Author: Gugu Lourie

French media giant Group Canal+ has all but completed its takeover of MultiChoice, It has securied a 94.39% of the South African pay-TV group’s issued shares following the close of its mandatory offer to shareholders. The company has also confirmed it will proceed with the compulsory acquisition of remaining shares and delist MultiChoice from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). The mandatory offer, which closed on 10 October 2025, was accepted by shareholders holding approximately 92.54% of the shares not already owned by Canal+. With this overwhelming success, Canal+ will now invoke provisions of the Companies Act to compulsorily acquire all remaining…

South Africans are working harder than ever to stretch every rand. In a climate of rising costs, a new e-commerce player, The Hawker, is transforming the refurbished and pre-owned market into a destination of trust, pride, and smart value. More than just an online store, The Hawker is building a value brand designed for South Africans, combining affordability, transparency, and an authentic local identity. It tackles the growing need for affordable essentials head-on by curating a range of electronics, appliances, and gadgets, all meticulously graded for condition. “South Africans work hard for every rand. With The Hawker, we give people…

Forget the search bar. The future of ecommerce is an  artificial intelligence (AI) that understands what you want, even when you can’t quite put it into words. Global tech investor Prosus has just launched its Large Commerce Model (LCM), an agentic AI system designed to completely replace traditional search and recommendation engines. Trained on a unique global database from its portfolio of companies, the LCM continually learns from over 500 million users and trillions of data points. Prosus calls it a “new operating system for ecommerce” – a single, integrated model that powers everything from basic search to hyper-personalised recommendations.…

In a major breakthrough for renewable energy in Africa, the SOLA Group has announced the successful and early launch of the Springbok Solar Power Project. The 195-megawatt (MW) facility is the continent’s first multi-buyer, flexible energy wheeling plant. Delivered ahead of schedule, the project is a significant step in modernizing South Africa’s grid and creates a new model for large-scale solar development. It allows multiple companies to buy power from a single plant with flexible contract lengths, a first for the region. A Pioneering Model for Clean Energy This project brings SOLA Group’s total operational portfolio to 464 MWp, making…

Optasia, a major AI-powered financial technology platform, has announced a big step: it’s planning to list its shares on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and raise a significant amount of money from investors. The company is a global leader in providing instant financial services, especially in emerging markets. It uses artificial intelligence (AI) to offer loans and other solutions to people who are often overlooked by traditional banks. Key Facts About Optasia: Massive Reach: It operates in 38 countries and has about 121 million active users every month. High Volume: Its systems process over 32 million loan transactions every single day. Big…

Axiz, a leading technology distributor in Africa, today announced a distribution partnership with Nasdaq-listed Equinix, a global digital infrastructure company . The agreement expands Axiz’s portfolio by making Equinix’s data centre and interconnection solutions available to partners and customers across South Africa and the wider African region. The partnership links Axiz’s established distribution network with Equinix’s global infrastructure solutions. Businesses will gain access to colocation services at the Johannesburg IBX data centre (JN1), the Equinix Fabric® software-defined interconnection service, and the wider Equinix ecosystem of cloud providers, networks, and enterprises. Axiz said the agreement strengthens its portfolio and enables its…

Here’s a simple idea for the new bosses at Canal+: sometimes, the smartest way to win is to make your world less complicated. The French media giant has just bought MultiChoice, and with it, control of Africa’s pay-TV landscape. But the highly publicised purchase comes with a problem; a needless, self-inflicted one. Buried inside this deal are two streaming services – DStv Stream and Showmax – essentially competing for the same customers. This isn’t a strategic move; it’s a classic case of what economists call inefficiency. Think of it like owning two bakeries on the same street, selling similar bread…

In a major move that reshapes the European online classifieds landscape, OLX Group has agreed to acquire leading French auto platform La Centrale for €1.1 billion, signaling a major push into Western Europe powered by artificial intelligence. The deal, expected to close by year-end, grants OLX an immediate leading position in France’s large and dynamic used car market. The acquisition is a strategic leap for OLX, which operates thriving marketplaces in Central and Eastern Europe. La Centrale, with its strong brand recognition, deep dealer relationships, and approximately 4.5 million monthly unique visitors, provides the perfect entry point into Western Europe.…

In a major move signaling the rising strategic importance of emerging markets, PayPal has pledged a landmark $100 million investment to fuel the digital revolution across the Middle East and Africa. This substantial commitment, announced from its regional hub in Dubai, is designed to supercharge one of the world’s fastest-growing digital commerce landscapes. The funds will be strategically channeled to empower local entrepreneurs, accelerate the growth of small and medium-sized businesses, and integrate millions of new users into the digital financial ecosystem, positioning PayPal at the forefront of the region’s unprecedented economic transformation. “The Middle East and Africa are home…

In a move that reshapes the African media landscape, French conglomerate Canal+ has officially assumed control of MultiChoice Group (MCG) after its mandatory takeover offer was declared unconditional. The completion triggers a sweeping executive overhaul, creating a new integrated leadership structure for its expansive African operations. Maxime Saada, CEO of CANAL+ said: “Today marks an important step forward for CANAL+, as we begin to integrate MultiChoice to create a group with enhanced scale, reach and creativity… I look forward to providing the market with a more detailed update on the strategy of our combined group during the first quarter of next…