Hello,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here's what I've got for you today:
- German company settles $220m South Africa bribery probe
- A ₦142.8 million hack on Patricia
- Where to watch AFCON 2023
German company settles $220m South Africa bribery probe
SAP, a German software company, has consented to pay $220 million (R4.1 billion) to resolve investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the U.S. Justice Department.
The investigations focused on SAP's purported bribery operations in Indonesia and South Africa.
What happened? SAP allegedly made illegal payments to officials at state-owned enterprises in South Africa and Indonesia to obtain lucrative government contracts.
These accusations stem from the state capture era in South Africa when the Gupta family business was closely associated with the administration of former President Jacob Zuma from 2008 to 2018.
In 2017, SAP said an internal investigation uncovered instances of misconduct related to business dealings with the Gupta family in the company's operations in South Africa.
Court records reveal that SAP and its partners enabled foreign officials in South Africa and Indonesia to receive bribe payments and a range of benefits, including cash transfers, political contributions, and upscale merchandise.
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To be more precise, SAP organised a plan in South Africa through its agents to bribe officials and falsify records to obtain unfair advantages in obtaining government contracts. Between 2013 and 2017, these contracts involved tenders with different South African entities.
What now? SAP will pay an administrative forfeiture of $103,396,765 (R1.9 billion) and a criminal penalty of $118.8 million (R2.2 billion) as part of the settlement terms.
A ₦142.8 million hack on Patricia
The Nigerian Police Force has taken action in a hacking case involving Patricia, a crypto exchange.
Here's the scoop: Seven individuals were tagged as the culprits behind a whopping ₦142.8 million ($155,734) theft that went down between October 2021 and February 2022.
The complainant, who works for Glover, alleged, in a statement, that following an internal audit, the company was able to identify the hack, revealing the accounts to which the money was sent.
The police questioned six of the seven individuals. They are two Bureau de Change traders, an Uber driver, a senior special assistant to a Nigerian governor, a driver, and even a musician.
However, the mastermind is still on the loose.
A crafty move: According to the statement, the mastermind allegedly collected their account numbers under false pretences to distribute the stolen funds.
While they are still on the loose, the other suspects got a taste of freedom on administrative bail.
In November 2023, Nigerian police arrested politician Wilfred Bonse in connection with a ₦607 million ($750,000) hack on Patricia.
Following a court recess, the Wilfred Bonse case trial has been rescheduled for June 2024.
Where to watch AFCON 2023
Remember this? StarTimes raises subscription fees in Nigeria ahead of AFCON
Interestingly, you can now watch all 52 games of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 on DStv and GOtv’s SuperSport.
Yes! MultiChoice has agreed with New World TV (NWTV), a Togolese media group and rightsholder, to broadcast the 34th edition of the continent's premier men's football competition from Ivory Coast.
This news comes after the South African company announced last week that it would not broadcast the tournament due to its inability to obtain the necessary rights.
If you are among the 500,000 people in South Africa who gave up on DStv in 2023, you should be aware that the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) will be airing the tournament on SABC 1, SABC 3, and SABC Sport. It will also provide commentary on its radio stations.
While people in 30 African countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Guinea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa, Rwanda, and Nigeria, can watch the games on StarTimes, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) has announced that it will air the competition.
If you’re in Ghana, you can watch the games on GTV Sports Plus and other GBC channels. If you are in Francophone Africa, you can watch the matches on Canal+, which has also secured the rights to stream the tournament.
If you’re outside Africa, you can watch the 52 matches on beIN Sports or Kayo Sports (Australia) and CAF YouTube (UK).
In case you missed it
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- Why the CBN appointed new executives for Union, Keystone, and Polaris banks
- Lapaire, a pan-African eyewear startup, raises $3 million to expand across Africa
What I'm watching
- Relief for farmers, small businesses after exemption from eTims invoices
- Robert Waldinger: What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness
- Why Are Some People SO Horny?
Opportunities
- Pitch Friday is next Friday, January 19, 2024. To attend or pitch, click this link.
- DevHeit wants a remote full stack developer on its team. Apply here.
- Payaza Africa Limited is hiring an Associate Product Manager. Apply here.
- New Globe is looking for a Data Analytics Manager. Apply here.
- WOO Network is looking for a Senior Product Manager. Apply here.
- Sahara Group is hiring a Risk Data Analyst. Apply here.
- A company in the FCMG industry is looking for a Data Analyst. Apply here.
- Gruve wants a junior product manager on its team. Apply here.
- Do you live in Nigeria and work with a local or foreign company? Whether it's remotely, on-site, hybrid, full-time, part-time or as a freelancer, @TheIntelpoint is trying to understand the Nigerian workspace: how you work, and toxicity in the workspace among others. Please, fill out the questionnaire here.
- If you are a software engineer, creative designer, product manager, design researcher, or a techie looking for an internship role, please, check out this website.
Have a fun weekend!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.
