His anger is understandable; his prescription is reckless.

While the xenophobic killings of Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa are unconscionable and demand a firm response, Oshiomhole’s suggested economic retaliation amounts to hitting Nigeria harder than the intended target.

Yes, his frustration is shared by many Nigerians who feel the South African government has been lax in curbing xenophobia.

However, his rhetoric plays well to raw nationalist emotion but fails the test of strategic reasoning. Nationalizing or revoking licenses is a 20th-century solution to a 21st-century problem.

South Africa’s Failure is Real, but So is Nigeria’s

It is true that the South African government has, over the years, failed in its duty to protect foreign nationals who contribute immensely to its economy, Nigerians inclusive.

In more than a decade of recurrent attacks, hundreds of Nigerians have been maimed or killed, properties worth millions destroyed, and businesses forced to shut down while local authorities look away.

The images of law enforcement officers standing idle as mobs brutalise African migrants remain a disgrace to a country that once depended on Africa’s solidarity to end apartheid.

But Oshiomhole’s tirade conveniently ignores another truth: Nigeria has itself failed its citizens long before they sought survival in Johannesburg, Pretoria, or Cape Town.

It is not South Africa’s fault that thousands of Nigerians flee unemployment, insecurity, and poor governance at home in search of dignity abroad. When livelihoods collapse in one’s homeland, migration becomes an act of survival.

The Nigerian state, not South Africa, bears responsibility for creating those conditions.

Economic Nationalism or Economic Self‑Sabotage?

Revoking MTN and MultiChoice’s licences would do little to punish South Africa; it would kneecap Nigeria’s own economy.

MTN Nigeria is not a foreign outpost draining local wealth as Oshiomhole suggests, it is a Nigerian company in legal and financial reality.

Listed on the Nigerian Exchange, MTN Nigeria accounts for 89.5 million mobile subscribers and approximately 82.5 million active internet users, according to Q1 2026 data released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The operator added 2.3 million new subscribers in the first quarter, driven by strong growth in data, about 55 million active users and fintech services, maintaining over 51% market share.

It contributes nearly 5% of Nigeria’s GDP through telecommunications, tax payments, and employment.

In 2026 alone (covering the 2025 financial year), MTN paid ₦878.7 billion in taxes and levies, and proposed a total of ₦419.91 billion in dividends to shareholders (comprising an interim dividend of ₦5 per share and a final dividend of ₦15 per share).

As of mid-2025, MTN Nigeria directly employs over 2,500 Nigerians directly, with a broader ecosystem creating jobs for over 2 million people, indirectly through vendors and digital services.

The company, led by a 95% Nigerian executive team, has expanded its high-paying roles significantly, with over 650 staff earning at ₦2.4 million monthly as of Q1 2026.

To nationalise such an enterprise or revoke its licence would not only erode investor confidence but also wipe out billions in pension and equity value held by ordinary Nigerians.

The country is already struggling to attract foreign investment; adding arbitrary expropriation to the list of risks would push it closer to economic isolation.

Similarly, Oshiomhole’s call to revoke MultiChoice’s DStv licence betrays ignorance of recent facts. MultiChoice Group’s majority ownership was acquired in April 2025 by France’s Canal+, a subsidiary of the Vivendi conglomerate.

It is now a French-controlled company, not a South African vehicle. Boycotting DStv to “punish South Africa” thus misses the mark entirely. Moreover, MultiChoice Nigeria employs thousands and pays significant taxes, even amidst legitimate concerns about pricing and consumer protection.

What Nigeria Should Do Instead

Displeasure over xenophobic killings requires a mature, lawful, and effective response—not economic vandalism disguised as patriotism.

Nigeria should pursue three parallel actions:

First, demand accountability and restitution through bilateral agreements and international tribunals. Nigeria and South Africa signed an Investment Protection Agreement in 2000, which provides a framework for compensation when nationals’ businesses are destroyed during civil unrest. This legal path is both dignified and enforceable.

Secondly, engage diplomatically and regionally, using the African Union and SADC platforms to make xenophobia a continental offence worthy of sanctions, not another headline that fades after outrage cools.

And, fix the conditions driving emigration. Nigerians seek better livelihoods abroad because they cannot find them at home. If the government focused half as much energy on job creation, entrepreneurs, and security as it does on populist rhetoric, our citizens would not be trapped in other nations’ hostility.

