Author: Gugu Lourie

In a bold move to reinvent itself, the South African Post Office (SAPO) is officially opening its doors to strategic partners, with plans to launch a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), a network of e-commerce pick-up points, and even lease its building rooftops for telecom towers. This initiative, driven by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), marks a fundamental shift for the embattled state-owned entity as it attempts to pivot from a traditional mail service to a modern, hybrid logistics and digital platform provider. The DCDT has published a Request for Information (RFI), inviting private and public sector…

Telkom Consumer has reported robust financial performance for the six months to end September 2025, revealing a clear winning formula: its prepaid segment and data-led strategy are the twin engines driving substantial growth. For the 11th consecutive quarter, the mobile business has achieved market-leading service revenue growth, with operating revenue climbing 6.4% to R14.25 billion. The numbers emphasises a successful penetration of the mass market. Total mobile subscribers grew by 7.7% to 24.5 million, fuelled by a 9% jump in prepaid subscribers to 21.6 million. More critically, the mobile data subscriber base exploded by 26.7% to 18.5 million, now representing…

In a clear demonstration of strategic execution, Telkom has published robust financial results for the six months ended 30 September 2025. The figures reveal a company successfully monetizing its extensive network infrastructure, transforming its data-led strategy into sustained profit growth and a remarkable surge in its mobile,. fibre and IT businesses. The Group’s commitment to delivering quality earnings is reflected across key metrics. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 7.4%, a key indicator of improved operational performance. The EBITDA margin strengthened by 1.0 percentage point to 27.2%, slightly above the top end of the group’s medium-term…

Vodacom Group has announced a key agreement with Starlink, the world’s largest satellite broadband provider, to deliver high-speed, low-latency broadband internet to millions of businesses across Africa and to expand rural network coverage. A key requirement for the service to launch in South Africa, and other markets, is the completion of individual regulatory approvals. Asked in which markets would this partnership apply, a  Vodacom spokesperson stated: “We aim to launch these services across our footprint once individual regulatory approvals are completed, including South Africa. “Individual market announcements will be made as and when the requisite approvals are obtained. “The master agreement…

While the world accelerates into an AI-driven future, a profound connectivity gap threatens to leave Africa behind. But looking closer, the blueprint for continental digital transformation isn’t found in foreign boardrooms. It was written right here, in South Africa, through Telkom’s decades-long journey to build the backbone of our digital economy. Africa faces a stark reality of only 38% of Africans being connected. The reasons are complex – prohibitive device costs, fragmented regulation, and infrastructural deserts. But the consequence is simple to understand. Without connectivity, Africa cannot compete. I believe Telkom’s transformation offers a great case study. It appears that…

In a landmark move set to redefine the nation’s financial landscape, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has officially become a 50% shareholder in PayInc, the company formerly known as BankservAfrica. This strategic investment, finalised on 11 November 2025, transforms PayInc into a national payments utility and marks a pivotal step in the country’s payments modernization journey. The transaction establishes a unique public-private partnership, jointly owned by the central bank and South Africa’s major commercial banks. This new structure is designed to build a more secure, efficient, and inclusive digital payments ecosystem, aiming to enable greater economic participation for all…

A2X Markets has welcomed the Competition Commission’s landmark decision to recommend referring allegations of anti-competitive behaviour by the JSE to the Competition Tribunal. This follows a comprehensive, three-year industry-wide investigation. For over a century, a single player has dominated South Africa’s equity market. Kevin Brady, CEO of A2X, states the consequences are clear: “fewer listings, stagnant liquidity, and rising costs that deter both issuers and investors.” Said Brady, “We believe this referral validates what we have been saying: that South Africa’s financial markets have been held back by the JSE’s anti-competitive practices that ultimately harm investors, listed companies and competitor…

The humming of a laptop fan was the only sound in the small bedroom on a farm in East London, South Africa. The farm was a world away from the famed innovation hub, Silicon Valley, but for a young Jadon Moerdyk, it was a launchpad. Fast forward to today, and that persistent laptop humming has become the underlying rhythm of RemodelBoom, a multi-national performance marketing agency driving tens of millions in revenue for nearly 300 US home-improvement brands. At 27, Moerdyk isn’t just selling home renovations; he’s selling a radical new blueprint for the modern company. His success story is…

Vodacom Group has announced resilient set of interim results, demonstrating robust financial health as headline earnings per share (HEPS) – South Africa’s main profit gauge – umped 32.3% to 467 cents. This impressive growth came even after the company absorbed a one-off cost related to settling the longstanding “Please Call Me” case. The telecom giant’s diversified portfolio, particularly its explosive growth in Egypt and its financial services arm, proved to be the primary engines for this performance. Vodacom’s strategic investments outside its home market of South Africa paid significant dividends. Its operation in Egypt was a standout performer, posting a…

In a move that closes one of the most protracted chapters in South African tech history, Vodacom Group has reached an out-of-court settlement with Nkosana Makate, the inventor of the “Please Call Me” service. Shareholders were notified that on 4 November 2025, the Vodacom Board approved a settlement agreement, finally drawing a line under the 25-year-old dispute. The announcement signals a strategic decision to avoid further legal appeals and secure closure for both parties. “The parties are glad that finality has been reached in this regard,” the statement read, marking a stark contrast to the years of litigation that saw…