Quote from stuff.co.za:
"Orange Horizons South Africa sent Stuff the following statement on Wednesday evening in response to questions about the future of its retail operations and its motivations for ceasing its online activities in South Africa:
The Orange Group has decided to wind up the Orange Horizons program globally. This was a strategic decision that was taken on an Orange Group level, and does not reflect on the specific performance of the program in South Africa. As part of the Group’s Essentials2020 strategy and given the high level of competition on the Group’s major markets such as in France, Orange has decided to focus on its core footprint markets where it is active on the Consumer market as a network operator. Orange Business Services and Globecast remain in South Africa, the Orange Top Up offer will also continue to be available.
This decision affects all countries where exploratory activities under the Orange Horizons business unit had commenced, such as South Africa, Brazil and European countries such as Germany etc.
Africa continues to invest heavily in Africa as a whole, which represents an important part of its strategy for international development. For example, Orange has acquired MNO operations in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso this year. These reflect market opportunities to invest in specific countries that fit within the Group’s overall footprint (mostly Maghreb, West and Central Africa).
The Orange brand has been active in the South African market under business units including, Orange Horizons, Orange Business Services and Globecast. It is only the Orange Horizons activity that is being withdrawn. We [will] also keep Orange Top Up online platform. Orange Business Services and Globecast will remain in South Africa, which is a very important market for them, and there is no intention to change this position.
In terms of the physical store, the store already ceased trading and will be utilised for other purposes by the owner of the property."
