Привет,
Victoria an Delight from Techpoint Africa,
Here's what I've got for you today:
- The art of staying under the radar at work
- StarTimes’ refused to close shop in SA
- Meta loses sway in Kenyan court
StarTimes’ refused to close shop in SA
Chinese pay-TV operator StarTimes isn’t backing down despite being ordered by South Africa’s communications regulator, Icasa, to shut down its StarSat platform.
The issue stems from StarSat’s parent company, On Digital Media (ODM), missing the deadline to renew its broadcasting licence, which expired in July 2023. Although the company eventually submitted the renewal application in November, Icasa says it was too late.
Icasa had sent several reminders about the deadline, but ODM blamed their late submission on struggles to secure new investments and the financial fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
ODM says they sought help from Icasa but didn’t get the support they needed. While the regulator doesn’t have the power to renew an expired licence, they’ve given ODM until September 2024 to wind down operations and look after their customers.
Despite Icasa’s order, StarSat has no plans to shut down yet. ODM’s CEO, Debbie Wu, said they’re still in talks with Icasa and exploring all their legal options to keep the service running.
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StarSat, which started as Top TV in 2010, has had a tough time competing with MultiChoice’s DStv and even went into business rescue two years after launching. StarTimes bought a 20% stake in ODM during this period.
StarSat has faced several financial hurdles over the years, including a rebrand in 2013. Although they came out of business rescue in 2016, the company has continued to struggle with keeping subscribers and maintaining its channel lineup. Icasa’s decision could be another hit for the company, but for now, StarSat is refusing to close down.
The art of staying under the radar at work
Theo lives by a simple rule: don’t ask for what you want, just do your job and let your work speak for itself. He’s the kind of person who avoids making waves and trusts that his bosses will notice his efforts. The wildest thing he’s ever done at work? Date a co-worker.
If that’s your idea of risky, you’ve already gone pretty far, right? I’m not into office romance. I’ve never had the experience, so maybe that’s why I think it’s best avoided.
But hey, if you find love at work, good for you! Just not in the same department — that’s a hard no for me. I mean, imagine me dating Chimgozirim or Bolu at Techpoint Africa! 😂 What a chaotic mess that would be. As much as I love them, these boys could use love from an outsider. Maybe a relationship would help with that!
But back to Theo. Outside of that office fling, he sticks to the rules. He’s even the kind of guy who’ll cover work expenses from his own pocket without asking for reimbursement. He’s not one to push for change or complain if things don’t go his way. If it’s not working out, he’ll either quietly leave or, if he has the authority, make changes where necessary.
Curious to know how someone like Theo keeps it all together? Dive deeper into how he plays by the book in Oluwanifemi's story.
Meta loses sway in Kenyan court
The Kenyan Court of Appeal has ruled that Meta, Facebook's parent company, can be sued in Kenya over the mass dismissal of content moderators employed by its subcontractor, Sama.
The company lost an appeal in court on Friday, September 20, 2024, making the company liable to be sued over the mass layoff of its content moderators in Kenya.
In April 2023, 184 content moderators — who were hired and managed by Sama, Facebook’s content moderators in Africa — sued Meta for nearly $1.6 billion, alleging they were exploited and then cut off.
In June, Meta announced plans to appeal a Kenyan court decision that labelled them as the primary employer of these moderators who review content on their platforms across sub-Saharan Africa.
Fast forward to August, when a Kenyan court blocked Meta from firing any of the 184 moderators until the lawsuit about their alleged “unlawful dismissal” gets sorted out. Meanwhile, Meta tried to wiggle out of responsibility, insisting that Sama, not them, was the real employer.
However, this all stems from a legal battle that started in 2022 when content moderators who tried to form a union were laid off. They claim they were fired without proper cause by Sama, which handled moderation for harmful content on Facebook, and later got blacklisted from applying for similar jobs with another contractor, Majorel, after Meta switched partners.
Last year, the content moderators also sued the tech company saying they lost their jobs with Meta’s contract moderator in Kenya, Sama, for trying to organise a union. They claimed they were blacklisted from applying for the same roles at another firm.
In February 2023, the court held a separate ruling, that Meta could be sued over poor working conditions. Talks of settlement between the parent company and the content moderators did not go well.
The Appeals Court rejected a decision from the Labour Court to suspend the layoffs and that the moderators be paid salaries until the ruling for the case is completed.
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Opportunities
- AltSchool Africa is offering discounts on diploma programmes! Enrol, complete the application, and pay a one-time fee of ₦20,000 ($20). Use code TECHPOINT30 for a 30% tuition discount upon passing the entrance exam here.
- Follow Techpoint Africa's WhatsApp channel to stay on top of the latest trends and news in the African tech space here.
Have a productive week!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.