Leadership Requires Thinking Beyond Emotion

Senator Oshiomhole, a veteran labour leader, once marched for justice against foreign exploitation. But in this instance, his posture mirrors the same impulsive xenophobia he claims to be fighting, an economic xenophobia that would damage Nigerians first.

His proposal would punish Nigerian investors, employees, and consumers while leaving South Africa’s political elite untouched.

South Africa must indeed be condemned for its shameful indifference toward recurring xenophobic violence. Yet Nigeria must respond with principle, not vengeance.

Targeting companies won’t solve a diplomatic or social crisis, it will deepen it. Nigeria and South Africa share one of the most significant intra-African business relationships.

Over 120 South African firms operate in Nigeria across critical sectors, telecommunications, retail, banking, and hospitality, providing millions of jobs, driving investments, and supporting everyday economic activity.

At the same time, Nigerian companies, though fewer, have established a growing presence in South Africa in banking, aviation, manufacturing, and fintech, further strengthening economic ties between both countries.

Attacking or sanctioning these companies in response to xenophobic tensions risks hurting the very people such actions aim to protect.

These businesses employ thousands of Nigerians and South Africans, support supply chains, and contribute significantly to government revenues. Disrupting them could lead to job losses, reduced investor confidence, and broader economic instability on both sides.

More importantly, these companies are not the architects of xenophobia or diplomatic disagreements.

They are economic bridges, symbols of African integration and cooperation. Undermining them would weaken not just bilateral relations, but also the broader vision of a connected and economically resilient Africa.

A more strategic response lies in diplomacy, policy engagement, and the protection of citizens through institutional channels, not economic retaliation that ultimately harms ordinary people.

In moments of tension, restraint and reason must prevail over reaction.

Leadership is not about shouting the loudest or revoking licences; it is about defending citizens intelligently, enforcing accountability through the rule of law, and refusing to let populist fury become national policy.

In the end, the real question is not whether South Africa values Nigerian lives, but whether Nigeria itself does.

With the new adjustment, the DStv decoder now sells for ₦7,900, while a GOtv decoder sells for ₦6,500.

The DStv dish is set to sell at ₦10,000, while the GOtenna will go for ₦3,500. The latest price slash follows an earlier reduction in June 2025, under the company’s “We’ve Got You” campaign, when the price of a DStv decoder was reduced by 50% from ₦20,000 to ₦10,000 and the GOtv decoder went from ₦18,600 to ₦9,900.

The company said the move reflects its determination to reward both new and loyal customers by making its offerings even more accessible.

The new pricing takes effect from November 1, 2025, coinciding with the launch of the company’s Festive Campaign.

Speaking on the development, Tope Oshunkeye, executive head of Marketing at MultiChoice, said the initiative underscores the company’s mission to keep entertainment within reach for all Nigerians.

“As the festive season draws closer, family time and celebrations are a big part of our lives, and what better way to do this than to spend quality time with loved ones while enjoying premium entertainment. This price slash makes it possible for more families to enjoy quality local and international entertainment without putting too much pressure on their pockets. At MultiChoice, we remain committed to making world-class storytelling accessible to every home,” he said.

Over the festive season, MultiChoice, through its DStv and GOtv platforms, will be airing its rich slate of kids’ content, international blockbusters, and local originals such as The Low Priest, Mother of the Brides, and Etiti, among others.

For football fans, the Premier League, Ligue 1, La Liga, Serie A, and AFCON will also be available on SuperSport channels.

New figures from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) show that subscriptions have fallen to record lows, exposing how quickly households are abandoning traditional television.

By June 2025, DStv subscriptions had dropped to 188,824 from 1.2 million a year earlier, while GOtv fell to 314,520 from 2.8 million. Together, they account for most of the 77% contraction in Kenya’s broadcasting market. 

Competitor services have fared no better, with StarTimes tumbling to 492,330 from 1.7 million. Only Zuku, the Wananchi-owned cable provider, managed to grow, up 20% to over 64,000 customers.

The scale of the collapse became obvious this year after CA introduced a tough reporting policy that counts only active subscriptions generating revenue within 90 days. Under this new measure, DStv’s customer base shrank by 84% while GOtv lost 89%.

