Vodacom South Africa has received final regulatory approval to acquire a co-controlling stake in Maziv, a major fibre infrastructure provider that operates Vumatel and Dark Fibre Africa. The decision marks the conclusion of a three-and-a-half-year regulatory process, clearing the way for a significant capital injection into Maziv’s operations.
The approval, confirmed on August 14, 2025 by Pieter Uys, Chairman of Maziv, was granted by the Competition Appeal Court, following a complex legal and regulatory journey. While the court has authorized the transaction, Maziv is awaiting further procedural details before issuing additional commentary.
The acquisition faced several hurdles over the years. Initially, the Competition Commission recommended blocking the deal, citing concerns over reduced competition in South Africa’s fibre market. However, after Vodacom and Maziv proposed a series of remedies to mitigate competitive risks, the commission reversed its stance and endorsed the transaction.
The matter escalated when the Competition Tribunal rejected the merger, prompting Vodacom and Maziv to appeal. In a rare turn of events, the Competition Appeal Court was left to deliberate without opposition from the commission, which had already shifted its position in favor of the deal.
Judge Norman Manoim, presiding over the appeal, described the situation as unusual, noting that the court received a detailed critique of the tribunal’s decision but no rebuttal from the regulator. This left the court to assess the merits of the appeal based solely on the arguments presented by the merging parties.
Maziv’s legal counsel, Jerome Wilson, argued that the revised agreement between the commission and the merging parties should be viewed as supplementary, not a replacement of the original deal. He maintained that the tribunal had misinterpreted key evidence, including testimony from Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub and various internal reports.
Vodacom and Maziv also accused the tribunal of selectively using data to support a predetermined conclusion, and of failing to consider the broader context of the merger’s potential benefits, particularly in expanding fibre access to underserved communities.
With the acquisition now approved, Maziv is set to receive substantial new capital that will accelerate its fibre rollout across South Africa, with a strong emphasis on townships and underserved areas. This aligns with Maziv’s long-standing mission to build inclusive digital infrastructure and expand high-speed internet access to more communities.
The deal positions Vodacom and Maziv to play a leading role in shaping South Africa’s digital future, while also setting a precedent for how complex mergers in the telecom sector can be navigated through regulatory collaboration and strategic compromise.
