In an interview with eNCA, Kentse Radebe, Deputy CEO at DGMT, highlighted how rising rates of shoplifting are not simply a matter of criminal intent but a deeper signal of growing poverty and desperation, particularly among families with infants. Drawing from insights in a Daily Maverick article, she unpacked how many parents are unable to afford even basic nutrition for their children, and the surge in theft of items like formula, nappies and food reflects the brutal economic choices families are being forced to make. Watch the full interview below.
Geekhub Article: Zero-rating in South Africa – The networks already paid for it, so where is it?
Whenever there’s a suggestion that mobile operators should give something away for free, most South Africans respond with “nice idea, but never going to happen.”
August 21, 2026