Price hikes have been a major factor. MultiChoice, which owns DStv and GOtv, has raised subscription fees five times across Nigeria and Kenya, amongst other African countries, in three years. Its flagship bouquet, DStv Premium, now costs KES 11,700 ($91) per month, compared to KES 7,500 ($58) in 2022. 

The increases have forced many customers to reconsider their options. Streaming platforms have absorbed much of the fallout. Showmax, MultiChoice’s own streaming service, grew active users by 44% over the past year, supported by price cuts and telecom partnerships. 

DStv Stream also reported a 38% rise in subscriptions and a 48% boost in revenue. The streaming market in Kenya is projected to reach $5.4 million by the end of 2025, with 46.3 million users forecast by 2029.

For many households, the change is about cost as much as convenience. Netflix charges just KES 200 ($1.55) for its mobile plan and KES 1,100 ($8.5) for its premium option, while Showmax’s entertainment plan is priced at KES 520 ($4). 

By comparison, DStv’s top package has almost doubled in cost since 2022. Piracy adds further pressure. Football matches and premium shows are widely available for free on unauthorised apps and websites, damaging the value of MultiChoice’s expensive sports rights.

The situation is particularly sensitive as MultiChoice’s Premier League rights expire this year. Some viewers openly say they would prefer the broadcaster not to renew them, arguing that the price hikes tied to these rights no longer make sense given shrinking audiences. 

Bars and hotels remain among the last steady DStv subscribers, but even they are turning to cheaper or illegal alternatives as profit margins narrow.

The upheaval comes just weeks after French broadcaster Canal+ completed its $2 billion takeover of MultiChoice, lifting its stake to 48.2%. The combined group now controls over 40 million subscribers across 70 countries. 

Canal+ executives say there will be no immediate changes to pricing or packages, but they have noted a content revamp and digital upgrades beginning in 2026.

Across Africa, viewers are walking away from expensive satellite subscriptions and choosing a mix of streaming, free-to-air channels, and piracy instead. For MultiChoice and its new owner Canal+, the challenge will be to convince millions of customers that premium television is still worth paying for.

According to a charge sheet, FHC/ABJ/CR/197/2025, the commission alleges that the accused wilfully failed to appear before it on March 6, 2025, following an official summons issued on February 25. 

The document lists John Ugbe, Gozie Onumonu, Adewunmi Ogunsanya, and five other directors as defendants.

This follows the Federal High Court’s dismissal of a suit filed by MultiChoice on May 8, which sought legal backing for its controversial price hike on DStv and GOtv subscriptions. Justice James Omotosho ruled that the suit was “an abuse of court process”.

The FCCPC claims that the accused deliberately failed to submit documents relevant to its probe, a breach of section 3 of the FCCPC Act 2018. 

The charge sheet states: “Being Directors of MultiChoice Nigeria Limited on or about the 6th day of March, 2025, at 23 Jimmy Carter Street, Asokoro, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Court, [they] caused the aforesaid MultiChoice Nigeria Limited to fail to produce documents which the Company was required to produce, in compliance with a lawful summons issued and dated 25 February, 2025, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3 of the FCCPC Act 2018.”

Beyond failing to appear, the commission says MultiChoice’s leadership actively hindered its investigation by refusing to disclose requested documents, an act the FCCPC considers a direct challenge to its regulatory authority.

When the matter came up in court on Tuesday, the Commission’s lawyer informed Justice Omotosho that while the company had been served, the individual directors named in the charge had not yet received personal service. Justice Omotosho subsequently adjourned the case until October 7, 2025, for arraignment.

This issue is rooted in FCCPC’s concerns over repeated and unexplained price increases by MultiChoice. In February, the Commission summoned Ugbe to explain what it described as “frequent price hikes, potential abuse of market dominance, and anti-competitive practices.” It warned that failure to provide clear justification could trigger regulatory sanctions.

MultiChoice objected, filing a case through its legal team led by Onigbanjo SAN. The company argued it had not been given a fair hearing and sought to block the Commission from taking further action, citing a letter dated March 3, 2025. The court, however, dismissed the suit, stating that it was an attempt to stall accountability.

The pay-TV giant has suffered a sharp decline in its subscriber base, dropping from over 23 million to 19.3 million in less than two years.

According to NewsPoint Nigeria, sources said that a significant portion of the losses occurred outside South Africa, with over 84% of the affected users being DStv customers.

In an earlier statement, MultiChoice attributed the steep decline to economic pressures in key markets, particularly Nigeria.

