South African Business Matters

South African Business Matters Fostering dialogue and collaboration - driving positive change and progress within the business community.

Join us to shape the future of South African business. South African business truly matters, in fact, the collective success of businesses
stands as the utmost priority for our nation. However, for the nation’s business success to thrive, collaboration is paramount. It entails sharing expertise and resources toward common goals, with businesses and stakeholders across industries actively communica

ting and collaborating. Through our extensive network of top business personalities, journalists, editors, industry associations, PR professionals and media platforms, the mission of South African Business Matters is to foster dialogue and engagement, driving positive change and progress within the business community. Adopting a highly conversational approach, we delve into the trends, issues and challenges facing businesses. We actively involve decision-makers and policymakers in spirited debates aimed at seeking solutions and driving progress. South African Business Matters is where professionals converge to engage, contribute, and ultimately influence the trajectory of South African business.

Smart communication is clear, human, and meaningful. Yet most corporate messaging is cautious, over-engineered, and forg...
16/10/2025

Smart communication is clear, human, and meaningful. Yet most corporate messaging is cautious, over-engineered, and forgettable.

At Narrative 360, we help organisations move beyond information to influence.

Our storytelling framework transforms complex ideas into human, story-led insights that capture attention, build trust, and inspire action.

Our Core Solutions:

🔹 Consult – Story audits and message clarity for a winning narrative

🔹 Create – Articles, video, and visual assets that connect across platforms

🔹 Amplify – Targeted distribution to reach the audiences that matter most

🔹 Train – Equip your team with storytelling tools that make content strategy simple and actionable

Book a free consultation today → www.narrative360.co.za

📢 Introducing Narrative 360, a new company by South African Business Matters.In today’s noisy digital world, only great ...
14/10/2025

📢 Introducing Narrative 360, a new company by South African Business Matters.

In today’s noisy digital world, only great stories cut through. Narrative 360 is a specialised commercial storytelling and content studio that helps businesses turn insights, impact, and leadership into meaningful narratives that connect with audiences.

Our work blends journalism, marketing, and production to deliver content that not only informs but inspires action.

Whether it’s strategy, writing, visuals, or video, we craft audience-driven stories that build credibility, trust, and influence.

Learn more about our approach → www.narrative360.co.za

💡 “When elephants fight, the grass suffers.”In South Africa’s healthcare debate, the “elephants” are government and priv...
22/09/2025

💡 “When elephants fight, the grass suffers.”

In South Africa’s healthcare debate, the “elephants” are government and private healthcare providers and the grass is every South African patient caught in the middle.

In his latest piece, Dr Dumisani Bomela, CEO of the Hospital Association of South Africa, warns that the fight over the National Health Insurance (NHI) is moving from parliament to the courts. Meanwhile, patients continue to wait in overcrowded facilities and families struggle to afford care.

The question is: will South Africa choose collaboration over confrontation when it comes to healthcare reform?

👉 Read the full article here: https://www.southafricanbusinessmatters.co.za/a-lament-for-south-african-healthcare-there-is-another-way/

🌍 In South Africa, citizens can buy groceries, transfer money, or stream content instantly — yet renewing a license or a...
10/09/2025

🌍 In South Africa, citizens can buy groceries, transfer money, or stream content instantly — yet renewing a license or applying for social benefits often means long queues and outdated systems.

This expectation gap is exactly what Lerato Mathabatha, Public Sector Director at Microsoft South Africa, explores in her latest article on the urgent need for digital transformation in government services.

From AI-powered security to citizen-centric platforms like Gauteng’s unified service portal, South Africa is already seeing glimpses of what’s possible when innovation meets public need. But the question remains: how quickly can government reimagine citizen experiences to match the digital era?

Read the full piece on South African Business Matters 👇
🔗https://www.southafricanbusinessmatters.co.za/from-fragmented-to-unified-how-ai-and-cloud-technology-are-transforming-government-service-delivery/

🌸 Spring is here, and so is our August Newsletter! 🌸August was a month of growth, reflection, and celebration. From Wome...
03/09/2025

🌸 Spring is here, and so is our August Newsletter! 🌸

August was a month of growth, reflection, and celebration. From Women’s Month to World Entrepreneurship Day, we were reminded of the resilience and innovation that drive South Africa’s business community forward.

In this edition, we dive into:
✨ Inspiring stories of women-led businesses breaking barriers
✨ Entrepreneurs building resilience and purpose in challenging times
✨ Why thought leadership is no longer optional, but a growth driver

Just like spring cleaning, this season is the perfect time to declutter outdated strategies, refocus on what matters, and create space for fresh ideas.

📩 Read the full newsletter on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/august-2025-edition-sabusinessmatters-ywmyf and subscribe to stay updated with the latest insights shaping South African business

Let’s keep the momentum going into September and beyond! 🚀

💡 Did you know? South Africa’s Generation X (born 1965–1980) accounts for 21.4% of total consumer spending — making them...
29/08/2025

💡 Did you know? South Africa’s Generation X (born 1965–1980) accounts for 21.4% of total consumer spending — making them a powerful yet often overlooked market.

According to NielsenIQ and World Data Lab’s new report The X Factor, Gen X may be smaller in number but they’re in their peak earning and spending years, driving big purchases in consumer packaged goods, tech, and durables.

Yet, many are also feeling the squeeze:

- 64% say they only have enough for basics (vs. 46% globally).
- They’re supporting both ageing parents and children, limiting discretionary spend.
- Cautious with AI and new tech — but open to innovation if it delivers reliability, value, and trust.

📊 The message is clear: brands that focus only on Gen Z risk missing a decade of loyalty and lifetime value from Gen X.

👉 Read more on South African Business Matters: www.southafricanbusinessmatters.co.za

🌍 South Africa’s small and medium businesses (SMBs) remain remarkably resilient — with 78% confident about the future de...
28/08/2025

🌍 South Africa’s small and medium businesses (SMBs) remain remarkably resilient — with 78% confident about the future despite rising costs and slow GDP growth.

From embracing AI to boosting productivity, SMBs are proving they’re not just surviving but innovating. But challenges like cash flow, red tape, and skills gaps remain very real.

Aurora highlights Gerhard Hartman, VP Medium Segment at Sage Africa & Middle East, who shares how collaboration between government, big business, and SMBs could unlock even greater growth.

💡 What do you think — are South African SMBs getting the support they need to thrive?

👉 Read the full article here: www.southafricanbusinessmatters.co.za

🕰️ Ninety years ago, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act, creating a safety net that still su...
27/08/2025

🕰️ Ninety years ago, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act, creating a safety net that still supports more than 50 million Americans today.

But here’s the catch: the world looks very different now than it did in 1935.

✔️ People are living longer than ever.

✔️ Families are having fewer children.

✔️ Populations in many rich countries are shrinking and ageing fast.

This creates a massive question: who will fund pensions when there are fewer workers and more retirees?

Some economists believe we’re headed for lower growth and lower interest rates (like Japan). Others warn that worker shortages will push up wages, inflation and borrowing costs. Either way, pension systems everywhere are under pressure including here in South Africa.

So, what does this mean for governments, markets, and your retirement plan?

Read full article on www.southafricanbusinessmatters.co.za

🚀 Global Entrepreneur Day is a celebration of the dreamers, builders and risk-takers shaping our future.For South Africa...
26/08/2025

🚀 Global Entrepreneur Day is a celebration of the dreamers, builders and risk-takers shaping our future.

For South African entrepreneur Adriaan Grové, the journey of building Entegral and myproperty has been defined as much by failure as by success. His story is a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship is not about waiting for perfect conditions, but about starting, learning and persisting.

👉 What would he do if he were president for a day? Cut the red tape holding small businesses back and give entrepreneurs the freedom to build.

His journey shows the real costs of failure, the resilience it takes to push through, and the power of networks that carry entrepreneurs through the hardest times.

💡 What lesson has shaped your entrepreneurial journey the most — resilience, networks, or knowing your numbers?

Read the full story here: www.southafricanbusinessmatters.co.za

📊 The face of small business in South Africa is changing and fast.Black-owned MSMEs now make up 83.7% of funding request...
11/08/2025

📊 The face of small business in South Africa is changing and fast.

Black-owned MSMEs now make up 83.7% of funding requests. Women-led businesses have grown to 36.1%. Over half of all applications come from youth-owned businesses.

This is a huge win for inclusion and representation. But there’s a catch… most of these businesses are being turned away because they aren’t funding ready.

No proper financial records. No payroll systems. No formal statements.

Even strong, viable businesses are hitting a brick wall when they go to apply for funding.

So, here’s the real question, how do we make sure our entrepreneurs aren’t just brilliant at business, but also ready for funding when opportunity knocks?

Read the full article https://www.southafricanbusinessmatters.co.za/there-is-a-small-business-funding-readiness-crisis-in-sa-the-missing-link-in-msme-growth/

The July Edition Is Here!While July brought its share of challenges, it also revealed powerful signs of resilience and i...
04/08/2025

The July Edition Is Here!

While July brought its share of challenges, it also revealed powerful signs of resilience and innovation across South Africa’s business landscape, from major shifts in trade to momentum in green infrastructure and digital inclusion.

In this issue, we’re sharing some fascinating thought leadership pieces that appeared in July, while, as always, looking ahead with a spirit of collaboration and possibility.

📩 Read the full newsletter on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/july-2025-edition-sabusinessmatters-eluxf

🔔 And be sure to subscribe on LinkedIn so you never miss an edition

From all of us at South African Business Matters, we hope August brings clarity, progress, and a touch of calm amidst the hustle!

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