Toyota South Africa and the Youth Employment Service (YES) are celebrating the conclusion of Toyota’s sixth YES programme, which has equipped 712 young South Africans – 63% of them women – with valuable skills to advance their careers in this future-facing sector. The automotive sector, contributing 4.3% to the country’s gross domestic product and accounting for 18.1% of total exports, has been a leading participant in addressing youth unemployment through the YES programme. Toyota SA has demonstrated exceptional commitment to addressing youth unemployment in this sector, having created work opportunities for 4,096 youth across six successful YES programmes since the…
Author: Staff Writer
The local tourism and hospitality industry has long been one of the cornerstones of the South African economy, as millions of international tourists stream into the country each year to explore the countries natural wonders and majestic scenery while simultaneously providing vital employment opportunities to millions of locals. In recent years, the sector has faced unprecedented challenges, most notably the global COVID-19 pandemic that brought travel to a standstill. Thankfully, the industry is now experiencing a timely boost and recovery which Akani Properties is witnessing through its tourism assets. The recovery is caused by the past year’s uptick in local…
On April 8, 2025, South Africa’s Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau and Small Business Development Minister Stella Tembisa Ndabeni will officially launch the R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund. First announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in November 2024, this initiative aims to revitalize township and rural economies by empowering local entrepreneurs, particularly those running spaza shops—small, informal convenience stores that serve as community lifelines. Administered by the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) and the Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (SEFDA), the fund provides a mix of financial and non-financial support. Spaza shop owners can access grants and loans for…
The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in South Africa has taken a bold step to address a growing concern: unregulated financial influencers, or “finfluencers,” dispensing advice on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. As of April 2025, the FSCA is scrutinizing whether these influencers are breaking the law by offering financial guidance without proper authorization. This move underscores a critical reality—social media, while a powerful tool for information, is a risky place to seek financial advice. The rise of finfluencers reflects a broader trend. In 2021, over half of UK investors turned to social media for investment tips, with one…
Suzuki Auto South Africa has concluded another stellar sales month and a record breaking financial year – the 16th since the company began local operations in 2008. As detailed in the official sales report – published by industry body naamsa on the first business day of every month – 5,284 new Suzuki passenger vehicles were sold during March 2025. This figure consisted of 4,733 dealer sales and 551 fleet/rental/government sales. This cements Suzuki as South Africa’s second-best-selling car brand for a third consecutive month. Leading the sales charge for the Japanese marque was the new fourth-generation Swift with 1,608…
Lactalis South Africa has received approval from the Competition Commission to acquire Nestlé’s Cremora business, marking a significant shift for the iconic South African creamer brand. The announcement, made on 2 April 2025, includes the transfer of Cremora’s employees and production facilities in Babelegi, Gauteng, and Potchefstroom, North West, to Lactalis, a local arm of the French multinational dairy corporation. Cremora, a household staple for 77 years, has been integral to South Africa’s coffee culture since 1961, famously known for its slogan, “It’s not inside, it’s on top.” Nestlé took over the brand in 1993 from Borden Foods Corporation and…
A South African company owned by a former G4S director has received approval from the Competition Commission to acquire G4S’s local cash-in-transit (CIT) business. The acquiring entity, Izi Africa, is a special purpose vehicle created specifically for the deal and is owned by Amajuba Management Solutions. Amajuba also runs Izi Cash, which operates in key cities including Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, and others. At the helm is 53-year-old Albert Erasmus, the sole director of Amajuba, CEO of Izi Cash, and a director of Izi Africa. Erasmus previously served as a director of G4S Cash Solutions until March 2015,…
As the 2025 sugar season begins, the South African sugar industry faces ongoing threats from falling global sugar prices, a sugar tax, weak demand, and rising cheap imports, jeopardizing its sustainability. The sector, vital to over 1 million livelihoods, relies heavily on millers like Tongaat Hulett, a key player in KwaZulu-Natal with three sugar mills, a refinery, and an animal feeds facility. The company contributes R9.3 billion annually to South Africa’s GDP, directly employing 2,670 people and supporting 25,563 jobs in rural communities like Maidstone, Amatikulu, and Felixton, where employment opportunities are scarce. Tongaat Hulett entered business rescue in October…
Kia South Africa is proud to announce the introduction of its Sales Cadet Program, which currently has 16 participants enrolled – comprising 10 females and six males. This initiative has been launched in the Gauteng region specifically as a pilot and clearly aligns with Kia’s commitment to enhancing gender diversity within the automotive industry, with a focused strategy to increase the number of female employees at key levels within the business. As part of this initiative, Kia South Africa plans to expand the program by adding four more participants by mid-April, bringing the total to 20, with a goal of…
Core Group, South Africa’s leading distributor of tech products, has announced a new distribution partnership with Microsoft to bring its powerful and versatile line up of Surface hardware to South African resellers. Through this collaboration, businesses will be afforded seamless access to the world-class portfolio, providing a perfect blend of hardware and software designed for the modern workplace. With Microsoft Surface, South African businesses can now access the best-in-class hardware, built specifically to enhance productivity and performance through device level AI capability and the Microsoft 365 (M365) suite of productivity tools. “Microsoft Surface is engineered to deliver best in class…