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The Quiet Revolution That Just Made PR The Most Powerful Discipline In Business
By Madelain Roscher, Founder and CEO, PR Worx and Public Relations Institute of SA (PRISA) Member For decades, PR sat at the bottom of the boardroom budget conversation. AI search, the new Google, has just changed that forever - and most companies have no idea what is coming for them. When Gartner predicted last month that global PR and earned media budgets will double by 2027, the communications industry celebrated. I did not. Doubling is nowhere near enough. After 25 year


One of South Africa's oldest wine estates produces two of its newest rising stars
Blaauwklippen lands a rare double on WineLand Media's 2026 "30 Under 30", with Elani Nell and Mila Malherbe named among just 30 young professionals nationwide. Blaauwklippen, one of South Africa's oldest wine farms and first registered company, has just had two team members under 30 named to WineLand Media's 2026 30 Under 30 list – one of the wine industry’s most competitive annual recognitions, limited to just 30 young professionals nationwide. WineLand Media has reported


UP’s CE Index shows trust is doing heavy lifting in investment and life insurance
South Africa’s life insurance and investment industries delivered strong customer experience results in the latest University of Pretoria (UP) Customer Experience (CE) Index, with life insurance scoring 74.3 and the investment benchmark reaching 76.7 out of 100 against the international benchmark of 75. According to Professor Adré Schreuder, Head of the Industry Chair in Customer Experience at UP, the investment industry was added to the CE Index following subscriber reques


The questions I couldn’t answer at Meet the Managers - and why that matters
By Pedri Reyneke, CEO and Fund Manager, Findotec After nearly a decade in financial services, you develop certain assumptions about what you know. This is based on experience, through research, developing solutions that work, serving clients who are in different stages of life, and applying what you have learned throughout the years. This is not arrogance, exactly - more a quiet confidence that naturally arrives after enough years in the same industry. As a result, you somewh


Readily accessible meat markets are faltering while South Africa chases new ones
Italy’s interest in South African beef – raised during recent trade discussions at the SA-Italy Agriculture Business Forum in Cape Town – should be a positive signal for local producers. However, new export opportunities mean little if government cannot restore access to meat markets already accessible, approved, or commercially ready, says Paul Matthew, CEO of the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters of Southern Africa (AMIE). AMIE chairman Mark Luff says global tra


Wastewater investment and the challenge of delivery
By Roelof van den Berg, CEO of the Gap Infrastructure Corporation (GIC) Clean water saves lives, sustains public health, enables businesses to operate, and keeps South Africa’s agricultural sector productive. Wastewater management is a vital component of water security, helping to ensure both rural and urban South Africans have access to potable water. As demand on water systems grows alongside our population, industrial activity, and climate variability, wastewater infrast


"The Escalator Theory": why South Africa's smartest fund selectors are no longer chasing performance
By Pedri Reyneke, CEO and Fund Manager of Findotec In the first half of 2025, 92% of actively managed funds benchmarked against the S&P South Africa 50 lagged the index. Over the past decade, three out of four active South African funds have underperformed their benchmark, and around 40% of the funds that existed ten years ago no longer survive at all. For Reyneke, those numbers point to a single uncomfortable truth: the way most South Africans invest is broken. "Investor


Hiring CMOs for tomorrow’s growth by aligning roles with reality
By Allen Shardelow, Senior Partner at Heidrick & Struggles CMOs are evolving into transformation leaders, integrating marketing, technology, and commercial strategy AI and data are reshaping the function, but leadership capability remains the key differentiator Consumer-facing sectors face heightened pressure to appoint commercially focused, cross-functional marketing leaders who are technology savvy The Chief Marketing Officer role has transformed – but most organisations


Diesel-dependent construction sites are feeling the impact of soaring fuel prices
By Roelof van den Berg, CEO of Gap Infrastructure Corporation (GIC) South Africa's infrastructure delivery momentum risks stalling as further diesel price hikes loom, largely driven by ongoing geopolitical tensions linked to the US-Iran conflict and the likelihood that the recent temporary R3 reduction in the general fuel levy will need to be reversed in the months ahead. For construction sites that heavily depend on diesel for daily operations, rising costs may place greater


Heritage on display: Blaauwklippen debuts documentary at WTM Africa to celebrate SA winemaking history
Blaauwklippen Wine Estate showcased 340+ years of winemaking excellence on Monday with the premiere of its new documentary film on viticulture and viniculture in the Cape Winelands. The showing was a major draw for delegates at the World Travel Market (WTM) Africa 2026 exhibition held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) on 13 April 2026. WTM Africa brings together international and local travel trade leaders, buyers, distributors, agents, and media, mak


South Africa’s weight-loss revolution is testing medical discipline
One in every two South African adults is considered overweight or obese. It is not surprising, then, that potentially lifesaving prescription-based metabolic medicines are surging in popularity. The challenge: demand is rising faster than the clinical structure needed to support it, leaving many patients unsure what responsible, medically supervised care should look like. It is a concern Dr Gerhard Vosloo, a prominent sports, exercise, and lifestyle physician, says he is en


One blend could write your name into 344 years of Blaauwklippen history
Every year since 1984, one ordinary South African wine lover with an extraordinary wine blend of their own creation has seen their name immortalised on a bottle from one of the oldest cellars on the continent. Judged blind against dozens of entries from across the country, one elegant blend will earn its place in more than three centuries of Blaauwklippen history at the beloved annual Blaauwklippen Blending Competition. The competition has been an iconic fixture on South Af


