Faizel Patel – 06/04/2021

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

Local smartphone manufacturer Mara Phones has become the preferred supplier for the South African government mobile communication services for the next five years.

Mara phones was awarded the contract to supply and deliver mobile communication services until 2026.

Managing Director of Mara Phones SA Sylvester Taku says the contract is a huge boost to South Africa’s local economy and employment.

“All other device brands supplied by Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom in terms of the recently-announced five-year transversal contract are now considered secondary to Mara Phones.”

There are three main categories of the Government’s transversal contract, and in the mobile devices category Mara Phones is listed across the four networks as the first preferred brand with all other brands being secondary.

Mara Phones Group CEO, Ashish Thakkar says the contract comes on the back of the heightened importance of countries investing in their own capacity when it comes to critical goods and services.

“We are looking forward to working with the big four telecoms firms to supply the world’s best, South African-made smart devices to all government departments, agencies and institutions  We are thankful to the Government of South Africa, the Department of National Treasury and the Department for Trade & Industry for the opportunity and the justified belief bestowed on our locally manufactured products.”

In 2020, Mara opened its first experience store in Maponya Mall in Soweto, a year after the company unveiled the country’s first smartphone manufacturing facility in KZN.