It’s not every day that we get a chance to sit down with a leader and visionary in the telecommunications field. So when we had an opportunity to chat to Telkom Chief Marketing Officer, Gugu Mthembu, we grabbed it with both hands. Dynamic South African media personality Zizo Beda led the conversation, and got to know more about Gugu’s thoughts on the summer season and Telkom’s Tap2Win.

Welcome! We have a fantastic opportunity to take a look at the Telkom summer Tap2Win campaign. If you’re South African, you already know by now that December is a vibe. We have the great privilege of speaking to Telkom CMO, Gugu Mthembu.

Zizo:

So, what do you think about when you think of summer?

Gugu:

In South Africa, it is definitely the energy of the people, the warm outdoors, the braais and music. You look forward to people and families coming together. We enjoy the summer countdown of the top songs of the year on stations like Ukhozi FM and Umhlobo Wenene FM.

Zizo:

About Tap2Win. December is a great time to have it, why is this synergy important for Telkom?

Gugu:

Most customers are looking for great deals, and they want to be out and about. We want to give customers that little extra touch that makes their summer even better. Tap2Win is literally a way for us to give back to customers, to appreciate their loyalty and also to say, we’re all in this together and we are having a great summer.

We want to help them to keep doing what they do every day but help them when they recharge, buy bundles and stand a chance to win R350 million worth of prizes.

Zizo:

Sharing is caring. Why is it important to share our appreciation with our customers from all walks of life?

Gugu:

We value our customers and want to be sure that there is something in this for everyone. Beyond us providing a network service we want them to feel valued and connected.

When we thought of prizes to give away, we wanted to ensure there was a chance for absolutely everyone to win something. Prizes start as small as 1GB and go all the way up to people winning cars. If we kept it to just cars, fewer people would win. It was important to integrate bundles, KFC and grocery vouchers, because with many families and kids being at home, we need to get the best value out of our budget.

Zizo:

We all use our connectivity and data in different ways, what are some ways that you use yours?

Gugu:

When I get home in the afternoon and want to relax, I enjoy watching content on TikTok. I have found some gardening creatives and specialists that I really enjoy following to get advice on how to get my vegetables to yield better produce.

Zizo:

What are some of your summer essentials that you can’t leave home without?

Gugu:

Lipgloss, hand cream, sunglasses must always be in the bag, especially now that it is so hot.

Zizo:

Are you a drop-top girl or an SUV hun?

Gugu:

I used to be a drop-top girl, but now I am an SUV hun.

Zizo:

Five course meal or a quick something at home?

Gugu:

Both actually, but I love a five-course meal for the experience.

Zizo:

What would you say is your flavour for summer?

Gugu:

Amasi. I love it. Especially in the heat.

Zizo:

Spill the tea. What other value is there for us in summer as a Telkom customer?

Gugu:

For prepaid customers, we’ve introduced daily dose bundles and streaming bundles. At this time of year, people will definitely be streaming videos and movies. We’ve also got bundles available for that. We’ve given thought to certain towns and created personalised deals called Mo’Town. People must just dial *123# and check if they do have a Mo’Town data deal on offer

Zizo:

If I am a WhatsApp hun, is there still something available for me?

Gugu:

Absolutely. We still have our WhatsApp bundles. Some allow you to connect for a whole month on a R100. It allows you to do video and voice calls. We pride ourselves on offering this. Customers can literally be  connected for all of December and beyond.

Zizo:

If someone wanted to join in the fun, how can they be part of Tap2Win?

Gugu:

Our prepaid customers just need to load a minimum of R20 airtime. They can opt into Tap2Win via *180# or via the MyTelkom App. When contract customers sign up for a new contract or upgrade their existing one, they also qualify. Those who are not on the network? I encourage them to go get a SIM card. 

Zizo:

Thank you so much for sharing with us all the things that we have to look forward to on Tap2Win and thank you for sharing a bit about your life.

Gugu:

It’s a pleasure.