Vodacom Group led by South African govt Shameel Joosub, has signed a clear power settlement with impartial energy producer SOLA Group, taking an vital step towards lowering its reliance on South Africa’s overburdened nationwide grid. The corporate additionally launched a digital wheeling answer, permitting companies to entry renewable electrical energy from impartial producers by way of the grid.
Vodacom’s subsidiary Mezzanine designed the digital platform powering the system, with the primary provide coming from SOLA’s Virginia-based photo voltaic plant within the Free State. “Digital wheeling is a sport changer for corporations like ours with distributed operations, eradicating long-standing obstacles to accessing renewable power,” Vodacom South Africa CEO Sitho Mdlalose mentioned.
South Africa’s power disaster spurs innovation
South Africa has confronted years of rolling blackouts as Eskom’s ageing infrastructure struggles with demand. Vodacom, which secured Eskom’s approval in 2023 to develop the framework for digital wheeling, sees the brand new mannequin as a blueprint for different companies tackling power shortages.
The transfer additionally helps Vodacom’s ambition to hit net-zero greenhouse fuel emissions by 2035. Earlier this 12 months, the corporate introduced it had achieved its goal of sourcing one hundred pc of bought electrical energy from renewable sources throughout its Power Administration-certified operations in Africa.
Joosub leads Vodacom progress amid headwinds
Vodacom, which serves greater than 210 million subscribers throughout Africa—together with Tanzania, Mozambique, Lesotho, and the Democratic Republic of Congo—stays on a progress path regardless of forex pressures.
CEO Shameel Joosub, who owns a 0.09 p.c stake in Vodacom valued at about $15 million, has guided the telecom group by way of power reforms whereas delivering shareholder returns. For the fiscal 12 months ended March 31, 2025, revenue rose 1.1 percent to R152.23 billion ($8.67 billion), in contrast with R150.59 billion ($8.58 million) a 12 months earlier.
Increasing community and fiber investments
Vodacom can be pouring tens of millions into digital infrastructure. The company recently unveiled a $40 million funding to enhance rural connectivity in KwaZulu-Natal. It’s committing one other $27 million to modernize broadband in Cape Town, aiming to spice up digital inclusion.
Individually, Vodacom is investing $322 million in fiber property to safe a 30 p.c stake in Maziv, South Africa’s largest impartial fiber firm. The $741.7 million deal, authorized with Remgro, is about to strengthen Vodacom’s place within the high-speed web market. With clear power, infrastructure, and fiber investments, Vodacom is positioning itself as each a telecom and power transition chief in South Africa’s evolving economic system.
