Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub pockets $2.4 million salary in 2025 

South African telecom executive Shameel Joosub, chief executive of Vodacom Group, received total compensation of R39.1 million ($2.37 million) for the 2025 financial year, underscoring steady executive pay growth at one of Africa’s largest mobile operators.

The package represents a 15.2% increase from the R33.96 million ($2.06 million) he received a year earlier, as the telecommunications group reported stronger earnings and continued expansion across Africa.

Vodacom posted net profit of R19.89 billion ($1.2 billion) for the 2025 financial year, up from R17.07 billion ($1 billion) reported in 2021. The company has continued to grow its mobile, broadband and financial services operations across several African markets. 

Joosub’s 2025 compensation included a base salary of R18.43 million ($1.1 million) and a short-term incentive of R21.46 million ($1.3 million), tied largely to performance targets. 

The package also included a long-term incentive award valued at R25.13 million ($1.5 million), reflecting his more than two decades of experience within the broader Vodafone and Vodacom businesses.

Vodacom’s growth under Joosub’s leadership

Since taking over as CEO in September 2012, Joosub has overseen a period of steady expansion for Vodacom as the company deepened its presence in Africa’s telecommunications and digital services market. 

Over the past five years, Vodacom’s total assets increased from R171.98 billion ($10.38 billion) in 2021 to R249.98 billion ($15.08 billion) in 2025. Revenue rose from R98.3 billion ($5.96 billion) to R152.22 billion ($9.23 billion) during the same period. 

Majority-owned by Vodafone Group, Vodacom serves customers in South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique and Tanzania. The group said its operations now reach more than 220 million customers across the continent. 

Joosub also holds a minority stake in Vodacom. He owns about 339,099 shares, equivalent to roughly 0.016% of the company, with the holding currently valued at about R51.7 million ($3.13 million).

Safaricom deal faces court delay 

Vodacom is also seeking to increase its holding in Safaricom through the acquisition of an additional 15% stake from the Kenyan government. The proposed $1.9 billion (R31.47 billion) deal would raise Vodacom’s ownership to 55%. 

The transaction, however, has been temporarily halted after Kenya’s High Court issued an injunction suspending the sale pending further legal proceedings. 

Despite the delay, Vodacom continues to focus on expanding digital access and financial services across its markets. Industry analysts say the group remains well positioned as African telecom operators push deeper into mobile banking, data services and digital infrastructure investments. 

With 27 years of experience across the Vodafone and Vodacom businesses, Joosub remains one of South Africa’s most prominent corporate executives as the company navigates a rapidly changing telecoms market.