South African tech mogul Jens Montanana gains $28 million from Datatec stake

Key Points

• Jens Montanana’s Datatec stake has surged $28.12 million in two months, fueled by a 27.96% rise in the company’s share price. 
• Datatec’s strong H1 earnings — net profit up 91.75% to $30.2 million — boost investor confidence in South African tech stocks. 
• Year-to-date, Datatec shares are up 22.34%, outperforming many local and global players, attracting growth-focused investors.

South African tech mogul Jens Montanana, founder and CEO of Datatec Limited, has seen his wealth grow by over $28 million in recent weeks, thanks to a steady rise in share price. This increase highlights investor confidence and reflects Africa’s fast-growing digital transformation.

Montanana, who owns 17.16 percent of Datatec, equivalent to 38.6 million shares, has seen the value of his stake climb from R1.84 billion ($100.6 million) to R2.35 billion ($128.7 million) over the past two months.

This $28.1 million gain demonstrates the rising institutional interest in Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)-listed technology companies with a global presence. The sustained increase in Montanana’s stake follows an earlier gain of $5.32 million between Jan. 16 and Feb. 1, when his holdings grew from $93.8 million to $99.1 million.

Datatec stock jumps 28 percent on ICT demand

Founded by Montanana, Datatec is a global leader in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, with operations in North America, Europe, and emerging markets. Its focus on digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and enterprise networking has positioned the company to benefit from the growing demand for connectivity and cloud services.

Datatec’s stock has risen 27.96 percent in the past 73 days, from R47.68 ($2.61) on Feb. 28 to R61.01 ($3.34) at the time of drafting this report, boosting its market capitalization to over $770 million. This surge places Datatec among the top performers in Africa’s ICT sector.

Investor optimism is also fueled by the company’s strong financial results. Datatec reported a 91.75 percent increase in net profit for the first half of its 2025 fiscal year, reaching $30.2 million. The positive earnings report has further strengthened sentiment among institutional investors looking to tap into South Africa’s growing tech sector.

Datatec stock up 22 percent YTD

Year-to-date, Datatec shares have gained 22.34 percent, outpacing both local peers and global benchmarks. A $100,000 investment in Datatec stock at the start of 2025 would now be worth approximately $122,340, outperforming many developed market indices.

As South Africa’s economy stabilizes and digital adoption accelerates, Montanana’s wealth is expected to grow alongside Datatec’s success, positioning him as a key figure in the country’s tech resurgence.