“The loss in the rest of Africa has been primarily due to the significant consumer pressure in Nigeria, where inflation has remained above 30% for the majority of the last 12 months and, more recently, due to extreme power disruptions in Zambia,” the company said.

The company’s latest voluntary operational update, released in preparation for its financial results for the year ending March 31, 2025, reinforces the severity of its current challenges.

MultiChoice noted that the “challenging consumer environment has resulted in a decline in subscribers and limited revenue growth,” underscoring the financial strain faced by the company.

This development came amid increasing regulatory scrutiny, with Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) recently filing charges against MultiChoice for allegedly violating local regulatory directives.

The ruling, delivered by Justice James Omotosho on Wednesday, came in response to an ex parte motion filed by MultiChoice’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Moyosore J. Onibanjo. 

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/379/2025, challenges the FCCPC’s authority to interfere in the company’s pricing decisions.

MultiChoice had notified its customers of a price adjustment, effective March 1, 2025, affecting various DStv and GOtv packages. The changes included:

• DStv Compact: Increased from ₦15,700 to ₦19,000 (25% rise)
• Compact Plus: Increased from ₦25,000 to ₦30,000 (20% rise)
• DStv Premium: Rose from ₦37,000 to ₦44,500 (20% rise)
• GOtv Supa Plus: Increased from ₦15,700 to ₦16,800

The FCCPC, concerned about possible abuse of market monopoly and anti-competitive behaviour, had summoned MultiChoice Nigeria for an investigative hearing on February 27, 2025. 

The Commission warned that failure to justify the price hikes could result in regulatory sanctions.

However, MultiChoice challenged this directive, arguing that Nigeria operates a free-market economy where companies set their prices without government intervention. 

The company claimed that its subscription rates in Nigeria remain the lowest among all the countries where it operates.

“For instance, the cost of the Premium package in Nigeria is equivalent to $29.81, while the same package costs $85.11 in Kenya,” stated Gozie Onumonu, head of Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations at MultiChoice, in an affidavit submitted to the court.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Onibanjo urged the court to grant an interim injunction to prevent the FCCPC from taking punitive action against MultiChoice while the case is pending. 

He also pointed out that the Commission had continued to issue statements on the matter despite the ongoing litigation.

After reviewing the submissions, Justice Omotosho granted the restraining order and scheduled an accelerated hearing for March 27, 2025.

The ruling effectively stops the FCCPC from enforcing any sanctions or directives against MultiChoice until the court delivers a final judgment on the matter.

The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) argues that the suit is baseless and constitutes an abuse of court process.

The lawsuit, filed by Maduabuchi O. Idam Esq. on 29 April 2024 (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/563/2024), demands that Multichoice allow customers to roll over unused subscriptions. The case also lists the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) as defendants.

During proceedings on 19 February 2025, Multichoice’s counsel, Moyosore J. Onigbanjo (SAN), opposed the case. The legal representatives of the FCCPC and NBC confirmed that they had filed counter-affidavits against the suit, while the AGF’s lawyer also confirmed submitting a motion on notice. 

The presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, asked the claimant whether he had received and responded to all submissions. He confirmed this but stated that further affidavits needed to be exchanged. The court then scheduled the hearing for 6 May 2025.

The AGF’s motion, dated 25 October 2024, insists that the case should be struck out as the claimant failed to establish any wrongdoing by the AGF. The AGF’s lawyer, Maimuna Lami Shiru, stated:

“The AGF is not a regulatory body in respect of the subject matter of the claim and has no business in the suit. The AGF is not a proper or necessary party to the suit. The originating process is premature and defective as it relates to the AGF.”

The AGF’s office further asserted that its role does not extend to regulating Multichoice or any other TV service provider in Nigeria. It also accused the claimant of filing the case without the necessary court approval.

Background

Multichoice has had repeated issues in Nigeria over its pricing structure in recent times. The company previously justified its subscription adjustments by pointing out factors such as exchange rate fluctuations, rising content acquisition costs, and increased electricity tariffs.

The FCCPC, while acknowledging its role in consumer protection, clarified that it does not directly regulate business pricing. The NBC also noted that a prior court ruling had limited its authority to intervene in such matters.

In 2024, a tribunal fined the company ₦150 million and ordered a one-month free subscription for violating interim orders. The ruling was later overturned after the case was withdrawn.

