Vodacom Group Limited

Corporate brand

A South African-headquartered telecommunications and financial-services group operating mobile, broadband, enterprise, digital and fintech businesses across Africa.

Last updated October 14, 2026

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Overview

Vodacom Group Limited is a South African telecommunications and technology group headquartered in Midrand, Gauteng. It is best known through the Vodacom consumer brand, which provides mobile voice, messaging, data, broadband and digital services. The group also operates enterprise connectivity and managed services, cloud and information-technology solutions, device financing, mobile financial services, insurance-related products, digital platforms and other technology offerings. Its stated purpose is to connect people for a better future, with strategic emphasis on connectivity, financial inclusion, digitalisation, customer experience and sustainable business practices. The business was created in the early 1990s through a partnership involving South Africa's Telkom and Vodafone. Vodacom was incorporated in 1993 and began commercial operations in 1994. Alan Knott-Craig is generally identified as the founder and was the group's founding chief executive. The original business focused on building South Africa's mobile network, but Vodacom subsequently expanded across Southern, Central, North and East Africa. Its operating footprint includes South Africa, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia, while Vodacom Business Africa supplies managed services to enterprise customers in a wider group of African countries. Vodacom became a public company and was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 2009. Vodafone Group has remained its controlling shareholder. The relationship with Vodafone has provided access to international technology, procurement, roaming, operating expertise and capital, while Vodacom has developed an increasingly pan-African identity and operating model. The group has also built substantial exposure to financial services, particularly through mobile-money and digital-payment products. Its African financial-services portfolio includes M-Pesa-related activities, VodaPay in South Africa and Vodafone Cash in Egypt, alongside lending, insurance, payments and other financial products offered through local operating companies. A major turning point came with the expansion of the group's stake in Safaricom. Vodacom holds its interest through Vodafone Kenya and historically accounted for Safaricom as an associate. In 2025 the group announced an agreement to increase its effective interest in Safaricom, and in June 2026 announced completion of the additional 20% effective stake, taking its effective holding to approximately 55% and enabling consolidation of Safaricom. Safaricom gives Vodacom a major position in Kenya and Ethiopia and strengthens its exposure to M-Pesa, enterprise technology and East African digital services. Another major strategic transaction was the acquisition of a 55% interest in Vodafone Egypt, completed in December 2022. The transaction brought one of Africa's largest mobile operators into the Vodacom group and materially increased the group's geographic scale, customer base and exposure to digital financial services. Vodacom has also expanded into fixed connectivity and fibre through its strategic investment in Maziv, a South African fibre business. Vodacom's current strategy combines network leadership with growth beyond traditional mobile services. The group is investing in 4G and 5G networks, fibre, broadband, digital platforms, enterprise technology, artificial intelligence, financial services and affordable smartphone access. Its stated Vision 2030 programme seeks to use scale across connectivity, financial services and technology while improving customer loyalty and operating efficiency. The company remains active, publicly listed and headquartered in South Africa, with Shameel Joosub as group chief executive and Raisibe Morathi as group chief financial officer.

