Pretoria - The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) hereby confirms the finalisation of the transfer of control of the Individual Electronic Communications Service (I-ECS) and Individual Electronic Communications Network Service (I-ECNS) licences held by NEWCO (now called “Maziv”), integrating Vodacom (Pty) Ltd (“Vodacom”) as a minority controlling shareholder in NEWCO.
On 21 October 2022, the Authority approved the transfer of ownership of Dark Fibre Africa (Pty) Ltd’s (“DFA”)’s I-ECS and I-ECNS licences to NEWCO, and the transfer of control applications from NEWCO to Vodacom. The Authority’s approval of the Licence Control Transfer was subject to the condition precedent that NEWCO accepts, or NEWCO and the Authority agree upon, the following licence conditions that the Authority had determined need to be imposed upon NEWCO’s I-ECNS licence:
- Inclusion of open access conditions in the I-ECNS licence;
- Inclusion of a 40% ownership limitation on Vodacom's shareholding; and
- A requirement that the directors appointed or nominated to the board of NEWCO by Vodacom shall not, cumulatively exercise more voting rights than those cumulatively exercised by the directors appointed or nominated by Community Investment Ventures Holdings (CIVH).
ICASA and NEWCO completed the negotiations in relation to the I-ECNS licence conditions referred to in paragraph 2 above, in early November 2025. The amended I-ECS and I-ECNS licences were approved by Council on 20 November 2025 and issued to NEWCO on 21 November 2025.
ICASA’s assessment considered the promotion of competition in the sector, the interest of consumers and ensuring equity ownership by Historically Disadvantaged Persons (HDPs). “ICASA found that the transaction is in the public interest and is expected to bring meaningful benefits to consumers and the broader public. These include better broadband coverage, empowerment of SMMEs and increased investment in network infrastructure”, said Councillor Karabo Mohale, Chairperson of DFA Council Committee.
“The transaction is expected to strengthen competition in the market, wherein Vodacom’s fibre network will be made available on an open-access basis, which will help expand network capacity”, added Cllr Mohale.
The reasons for the Authority’s decision on the applications are available on the ICASA’s website.
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