South African billionaires GT Ferreira and Laurie Dippenaar buy into Airbnb rival
FirstRand co-founders GT Ferreira and Laurie Dippenaar’s family offices joined a consortium that bought LekkeSlaap, a South African rival to Airbnb.
FirstRand
South African billionaire GT Ferreira was refused a banking licence so he bought a bank
Gerrit Ferreira and two partners were refused a banking licence in 1977. Eight years later they took control of Johann Rupert's Rand Merchant Bank.
Mary Vilakazi takes FirstRand out of Britain after £548 million hit
FirstRand has classified its entire UK business as held for sale and taken a £547.8 million charge for motor finance redress. Group profit fell for the first time in six years, though the South African operations that remain grew earnings 13 percent.
Johann Rupert just completed a six-year exit from South Africa's biggest bank. Here is where he is putting the money
Johann Rupert's Remgro has sold its final FirstRand shares for R3.6 billion, completing a six-year exit from South Africa's biggest bank and redirecting capital toward private assets.
Johann Rupert's Remgro sells R4.88 billion worth of FirstRand shares in six-year exit from South Africa's biggest bank
Johann Rupert's Remgro has sold nearly 52 million FirstRand shares for R4.88 billion, extending a six-year disposal process that began in 2020.
Mary Vilakazi-led FirstRand unveils $150 million clean energy transition facility
FirstRand and BII launch a $150 million facility to help high-emitting African companies shift to cleaner production.
South African banker Mary Vilakazi-led FirstRand secures $310 million AfDB funding
FirstRand gains $310 million from AfDB to expand credit access for MSMEs, women entrepreneurs and farmers in South Africa.
Mary Vilakazi-led FirstRand flags extra UK provision risk
FirstRand warns of a possible extra UK provision as tensions rise with the Financial Conduct Authority.
FirstRand to buy $279 million stake in Nigerian-Lebanese tycoon Bassim Haidar’s Optasia
FirstRand to acquire a $279 million stake in Bassim Haidar’s fintech Optasia ahead of its Johannesburg IPO.
South African banker Johan Burger gains $5 million from FirstRand stake
Johan Burger’s FirstRand stake rises by $5 million as the bank’s shares jump over 11% on the JSE, lifting his total holdings to about $24 million.
FirstRand, led by Mary Vilakazi, flags $14.7 billion U.K. car loan payout risk
FirstRand, led by South African banker Mary Vilakazi, flags UK plan that may cost lenders £11 billion, surpassing earlier estimates.
FirstRand, led by South African banker Mary Vilakazi, posts $2.6 billion profit
FirstRand, led by CEO Mary Vilakazi, posted a $2.6 billion profit in 2025, up 10 percent on gains across retail, commercial and investment banking.
South African banker Mary Vilakazi-led FirstRand warns of rising loan costs after UK ruling
FirstRand, led by Mary Vilakazi, may raise provisions by $53 million after a UK court ruling on car finance commissions.
Mary Vilakazi-led FirstRand gets approval to absorb HSBC South Africa
FirstRand, led by Mary Vilakazi, gains approval to absorb HSBC South Africa by Oct. 2025, boosting its corporate banking footprint.
South African banker Alan Pullinger gains $3.9 million from FirstRand stake
Pullinger, one of South Africa’s most respected banking executives, owns a 0.13-percent stake in FirstRand, equal to about 7.08 million shares.
Mary Vilakazi-led FirstRand plans bank for Ghana’s super-rich
FirstRand sharpens its private banking focus in Ghana and beyond as Africa’s millionaire class expands.