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.
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.
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.
Today, her career has come full circle. The industries she operates in now, logistics, distribution, industrial operations, and sectors linked to construction and supply, connect directly back to those early experiences of physical work, structure, and production.
Elegant suites offer a tranquil and luxurious stay, while family friendly spaces, including thoughtfully designed bunk rooms, ensure comfort for guests of all ages. Outside, inviting courtyard areas and a sparkling pool create the perfect setting to relax and enjoy the Hartbeespoort climate.
The Perfect Hartbeespoort Escape
A South African entrepreneur just did. Meet GNASH, SA’s first plastic-free, biodegradable, tooth-friendly functional gum.
“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.”
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.
As one of the country’s largest consumer electronics manufacturers, celebrating it’s 30th anniversary in South Africa this year, Hisense SA’s participation in the summit underscored the company’s long-standing investment in local manufacturing and industrial development. Since entering the South African market in 1996, Hisense has steadily expanded its footprint through local production, job creation, and technology investment.
As we move into the second half of the year, let this be a gentle reminder to stay focused, keep pushing forward, and trust both the process and the purpose.
“The cost of being unprepared is not only short-term pressure. It is the long-term damage caused when reactive decisions become patterns. Interest becomes a tax on future income. Catch-up spending becomes normal. The gap between what you earn and what you keep widens quietly.
I have seen the impact of taking money from the till with the promise of paying it back. It always feels reasonable in the moment. Just this once. Just until the payment comes in, the consequence is always the same. Cash flow issues. And the business owner says, ” But the sales are good, why can’t I pay what I need to pay?
One of the most significant advantages of social media monetisation is accessibility. Unlike traditional industries that often require formal qualifications or substantial capital, content creation is open to anyone with a smartphone and internet access. This democratisation of opportunity is particularly important in South Africa, where unemployment remains high and access to formal employment can be limited. A creative individual with consistency and a clear niche can build an audience and begin earning without needing to enter the conventional job market.
“I spent a long time studying longevity cultures in the East, where populations are known globally for their clear, healthy complexions. What stood out to me was their focus on supporting the body rather than forcing external change,” says Carroll. “I then focused on sourcing ingredients that were both pure and effective. The cherry blossom extract from Japan was especially important because of its long history in skin health and its antioxidant properties. When combined with rose bud extract and vegan L Cysteine, the goal was to create something that supports the skin at a cellular level, rather than relying on quick fixes.”
“The shift we are seeing is not just about product preference. It’s about a fundamentally different relationship between the consumer and the category. South Africans have become genuinely ingredient-literate. They are approaching skincare the way they approach health; with questions, with scepticism, and with high expectations.”
“Most skincare today either strips the skin or overwhelms it,” said Nick Hunt, General Manager RTSCBeauty. “Sel:pH is engineered to reset the skin to where it naturally thrives, at 5.5. When you restore balance first, you treat acne more effectively, retain moisture properly, and unlock a glow that comes from healthy skin function — not surface shine.”
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.
“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.”
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.
