[Breaking news] Tasks done, M&G power duo head off into the ether

Having set benchmarks in online publishing and web development and innovation in South Africa in the last few years, making the local blogosphere and social networking in South Africa a very exciting place to be, sources confirm that GM Matthew Buckland and strategist Vincent Maher are both leaving the Mail & Guardian Online, the former end of July 2008 and the latter at the end of this month. Buckland is believed to be heading for the Naspers stable and Maher is off to whip Vodacom’s social media into shape.

With the revamp of the M&G Online – which officially went live this past weekend – as their crowning glory, their achievements together (pretty much a new development launched every month) since Maher joined in December 2006 include:

• News in Photos
• M&G Mobile
• South African blog aggregator Amatomu.com
• Awarding-winning editorial group blog Thought Leader and its spin-off sister sites, Tech Leader and Sports Leader
• Public blogging platform AmaGama (an upgrade of the pioneering blogmark.co.za)
• Online social entertainment destination The Guide and its specialised events-based social network Yiza
• Educational site The Teacher
• Job portal JobConnection
• Student site CampusTimes
• News headline Facebook app
• Podcasts

Bizcommunity.com wish both Matt and Vince all the best – exciting times ahead!