Naspers shuts down Mocality in Kenya, Nigeria

Naspers shuts down Mocality in Kenya, Nigeria
Gareth van Zyl
By Gareth van Zyl, Editor, ITWeb Africa
, 15 Feb 2013
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Mocality, comprising of business directory and daily deals websites targeting Nigeria and Kenya, is to be shut down by its South African owners Naspers at the end of February.

Mocality claimed last year that it is Africa’s largest mobile and web based business directory, having “given a mobile and internet presence to over 250,000 Nigerian businesses.” It has also said that its Mocality Deals website is Kenya’s “number one group buying site.”

The Mocality business directory was first launched in Kenya in 2010 by Naspers. In 2012, Mocality expanded to reach the Nigerian market with a business directory and daily deals offering as well.

However, Mocality has reportedly struggled to make a profit for Naspers (MIH Group).

“All of the Mocality Kenya and Mocality Nigeria operations will be closed on the 28th February 2013,” reads a statement on the Mocality business directory website.

The statement on the website also says that all business owners are encouraged to log in by the 28th to retrieve any data they may require. Mocality also says “all paid for services that should have been rendered after that date (including advertising space and the like), will be refunded in full, and you will be contacted about that refund individually if it applies to you.”

The Mocality daily deals website, which is separate to the business directory site, has had all of its content on its homepage removed.

In a statement, though, Mocality has said that “coupons remain valid until they either expire or are redeemed in full by you at the relevant merchant.”

Customers who have bought coupons via the website are advised to log into the system by the end of the month to retrieve any them as the company has warned that “Mocality Deals will not be available after the 28th February 2013.”

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