AI is redefining what boards value in executive hires
By Julia Goodman, Partner at Heidrick & Struggles Boards are reassessing the leadership capabilities required to move artificial intelligence (AI) into core operations. Leadership alignment, governance, and organisational culture are increasingly determining whether AI initiatives translate into measurable business value. Leaders must be able to integrate AI across different levels of maturity, from individual employee tools to enterprise-wide systems. The boardroom narrati


Green shoots for South Africa’s construction sector in 2026
By Olebogeng Manhe, Chairman of the Gap Infrastructure Corporation (GIC) Construction is building Africa’s capacity and potential, driving thousands of jobs per year. The challenge is that the industry is highly cyclical and vulnerable to economic fluctuations. In the past few years, especially, the industry has experienced sustained contraction with particularly slow recovery, as the aftereffects of the pandemic, geopolitical instability and supply chain disruptions, tighten


Why more families are choosing wine estates for “famcay” destinations
Picture the scene: you’re sipping a delightful glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and taking in a breathtaking mountain landscape, a cool breeze teasing your hair, while your children explore the outdoors nearby. For many families, this kind of escape has long felt out of reach – wine farms were places for adults, not weekend destinations designed with children in mind. That perception is changing. As hospitality trends increasingly favour family-friendly wine estates, farms acros


South Africa’s next CFOs will be judged on more than financial results
By Tshepo David Sebe, Principal at Heidrick & Struggles Boards have come to expect CFOs to operate as strategic business partners rather than purely technical finance leaders. The modern CFO mandate spans strategy, technology oversight, stakeholder alignment, and team leadership. Expanding CFO responsibilities require organisations to strengthen the structures and teams that support the role. Chief financial officers (CFOs) are under mounting pressure as their mandates expa


Africa’s Endangered Wild Dogs Gain Ground Through Conservation Collaboration
Written by: Extraordinary African wild dogs ( Lycaon pictus ), among Africa’s most endangered carnivores, are thriving in parts of the Waterberg Biosphere thanks to innovative conservation programmes and coordinated efforts between reserves and wildlife organisations. Globally, fewer than 7,000 wild dogs remain in the wild, and their survival hinges on vast territories, sufficient prey, and careful population management. “Wild dogs are highly social species and require large


Data, Not Emotion - How SA Investors Can Navigate Market Volatility
Written by: Pedri Reyneke, CEO Multilink Financial Services As global markets fluctuate , many South African investors are making financial decisions based on headlines rather than hard data — a pattern that history shows can negatively affect long-term investment returns . Recent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East , particularly the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran , have contributed to rising global oil prices and increased market uncer


Leadership succession gaps leave SA companies exposed
By Sarah Arnot, Partner at Heidrick & Struggles South African organisations face sustained loss of senior talent to international markets and competitors. Weak succession planning and inconsistent executive onboarding are amplifying retention risk. Human-centred leadership, alignment, and structured support remain the most reliable stabilisers. South African firms are confronting an intensifying war for top talent, both locally and abroad, and companies without a sound succ


Wine-led experiences are set to steal Valentine’s Day in 2026
Valentine’s Day has a habit of tipping into cliché. The same red roses, the same gift cards and teddy bears, and the same rush to demonstrate romance in a single evening. But this year, wine-led experiences are poised to quietly steal the spotlight. As couples push back against over-curated celebrations and predictable gifts, many are choosing slower, more grounded ways to connect through sharing a delicious meal and a few good bottles. Narina Cloete, Head Winemaker at Blaa


Why leadership development matters more than ever for retaining top local talent
By Mark Watt, Partner at Heidrick & Struggles South Africa South Africa is lagging global peers on leadership development investment despite rising pressure to retain top talent. Effective leadership development improves retention when it is aligned to organisational needs and culture. Organisations with stronger retention outcomes embed development across multiple levels. Johannesburg, February 12, 2026 : As global companies continue to increase investment in leadership de


Blaauwklippen Manor and Jonkershuis reopen, restoring some of Stellenbosch’s oldest wine landmarks
History sits lightly at Blaauwklippen Wine Estate, but it runs deep throughout the property. And with the reopening of its iconic Manor House and adjacent Jonkershuis this week, it marks the return of one of the Cape’s most enduring landmarks, restored with painstaking care and a deep respect for its past. Founded in 1682 and recognised as the first registered company in South Africa and the oldest wine farm in Stellenbosch. The Manor House itself dates back to the mid-1700


At your service - Clifftop butlers shine during SABA training
Written by: Extraordinary At Clifftop Exclusive Safari Hideaway, the most impressive moments are rarely the ones that make it onto Instagram. Instead, it looks like someone remembering how you take your coffee. It sounds like your name being used before you introduce yourself. It feels like a problem being solved before you even realise you have one. That kind of service isn’t instinct. It’s learned. Recently, a group of Clifftop’s butlers and duty managers completed speciali


Mrs South Africa 2026 semi-finalists revealed following live national casting events
Mrs South Africa, powered by iME, has officially begun unveiling its 2026 semi-finalists following a series of high-energy live casting events across the country, kicking off one of the most competitive entry seasons in the programme’s history. Entries for the 2026 season closed on Monday, 26 January, drawing hundreds of applications nationwide. According to organisers, the overwhelming response reflects both the strength of the Mrs South Africa brand, as well as the growin

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