The South African Competition Appeal Court has approved Vodacom’s plan to acquire a 30% interest in fibre network operator Maziv, bringing an end to a prolonged regulatory battle over the deal.
The court’s ruling follows the Competition Commission’s decision in July 2025 to withdraw its opposition to the transaction. In a notice to shareholders via the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), Vodacom said it was pleased with the outcome, noting that the approval came with a set of revised conditions jointly proposed by the merging parties and the commission.
Vodacom first secured conditional approval from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) in November 2022. However, the transaction still requires ICASA’s unconditional approval before it can be implemented.
Maziv, majority-owned by Remgro, is the parent company of fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) leader Vumatel and wholesale infrastructure provider Dark Fibre Africa. The acquisition process has spanned three and a half years, marked by regulatory scrutiny, legal challenges, and negotiations over competition concerns.
Cause of appeal
Initially, the Competition Commission recommended blocking the deal, citing risks to competition in the FTTH and fixed-wireless broadband markets. The Competition Tribunal upheld this view in October 2024, following the commission’s earlier August 2023 recommendation. That decision prompted South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition to lodge an appeal.
Vodacom and Maziv later introduced additional safeguards aimed at preserving competition, including commitments to open access and infrastructure sharing. These measures led the commission to reverse its stance earlier this year and endorse the merger.
Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub welcomed the court’s decision, describing it as a milestone in the company’s strategy to close South Africa’s digital divide and expand connectivity to underserved households and businesses.
The deal will see Vodacom inject billions of rand into Maziv, accelerating fibre rollout nationwide, with a particular focus on township and rural areas. Under the agreed conditions, Maziv must keep its network open to all internet service providers, allowing smaller players to compete without building their own infrastructure.
The company is also required to provide free fibre connections to public libraries, clinics, and police stations as part of its digital inclusion pledge. Originally announced in November 2021, the transaction now appears close to completion pending ICASA’s final sign-off after surviving one of the most contested telecoms merger reviews in recent years.