Commission to probe Showmax closure

South Africa's Competition Commission will investigate Canal+'s post-takeover decisions involving MultiChoice Group, including the shutdown of streaming service Showmax and compliance with merger conditions set before the deal was approved. Parliament's portfolio committee on communications has announced special oversight visits to broadcasters on 31 March and 1 April 2026. Questions have been raised about how Canal+ acquired effective control of MultiChoice without triggering Icasa's foreign ownership rules, achieved by structuring the acquisition as a series of share purchases rather than a direct licence transfer, and by limiting voting rights to the 20% threshold prescribed by the Electronic Communications Act despite holding greater equity.