Biz Pulse SA is your go-to podcast for all things business in South Africa. Whether you're an entrepreneur, professional, or curious about the economic landscape, this podcast keeps you informed with the latest news, trends, and insights. Each episode explores key developments, challenges, and opportunities shaping South Africa’s economy, providing expert advice and actionable strategies for success. Stay ahead with in-depth analysis on market trends, industry insights, policy changes, and more.
In this episode of Biz Pulse SA, we dive into the massive transformation of Africa's largest mobile operator, MTN Group. Moving far beyond traditional voice and data, MTN is rapidly evolving into a platform-led digital enabler and a formidable fintech powerhouse.We unpack their impressive H1 2025 financial results, which boast R105.1 billion in service revenue. The real story behind these numbers isn't just about connectivity—it is driven by an explosive 37.3% growth in their fintech revenue and the unstoppable momentum of their Mobile Money (MoMo) platform, which now commands 63.2 million monthly active users.Tune in as we explore:
The "Ambition 2025" Strategy: How MTN is scaling its financial services footprint across Africa through five core verticals: wallets, payments and e-commerce, cross-border remittances, BankTech (micro-lending), and InsurTech.
Aggressive Start-up Acquisitions: MTN's strategic shift from opportunistic investments to directly acquiring African fintech startups in lending, payments, and remittances to scale its $5.2 billion digital finance network.
The Business Impact: What this telco-to-fintech evolution means for South African businesses, why ecosystem strategies are becoming critical, and how the company is navigating increasing regulatory scrutiny.
Join us as we analyze the data, dissect the strategy using the latest insights from MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita, and answer the ultimate question: Is MTN secretly becoming a fintech company?
28 Feb 2026
The PayTech Shake-Out: Why SA’s Banks and Fintechs are Spending Billions
Welcome to another episode of Biz Pulse SA! This week, we dive deep into the new battleground of South Africa’s payments industry. The ecosystem is entering a massive consolidation phase, shifting away from a period of wide fintech proliferation into an era of high-stakes mergers and acquisitions. While many South Africans still rely on cash, the rapid adoption of digital payments has triggered a billion-rand shopping spree among the country's top financial players.In this episode, we unpack the major deals reshaping the financial landscape, including:
The Big Bank Shopping Spree: We explore Nedbank’s massive R1.65 billion cash acquisition of SME-focused iKhokha, and Capitec’s R400 million strategic purchase of payment gateway Walletdoc to reduce costs and expand digital access.
Fintechs Buying Banks: The trend goes both ways! We discuss US-incorporated Lesaka's R1.1 billion acquisition of the app-only digital bank, Bank Zero, aimed at cross-selling banking services to its existing customer base.
Mid-Tier Consolidation: A look at payments provider Araxi’s R1 billion acquisition of Pay@ for geographic and service expansion.
Funding Pan-African Expansion: How local paytech platforms like Nomanini are leveraging European debt funding to support unbanked vendors, MSMEs, and their pan-African expansion plans.
We will also zoom out to look at the global and local market drivers forcing this M&A activity. With margin compression, regulatory complexity, and the demand for platform integration squeezing mid-tier players, we answer the big question: Is South African fintech officially entering its shake-out phase?Tune in to find out why scale and ecosystem breadth are the new keys to survival in SA's digital economy!
28 Feb 2026
Electrifying the N3: Solar Freight Logistics in South Africa
Welcome to Biz Pulse SA! In this episode, we tackle the pressing question: "Is electric freight in South Africa a real shift, or still a pilot fantasy?"We explore the push to decarbonize Africa's freight corridors by looking at Cape Town-based Zero Carbon Charge, a company pioneering fully off-grid, solar-powered charging hubs for heavy-duty electric trucks. Focusing on the busy N3 highway connecting Johannesburg and Durban, we break down the freight sector's heavy reliance on diesel and the major hurdles to electrification—such as national grid instability, high upfront capital expenditure, and vehicle range limitations. We also dive into the business models driving this transition, including charging fees and carbon credits, as well as the recent $6.2 million equity investment from the Development Bank of Southern Africa aimed at building these $1.25 million off-grid solar sites. Tune in to find out if early movers can successfully secure strategic infrastructure positions in South Africa's clean logistics future!
Podcast Authority Score: 18 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
36
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
0
Contact Biz Pulse SA
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Biz Pulse SA?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
