have risked
 own money and have a social impact</li><li>Must be profit generating</li><li>Must employ people in
 Africa</li><li>All applications must be
 in English</li><li>Should be available and
 prepared to participate in the Under 30 Meet-Up</li></ol>



Sports
category



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Must be a sports person
 aged 29 or younger on 31 March 2020</li><li>Must be representing an
 African team</li><li>Should have a proven
 track record of no less than two years</li><li>Should be making
 significant earnings</li><li>Should have some
 endorsement deals</li><li>Entrepreneurship and
 social impact is a plus</li><li>All applications must be
 in English</li><li>Should be available and
 prepared to participate in the Under 30 Meet-Up</li></ol>



Creatives
category



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Must be a creative aged 29
 or younger on 31 March 2020</li><li>Must be from or based in
 Africa</li><li>Should be making significant
 earnings</li><li>Should have a proven
 creative record of no less than two years</li><li>Must have social
 influence</li><li>Entrepreneurship and
 social impact is a plus</li><li>All applications must be
 in English</li><li>Should be available and
 prepared to participate in the Under 30 Meet-Up</li></ol>



Your
entry should include:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Country</li><li>Full Names</li><li>Company name/Team you are
 applying with</li><li>A short motivation on why
 you should be on the list</li><li>A short profile on self
 and company</li><li>Links to published
 material / news clippings about nominee </li><li>All social media handles</li><li>Contact information</li><li>High-res images of
 yourself</li></ul>



Nominations
must be sent via email to FORBES AFRICA journalist and curator of the list,
Karen Mwendera, on <a href="mailto:Karen.Mwendera@abn360.com">Karen.Mwendera@abn360.com</a> 



Nominations
close on 3 February 2020.

poster-2-2

Applications Open for FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 class of 2020

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Prying eyes are on the UK as Brexit is set to take place on the 31st of January. However before the UK exits from the European Union (EU) they are hosting a UK-Africa Investment Summit to strengthen ties and showcase opportunities in Africa. Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Africa, Emma Wade-Smith joins CNBC Africa for more.

These are the key issues set to be discussed at upcoming UK-Africa Investment Summit

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Following the recent tensions in the Middle East oil prices have risen this week with many investors falling into safe havens of gold and palladium which is positive for South Africa but what does this mean for the country’s oil businesses? Rajen Reddy, Executive Chairman of KZN OILS joins CNBC Africa for more.

What rise in prices mean for oil businesses and investors in SA

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Anglo American is offering a R7bn purchase for a UK potash miner and is in serious talks with Sirius Minerals. The multinational mining company is willing to make a 5.5 per share cash offer. Analyst at Mergence Corporate Solutions, Peter Major joins CNBC Africa to discuss if this is the right move.

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Malawi on the brink

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MTN Nigeria shares up 10% after government withdraws $2 billion tax case

Top 8 retail trends to watch in 2020

Eskom chair Jabu Mabuza resigns from struggling power utility

Applications Open for FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 class of 2020

These are the key issues set to be discussed at upcoming UK-Africa Investment Summit

What rise in prices mean for oil businesses and investors in SA

Sirius Minerals set for R7bn takeover by Anglo American: How profitable an investment will this be?

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