Where Coffee, Flowers and Community Meet
“After years in Johannesburg and a corporate career, life shifted post Covid. We decided to leave the city and establish ourselves in Hartbeespoort, closer to the rest of my family and away from the constant bustle of big-city life. My dad owned the former Ennis Nursery property for several years, and about two years ago he mentioned wanting to sell it. I asked if I could first try to turn it around. I knew there was real potential on the site; it simply needed work to unlock it.
A Passion for Hearing, Connection, and Compassion
“Do it. Your children are watching. Show them that women can nurture and lead, build and bloom. Because when they see you doing it, they’ll know they can too.”
YOUNG BLOOD BOLD VISION: The Stationery Studio
“You have to go deeper here,” Kyle said. “Superficial products do not survive. People see through it. You need real connection.”
V8 – The Story of Passion, Family and Food
Even as a teenager, Maria was finding her feet in business. She sold Lip-Ice at school and worked at a local video store—simple ventures, but ones that taught her responsibility and the basics of thinking like a business owner.
Leander Coetzer Manifesting His Future
Born and raised as an only child in the small town of Lichtenburg, Leander grew up in a household where dedication and discipline were the cornerstones. His parents, both government teachers, worked tirelessly to provide him with the best opportunities within their means. From them, he learned the value of perseverance and financial prudence—lessons that would serve as the bedrock of his entrepreneurial ambitions.
Joozy Dance Fitness Rising
“I dance a lot,” she reflects, her words underscored by a profound sense of joy. In fact, she dances for at least three hours a day, most days of the week. For her, it’s not just about the movement but the emotional release it brings. “I’m happy…truly happy,” Lyndall shares. “I go through life with a smile, despite the challenges, and people know this about me. It’s because I dance.”
Lindie Badenhorst the Quirky Queen of Resilience
“I was brave and started a gift shop there, not knowing anyone,”
Ruby’s Fabrics – The new generation
In the quaint town of Brits, nestled among the rolling hills, lies a fabric emporium steeped in history and tradition. Founded in 1982 by the indomitable Rabia, affectionately known as Ruby, along with her brother and father, Ruby’s Fabrics is a testament to creativity, entrepreneurship, and familial bonds. Ruby, with her innate talent and flair for sewing and design, transformed humble fabrics into exquisite garments coveted by all who beheld them.
Quest to Stand Out
Lana Joubert, the visionary owner of Lana Joubert Makeover Specialist, Oh My Blouse Boutique, and Die Atelier – Workshop Studio, traces her entrepreneurial journey from childhood dreams to a flourishing business empire. From early days styling her Great Gran’s hair and experimenting with Barbie dolls, Lana’s passion for transformation and creativity became evident. Raised by a determined single mother, Lana imbibed the spirit of independence, realizing that women can achieve anything. This mindset, nurtured in her formative years, laid the foundation for her entrepreneurial endeavours.
The Success Behind Property Tree
Before venturing into real estate, Henk had a full-time career in rugby, playing for teams such as the Bulls, Lions, Ep Kings, and Pumas. His sports background instilled essential life lessons about teamwork and the value of hard work, principles he applies to his business.
Africa’s second Organic and Natural Products Expo returns with exciting offerings
The countdown has begun for Africa’s second Organic and Natural Products Expo Africa. This flagship event, organised by South African Trade Promotions (SATP), takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg from the 14th to the 16th of September. As excitement mounts, exhibitors are eagerly unveiling their plans for this year’s event, which aims to build on the successes of its inaugural edition.
Old school Hospitality in Kensington Joburg
Nico Brandt was born 10 April 1968. As a child he used to assist his Mom in the kitchen and thinks that this might be where his love for food originated from. He grew up with two siblings in Randfontein where he completed his SHS education.
Denis Ackulay – Africa’s Global Connection
Denis Ackulay also referred to as “Chief Denis” was born on the 21st of July the year he was born in however is Top Secret. He playfully ensures us that his birthday celebration always extends to the 22nd of July and that he prefers to stay the same age for many years to come.
by Marinda Sauerman
Silent Dynamic Power
Jacquelene Swanepoel describes herself as a business woman, entrepreneur, working mom and wife. Her business community, however, describes her as a quiet woman that has the dynamic presence of a giant. The few times that Jacquelene speaks, everyone listens to every single word she has to say.
Rising Above the External
Steph Jansen van Vuuren was born and raised in Klerksdorp (a mining town in North West). This is where he was introduced to the pageant and modelling world. He entered his first pageant at the age of 15 and from then on, modelling became a significant part of his life.
Dancing is music to Tanya Jacobs’ feet
At 47 she dances for four hours daily on weekdays with her students. Tanya Jacobs has been teaching various forms of dancing at her interactive studio in Hartbeespoort for the past 30 years. By Carla van der Spuy
Telling stories of hope
I was born in KwaMashu township in Kwazulu-Natal as Mqondisi Ngubane, or “MQ.” I was named by my grandmother who envisioned me as a “Mqondisi,” an isiXhosa word meaning “director”. This turned out to be prophetic – my name heralded my future – it was as if it was known from my birth that my destiny was to become a director.
The magic of Photography and Annelie
Annelie Dillman’s story starts a little more than 40 years ago, when her dad, a keen amateur photographer, converted his darkroom into a baby room for her.
Melissa-Jo Sharpe Moolman
Melissa-Jo Sharpe received her BSc Dietetics cum laude at the North West University. Her interest in Dietetics started out more as a result of her own journey to understand and recover from a teenage eating disorder.
Zanele Angel Mvelase ~ Mc Donald’s
“I am in the business of empowering people”
This sophisticated woman with love and empathy for people, hails from Swaziland.
EDITOR’S NOTE
A new season brings fresh opportunities, new ideas and exciting possibilities for growth, reminding us that every new beginning is a chance to connect, collaborate and turn our goals into something meaningful.
MEET OUR HBC MEMBERS 2026
Networking is about more than exchanging business cards it is about building meaningful relationships and creating a strong, supportive community. When local business owners connect, share ideas, support one another and collaborate, everyone has the opportunity to grow. Together, we build a community where businesses thrive, referrals flourish and lasting partnerships are formed.
Get Your IT Working for You
The entrepreneurs who pull ahead won’t be the ones with the biggest teams or the deepest pockets. They’ll be the ones who got their technology working for them instead of the other way around doing more with less, staying responsive as they grow, and spending their limited hours on the work that only they can do. Good IT won’t run your business for you. But done well, it clears the clutter so you can get back to the reason you started this in the first place and every now and then, close the laptop a little earlier.
BUILDING A CULTURE RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY AND RESOLUTION
Conflict is a natural part of school life but with the right skills, it can become a opportunity for growth and positive change.
Franchising and the 90 day threshold
The first is approval bottlenecks. If decisions that should sit with your operations team, a field consultant signing off on a store visit report, or a support manager resolving a complaint, still find their way back to you, the business has not been built to run without you. It has been built around you.
The second is unwritten knowledge. If the answer to “how does this work?” inside your own head office is “ask the founder” rather than “here is the process”, your operational continuity is a person, not a system.
The third is performance variance by presence. If franchisee support quality, brand compliance or store standards shift noticeably when you are not personally involved, the network is responding to you, not to the system you have built. That is the most honest diagnosis available, and most franchisors only discover it under pressure.
Harvesting the Ocean, Part 2
Seaweed farming is rapidly becoming one of the most exciting agricultural opportunities on Earth. Often described as one of the fastest growing forms of aquaculture, it has the potential to supply food, create employment, support industry, and strengthen coastal economies while working in harmony with nature. As the global population continues to grow and agricultural land becomes increasingly limited, the ocean offers an opportunity that has remained largely untapped.
New report reveals South African businesses don’t have a software problem. They have a judgment problem.
New report reveals South African businesses don’t have a software problem. They have a judgment problem.
Deep beats wide
Most small business owners have far more depth available to them than they realise: in the customers they already serve, the products they already sell and the assets already sitting on their property.
The growth you are looking for is often not out there in something entirely new. It may be right here, in something you already own but have not yet used to its full potential.
Before you go wide, go deep. Look carefully at what is already in your hands. More often than not, that is where the next stage of growth is hiding – not on the shelves of the shop next door.
IS AMERICA BETTER FOR ME?
Somethimes the grass is greener, and sometimes it is simply different grass.
The Quiet Heroes Between the Cracks
For many children, schools and ECD centres become more than places of learning. They become spaces of emotional safety. They become places where children are noticed. Places where someone asks if they are okay. Places where adults pay attention when behaviour changes, when silence becomes unusual, or when fear quietly replaces confidence.
The quiet heroes between the cracks.
South Africa’s home-based businesses are building national brands
The company’s online customer portal allows businesses to create consignments and print labels without complex technical integration, while its API and SFTP capabilities enable larger e-commerce businesses to automate shipping and tracking directly from their systems.
FROM AN OLD PHONE TO A MILLION VIEWS
In just over a year of operating, we have successfully grown our agency while also building a TikTok community of more than 32,000 followers. Through our platform, we help South Africans navigate the current economic climate by sharing budget-friendly dining options, affordable activities, grocery deals, and money-saving tips across Gauteng.
LOCAL STABILITY MEETS GLOBAL VOLATILITY
“South Africa is already seeing early signs of this. Investor sentiment has improved following the country’s removal from the global anti-money-laundering grey list and its first sovereign credit rating upgrade in nearly two decades.
“Combined with a more disciplined fiscal framework, these developments signal that South Africa’s macroeconomic environment is becoming more stable. That stability does not immediately translate into rapid growth, but it does provide the predictability that markets value highly.
Dormant Trusts Under Scrutiny as SARS Begins Enforcing Administrative Penalties
SARS has made it clear that trusts which no longer serve a purpose must still follow a formal process before they can be removed from the tax system. This includes submitting all outstanding tax returns, settling any tax liabilities and providing supporting documentation confirming the termination of the trust.
The People Behind the Wheel: The Challenges Faced by City Drivers Serving Our Communities
These are difficult questions, but they deserve to be asked.
Because the next time you climb into a ride-hailing vehicle, take a moment to look beyond the dashboard.
There is a person sitting behind that steering wheel.
A person trying to make a living.
A person with a story.
And perhaps, just like Thabo, Tina, and William, a person simply trying to make it through another day.
“It Starts Quietly”: Experts Urge South Africans Not to Ignore the Silent Symptoms of Nerve Damage
“Neuropathy is not always dramatic in its early stages in fact, it’s often silent,” says Dr Joshi, a practising diabetes specialist. “But those early sensations tingling, numbness, burning are important warning signs. They should never be ignored.”
FROM SURVIVING LIFE’S STORMS TO STANDING BESIDE OTHERS
“Behind every legal file is a human story and every story deserves someone willing to stand beside it.”
Italian Trade Agency (ICE) Co-hosts Landmark Italy-South Africa Agri-Food Business Forum and MOU Signing in Cape Town
A highlight of the opening session was the signing of an Italy-South Africa Memorandum of Understanding, formalising a joint commitment between SACE, Italy’s export credit agency, and SIMEST, the Italian development finance institution focused on internationalisation, with the Italian-South African Chamber of Commerce. The MOU establishes a framework for long-term cooperation across research and innovation, digital agriculture, agricultural mechanisation, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, agro-processing and technology transfer – and creates a Joint Working Group to ensure the commitments made translate into practical commercial and investment outcomes.