Konnichiwa,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
- MTN phases out two data centres in South Africa
- This startup is coming for PaidHR, SeamlessHR
- Verto lands in UAE to speed up Africa-Gulf payments
MTN phases out two data centres in South Africa
MTN South Africa is pulling the plug on two of its long-running data centre sites — Gallo Manor in Johannesburg and Great Westerford in Cape Town — as part of a major push to streamline operations and sharpen its infrastructure strategy.
The telco told ITWeb that the closures are part of a wider plan to optimise its data centre portfolio and improve efficiency. It’s moving customers from these older, third-party facilities into its newer, high-performing sites, including MTN-owned centres and those run by partners like Teraco.
Gallo Manor holds a special place in South Africa’s tech history as the first hosting environment of its kind. But after more than a decade in use, and even surviving a load-shedding-related outage in 2022, MTN says it’s time to consolidate. The Great Westerford site, operated by Teraco since 2009, is also being phased out as MTN doubles down on its newer, converged data centres that cater to both enterprise and mobile operations.
Per MTN, this move will allow it to deliver the same services with better security, efficiency, and scalability. “We’re building modern, integrated facilities that can handle the next wave of digital innovation,” the company said, adding that its ongoing partnerships with providers like Teraco will continue to complement its in-house capabilities.
MTN currently runs about 18 data centres across 11 markets in nine African countries, with multiple sites in Johannesburg and at least one in Pretoria. The telco says the reshuffle is part of its bigger plan to future-proof its network for emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
In fact, MTN is already in talks with US and European firms to develop AI data centres across the continent. CEO Ralph Mupita reportedly said the company is in “the commercial negotiation phase and shortlisting partners,” a sign that MTN is betting big on Africa’s AI-driven future.
This startup is coming for PaidHR, SeamlessHR
There’s this long-held belief that consultants are great at making fancy PowerPoint decks but rarely have the guts to build something real. Jen Heinz, former Head of Technology at Citi, once said, “Too many consultants bring frameworks instead of solutions.” Consultants are often seen as the people who tell entrepreneurs what to do, not the ones actually doing it.
But Seyi Babatunde is quietly proving that wrong. After years of advising multinationals on how to hire across Africa through his firm, HR Leverage, he ran into a bigger, messier problem — managing payroll across multiple African countries. It was slow, complicated, and expensive. So instead of recommending another software tool, he built one himself. The result? WorkRemit, a cross-border payroll management platform born straight out of his firm’s daily frustrations.
“Every company trying to pay employees across Africa has the same headache,” Babatunde told Techpoint Africa. “Banking systems don’t talk to each other, compliance laws differ, and transaction fees are ridiculous.” That’s the pain WorkRemit is trying to fix by simplifying payments, automating compliance, and helping teams pay staff anywhere in Africa, without the drama.
Babatunde’s story isn’t your typical consultant-to-founder pivot. HR has been his bread and butter for years, from helping homegrown brands like Mama Cass and The Place recruit talent to working with giants like TikTok and OPay. “One big client changes everything,” he says. “That’s something consulting taught me: credibility compounds.”
He admits his consultant background shaped how he builds. “Consultants are trained to find structure in chaos,” he laughs. “That’s what entrepreneurship is all about: solving problems with clarity.” HR Leverage, the company that started from a small office in Allen, Ikeja, is now incorporated in 13 African countries, helping businesses hire, manage, and pay talent across borders.For more on how Babatunde is tackling one of Africa’s toughest HR problems, managing payroll across multiple countries, read Bolu’s latest.
Verto lands in UAE to speed up Africa-Gulf payments
Verto, a Nigerian B2B payments platform, has officially launched operations in the UAE, a move that could reshape trade corridors between the Gulf region and Africa. By setting up in Dubai (licensed under DFSA in the Dubai International Financial Centre), Verto aims to cut through long delays, high foreign exchange costs, and cumbersome cross-border payments that have held back businesses in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and elsewhere.
The company claims it already handles $15-25 billion in annual cross-border volume for big clients like Unilever and Maersk. Its expansion into the UAE lets it offer direct access to dirham liquidity and local clearing, meaning companies won’t always need to transact via the US dollar, a move that could save money and time.
Verto offers a range of features that matter: fast settlement (hours rather than days), competitive and transparent FX rates, multi-currency wallets/accounts, auto-exchange tools, and traceable payment flows. These are the kind of tools that make a difference for Kenyan importers/exporters, logistics players, or any business dealing with unpredictable payment schedules and volatile currency rates.
But Verto isn’t the only player eyeing that gap. It competes with fintechs like Kora (aka Korapay), which provides pay-ins, pay-outs, settlement, and card issuing services across many African countries. Then there’s Fincra, another payments-infrastructure startup doing cross-border payouts and FX services, as well as more traditional financial institutions (banks) that are still strong competitors because of their established networks and regulatory advantages.
The presence of these alternatives matters a lot. For one, competition tends to push down fees and improve speed. For another, different platforms may serve different niches — some are better for smaller merchants, others are strong in specific currency corridors or regulatory regimes. Verto’s challenge will be to differentiate — not just on speed or FX, but on reliability, regulatory compliance, and customer support.
Given the rise in Africa-Gulf trade, the timing seems right. Firms are facing real headaches: dollar shortages, long settlement times, and wide FX spreads. Verto argues its new hub in Dubai helps smooth those out by enabling settlements in dirhams, quicker local clearing, and thus better certainty for cash flow.
In case you missed it
What I’m watching
Opportunities
- Airtel is hiring Enterprise Key Account Manager. Apply here.
- Financial Times is recruiting a West African Correspondent. Apply here.
- Moove is hiring a Marketing Manager. Apply here.
- Standard Bank is looking for a Data Engineer. Apply here.
- Food Court is looking for a Marketing Coordinator. Apply here.
- FairMoney is recruiting Head of Business Banking Product. Apply here.
- Max.ng is looking for a Platform Support Intern. Apply here.
- Businessfront, the parent company of Techpoint Africa, is hiring a Sales Associate. Apply here.
- Businessfront, the parent company of Techpoint Africa, is looking for a Managing Editor (FMCG). Apply here.
- Flutterwave is hiring for several roles. Apply here.
- Paystack is recruiting a performance marketing specialist in Nigeria. Apply here.
- Paga is recruiting for several positions. Apply here.
- Moniepoint is hiring for several positions. Apply here.
- Are you building a startup can feel isolating, but with Equity Merchants CommunityConnect, you can network with fellow founders, experts, and investors, gaining valuable insights and exclusive resources to help you grow your business. Click here to join.
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Have a lovely Tuesday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa
