6. Financing structure and commitments
6.4 Interest-bearing debt
 
     Group Company
   31 March 
2025 
Rm 
31 March 
2024 
Rm 
31 March 
2025 
Rm 
31 March 
2024 
Rm 
Total interest-bearing debt 11 617 14 217 11 617 14 217
Non-current interest-bearing debt 9 368 11 535 9 368 11 535
Local debt 9 368 11 535 9 368 11 535
Current portion of interest-bearing debt 2 249 2 682 2 249 2 682
Local debt 2 249 2 682 2 249 2 682
Bonds 1 500 2 113 1 500 2 113
Accrued interest 125 169 125 169
Other loans1 624 400 624 400
1 Other loans relate to loans from local financial institutions.
      Group Company
    31 March 
2025 
Rm 
31 March 
2024 
Rm 
31 March 
2025 
Rm 
31 March 
2024 
Rm 
Total interest-bearing debt is made up as follows:  11 617  14 217  11 617  14 217 
(a) Local debt  11 617  14 217  11 617  14 217 
Telkom debt instruments  11 617  14 217  11 617  14 217 
Name, maturity, rate p.a., nominal value             
TL25, 2024, 9.52% (fixed)   835    835 
TL26, 2024, 10.37%    400    400 
TL28, 2025, 9.28% (fixed) 1 000  1 000  1 000  1 000 
TL29, 2025, 9.56%  500  500  500  500 
TL30, 2024, 9.81%    877    877 
TL31, 2026, 9.23%  623  623  623  623 
TL32, 2027, 9.21%  1 000  1 000  1 000  1 000 
TL33, 2033, 9.61%  700  700  700  700 
TL34, 2027, 9.05%  345  —  345  — 
TL35, 2029, 9.28%  405  —  405  — 
Export Credit Agency (ECA) loan, 2029 – 2033, 9.43% – 10.54%  2 533  3 667  2 533  3 667 
Export Credit Risk Agreement – insurance premium (unamortised cost) (94) (167) (94) (167)
Other loans, 2025 – 2030, 9.12% - 9.51%  4 480  4 613  4 480  4 613 
Accrued interest  125  169  125  169 

Total interest-bearing debt is made up of R11 617 million debt at amortised cost (31 March 2024: R14 217 million) for the Group and for the Company. Finance costs accrued on debt are included in interest-bearing debt.

Other loans have maturities ranging from 2025 to 2030. The ECA loan is repayable quarterly and will be maturing in 2033.

The floating debts are priced based on the three-month JIBAR plus a margin. 
           

During the year, R4 276 million (31 March 2024: R9 363 million) debt was raised for the Group and the Company, and R6 905 million (31 March 2024: R9 513 million) debt was repaid for the Group and for the Company.

The Group may issue or reissue locally registered debt instruments in terms of the Post Office Amendment Act, 85 of 1991. The borrowing powers of the Company are set out as per note 4.4.

Interest-bearing debt

Interest-bearing debt is at amortised cost, and finance costs accrued on debt are included in interest-bearing debt. The debt is unsecured but limits the Group's ability to create encumbrances on revenue or assets and secure any indebtedness without securing the outstanding debts equally and rateably with such indebtedness.

Debt covenants applicable to Telkom loans require the following for the Group:

  • Net debt to EBITDA of 3:1
  • EBITDA to finance charges of at least 3.5:1

As at 31 March 2025, Telkom's net debt to EBITDA ratio was 0.7x (31 March 2024: 1.7x) and finance charges cover 6.6x (31 March 2024: 5.2x). As at 31 March 2025, Telkom's net debt to EBITDA ratio, excluding lease liabilities, was 0.1x.

Telkom has complied with the financial covenants of its borrowing facilities during the 2025 reporting period.

Repayments/refinancing of the current portion of interest-bearing debt

The repayment of the current portion of interest-bearing debt of R2 249 million (31 March 2024: R2 682 million) for the Company and for the Group as at 31 March 2025 is expected to be repaid from available cash, operational cash flow or the issue of new debt instruments. Management believes that sufficient funding facilities will be available at the date of repayment.