Tungjatjeta,
Victoria from Techpoint here,
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
- Competition Commission to probe Showmax shutdown
- Africa’s AI push moves from plans to action
- Kenya to enforce 15% tax on big tech companies
SA’s Competition Commission to probe Showmax shutdown
South Africa’s Competition Commission is set to investigate decisions taken by Groupe Canal+ following its takeover of MultiChoice, including the controversial shutdown of Showmax. The probe will focus on whether Canal+ is sticking to the merger conditions agreed before the deal was approved.
This means that regulators are now taking a closer look at how Canal+ is running MultiChoice post-acquisition. Lawmakers are questioning whether the company has honoured commitments tied to local ownership, competition, and public interest, especially as concerns grow about production shifting to South Africa and the broader impact on the local industry.
Why should you care? Showmax wasn’t just another streaming platform; it played a key role in supporting South African storytelling and local production. Its shutdown, alongside cost-cutting moves, raises concerns about job losses, reduced opportunities for creatives, and the increasing dominance of foreign-owned content platforms in the market.
This latest move builds on recent pressure from South African lawmakers, who have already called for deeper scrutiny into the Showmax closure and Canal+’s broader strategy. Parliament’s communications committee has even scheduled oversight visits to broadcasters like e.tv and MultiChoice to better understand what’s happening on the ground.
For context, Canal+ structured its takeover in a way that allowed it to gain effective control without breaching foreign ownership rules enforced by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa. By limiting its voting rights to 20% while holding a larger economic stake, the deal avoided regulatory triggers, a move that is now drawing fresh questions from policymakers and regulators alike.
Africa’s AI push moves from plans to action
Africa is quietly laying the groundwork for its AI future, and it’s happening faster than many people realise. From policy papers to national strategies, countries across the continent are trying to figure out how to govern a technology that’s already reshaping everyday life.
Victoria Fakiya – Senior Writer
Techpoint Digest
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It started in 2024, when the African Union rolled out its Continental AI Strategy. The framework sets the tone for how African countries should approach AI, focusing on key areas like applying AI in sectors such as healthcare and agriculture, building ethical governance systems, developing infrastructure and talent, attracting investment, and encouraging cross-border collaboration.
Since then, more than 15 African countries have moved to create their own national AI strategies. Ghana was one of the early movers, launching a National AI Strategy covering 2023–2033. But nearly two years in, the country is already facing challenges around implementation and governance, a reminder that writing policy is one thing; executing it is another.
Meanwhile, South Africa has taken a different route, embedding AI priorities into existing systems instead of creating a standalone law. As Nigeria prepares to draft its own strategy, it now has a chance to learn from both approaches — what’s working, what’s not, and where gaps still exist.
At its core, Ghana’s strategy is ambitious. It spans everything from AI education and youth employment to infrastructure, data governance, and sector-specific applications in areas like healthcare, agriculture, and finance. The goal is to position the country as a regional AI hub, but as early lessons show, success will depend not just on bold plans but on execution. Find out more in Delight’s latest for Techpoint Africa.
Kenya to enforce 15% tax on big tech companies
Kenya will enforce a 15 per cent global minimum tax on multinational companies, including US tech firms, despite a recent international compromise that shields American corporations from parts of the rule. The Kenya Revenue Authority says it will apply a domestic “top-up tax” to ensure any large company with global revenues above €750 million operating in the country pays at least the minimum rate.
The decision effectively ensures that Kenya can tax profits generated within its borders rather than leaving that revenue to other jurisdictions. Officials argue that without the rule, multinationals would continue shifting profits to low-tax countries, depriving Nairobi of much-needed public revenue.
The move is significant because major tech companies have historically paid relatively low effective taxes in markets like Kenya. Firms such as Google, Meta and Amazon often record limited local profits despite strong user bases and revenues, using global structures that reduce their tax burden well below statutory rates.
