by MTHULISI SIBANDA
CAPE TOWN, (CAJ News) – HONOR, the Chinese electronics maker, has revealed ambitious plans to be the most dominant player in South Africa in 2028.
A massive global investment in artificial intelligence (AI)- pledged earlier this year at US$10 billion over the next five years-as well as its rapid growth in an iconic mobile phone market in the continent, buoyed the prospects.
Honor also pins its hopes on relations around digital that it, and the broader Chinese ecology, is nurturing with Africa’s largest economy.
Fred Zhou, Honor South Africa Chief Executive Officer, said as of the second quarter of 2025, the company had been in the “top two” of mobile phone makers in South Africa, a country with arguably the most cutthroat such sectors.
“Honor’s ambition is to become the ‘top one’ maker in 2028,” he said in Cape Town.
He was speaking at the annual Africa Tech Festival, the continent’s prime summit of digital leaders and innovators.
Honor is one of the major sponsors of the edition of this annual summit.
Zhou disclosed to delegates the company’s significant growth in the Middle East, usually fusioned with the African bloc, Honour had officially been a “top four” brand, and already “top two” in some of these countries.
Honor’s strategy is to focus on making AI-powered devices available to lower-end customers as well as build on budding relations with South Africa.
“Honor wants to be the bridge between China and South Africa,” Zhou said.
It has reported donating more than 2 million devices, over the past two years, to non-profit organisations in South Africa, to support education and community development initiatives.
A sponsorship deal is also in place with the South African Football Association (SAFA), for the senior men’s team.
– CAJ News