Author: Gugu Lourie
Vodacom today published its financial results for the year to end-March and disclosed solid performance from its mobile money platforms. “Our mobile money platforms, including Safaricom, processed $525.6 billion of transaction value in the year, up 16.6%, representing leadership in the African FinTech space,” Shameel Joosub, Vodacom Group CEO, disclosed on Monday. This makes Vodacom’s mobile money platform the biggest on the African continent, ahead of MTN and Airtel Africa. The Vodafone-owned company disclosed that normalised M-Pesa revenue in its International business grew 22.8%, with growth across the portfolio of countries. M-Pesa revenue was supported by strong growth in our…
Vodacom Group today published its financial results for the year to end-March 2026 and gave the market a glimpse to the performance of its Internet of Things (IoT) business, IoT.nxt. IoT.nxt is a subsidiary of Vodacom South Africa and its financials are embedded in the local unit. Since Vodacom’s strategic R1 billion acquisition of a 51% stake in IoT.nxt in 2019, the IoT specialist has become instrumental in driving its Beyond Mobile strategy, enabling digital transformation across multiple industries through cutting-edge connectivity solutions. Asked to reflect on the performance of IoT.nxt, Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub, told TechFinancials the IoT business contributes R300…
Vodacom Group has released a set of financial results that shows headline earnings and free cash each growing by more than 20%, the benefits of our revenue and geographic diversification are apparent, even amid a complex and dynamic macroeconomic environment. The latest financials for the year to end-March 31, 2006 reflected a final dividend of R8.4 billion (405 cents per ordinary share) for the year ended 31 March 2026. Vodacom generated operating free cash flow of R33 billion, up 10.3%, reflecting the growth in EBITDA. The Vodafone-owned telco also invested R23.6 billion into capital expenditure, a further R7.4 billion was…
We spoke to Ross Tucker, who leads Packard Bell’s regional strategy, about the thinking behind the brand’s re-entry, its pragmatic approach to AI, and why South Africa is the perfect proving ground for accessible innovation. What inspired Packard Bell’s return to South Africa? South Africa represents a tale of two economies. On one side, you have world-class infrastructure and formal markets; on the other, an enormous informal sector driving grassroots innovation. Yet, most global PC players treat this as one homogenous market. We believe South Africa is underserved, there’s a mismatch between global strategies and local realities – and our…
Porsche will begin selling an all‑electric Cayenne Coupe—its latest signal that the German automaker still sees strong market demand for EVs. The full 2026 Cayenne Coupe Electric range is available to order now and will be sold alongside the existing gas‑powered and plug‑in hybrid Cayenne Coupe variants. Pricing starts at $113,800 for the base Cayenne Coupe Electric, $131,200 for the Cayenne S Coupe Electric, and $168,000 for the Cayenne Turbo Coupe Electric. The german automaker says with its striking flyline, the Cayenne Coupe Electric now complements the Cayenne Electric SUV line-up. The company added that the iconic 911 “flyline” and…
Clicks Group reports resilient first-half performance despite systems delays and consumer pressure, fueled by strong loyalty programme growth. Clicks ClubCard, the group’s flagship loyalty initiative, grew its active membership base by 800,000 to reach 12.9 million members during the first six months of the 2026 financial year. The program now contributes a commanding 83.7% of total sales at Clicks, underscoring the strategic importance of customer retention in a challenging retail environment. Loyalty members received R527 million in cashback rewards over the period, reinforcing the value proposition for South African consumers facing constrained spending power. “The growth of Clicks ClubCard to 12.9 million active members reflects the…
MTN and Cell C share co-leadership in South Africa’s overall mobile ranking, with MTN posting the highest Download speed (Mb/s) at 41.3 Mbps and Cell C maintaining the best Latency (ms) for the fifth consecutive year. Download speeds progressed across all operators in the overall ranking this year, reflecting a broad-based improvement in network infrastructure across the South African mobile sector. Cell C recorded a strong 15% improvement in Upload speed (Mb/s) overall versus the previous period, while Vodacom claimed first place in Web Browsing (%) and Youtube streaming (%) for the first time, signalling meaningful gains in everyday user…
What do Platinum and Titanium ratings mean for PC power supplies? Platinum and Titanium are 80 PLUS® certification levels that define how efficient a power supply is. Talking more technically, how effectively it converts electricity from the mains into a stable power supply for PC components. SeaSonic Platinum power supplies provide up to 90-94% of efficient performance to PC components under heavy loads. SeaSonic Titanium power supplies give even more, ~96% of efficiency under any load scenarios for PC users. For professional PC builders or businesses, this means lower energy loss, less heat generation, and quieter system operation. It affects…
