DefBars
Deafness is one of the largest prevailing disabilities in South Africa, with more than four million people living with a hearing challenge.
With this in mind, MTN recently developed DefBars, a bespoke music track using SASL (South African Sign Language) for the hard-of-hearing and/or deaf community. Working with SA rapper The LazarusMan, who specifically learned sign language for the project, the aim of the track is to increase awareness of SASL and to promote the learning of the language among the hearing community.
The lyrics are all signed and can only be understood if one knows SASL or is prepared to learn the basics.
The track was mastered by Hey Papa Legend to ensure that the vibration within it can be “heard” by deaf South Africans. The music video was filmed with the supervision of St Vincent’s School for the Deaf to ensure that all the signs were visible and understood.
While the track was well-received, there was an influx of positive criticism from within the deaf community. MTN thus moved on to develop phase two of Defbars – a remix of the track with Glen: The Rapper, an up-and-coming rapper from within the deaf community, who put his own spin on its presentation.
The remixed track highlights the subtle differences between a hearing person’s interpretation of SASL and how a hard-of-hearing person would interpret the hand gestures.
Platform: Android and iOS
Expect to pay: Free to view to
Stockists: The music videos can be viewed here:
- The LazarusMan – Twitter: http://tiny.cc/h2lpdz
- The LazarusMan – Facebook: http://tiny.cc/70lpdz
Visit the next page to read about The Answer Series app for education, an app that allows users to manage their money regardless of their bank, the hApp-e-tax app for VAT, and an app that handles car buying and selling.
The Answer Series
A South African study guide publisher, The Answer Series, has made digital versions of its study guides available to all teachers across the country at no cost. The guides have been a trusted resource for learners since 1975, and many teachers refer to them during class to assist learners in grasping the subject matter in a manner that is easier to process.
The Answer Series uses a unique approach to guide teachers and students through the course material. The Sustainable Development Goal for Education states the following: “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”. This has been the idea behind The Answer Series for decades, and technology is now making it possible on a larger scale.
Partnering with Snapplify, a fast-growing edtech marketplace, The Answer Series is available at no cost to teachers with a free-to-register Snapplify account. Teachers log into the e-learning platform, Engage, to download the guides, of which there are almost 57 in English, and 35 in Afrikaans, designed for grades 8 through to 12.
Platform: The guides are available in an e-book format so can be used on most devices with an e-book reader.
Expect to a pay: Free through Snapplify
Stockists: Visit Snapplify here for registration details
Visit the next page to read about an app that allows users to manage their money regardless of their bank, the hApp-e-tax app for VAT, and an app that handles car buying and selling.
AppVenture
FNB recently launched AppVenture, a banking app similar to the FNB Banking app, but which allows all customers in South Africa to better manage their money – regardless of which bank they are using.
Existing FNB customers can also perform their day-to-day banking, allowing them to experience many of the unique features offered by AppVenture.
According to an FNB spokesperson, AppVenture is simple to use, secure and cost effective, making it an attractive option for South Africans who prefer not to spend large amounts on banking fees.
Among other features, users can make use of the nav» Money option, which helps them set and track Savings Goals. Consumers can choose a goal to save for and get a recommended personalised savings solution, with the ability to track progress on savings. Users can also track their credit status and get tips on how to manage and improve their credit score.
The FNB nav» Wellness option helps participants set up and track their health and fitness journey on the FNB App, while nav» Home and nav» Car provides the tools needed to buy a house or get the latest estimate on their car’s value.
Platform: Android and iOS
Expect to pay: A freed download
Stockists: Visit FNB here for downloading and setup instructions.
Visit the next page to read about the hApp-e-tax app for VAT, and an app that handles car buying and selling.
hApp-e-tax VAT app
hApp-e-tax has launched a VAT app, designed to guide accountants, auditors, tax practitioners, lawyers and even entrepreneurs who don’t have access to specialised teams to assist them with their VAT queries. It is a simple-to-use solution for those who need to navigate through heaps of content to fully understand and apply South African VAT legislation.
The app includes the VAT Act, Customs and Excise Act, Securities Transfer Tax Act, Estate Duty Act and Transfer Duty Act. Users will also find all the SARS published rulings and can also print directly from the app. With quick turnaround times on revisions of the acts and legislation, the app is updated immediately when new tax legislation or SARS information is introduced.
Michael Honiball, senior tax director at Werksmans Attorneys, says: “Our team of tax professionals use the hApp-e-tax app daily, with all the tax information available in the palm of their hands.” Other users have commented that the hApp-e-tax app provides accurate information at high speed, allowing them to make the best use of consulting time.
Platform: Android and iOS
Expect to pay: Users can try the hApp-e-tax apps free for 30 days and have the option to choose whether they want the income tax version priced at R489 or the VAT and indirect taxes version for R379. Both apps together are available at a discounted price of R825. Users can upgrade or downgrade these versions at any time.
Stockists The apps can be downloaded from the hApp-e-tax website here.
Visit the next page to read about an app that handles car buying and selling.
Motomatch
The process of buying or selling a car can be a time-consuming and tedious experience. But now there’s a new online vehicle sales app called Motomatch, allowing the deals to come to you instead of you having to search for them.
Once a customer has decided to sell, they visit the Motomatch website and upload their vehicle’s details – including odometer readings, images and any comments. This ensures that customers are able to receive and compare multiple offers. From there it is just a matter of selecting the offer that best suits their requirements – saving a lot of time. The Motomatch interface is well laid out, intuitive and offers all the help one needs to get the process completed. The customer is notified via e-mail and SMS as soon as an offer is made by the dealer. The seller then chooses the best offer and connects with the dealer to conclude the sale.
Buyers enjoy the same level of convenience, as they select the vehicles in which they are interested, and the dealers respond with available vehicles.
Safety is ensured due to the fact that Motomatch will only share a customer’s details with the dealer with whom they want to interact.
Motomatch also eliminates the huge risks typically associated with selling or buying a car privately in South Africa, by checking if it is stolen, hijacked or has been in any major accidents.
In addition, Motomatch features an interactive, real-time dashboard and chat option for dealers and customers, and allows for multiple offers to be made in a single action, whether buying or selling. It also includes a dealer-to-dealer platform, enabling stock to be purchased or sold within the trade.
Platform: A desktop or notebook with an up-to-date Internet browser.
Expect to pay: A free service
Stockists: Visit Motomatch here to get started