History

Vodacom emerged from South Africa's early mobile-communications liberalisation. The company was incorporated in South Africa in 1993 as Vodacom (Proprietary) Limited and began commercial operations in 1994. Alan Knott-Craig, previously involved in mobile communications at Telkom, is widely identified as the founder. The original business was established through a partnership involving Telkom and Vodafone, combining local telecommunications infrastructure and market knowledge with Vodafone's international mobile expertise. During its first phase, Vodacom concentrated on building a nationwide cellular network and establishing the Vodacom brand in South Africa. It expanded from basic voice and messaging into prepaid services, mobile data, internet access, enterprise communications and handset distribution. The growth of mobile penetration and prepaid usage made Vodacom one of the most prominent telecommunications brands in the South African market. The company also developed major sponsorship, community-investment and digital-inclusion programmes that helped connect the brand with sport, education, health and social development. Vodacom's international expansion accelerated during the 2000s and 2010s. The group established or acquired interests in mobile operations in Tanzania, Mozambique, Lesotho and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It also became an important shareholder in Kenya's Safaricom through Vodafone Kenya. These investments broadened the group's operating model from a South African mobile operator into a regional African telecommunications group. Vodacom's international operations generally combine local operating companies, shared technical capabilities, group procurement, common technology platforms and country-specific commercial strategies. Vodacom was converted into a public company and listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 2009. Vodafone became its controlling shareholder, while Vodacom retained a South African listing and local corporate identity. The company continued to invest in mobile broadband, smartphones, fibre, enterprise services and digital platforms. Its business scope expanded beyond network access as data usage increased and customers began using mobile devices for commerce, banking, entertainment, education and work. Financial services became a central part of the group's growth agenda. Vodacom developed mobile-money and digital-payment capabilities across its markets, including M-Pesa-related services, Vodafone Cash in Egypt and VodaPay in South Africa. It also introduced lending, insurance, device financing and other services intended to reduce barriers to formal financial participation. This evolution positioned Vodacom as a technology and financial-inclusion company as well as a conventional mobile-network operator. In 2022 Vodacom completed the acquisition of a 55% interest in Vodafone Egypt from Vodafone Group. Vodafone Egypt was subsequently consolidated into the group and gave Vodacom a substantial presence in North Africa. The transaction increased geographic diversification and strengthened the group's financial-services and digital-services opportunities. The group also pursued fixed connectivity and fibre. Its strategic investment in Maziv was intended to support open-access fibre deployment in South Africa and improve access to higher-quality broadband, including in historically underserved areas. At the same time, Vodacom continued rolling out 4G and 5G networks, expanding broadband and investing in enterprise connectivity, cloud, cybersecurity, Internet of Things and managed services. In 2025 Vodacom introduced Vision 2030, a long-term strategy centred on customer loyalty, growth beyond mobile, digital and financial inclusion, AI-powered operations and technology leadership. The strategy was reinforced by a proposed increase in the group's effective holding in Safaricom. In June 2026 Vodacom announced completion of the additional 20% effective Safaricom stake, bringing its effective holding to approximately 55% and allowing Safaricom to be consolidated. The transaction increased Vodacom's scale in Kenya and Ethiopia and strengthened its position in East African connectivity, fintech and enterprise technology. Vodacom's contemporary identity is therefore the result of several overlapping transformations: from a South African cellular start-up to a listed regional group; from voice-led mobile services to data, broadband and digital platforms; and from connectivity alone to a broader technology, financial-services and inclusion model. The company remains headquartered in Midrand, South Africa, operates across multiple African markets and is controlled by Vodafone Group Plc.

2026
Safaricom effective holding increased to approximately 55%
[10]Vodacom Group Strengthens East Africa Presencevodacom.com
Vodacom completed the acquisition of an additional 20% effective interest in Safaricom and announced that Safaricom would be consolidated.
2025
Vision 2030 introduced
[16]Vision 2030 introducedvodacom.com
Vodacom presented Vision 2030, a strategy focused on customer loyalty, growth beyond mobile, inclusion and AI-enabled operations.
2022
Vodafone Egypt acquisition completed
[9]Vodacom Group Completes Purchase of 55% Stake in Vodafone Egyptvodacom.com
Vodacom completed the acquisition of a 55% stake in Vodafone Egypt.
2021
VodaPay introduced
[15]VodaPay introducedvodacom.com
Vodacom launched VodaPay as a South African super-app combining payments, commerce and partner services.
2020
Raisibe Morathi becomes Group CFO
[3]Vodacom Group Executive Committeevodacom.com
Raisibe Morathi took office as Vodacom Group CFO on 1 November 2020.
2017
Safaricom investment completed
[14]Safaricom investment completedvodacom.com
Vodacom finalised its strategic investment in Safaricom, creating a major East African growth platform.
2009
Johannesburg Stock Exchange listing
[4]Vodacom Investor Relations FAQsvodacom.com
Vodacom became a publicly listed company on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
2006
3G network expansion
[13]3G network expansionvodacom.com
Vodacom launched a 3G HSDPA network in South Africa, supporting the transition from voice-led mobile use to mobile broadband.
1994
Commercial launch of Vodacom
[1]Vodacomen.wikipedia.org
Vodacom began commercial mobile operations in South Africa and established the Vodacom consumer brand.
1993
Vodacom incorporated in South Africa
[12]Vodacom incorporated in South Africavodacom.com
Vodacom was incorporated as Vodacom (Proprietary) Limited, establishing the corporate foundation for the future group.

Products and positioning

Vodacom positions itself as a purpose-led African technology company rather than only a mobile-network operator. Its competitive proposition combines large-scale mobile connectivity with digital financial services, enterprise technology, broadband, device affordability and social-impact programmes. The brand emphasizes inclusion, accessible smartphones, lower barriers to digital participation, customer value, network quality and the use of technology to improve economic and social outcomes.

