Author: Gugu Lourie

Canal+ has agreed to a moratorium on retrenchments for three years at MultiChoice Group following the merger implementation date. Sipho Maseko and Sonja De Bruyn have joined a Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) consortium played a crucial role in facilitating Canal+’s acquisition of MultiChoice Group. As part of the transaction, MultiChoice South Africa’s broadcasting licence operations will be restructured into a new independent entity, MultiChoice (Pty) Ltd (LicenceCo). This move ensures regulatory compliance while paving the way for Canal+ to expand its video entertainment footprint across Africa. Canal+ has committed that the majority of LicenceCo’s shareholders will be Historically Disadvantaged Persons (HDPs) and workers. The…

Life Healthcare Group Holdings Limited has unveiled plans to invest R2.3 billion in capital expenditure for FY2025 as part of its growth strategy, alongside reporting robust interim results for the six months ended 31 March 2025. Financial and Operational Highlights Revenue up 8.1% to R12.1 billion, driven by higher patient volumes and improved tariffs Normalised earnings per share (NEPS) up 9.1% to 49.0 cents Interim dividend increased by 10.5% to 21.0 cents per share Paid patient days (PPDs) grew by 2.0%, with occupancy rising to 68.6% R2 billion cash generated from operations, supporting expansion plans R2.3bn Investment in Strategic Growth The Group’s R2.3…

Technology distributor Axiz has announced a strategic partnership with Jabra, a global leader in professional audio and video solutions. This collaboration expands Axiz’s portfolio to include Jabra’s cutting-edge communication technology, catering to businesses and professionals who demand high-quality audio and video experiences. Jabra’s suite of products — ranging from certified professional headsets and speakerphones to advanced video conferencing equipment — is designed to enhance productivity and collaboration. From headsets with Active Noise Cancellation that deliver crystal-clear calls, to intelligent video conferencing cameras that offer seamless integration with platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom, Jabra’s solutions meet the growing demands of…

History is a great teacher, and those who ignore it are doomed. Would South Africa be creating new “Elon Musk regulations” if it exempts Starlink from Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) compliance? The answer lies in understanding how US giants like IBM, Microsoft, and Amazon already comply: through Equity Equivalent Programmes (EEPs). What is B-BBEE and Why Do Multinationals Use Equity Equivalents? South Africa’s B-BBEE Act of 2003 aims to redress apartheid-era economic disparities by promoting black ownership, skills development, and enterprise growth. However, foreign companies often cannot transfer direct ownership. Instead, they leverage Equity Equivalent Programmes – approved by the Department…

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has vowed to take legal action against the South African government over reports that it plans to offer Elon Musk’s Starlink a special exemption from Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) laws. The party has condemned the move as unconstitutional, warning that it compromises the country’s sovereignty. EFF Condemns “Unlawful” Starlink Deal EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo argued that if Musk were genuinely concerned about South Africans, he would advocate for sanctions and disinvestment rather than pushing for Starlink’s entry into the market. “This decision undermines our laws and economic transformation agenda,” Thambo stated. “If Elon Musk truly cared about…

South Africa’s smart locker market is heating up as Bob Box, a courier-agnostic locker network, announces plans to expand from 200 to 1,000 locations by the end of 2025. This aggressive growth strategy positions Bob Box as a key competitor against established players like Pargo, which currently leads the market. How Does Bob Box Compare to Other Smart Locker Operators? According to a TechFinancials report, Pargo dominates South Africa’s smart locker space, with major banks and logistics firms like Aramex and DHL also entering the race. However, Bob Box differentiates itself with unique features: Load-shedding resilience (battery-powered lockers) Locally manufactured lockers tailored for South African conditions Open to multiple couriers,…

At its Build 2025 conference, Microsoft announced Microsoft Discovery, a groundbreaking AI platform designed to accelerate scientific breakthroughs by integrating agentic AI into the research process. The platform promises to dramatically shorten development timelines, turning processes that once took years into weeks, while maintaining rigorous standards of transparency, compliance, and researcher control. A New Era of AI-Driven Scientific Discovery Microsoft Discovery is built on Azure’s cloud infrastructure, combining high-performance computing (HPC), generative AI, and graph-based reasoning to tackle complex R&D challenges. Unlike traditional methods, the platform enables continuous, iterative research cycles where AI agents collaborate with scientists to refine hypotheses, run simulations, and analyse data in real time. “We have…

Vodacom Group is actively pursuing fibre joint ventures (JVs) across its African markets while maintaining its FinTech business as a core operation, with no plans for unbundling. The Vodafone-owned telecom giant remains committed to expanding digital infrastructure despite regulatory hurdles in South Africa. Maziv Deal Appeal and Fibre Strategy Vodacom continues to challenge the Competition Tribunal’s decision to block its proposed stake in Maziv, which houses Dark Fibre Africa (DFA) and Vumatel. Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub stated: “While we were disappointed by the Tribunal’s decision, we have lodged an appeal. Fibre is critical for economic growth and we believe this transaction holds significant public interest benefits. If…

Vodacom Group has announced plans to invest over R20 billion in capital expenditure (capex) in the coming financial year, reinforcing its commitment to enhancing connectivity, digital inclusion, and economic empowerment across Africa. The Vodafone-owned telecom giant also revealed ambitious targets to expand its customer base to 260 million by 2030, up from 211.3 million today. Vision 2030 Speaking on the company’s progress, Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub said: “As we draw the curtain on our Vision 2025 strategy, I am immensely proud of the progress we have made over the past five years in delivering on our targets. This was achieved despite a challenging macroeconomic environment…

Vodacom has disclosed that the potential compensation payout in the long-running Please Call Me case remains highly uncertain, with outcomes ranging from millions to billions of rand. The Vodafone-owned telco is still challenging the Supreme Court of Appeal’s (SCA) ruling, which ordered it to pay 5%–7.5% of total revenue from the service since 2001. In a statement published today as part of its financial results publication, Vodacom said: “Consequently, the range of the possible compensation outcomes in this matter is very wide. The amount ultimately payable to Mr. Makate is uncertain and will depend on the success of Vodacom’s appeal against the judgment and…