Telecommunications group MTN has been named South Africa’s most valuable brand by Brand Finance for the thirteenth consecutive year, with its brand value steady at R50.9-billion.

The Brand Finance award followed MTN Group’s induction in January into the inaugural Brand Africa Hall of Fame, which acknowledges brands that have demonstrated sustained excellence and influence on the continent over the past decade.

“We appreciate this accolade, which encourages us to keep delivering on our purpose of leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress,” said MTN Group president and CEO Ralph Mupita.

Following network upgrades in 2024, including expanded 5G coverage to 44% of the population, MTN delivered strong 2025 growth, driven by data and fintech services, Brand Finance highlighted.

The group’s subscriber base reached 301-million across its 16 markets, with rising data and mobile money adoption.

In March 2025, MTN repositioned under ‘Today We Make Moves’, shifting from a connectivity provider to a catalyst for progress, while also concluding its eight-year Springboks sponsorship at a reputational high.

MTN also recently launched its Ambition 2030 strategy, which has a renewed focus on providing the leading customer experience across markets.

“It also reminds us of the many partners on whom we rely in our work to extend digital and financial inclusion so that no one is left behind. I would like to thank all of them and our other stakeholders for their continued support,” Mupita said.

Meanwhile, Brand Finance maintained Vodacom’s position as South Africa’s second most valuable brand in 2026, with brand value up 9% to R47.9-billion.

This was supported by the company’s expansion into Egypt and Ethiopia and stronger contributions from beyond-mobile services, including fintech platforms such as VodaPay and M-Pesa, as well as cloud offerings.

Brand Finance further highlighted key initiatives, such as the ‘Extra Your Summer’ campaign, which helped drive loyalty in a price-sensitive market, while continued investment in Vodacom Business under the ‘Turn to Us’ positioning strengthened its appeal to small, medium-sized and microenterprises, all building on its long-standing brand platform, ‘The Future is Exciting. Ready?’

According to Brand Finance, South Africa’s top 100 brands outperformed all domestic market indicators, with exceptional double-digit growth of 12% to R771-billion in 2026.

Sustained brand strength through consistent investment and delivery has created the tailwinds for accelerated business performance, it said.

In addition to the telecommunications sector, banking and retail sectors drove this brand value growth in 2026.

Standard Bank remained South Africa’s third most valuable brand in 2026, with its brand value rising 19% to R45-billion, supported by record 2025 profits driven by strong corporate and investment banking performance.

First National Bank ranked fourth, with its brand value also increasing 19% to R34.8-billion. This was driven by strong deposit growth exceeding R1-trillion, continued customer acquisition and higher transaction volumes across value-added services such as FNB Connect, eBucks and its nav platform.

Absa ranked fifth, with its brand value up 12% to R30.6-billion, supported by stronger regional expansion and leadership renewal.

Meanwhile, Checkers ranked sixth, with brand value growth of 9% to R25.6-billion, driven by strong 13.8% sales growth to R95.7-billion in 2025, supported by higher basket sizes, increased footfall and the success of its FreshX stores.

Shoprite rose three position to seventh, with its brand value increasing 25% to R25.1-billion, underpinned by its scale and focus on value.

Nedbank retained the eighth position in 2026, with its brand value increasing 16% to R23.6-billion, combining steady scale with strong performance on key metrics.

Capitec Bank entered the top ten with a ranking of nine as its brand value rose 25% to R23.3-billion, while Investec ranked number ten, with its brand value up 15% to R23.1-billion.

Five new brands debut in the ranking including Savanna, South African National Roads Agency Limited, Valterra Platinum, Oros and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.