VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS Now you see them . . .

re you a busy professional looking for an executive assistant? You may just find all the help you need . . . online. Cape Town-based Zatual has launched an online service that connects individuals with virtual personal assistants.

Zatual Assistants (ZAs) can perform tasks such as responding to e-mails, event co-ordination, and online research. Once the company has established itself, it will expand its services to include housekeeping, bookkeeping, meal delivery and even website content creation. Thus far Zatual has three assistants.

CEO Dane Mesane says his goal is to employ 300 ZAs over the next two years. “We are still in the early stages of our company and in the process of recruiting,” he says.

Potential assistants will have to go through a rigorous vetting process, which will include several online computer assessments, credit and criminal record checks.

Each Zatual client is strategically matched with a dedicated ZA who is highly trained, as well as educated, says Mesane.

He says Zatual will sell a solution to its clients based on their requirements, while all ZAs are employed by Zatual on a part- or full-time contract. “We pay ZAs based on their part- or fulltime contracts and our starting rate is R58/hour. We can go as high as R110/hour, benefits included,” says Mesane. Thabiso Mochiko

mochikot@bdfm.co.za