Netflix cofounder and Chairman Reed Hastings will step down from the company’s board this summer, choosing not to extend his tenure when his current term expires. The streaming giant disclosed in a letter to shareholders that Hastings is exiting to concentrate on “philanthropy and other pursuits.” The news came Thursday as part of Netflix’s first-quarter earnings release. According to the regulatory filing, Hastings’s official departure will take effect in June, when his term concludes. The letter stated that “Reed Hastings has informed us that he will not stand for re-election to our Board when his current term expires at the…
London, United Kingdom — As the English Premier League enters its final weeks, sports data platform TipsGG has released new data on referee disciplinary patterns in the 2025/26 season, revealing major differences in how matches are officiated. The report highlights a significant statistical variance in officiating styles, with Stuart Attwell and Anthony Taylor emerging as the league’s most punitive officials. To quantify card distribution, the TipsGG dataset tracks a Strictness Summary (cumulative points: 3 for a direct red, 2 for a second yellow, and 1 for a single yellow) and a Strictness Index (Strictness Summary per match). Both Attwell and…
The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has imposed an administrative penalty of R1 500 000 on Mr Ian Roscoe (Mr Roscoe) and debarred him for a period of 20 years. The FSCA stated that the regulatory action follows an investigation by the Authority in respect of Mr Roscoe. The FSCA confirmed that the investigation found that Mr Roscoe rendered intermediary services that resulted in his clients investing in the BHI Trust investment, which was run by Mr Craig Warriner (Mr Warriner). According to the FSCA, the BHI Trust and Mr Warriner were previously found to have contravened section 7(1) of…
Optasia, an AI-powered financial infrastructure platform serving underbanked customers in emerging markets, notes that FirstRand Limited has increased its shareholding in Optasia to 26.1% through the acquisition of an additional 6% stake. FirstRand acquired 74,103,711 ordinary shares in Optasia at ZAR20.00 on 25 March 2026 from an entity owned by Bassim Haidar, founder and non-executive director of Optasia. This follows FirstRand’s initial strategic investment in Optasia in October 2025, where it acquired 20.1% of Optasia ahead of its IPO. Subsequent to the transaction, Bassim Haidar now holds an aggregate, indirect shareholding of 1.5% of the total issued shares in Optasia,…
A landmark Vodacom transaction, alongside strong operational showings from Vumatel and Dark Fibre Africa, has propelled Remgro’s fibre infrastructure arm, CIVH, into profitability. In interim results for the six months to 31 December 2025, released on Wednesday, Remgro revealed that CIVH recorded headline earnings of R216-million – a marked improvement from the R248-million loss in the comparative period. The fibre unit’s contribution to Remgro’s headline earnings similarly strengthened to R123-million, reversing a loss of R141-million a year prior. CIVH contributed a profit of R123 million to Remgro’s headline earnings, a sharp improvement from the R141 million loss a year earlier.…
Cinergy Mobile Power has officially launched in South Africa, bringing smart, diesel-free energy systems to the country’s film, TV and live event industries. The company is the first to offer purpose-built mobile power solutions tailored for African film and entertainment. Instead of relying on traditional diesel generators, Cinergy’s modular systems combine solar and battery technology to deliver silent, cost-effective energy with zero emissions. The systems also provide real-time data on power usage, helping productions work smarter. And crucially, they fit straight into existing workflows – no need to change how crews already do things. “Energy has become a strategic production…
BMW has redefined its iconic sedan. The newly unveiled BMW i3—the electric version of the beloved 3 Series – is making a bold statement, positioning itself as a leader in range and technology. Built on the revolutionary Neue Klasse platform, this vehicle isn’t just an EV; it is a technological quantum leap into a new era for the brand. Record-Breaking Range and Ultra-Fast Charging The headline feature of the new i3 is its exceptional range. Thanks to a massive 108 kWh battery and sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology, the vehicle achieves up to 895 kilometers on a single charge under the…
Spar Group informed shareholders on Tuesday that it will implement a voluntary severance programme in certain areas of the business as part of its ongoing focus on improving operational efficiency and competitiveness. “The severance programme forms part of a broader reset designed to align the Group’s cost base with current trading conditions and ensure Spar is appropriately structured to support future sustainable growth,” reads the statement. The company said the process does not affect the Group’s retailers or services provided to Spar’s retail network. The Group remains focused on strengthening operational performance and supporting its network of independent retailers. This…
Skynamo, the unified sales operations platform built for manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors, has joined Klipboard, a global provider of vertically focused business management software, in a move set to accelerate innovation and expand market reach. The acquisition strengthens Skynamo’s ability to support complex sales and operational environments for nearly 1,000 businesses every day across Sub-Saharan Africa, the UK and the USA. The platform currently facilitates more than $70 million in monthly order value and supports millions of customer interactions annually. By joining Klipboard, Skynamo gains the backing of a global software group serving more than 55,000 enterprise and SMB customers…
