Author: Loni Prinsloo

MTN Group said its Iranian business is still able to achieve strong sales growth in the short term, even as the unit battles to overcome ongoing US sanctions and the rapid spread of the coronavirus.

A labour union is trying to prevent Telkom from continuing with a plan to cut as much as 20% of its workforce to cope with falling sales in its landline business and a weak South African economy.

SAP Africa’s head said the German software company is battling to complete investigations after allegations its employees paid kickbacks for government business in East and Southern Africa.

Vodacom Group sees its African financial services business as a cornerstone of growth as the wireless carrier expands into products such as funeral insurance and loans of as little as $2.

Vodacom is in talks with Cell C about taking on the smaller rival’s contract-paying mobile phone customers, a move that would strengthen its position as South Africa’s telecommunications market leader, sources said.

Cell C’s creditors aren’t giving up on a takeover offer from rival Telkom, which South Africa’s third largest mobile network operator rejected last week.

Shares of Vodacom Group and MTN Group slumped after South Africa’s two biggest mobile phone companies were ordered to step up efforts to lower data prices within the next two months or face prosecution.

Naspers unlocked about R150-billion of value for shareholders through the separate listing of its Internet businesses, and with that done is now focusing on bulking up in online food deliveries.

Telkom wants to buy Cell C in a plan that will include reducing its troubled rival’s debt and renegotiating contracts with suppliers, according to people with knowledge of the situation.

MTN Group is in advanced talks to sell stakes in tower assets in Ghana and Uganda worth as much as R8-billion as Africa’s largest wireless carrier looks to accelerate a broader disposal plan.