The Vodacom-Maziv merger debacle is a prime example of how our regulatory processes are woefully out of sync with industries where technology evolves faster than you can say “5G”.
Let’s break it down. The R13bn tie-up, announced in November 2021, was supposed to be a game changer. It promised to expand fibre infrastructure, especially in the townships, and create thousands of jobs. Yet, here we are, three years later, with the deal blocked and both companies left to pick up the pieces.
Three years. That’s 1,095 days. In that time, entire technologies can become obsolete. Remember when 4G was the next big thing? Now, we’re already talking about 6G. The telecom industry does not wait for anyone, least of all the sluggish regulatory process that seems to be stuck in the Stone Age.
The Competition Commission’s investigation took almost 22 months. That’s nearly two years of uncertainty, legal fees and missed opportunities. And let’s not forget the 26 days of hearings by the tribunal.
This isn’t just about Vodacom and Maziv. It’s about the message we’re sending to investors: if you want to do business in SA, be prepared for a marathon of red tape and bureaucratic inertia. In an industry where timing is everything, this is a death knell for business confidence.
Three years isn’t just unacceptably long — it’s a glaring indictment of a system that desperately needs reform. Whole industries move at breakneck speed. Our regulatory processes need to catch up or risk becoming relics of a bygone era.
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