However, Multichoice recently announced a fresh price increase across all DStv and GOtv packages, effective 1 March 2025. The company has blamed previous subscriber losses on multiple price hikes, inflation, and economic challenges.

Currency devaluation, political instability, and service disruptions are endemic. Africa is not for sissies, as the saying goes.

In navigating those challenges, relationships matter. It’s not so much about throwing money at a problem, it’s about investing time, building trust, meeting with partners and regulators, and understanding each other’s needs.

Africa offers an enormous upside for those prepared to make this time investment. The continent’s population is set to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, and Africa’s people are embracing digital technology, as the World Bank confirms.

They are leveraging digital connectivity to improve their lives, educate themselves, send remittances, and start small enterprises. There is value in investing in that level of human development.

The payments opportunity

Running through this African growth trajectory is a particular business thread: payments. There are opportunities for anyone who can simplify, rationalise and standardise payments for the continent’s dynamic financial economy.

An organisation in just such a position is MultiChoice, the leading pan-African video entertainment provider for almost 40 years. In building a pay-TV network across the continent, with up to 23.5 million customers across 50+ markets, and 100 million+ monthly viewers, MultiChoice also built relationships across the continent to collect payments, for DStv, GOtv, and Showmax – potentially the only large enterprise to need such enormous breadth.

The Group has converted the opportunity that this represents, partnering with global venture-capital firm General Catalyst and payments company Rapyd to launch Moment, which aims to be the broadest, deepest payment network across Africa.

Launching with Showmax and DStv as initial clients, Moment started processing payments for parts of the group in January 2024. By November 2024 MultiChoice was already collecting around 35% of its revenue through Moment rails, and those numbers are rising quickly. Services to other enterprises were rolled out in August.

Moment already collects and disburses across 44 African countries, accepting 200+ local payment methods – spanning in-person payments at over 1 million store and agent locations, mobile money, credit and debit cards, bank transfers, and digital wallets.

Enabling consumers and businesses to move from cash to digital, Moment and its network offers users access to better financial opportunities, lower prices, higher quality goods and services, and full access to the digitally enabled economy.

Expanding the ecosystem

To access the initial target market of large enterprises that will benefit from the reach, breadth, and high performance needed by MultiChoice, Moment has built out a fully cloud-native infrastructure.

The platform can deliver on the high daily and weekly loads needed for one of the largest billing bases on the continent, and also smoothly deal with the potential for network outages, power cuts, and other disruptions.

In order to ensure businesses have access to the daily cash flow they need, Moment has built a robust financial reconciliation and settlement system capable of automating and simplifying the daily reconciliation process for enterprises and enabling them to spend tight staffing budgets efficiently, while getting fast, accurate financial reporting and access to their receivables.

To help these enterprise customers expand their customer bases, Moment opens up the largest mass-market suite of payment channels through its network, enabling businesses to fully tap into the mass market’s buying power for the first time with a single API connection – providing access to more than a million in-person payment locations across spaza shops, modern retail locations, and a host of online payment options tuned to the needs of each local market.

To ensure that Moment’s clients and the market are ready for the future, Moment is building a “coalition” around real-time payments, to educate consumers on the benefits of PayShap and other real-time payment methods that can significantly reduce cost and increase payment speed.

DStv and Moment launched PayShap payments in South Africa as the first “consumer to business” real-time payment option built on South Africa’s RPP payments system. Moment has developed partnerships with similar systems in the SADC countries and Nigeria to expand real-time payments as the market evolves.

Simplifying the process

One of the reasons MultiChoice first looked at the payments space was precisely because it is a complex environment, characterised by multiple service agreements, commission rates and exchange rates. It made sense to try to simplify the payments landscape, for everyone’s benefit.

Africa is a challenging territory, but Africans are agile and innovative. Trends and new solutions emerge constantly.

Any platform entering this space must recognise that there isn’t one answer; there are many. By partnering with MultiChoice, Moment has built out technology with the flexibility to configure the right solution for each market.

The upsides of building for the challenging scale of MultiChoice as a launch client are significant – other enterprises Moment is working with have built unwieldy daily financial operations to manage their own complexity.

Anecdotally, one merchant maintains a staff of 75 people doing reconciliations for their business – operations that can be automated and streamlined leveraging the Moment platform.

Moment presents a vast opportunity in simplifying that process, automating it, while enabling customers to focus on their core business and customer relationships.

