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Local outlets back SA-made smartphone

Staff Writer
By Staff Writer, ITWeb
Johannesburg, 13 Jan 2020

The Mara Group, which manufactures proudly South African smartphones, has extended its partner distribution network to include another one of the country’s big four banks as well as Pick n Pay.

First National Bank (FNB) becomes the second bank to make the SA-made smartphones available to its clients, following Nedbank, which did so in November.

In October, the Mara Group officially opened its high-tech South African-based smartphone manufacturing facility at the Dube Trade Port Special Economic Zone in KwaZulu-Natal.

According to the group, its Mara Phones ‒ Mara X and Mara Z ‒ are available from Pick n Pay stores, participating Vodacom outlets, FNB and Nedbank.

FNB notes its customers can purchase Mara devices via FNB Connect.

Len Pienaar, CEO of FNB Connect, says: “We are excited to add a locally-produced option as part of our range of affordable smartphones and provide customers with more options and choice. Mara Phones are a great solution for customers looking for good value for money on stylish smartphones, fitted with the latest cutting-edge technology.”

Ashish Thakkar, Mara Phones CEO, adds: “The manufacturing of our high-tech smartphones in South Africa is a great vote of confidence for the country and we urge our customers to rally behind this truly innovative African story.”

The bank points out devices are paired with an FNB Connect SIM and customers also receive Free Connect monthly data, voice minutes and SMSes, subject to their FNB transactional account type and qualifying criteria.

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