Mobile telecommunications · 1994
Mobile voice and messaging
Vodacom's foundational consumer offering includes prepaid and contract voice, SMS, roaming and related mobile-access services. These products remain important traffic and customer-acquisition channels even as the group shifts toward data, digital platforms and financial services.
Mobile broadband
Mobile data and 4G/5G connectivity
Vodacom provides mobile internet through 4G and 5G networks, supported by prepaid bundles, contract plans, device offers and content-related propositions. Mobile broadband is central to the group's strategy for increasing smartphone adoption and enabling digital participation across its African markets.
Fixed connectivity
Vodacom Fibre and broadband
The group provides fixed broadband and fibre services, especially in South Africa, for households, businesses and other organisations. Its fixed-connectivity strategy is supported by investments and partnerships in open-access fibre infrastructure and by the broader expansion of converged connectivity.
Digital financial services · 2021
VodaPay
VodaPay is Vodacom's South African digital platform and super-app. It combines payments and financial functionality with shopping, partner services and other digital experiences, reflecting Vodacom's effort to build a broader consumer ecosystem around connectivity.
Mobile money
M-Pesa-related services
Through its African portfolio and strategic relationship with Safaricom, Vodacom participates in mobile-money services associated with M-Pesa. These services support payments, transfers, merchant activity, savings, credit and other forms of financial inclusion, particularly in markets where traditional banking access is limited.
Mobile money
Vodafone Cash
Vodafone Cash is a digital financial-services platform offered in Egypt. It supports mobile payments and money transfers and forms part of Vodacom's enlarged fintech and financial-inclusion portfolio following the acquisition of Vodafone Egypt.
Enterprise technology
Vodacom Business
Vodacom Business serves enterprises, governments and small and medium-sized businesses with connectivity, managed networks, cloud, cybersecurity, IoT, unified communications, hosting, carrier services and other technology solutions. Through Vodacom Business Africa, the group serves customers beyond its directly operated mobile markets.
Devices and financial inclusion
Device financing and digital inclusion offers
Vodacom supports smartphone adoption through affordable devices, subsidies, open-market retail channels, flexible instalment plans and device financing. These offers are designed to lower the cost barrier to mobile broadband and expand participation in the digital economy.

Marketing campaigns

2021Unlock Summer
South Africa
A Vodacom consumer promotion built around summer offers, rewards and prizes.
Outcome. The campaign was used to support customer engagement and seasonal commercial activity.
Source
2020RedLovesGreen
South Africa
A sustainability and circularity programme encouraging device return, repair, reuse and recycling while linking the Vodacom brand with environmental action.
Outcome. The programme became part of Vodacom's broader environmental strategy and customer and partner engagement around electronic waste and resource efficiency.
Source
2019Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards
South Africa
An annual journalism recognition programme supporting reporting and public discussion across South Africa.
Outcome. The awards continued as a recurring corporate-affairs and social-investment initiative.
Source
2019Gender-based violence awareness campaign
South Africa
Vodacom supported an annual campaign and march addressing gender-based violence and encouraging men to challenge violent behaviour.
Outcome. The programme formed part of Vodacom's social-impact and public-awareness activities.
Source
2017#CodeLikeAGirl
South Africa · Egypt · Kenya · Tanzania · Mozambique · Lesotho · Democratic Republic of the Congo
A digital-skills and coding initiative designed to encourage girls and young women to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.
Outcome. Vodacom reported continued demand and expansion of the programme across African markets.
Source

