– SOUTH AFRICA, Johannesburg – Naspers (LON:NPSN | JSE:NPN) today announced the appointment of Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa to the global Naspers management team as CEO, South Africa. Reporting directly to Bob van Dijk, Group CEO of Naspers, Phuti will be based in Johannesburg where she will lead the group’s day-to-day business in South Africa and represent its interests in-country. She will also be responsible for Naspers’ recently announced units, Naspers Foundry, and Naspers Labs, which are designed to help stimulate the South African tech sector and tackle youth unemployment, respectively.
Bob van Dijk, Group CEO, Naspers, said: “Phuti is a seasoned leader with a strong track record of achievement throughout her career. Her significant investor and board experience across varied sectors makes Phuthi the perfect match for this important role at Naspers.”
Naspers is one of the foremost investors in the South African technology sector and is committed to building its existing internet and e-commerce companies in the country, as well as stimulating the local tech start-up sector through the Naspers Foundry. This is an R1.4 billion investment commitment targeting technology start-ups in South Africa that seek to address big societal needs. This is in addition to the commitment Naspers made in October 2018 at the inaugural South Africa Investment Conference to inject a further R3.2 billion into its existing South African businesses over three years, which is already underway.
Phuti joins Naspers from her Executive Chairperson role at Sigma Capital, a privately held, majority-black owned investment group based in South Africa.
Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa, CEO South Africa, Naspers, added: “I am thrilled to be joining Naspers at such a pivotal time for the group and for South Africa and look forward to adding value to the group in realizing its strategy in South Africa.”
Naspers Foundry
Naspers Foundry is an R1.4 billion start-up funding initiative aimed at boosting the South African technology sector. As well as providing much-needed funding, Naspers Foundry helps talented and ambitious South African technology entrepreneurs develop and grow their businesses. Naspers Foundry recently announced its first investment, an R30 million backing of SweepSouth, the South African-founded online cleaning services platform that connects clients with trusted, reliable domestic cleaners.
For more information: https://www.naspers.com/foundry
Naspers Labs
Naspers Labs is the pilot of a social impact initiative that Naspers has designed in partnership with Marlon Parker, the founder of RLabs, to develop the skills and talent of South Africa’s unemployed youth. Naspers Labs participants benefit from an individually tailored online and offline development program delivered in youth cafes that are located at the heart of impoverished communities. Naspers has committed R50 million to the pilot in 2019, on top of the R15 million invested in 2018, and four pilot labs will be up and running by the end of this financial year with plans in place to scale the program further subject to the success of the pilots.
For more information: https://nasperslabs.org
About Naspers
Naspers is a global consumer internet group and one of the largest technology investors in the world. Operating and investing in countries and markets across the world with long-term growth potential, Naspers builds leading companies that empower people and enrich communities. The group operates and partners a number of leading internet businesses across Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia in sectors including online classifieds, payments and fintech, food delivery, travel, education, health, and social and internet platforms.
Every day, millions of people use the products and services of companies that Naspers has invested in, acquired or built, including Avito, Brainly, BYJU’S, Codecademy, eMAG, Honor, ibibo, iFood, letgo, Media24, Movile, OLX, PayU, SimilarWeb, Swiggy, Takealot, and Udemy.
Today, Naspers companies and associates help improve the lives of around a fifth of the world’s population. Naspers actively searches for new opportunities to partner exceptional entrepreneurs who are using technology to address big societal needs.
Naspers has a primary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (NPN.SJ) and a secondary listing on the A2X Exchange (NPN.AJ) in South Africa and has an ADR listing on the London Stock Exchange (LON: NPSN).
For more information: https://www.naspers.com
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