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Key Points
- Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa’s Naspers stake rose to $12.4 million, up $3.25 million since January on the company’s strong share performance.
- Naspers shares gained 35.3% in 2025, boosting its market value to $51.7 billion—the only African company above the $50 billion mark.
- E-commerce revenue climbed 21% to $7 billion in fiscal 2025, driven by AI-powered growth across global platforms.
South African business leader Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa has solidified her spot among the country’s affluent executives, with the market value of her stake in Naspers—Africa’s most valuable company—rising to $12.4 million. This underscores both her personal investment success and the market performance of the technology and investment giant she helps steer.
Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabngwa’s $12.4 million Naspers stake
According to data tracked by Billionaires.Africa, the value of Mahanyele-Dabengwa’s 0.024 percent stake, totaling 39,398 shares, has surged by R57.6 million ($3.25 million) since the start of 2025, climbing from R162.05 million ($9.15 million) on January 1 to R219.66 million ($12.4 million) at the time of reporting.
The gains mirror a 35.3 percent rise in Naspers’ share price on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) this year, from R4,113.18 ($232.28) to R5,575.39 ($314.85), pushing its market capitalization to R916.26 billion ($51.7 billion) and cementing its position as the only African company valued above $50 billion.
Naspers names Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa executive director
Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa’s rise within South Africa’s corporate landscape has been marked by a blend of strategic leadership and operational growth. She took the helm of Naspers’ South African unit in July 2019, overseeing a portfolio that includes household names such as Takealot, Mr D Food, Superbalist, AutoTrader, Property24, PayU, and Media24.
Under her leadership, the division has consistently delivered revenues exceeding $1 billion while maintaining its role as one of the country’s foremost technology investors. On April 1, 2025, her influence at the group level deepened when she was appointed as an executive director on the Naspers board, further aligning her with the company’s strategic direction.
Naspers benefits from artificial intelligence
The surge in Naspers’ valuation this year has been propelled by a broader rally in global technology stocks, with investor enthusiasm particularly strong for companies connected to artificial intelligence. Naspers’ indirect 24.3 percent stake in Chinese tech powerhouse Tencent, held via its Amsterdam-listed subsidiary Prosus, has been a critical driver.
Tencent’s shares have risen more than 34 percent in 2025, buoyed by the successful integration of DeepSeek’s AI model into its WeChat platform, reinforcing its dominance in AI-powered services. This long-standing connection—rooted in Naspers’ 2001 investment of $34 million for a one-third stake in Tencent under the leadership of Koos Bekker—remains one of the most lucrative technology bets in history and continues to deliver outsized returns.
Naspers annual e-commerce revenue up 21 percent
Naspers closed its 2025 fiscal year on what management described as a “transformative” note, reflecting a business recalibrated for growth in multiple markets. The company is building leading lifestyle e-commerce platforms in Latin America, Europe, and India, with AI and innovation at the center of its strategy.
E-commerce revenue climbed 21 percent to $7 billion, adjusted earnings before interest and tax surged 18-fold to $430 million, and free cash flow improved by $263 million excluding Tencent. The group invested $7.8 billion to strengthen regional ecosystems and expand its portfolio of AI-native startups, while buybacks totaling over $50 billion fueled a 15 percent net asset value per share increase.
Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa’s wealth rises with Naspers
Against this backdrop, Mahanyele-Dabengwa’s growing wealth is as much a reflection of her personal investment in Naspers as it is a testament to her role in advancing the company’s local and global ambitions.
As she continues to guide its South African operations and shape its broader strategy from the boardroom, her stake’s $12.4 million valuation underscores both her influence and the enduring market confidence in the continent’s most valuable corporate brand.