Brand decisions

2025
Introduction of Vision 2030Strategy
Background
Vodacom aimed to respond to slowing traditional mobile growth by increasing the contribution of services beyond mobile connectivity.
Action taken
The group introduced Vision 2030, focusing on customer loyalty, connectivity leadership, digital and financial inclusion, AI-powered operations and technology leadership.
Aftermath
The strategy provided the framework for subsequent Safaricom consolidation, fibre expansion and growth in fintech and enterprise services.
Source
2025
Agreement to increase the effective Safaricom holdingM&A
Background
Vodacom sought controlling exposure to Safaricom to deepen its East African connectivity and fintech platform.
Action taken
Vodacom agreed to acquire an additional effective 20% interest in Safaricom through purchases from the Government of Kenya and Vodafone Group.
Aftermath
Completion in 2026 increased Vodacom's effective holding to approximately 55% and enabled consolidation of Safaricom.
Transaction consideration. Approximately US$2.1 billion (Announced December 2025; completed June 2026)
Source
2025
Strategic investment in MazivM&A
Background
Vodacom identified fixed broadband and fibre as important complements to mobile connectivity and digital inclusion.
Action taken
Vodacom implemented a strategic investment in Maziv, a South African fibre business, following regulatory approval.
Aftermath
The transaction was intended to accelerate open-access fibre deployment and expand high-quality connectivity in underserved communities.
Source
2022
Acquisition of a 55% interest in Vodafone EgyptM&A
Background
Vodacom sought to increase geographic diversification and strengthen its position in African connectivity and financial services.
Action taken
Vodacom acquired a 55% interest in Vodafone Egypt from Vodafone Group and began consolidating the business.
Aftermath
The transaction materially expanded Vodacom's customer base and presence in North Africa while increasing Vodafone Group's ownership of Vodacom.
Equity consideration and cash consideration. Approximately R48.1 billion in equity consideration plus approximately R10.8 billion in cash consideration (Transaction completed December 2022)
Source
2021
Launch of VodaPayProduct launch
Background
Vodacom was expanding beyond mobile connectivity into digital commerce, payments and financial services.
Action taken
Vodacom launched VodaPay as a South African super-app for payments, shopping and partner services.
Aftermath
VodaPay became a central consumer-facing element of Vodacom's South African fintech strategy.
Source
2017
Strategic investment in SafaricomM&A
Background
Vodacom sought greater exposure to East African telecommunications and mobile-money growth through its relationship with Vodafone Kenya and Safaricom.
Action taken
Vodacom completed a strategic investment in Safaricom and subsequently accounted for the company as an associate.
Aftermath
Safaricom became a major strategic asset and a separately reported component of Vodacom's African portfolio.
Source
2009
Public listing on the Johannesburg Stock ExchangeStrategy
Background
Vodacom sought a public-market structure while retaining Vodafone as its controlling shareholder and maintaining a South African corporate identity.
Action taken
Vodacom listed its ordinary shares on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange under the symbol VOD.
Aftermath
The listing provided a South African public-market platform and established Vodacom as a major listed telecommunications company.
Source

Recent events

2026
Vodacom completes acquisition of additional effective stake in Safaricom[10]Vodacom Group Strengthens East Africa Presencevodacom.com
M&A · strategy
Vodacom announced completion of the additional 20% effective Safaricom stake, increasing its effective holding to approximately 55% and enabling consolidation of Safaricom.
2026
Vodacom reports FY2026 results and customer growth[11]Vodacom Group FY2026 Resultsvodacom.com
Other
Vodacom reported strong FY2026 results, including growth in revenue, EBITDA, financial-services revenue and its combined customer base, while highlighting Safaricom consolidation and Vision 2030 execution.
2025
Vodacom announces Vision 2030 strategy[16]Vision 2030 introducedvodacom.com
strategy
The group presented Vision 2030 as a long-term strategy focused on customer loyalty, growth beyond mobile, financial and digital-services inclusion, AI-enabled operations and technology leadership.
2025
Vodacom announces strategic investment in Maziv[18]Strategic investment in Mazivvodacom.com
M&A · strategy
Vodacom announced implementation of a strategic transaction involving Maziv, a South African fibre business, intended to support expanded open-access fibre deployment and broader fixed-connectivity availability.
2025
Vodacom announces agreement to increase its effective stake in Safaricom[16]Vision 2030 introducedvodacom.com
M&A · strategy
Vodacom announced an agreement to acquire a further effective 20% interest in Safaricom through purchases from the Government of Kenya and Vodafone Group, subject to conditions and approvals.
2022
Vodacom completes acquisition of a 55% interest in Vodafone Egypt[9]Vodacom Group Completes Purchase of 55% Stake in Vodafone Egyptvodacom.com
M&A · Other
Vodacom completed the acquisition of a 55% stake in Vodafone Egypt from Vodafone Group after regulatory and procedural conditions were satisfied. The transaction expanded Vodacom's scale in North Africa and increased Vodafone Group's holding in Vodacom.
2021
Vodacom launches VodaPay super-app[15]VodaPay introducedvodacom.com
Product launch · Other
Vodacom introduced VodaPay as a South African digital platform combining payments, commerce and access to partner services.
2020
Vodacom appoints Raisibe Morathi as Group Chief Financial Officer[3]Vodacom Group Executive Committeevodacom.com
Leadership change
Raisibe Morathi became Vodacom Group CFO with effect from 1 November 2020, succeeding the outgoing finance leadership after Till Streichert's departure.
2019
Vodacom CFO Till Streichert announces departure[19]Vodacom CFO Till Streichert announces departurevodacom.com
Leadership change
Vodacom announced that CFO Till Streichert would leave the group in 2020 to pursue an external opportunity.

Sources19 sources

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