Woolworths has announced a landmark deal to acquire one of its longest-standing and largest suppliers, in2food, from a consortium of sellers including the founders and Old Mutual Private Equity, in a transaction valued on the back of the supplier’s massive revenue base. The retail giant confirmed on Monday that it had entered into an agreement to purchase 100% of the issued shares of in2food Holdings, a move that solidifies a partnership that has lasted over three decades. A strategic swallow in2food, a powerhouse in the South African convenience food sector, generates revenue in excess of R5 billion per annum. The supplier…
Vodacom Tanzania, in partnership with M-Pesa Africa and global issuer-processor Paymentology, has officially launched Africa’s first mobile-money Tap-to-Pay feature on the M-Pesa SuperApp, marking a historic shift in how consumers across the continent can pay. The new capability allows M-Pesa customers to make secure, contactless payments using their Android mobile phones at any Visa-enabled point-of-sale terminal, both locally and internationally. The innovation transforms the everyday transaction experience for millions of users, enabling them to pay, travel, and do business with a simple tap. Epimack Mbeteni, M-PESA Director at Vodacom, emphasized the collaborative effort behind the milestone: “What began as a…
In a resounding validation of its AI-driven model, newly listed fintech powerhouse Optasia has dropped stellar full-year results for 2025, smashing through revenue targets and solidifying its position as a dominant force in emerging market financial inclusion. The numbers tell a story of hyper-scalability and strategic genius: Revenue skyrocketed 76% to $265 million, while the total value distributed through its platform hit a staggering $5.5 billion – a 44% leap forward. This explosive growth comes on the heels of its transformative JSE listing and the onboarding of FirstRand as a strategic partner, proving that Optasia is not just growing, but redefining the…
French media group CANAL+ announced on Wednesday that it will initiate a voluntary severance plan at MultiChoice across its support functions. The company will also launch a restructuring programme at Irdeto, MultiChoice’s technology and cyber-security company. “These planned changes are consistent with the commitments CANAL+ made during the acquisition of MultiChoice and align with the ambition of CANAL+ to streamline certain functions while investing more in activities that directly support the Group’s growth and business development,” said CANAL+. CANAL+ will focus on four key medium-term priorities: Turning around MultiChoice and capturing African growth opportunities through the launch of a “boost…
As global travel demand continues to surge, with Airbnb recently reporting a 12% revenue increase in the fourth quarter of 2025 and projecting “low double-digit” growth for 2026, a new wave of innovation is emerging from Africa . Durban-based startup AirhostSwap is quietly gaining traction by solving the oldest problem for property hosts: inventory waste. Instead of letting unbooked nights expire, AirhostSwap allows hosts to convert that dormant inventory into a global travel currency. The platform, which now boasts more than 2,500 properties globally, synchronizes directly with Airbnb calendars to allow hosts to exchange nights without affecting existing paid bookings. “After looking closely at…
Smile ID, Africa’s leading identity verification company, has released its 2026 Digital Identity Fraud Report — “From Selfies to Signals: Identity Enters the Security Era.”. The report finds that AI has rapidly reduced the cost, while increasing the scalability and quality of deepfake fraud. In addition, as identity becomes part of the fabric of many essential applications, fraudsters increasingly attack the online ID capture pipeline itself — manipulating devices, operating systems, and verification sessions to try and bypass verification technology. In Southern Africa, nearly nine in ten rejected biometric verification attempts were linked to AI-assisted impersonation and spoofing. Specifically, impersonation…
In an expected move in the African streaming landscape, MultiChoice has officially announced the termination of its flagship streaming service, Showmax. The decision, described as the result of a “comprehensive review,” marks a stunning end to the platform that once stood as the continent’s primary challenger to global streaming titans. The curtain is falling on Showmax due to what the company calls “substantial annual losses” that have “proved unsustainable” in a “capital-intensive global streaming environment.” The board’s decision underscores a brutal new reality: in the war for viewers’ attention, even a homegrown giant could not withstand the financial firepower of…
Nedbank has released its unaudited interim results for the year to December 2025, revealing robust growth driven by its digital ecosystem. With over 700,000 Nedbank Greenbacks members registered on the Avo platform, Greenbacks gross merchant value (GMV) grew by 35%. This surge was supported by key platform enhancements in 2025, including trade-ins, Instant EFT, and an upgraded Travel experience. Since launching the Avo SuperShop in 2020, more than 24,000 businesses have registered to sell their products and services through the platform. Avo Auto has also excelled, surpassing R1bn in cars sold to date. On the financial front, Nedbank Group’s diluted…