Vodacom finally bags 30% stake in Maziv after four years

On Techpoint Digest, we discuss Vodacom's 30% stake in Maziv, why African teenagers are deeply connected to AI, and the court's dismissal of Tigran Gambaryan's lawsuit against the EFCC.

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Vodacom finally bags 30% stake in Maziv after four years

Why African teens are bonding deeply with AI

Court dismisses Tigran Gambaryan’s suit against EFCC

Vodacom finally bags 30% stake in Maziv after four years

After years of regulatory hurdles and legal battles, Vodacom has finally landed full approval to acquire a 30% stake in Maziv, the holding company behind South Africa’s major fibre-network players Vumatel and Dark Fibre Africa (DFA). The green light from the communications regulator ICASA was confirmed this week, with Vodacom saying all outstanding conditions precedent have been satisfied. The deal is due to be implemented on Monday, December 1, 2025.

This marks the end of a four-year journey that started in 2021. The transaction was repeatedly blocked, first by competition authorities, then by courts, on concerns that combining South Africa’s largest mobile operator with the dominant fibre infrastructure group could stifle competition. But after an appeal, new conditions and commitments, the regulatory path cleared, culminating in ICASA’s approval.

For Vodacom, this is much more than a financial investment; it’s a strategic pivot. With a direct stake in Maziv, Vodacom will now straddle both mobile networks and fixed-fibre infrastructure. That gives it huge leverage to offer bundled broadband, mobile and data services, and integrate fibre deep into its network architecture. Telecom analysts believe this could reshape the sector’s competitive dynamics almost overnight.

For consumers and South Africa’s connectivity aspirations, this could be a big win. Maziv has already committed to expanding fibre access, including targeting more than 8,000 previously “unconnected” mobile towers for fibre backhaul, a move that could significantly boost reach, especially in underserved or semi-rural areas. Combined with Vodacom’s scale, it may catalyse faster broadband rollout, better reliability, and possibl...