Vodacom Named Africa’s Top Employer for a Third Consecutive Year

Vodacom Group has again taken the top spot as Africa’s number one employer, securing a third consecutive certification from the Top Employers Institute. The recognition strengthens the company’s position in the race for scarce digital talent, as telecoms groups build deeper skills pipelines, stronger leadership benches, and higher retention across multiple African markets.

This year’s recognition covers Vodacom at a continental level. It also includes separate Top Employer certifications for Vodacom Mozambique, South Africa and Tanzania. Safaricom’s operations in Ethiopia and Kenya also secured top rankings in their respective countries.

“Being certificated as Africa’s Top Employer for a third consecutive year marks an important milestone in our Vision 2030 journey. Not only is this testament to our consistency in leading with purpose but it also shows that our people centric approach and focus on talent development and workplace culture is impactful,” said Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub.

A measurable benchmark for HR performance

The Top Employers Institute uses the certification to assess HR systems and workplace execution. It measures how closely companies align culture and employee experience with international standards. The evaluation spans 20 HR domains. These include people strategy, recruitment, learning and development, leadership pipelines, performance management, wellbeing, and diversity and inclusion.

Vodacom Group Chief Human Resources Officer Matimba Mbungela said the ranking reflects consistency. Long-term investment in people also played a central role. “We are incredibly proud to maintain our position as Africa’s Top Employer for the third consecutive year. This achievement demonstrates that creating an exceptional employee experience is a sustained commitment to our people,” he said.

Scores that separate leaders from the pack

The group recorded an overall score of 99.56%. Several operating companies posted near-perfect results. Vodacom Mozambique led with 99.96%, followed by Vodacom South Africa at 99.88% and Vodacom Tanzania at 99.76%. In East Africa, Safaricom Ethiopia and Safaricom Kenya each ranked first in their countries.

Ethical AI and innovation now form part of the test

This year, the Top Employers Institute expanded its evaluation criteria. New focus areas reflect how organisations manage workforce innovation and ethics. The assessment also looks at the human impact of AI in organisational processes. Another priority is integrity across HR and technology decisions.

Vodacom South Africa earned recognition for two best practices selected for global benchmarking. First, the company runs ongoing reviews of human–AI collaboration to balance business outcomes with employee impact. Second, Vodacom backs creativity through structured programmes, including hackathons that encourage experimentation and idea-sharing.

“The Top Employers Institute’s increasing focus on fostering innovation, ethical leadership, and prioritising the human impact of technology, reflects where the world of work is heading,” Mbungela said. “We’re proud that Vodacom Group continues to set the standard in these areas.”

A people strategy built for skills scarcity

Investment continues in digital HR enablement, digital learning and leadership development. Employee wellbeing has also remained a priority. Vodacom’s Employee Value Proposition is anchored in Compassion, Acceptance, Respect and Empathy (C.A.R.E.). It includes wellness initiatives and a family responsibility leave policy.

Beyond internal programmes, the group is also strengthening Africa’s broader tech talent pipeline. Initiatives include the Vodacom Digital Skills Hub, CodeLikeAGirl, Discover Graduate, and Spirit of Vodacom. Together, they support STEM readiness and employability across the continent.

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