The Economic Freedom Fighters and the Democratic Alliance, respectively, have lambasted and heaped praise on the decision by trade, industry competition minister, the ANC's Parks Tau, to appeal the tribunal's decision to block the deal. The Competition Commission had earlier recommended to the tribunal that the deal be blocked on competition grounds.
Tau participated in the tribunal proceedings related to the merger and signalled his support for the transaction on public interest grounds. In his notice of appeal to the competition appeal court last week, Tau said he wants the deal approved. Vodacom and Maziv - which is effectively controlled by Remgro - are also appealing against the tribunal's decision.
The DA was first to issue a statement on Tau's move. It praised the minister's decision to appeal, saying it is important that South Africa show the world that it is open for business.
"This unprecedented move by the minister offers an important opportunity not only to revisit this specific case but also to promote meaningful reform of South Africa's competition policy more broadly," said Mlondi Mdluli, the DA's spokesman on trade, industry competition.
Mdluli said there is an urgent need to rethink competition law and how competition policy can better serve South Africa's developmental needs, particularly in fostering investment and expanding critical infrastructure like fibre broadband.
