By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
ICASA has given the final approval needed to greenlight Vodacom’s acquisition of a stake in Maziv, Vumatel’s parent company.
Vodacom confirmed in a statement to investors on Wednesday that the transaction now has the green light from communications regulator Icasa. The company said all conditions precedent have been met, paving the way for implementation on 1 December 2025.
The announcement ends years of uncertainty surrounding one of South Africa’s most significant telecoms infrastructure transactions.
Remgro holds a 57% stake in Community Ventures Investment Holdings (CIVH), of which Maziv is a subsidiary. Maziv was established primarily to facilitate the transaction.
Maziv holds the assets of fibre network operator Vumatel and open-access backhaul provider Dark Fibre Africa.
After 20 months of negotiations with the Competition Commission over conditions to attach to the transaction to address anti-competitive concerns, the regulator rejected the deal.
The Competition Commission recommended in August 2023 that the transaction be prohibited. Vodacom and CIVH resolved to make their case before the Competition Tribunal, which blocked the deal in October 2024.
This prompted backlash from the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition, Parks Tau, who said several important public interest conditions were attached to the transaction that would no longer be realised.
Tau joined Vodacom and Remgro’s application to the Competition Appeal Court to challenge the Tribunal’s decision.
Vodacom and Maziv had committed to a significant rollout of broadband infrastructure in previously underserved areas and to providing free services to schools and police stations.