Kenya’s stance builds on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)-led global tax agreement reached in 2021, which introduced a 15 per cent minimum tax for large multinationals. The country incorporated the rule into its 2024 finance laws, but a 2026 deal influenced by the United States created carve-outs for U.S. firms, setting up the current policy tension.
Per reports, the approach could prove difficult to enforce and may strain diplomatic or investment ties, but supporters say the alternative is worse. If Kenya does not apply the tax, other countries could collect the same revenue instead, turning the policy into a strategic decision about who ultimately benefits from taxing global tech profits.
In case you missed it
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What I’m watching
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Opportunities
- e-Tranzact is looking to hire a product marketing office. Apply here.
- Bumpa is hiring for several roles, including Bumpa Expert Lead (Account Management) – Customer Success; Product Designer; and Mid-level Motion/Graphic Designer, Mid-level Full-stack Engineer (Commerce), and Senior Fullstack Engineer (Commerce). Apply here.
- Tech Unite Africa returns on March 26, 2026, at Oriental Hotel, Lagos, bringing founders, investors, and industry leaders together for panels, exhibitions, and networking. Selected startups will compete in Startup World Cup Nigeria for a chance to reach the global finals and compete for a $1 million investment prize. Register or explore sponsorship opportunities here.
- ABDS 2026 will take place April 29–30, 2026, in Lagos, gathering founders, investors, developers, and policymakers shaping Africa’s blockchain and Web3 ecosystem. The summit focuses on industry insights, partnerships, and investment opportunities in one of the world’s fastest-growing crypto markets. Secure your pass or sponsorship here.
- Scrum Day Nigeria 2026 takes place on March 24 at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, bringing together product leaders, Scrum Masters, engineers, and executives passionate about building better products. The one-day conference features practical keynotes, hands-on workshops, coaching clinics, and real-world case studies focused on product leadership, agile ways of working, and modern engineering practices. If your organisation is considering accelerating delivery whilst improving business outcomes at the same time, this is the room to be in. Apply here.
- Gates Foundation Africa is recruiting Senior Communications Officer at Abuja, Nigeria. Apply by March 25, 2026 here.
- Paga is hiring a Sales Manager. Apply here.
- Paga is hiring senior sales executives. Apply here.
- Paga is looking for sales executives. Apply here.
- Paga is recruiting Senior Key Account Managers. Apply here.
- Paga is hiring Account Managers. Apply here.
- As one of Techpoint Africa’s most engaged readers, you have a direct hand in shaping what we publish next. Take our quick, 3-minute survey to tell us the stories and features you value most. Your responses are anonymous, and your feedback will help guide our editorial focus in the months ahead. Fill the survey here.
- Interswitch is hiring a Strategic Partnerships Executive. Apply here.
- CANAL+ Group is looking for a CDI – Finance & Administrative Director GVA. Apply here.
- Tix Africa is hiring a finance operations specialist (Lagos, Nigeria). Apply here.
- Flutterwave is hiring for several marketing and finance roles. Apply here.
- Credit Direct is expanding and hiring across Product, Tech, Risk, Strategy & HR. Apply here.
- Spot & Tango is looking to hire a Customer Experience Specialist (Remote). Apply here.
- Infuse is looking to hire a Senior Product Manager (Contract, Remote). Apply here.
- LemFi is looking to hire a Customer Support Associate (Lagos, Hybrid). Apply here.
- Moniepoint is hiring for over 100 roles. Apply here.
- Building a startup can feel isolating, but with Equity Merchants CommunityConnect? You can network with fellow founders, experts, and investors, gaining valuable insights and exclusive resources to help you grow your business. Click here to join.
- To pitch your startup or product to a live audience, check out this link.
- Have any fresh products you’d like us to start selling? Check out this link here.
- Follow Techpoint Africa’s WhatsApp channel to stay on top of the latest trends and news in the African tech space here.
Have a superb Thursday!
Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa
