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What Your Independent Trustee Should Be Doing — and Why It Matters

It is in this context that the role of the independent trustee becomes essential. South African courts have long emphasised the need for independent judgment in the administration of family trusts, most notably in the 2003 Land Bank of South Africa vParker decision. This principle was reinforced in 2017 when the Master of the High Court issued a directive requiring many family trusts — particularly those where trustees and beneficiaries are related — to appoint an independent trustee.

Press release 

“Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Hostex made this year’s show particularly meaningful,” said Lerato Nako, Events Manager of Hostex. “The theme ‘Opening doors’ truly came to life, creating new opportunities, strong connections and renewed energy across the hospitality industry.”

The Economic Influence of a US–East Conflict on South African Property Prices

At a global level, tensions between these major powers disrupt trade, weaken investor confidence, and create volatility in commodity and financial markets. South Africa, as an emerging economy with strong ties to both Western and Eastern partners, often finds itself indirectly exposed. When uncertainty rises, global investors tend to retreat from riskier markets, which can reduce foreign capital inflows into South Africa, including property investment.

Cape Town startup Happy Pay raises $5M seed round to scale the first ad-subsidised payments network, to deliver cost-free Buy Now Pay Later payments for SA consumers

“Our mission is simple, to make cash-flow management free for consumers,” said Wesley Billett, Co-Founder and CEO of Happy Pay. “If we can connect the right product to the right person at the right moment and remove payment friction, commerce itself can fund the flexibility. That allows us to deliver installment payments without charging consumers interest.”

Harvesting the Ocean Abalone Part 1

South Africa’s coastline tells many stories, but few are as complex and valuable as that of Abalone farming. Known locally as “perlemoen”,this marine delicacy has grown into one of the country’s most lucrative aquaculture products. Yet, behind its glossy export success lies a fragile industry shaped by risk, resilience, and ongoing challenges.

Inside South Africa’s most overlooked franchise opportunity

“South Africa’s franchise sector has proven its resilience and economic value, contributing close to R1 trillion to the economy and supporting around 500,000 jobs nationwide,” says Ryan Gaines, CEO at Fastway Couriers South Africa. “Despite this, many franchise opportunities remain under-recognised. We’ve seen strong growth since 2019, reflecting how structured business ownership models are becoming a more attractive and stable pathway for entrepreneurs, particularly amid rising living costs and economic uncertainty.”

Hospitality as a catalyst for accelerating localisation

StatsSA confirms that though the sector has not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, South Africa’s tourism sector continues to grow, with total arrivals reaching 8.92 million in 2024, marking an impressive 5.1% increase compared to 2023. The sector now contributes 8.8% to GDP and supports 1.68 million jobs, according to World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates. This positive momentum underscores the resilience of the sector, despite global economic pressures. The sector’s contribution to the economy eclipses that of the mining industry, which was once the mainstay of South Africa’s economy. Yet the sector is often unfairly overlooked despite its significant economic contribution. The growth of tourism has the potential to serve as a powerful driver of SME development across many sectors.