Sinenjabulo Sibeko
After nearly two decades of legal wrangling, one of South Africa’s longest-running corporate disputes has finally been resolved. Vodacom and former employee Nkosana Makate have reached an out-of-court settlement over the iconic “Please Call Me” service concluding an 18-year legal battle that tested corporate ethics, intellectual property rights, and the limits of persistence. The agreement closes a chapter that has lingered through several court judgments and years of negotiation, marking the end of one of South Africa’s most-watched legal sagas.
In the capital markets, optimism returned to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) with the new listing of Optasia, an AI-driven fintech firm specialising in alternative credit and micro-financial solutions. With an implied market capitalisation of R23.5 billion and strategic backing from FirstRand and global investors, Optasia’s listing stands among the largest fintech debuts in JSE history. It’s a strong signal that South Africa’s capital markets remain relevant and that the continent’s fintech story is only getting started.
Meanwhile, TymeBank is entering a new era of leadership. The bank announced that Cheslyn Jacobs will take over as CEO on 1 January 2026, succeeding Karl Westvig, who moves into an advisory role. A founding team member, Jacobs has spent more than a decade helping to shape TymeBank’s growth, from its early expansion in digital banking to reaching 11 million customers and achieving profitability in 2023.
On the cultural front, the classic car market is revving up and it’s not baby boomers behind the wheel. A new generation of collectors, known as “youngtimers” (aged 30–40), is fuelling demand for 1980s and 1990s icons like the BMW 325is and Golf GTI. These models, once family cars and teenage aspirations, have become powerful expressions of nostalgia, identity, and status proving that in today’s economy.
Here are the week’s standout stories:
1. ‘Youngtimers’ drive South Africa’s classic car revival
Guest: Sesh Govender – Underwriting Specialist, iTOO Classic Cars
A new generation of millennial collectors is reshaping South Africa’s classic car market. The so-called “youngtimers” are snapping up 1980s and 1990s models that once defined their childhoods – cars like the BMW 325is, Toyota Corolla Twin Cam, and VW Golf GTI. It’s a market powered by nostalgia, but also by growing recognition that culture and collectability are now driving value.
2. TymeBank ushers in new leadership as Cheslyn Jacobs takes the helm
Guest: Cheslyn Jacobs – Incoming CEO, TymeBank
TymeBank is preparing for its next chapter as Cheslyn Jacobs assumes the CEO role on 1 January 2026, succeeding Karl Westvig. Jacobs, a founding member of the digital bank, has been instrumental in its growth to over 11 million clients and its milestone profitability in 2023. His leadership is expected to focus on deepening customer relationships, expanding product offerings, and reinforcing TymeBank’s position as one of South Africa’s most trusted fintech-driven lenders.
3. EXPLAINER: The end of an 18-year legal battle — Vodacom and Makate settle the ‘Please Call Me’ case
Guest: Mpumelelo Zikalala – Legal Analyst
After years of legal manoeuvres and public debate, Vodacom and Nkosana Makate have finally reached a settlement over the “Please Call Me” service. The case, first launched in 2007, spanned five court rulings and redefined how intellectual contributions are valued within corporate environments. Legal analyst Mpumelelo Zikalala unpacked how the case shaped South Africa’s legal and business landscape – and what lessons it leaves behind for innovation and corporate accountability.
4. Lesaka Technologies reports 10% revenue growth and a stronger earnings profile
Guest: Lincoln Mali – CEO, Lesaka Southern Africa
Fintech player Lesaka Technologies started its 2026 financial year on solid footing, reporting R3 billion in revenue, up 10%, and a 61% rise in Adjusted EBITDA to R270.6 million. Despite posting a small net loss, CEO Lincoln Mali told KayaBiz that recent acquisitions including Adumo, Touchsides, and Recharger are creating one of the most integrated fintech ecosystems in Southern Africa.
5. Tech & Innovation: PayJoy expands smartphone access in South Africa
Guest: Shaun Durandt – Head of Business Development, PayJoy South Africa
With only 47% of mobile devices in South Africa being smartphones, PayJoy is working to close the digital divide through flexible credit-based payment models. By enabling more South Africans to own smartphones, PayJoy is driving access to education, jobs, and entrepreneurship key pillars of the digital economy that already contributes 19% to South Africa’s GDP.