Africa is the largest single opportunity in the world. As our population booms over the next 20 years, many new business foundations will need to be laid across the continent – especially in the area of payments.

Payments are the lifeblood of Africa’s economy. Enabling them efficiently and cost-effectively, across the continent, ensures Africa performs to its full potential. Through the partnership with MultiChoice, Moment is well positioned to be at the core of this transformation for decades to come.

The offer, which begins on Friday, 27th December, and runs until Sunday, 29th December 2024, will allow subscribers across all packages, including those with inactive accounts, to enjoy premium content at no extra charge.

In a statement released on Thursday, the company described the initiative as a unique seasonal gift to its customers. “As we wind down the year and celebrate the holidays, DStv is happy to announce that we are making this December one to remember. 

“For 72 hours, the only thing standing between you and the best in sports, kids’ programming, movies, and local dramas is your decoder. No payments or calls required.” the statement read.

The initiative comes as MultiChoice faces some challenges in Nigeria’s competitive pay-TV market. Between April and September 2024, the company reported a loss of 243,000 subscribers due to economic pressures, including high inflation and increased living costs. 

MultiChoice Nigeria has raised its subscription prices three times within the past year, which may have further contributed to the decline in active users.

In addition to economic difficulties, MultiChoice has faced regulatory issues. Earlier this year, a Nigerian tribunal fined the company ₦150 million for implementing a price hike despite a court order. 

The tribunal also directed MultiChoice to provide one month of free access to its services as compensation for customers.

The South African-based company has acknowledged the growing competition in the media sector, with the rise of streaming platforms and changing consumer habits challenging the traditional pay-TV model. 

MultiChoice Group CEO, Calvo Mawela, noted that the firm is adapting to these changes while struggling with economic challenges in key markets like Nigeria.

This free-access initiative appears to be part of the company’s initiatives to reconnect with lapsed customers and strengthen its place in the Nigerian market.

With no payments required, subscribers only need to activate their decoders to enjoy the full range of DStv’s premium offerings during the 72-hour period.

This decline, revealed in the company’s interim financial report released on Tuesday, follows Nigeria’s skyrocketing inflation rate, which has surpassed 30%. 

Increasing costs of essential goods, such as food, fuel, and electricity, have stressed household budgets, leading many customers to discontinue their DStv and GOtv subscriptions.

MultiChoice Group’s CEO, Calvo Mawela, described these conditions as some of the most challenging in nearly four decades. Nigeria’s inflation has been a persistent issue for the company, contributing to the sharp decline in its subscriber base and prompting price adjustments for its services. 

Within the past 12 months, MultiChoice Nigeria raised its subscription prices on three occasions to keep up with operational expenses and currency fluctuations, with the latest increase in May 2024.

The company’s operations in Africa have been hit by similar economic challenges. Across the continent, MultiChoice reported a loss of 566,000 subscribers within the first half of the financial year. 

Zambia and Nigeria were among the most affected, accounting for over 95% of the overall decline, with Zambia experiencing a loss of 298,000 customers amid extensive power outages attributed to drought. 

This continuous drop follows a reported decline of 803,000 subscribers in the second half of the previous financial year, pointing to the sustained impact of regional economic pressures on the company.

The competition from global streaming services has compounded MultiChoice’s challenges, as consumers increasingly shift towards on-demand content. 

In response, the company is investing heavily in Showmax, its streaming service, allocating an additional ZAR1.6 billion in the recent quarter. 

Showmax has reported a 50% growth in its user base year-over-year, becoming a good component in MultiChoice’s strategy to compete in the growing African streaming market.

Despite the setbacks, MultiChoice’s Mawela noted that the company expects to return to a positive net equity position by November 2024, partly due to cost-cutting measures and favourable liquidity, with over ZAR10 billion in available funds. 

This expected turnaround follows a period of technical insolvency, largely due to currency depreciation in several African markets, which has eroded the group’s profits by nearly R7 billion over the past 18 months.

In a regulatory setback, MultiChoice faced some issues in Nigeria this year over its latest price hike, with the Abuja-based Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal issuing a fine of N150 million for ignoring a restraining order on the new pricing structure. 

The Tribunal’s ruling also mandated a one-month free subscription for Nigerian DStv and GOtv customers, a directive aimed at compensating subscribers affected by the price increase.