Business Archives

FROM SOIL TO SOVEREIGNTY: The rise of cultural mogul Touch Motswak Tswak

20Mar

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Business

FROM SOIL TO SOVEREIGNTY: The rise of cultural mogul Touch Motswak Tswak

By Sitha Maliwa: Touch Motswak Tswak (Image supplied) In a quiet but determined cultural revolution emerging from Gaborone, Botswana, a new kind of African entrepreneur is redefining what luxury, heritage, and power look like. At the centre of this movement stands Touch Motswak Tswak - a cultural mogul, hip-hop visionary, and architect of a philosophy that is turning the African landscape itself into a symbol of prestige. Where others see farmland, he sees the future of luxury. Touch belongs to a rising generation of African creatives who are no longer waiting for validation from global capitals. Instead, they are building cultural empires rooted in African identity, transforming local heritage into global influence. His work exists at the intersection of music...

JALUSI TECH: Powering South Africa’s entrepreneurial future

7Mar

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Business

JALUSI TECH: Powering South Africa’s entrepreneurial future

Sitha Maliwa: Thandiwe Shema, Managing Director of Jalusi Tech In a country where small businesses often struggle to survive against towering economic pressures, one company is quietly building a reputation as a lifeline for entrepreneurs determined to succeed. Jalusi Corporation and its technology arm, Jalusi Tech, are emerging as powerful allies for South Africa’s small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs), combining strategic business guidance with cutting-edge digital solutions to help entrepreneurs transform ideas into sustainable enterprises. From the bustling townships to boardrooms of growing start-ups, Jalusi’s mission is clear: empower small businesses to compete, scale and thrive in an increasingly digital economy. Founded on the conviction that small...

Our first Business Breakfast & Networking session was exceptional and a Five-Star success

2Mar

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Business

Our first Business Breakfast & Networking session was exceptional and a Five-Star success

By Katlego Rammusa: Author and host, Katlego Rammusa, talking to the audience Saturday, 28th February, was a blissful morning of engagement and powerful conversations where I held the Business Breakfast & Networking session, which was our first inception at the Menlyn Boutique Hotel in Pretoria. Indeed, it was an exceptional event, one of its kind, with a lovely setup and people. As the visionary of this initiative, the aim is to build a chamber of commerce amongst entrepreneurs, whether aspiring, emerging or established. We are creating a cross-pollination between entities and fostering worthwhile and long-lasting relationships and partnerships because one is likely to do and interact business with the people they can trust. Proximity compounds, as the saying...

State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2026 and the state of logistics in South Africa

18Feb

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Business

State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2026 and the state of logistics in South Africa

By Gavin Kelly: (CEO of Road Freight Association) The writer discusses challenges facing Logistics in SA. Image: From Freepik) The Association listened with keen ears and bated breath for the waypoints to be listed by President Ramaphosa following his creation some 18 months ago of the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC), formed solely to address the collapse of the state-controlled infrastructure and operations of the country. One would have opined, at least, that the President would have read the reports that dutifully came across his desk during 2025 – and the massive steps that had been taken (well, there was massive spending, so…) would have at least been outlined last (Thursday) night. Vast Generalisation That would have given an “easy” follow-th...

From Boycott to Bargaining: Washington’s Africa Contradiction Exposed in Cape Town

17Feb

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Business

From Boycott to Bargaining: Washington’s Africa Contradiction Exposed in Cape Town

By Zola Pinda: (Images: Mining Indaba Website) Consistency is the currency of statecraft. Without it, even the most powerful nations find their influence discounted. The conclusion of the Investing in African Mining Indaba 2026 in Cape Town has laid bare a striking contradiction in Washington’s Africa posture — one that speaks less to strength than to strategic impatience. Merely to secure access to critical minerals In November 2025, President Donald Trump’s administration boycotted the G20 Leaders’ Summit hosted in Johannesburg on 22–23 November, declining to send official representation. Soon thereafter, the United States confirmed it would host the 2026 G20 Summit on 14–15 December 2026 at Trump National Doral in Miami, Florida, shaping the age...

NAFCOC takes fight to Parliament over IDC’s alleged bias against black entrepreneurs and violation of its developmental mandate

14Feb

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Business

NAFCOC takes fight to Parliament over IDC’s alleged bias against black entrepreneurs and violation of its developmental mandate

By Special Correspondent: The National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NAFCOC) has turned to Parliament, demanding that the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) be held accountable for what it calls a failure to deliver on its developmental mandate and for discriminating against black-owned businesses. In a strongly worded letter to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, NAFCOC accused the state-owned financier of consistently sidelining township enterprises and black industrialists, while channelling funds to white-owned and privileged companies. The chamber said black businesses are routinely bogged down in red tape when seeking support, undermining efforts to drive inclusive economic growth. Parliament has agreed to meet with NAFCOC ...

NAFCOC hails Ramaphosa’s R2.5bn SMME package as ‘long overdue’ and a vital intervention

14Feb

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Business

NAFCOC hails Ramaphosa’s R2.5bn SMME package as ‘long overdue’ and a vital intervention

By Special Correspondent: President Cyril Ramaphosa. (Image: Northern Cape Government website) The National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NAFCOC) has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of expanded funding for small businesses, calling it a vital intervention at a precarious economic moment. Delivering his 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA), Ramaphosa unveiled a R2.5‑billion initiative to boost job creation and industrialisation. The plan will provide direct funding to about 180,000 Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), alongside R1‑billion in guarantees to unlock further financing. Priority will be given to women‑ and youth‑led enterprises, with additional support for supplier development programmes tied to manufactu...

Global Economic Outlook in 2026 and its Implications

13Feb

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Business

Global Economic Outlook in 2026 and its Implications

By Prof. Nuwagaba Augustus: Bank of Uganda Deputy Governor A high-angle shot of a leather change purse and some change and a banknote on a wooden surface (Image: Pixels) The global economy is looking interesting in 2026. Global growth is estimated at 2.8%, which is pretty decent. The U.S. economy is expected to continue to drive global growth, with forecasts for 2026 GDP growth estimated at 2.6%, supported by tax cuts, easier financial conditions, and a reduced drag from tariffs. China's GDP is forecast to expand by around 4.5% to 4.8% in 2026. The major driver will be manufacturing and IT equipment, and services. The Eurozone is expected to grow slowly, with forecasts around 1.3%–1.7%. Germany (the largest economy in Europe) is projecte...

THE CHAUKE SISTERS: Turning their mother’s baking into a national empire

14Nov

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Business

THE CHAUKE SISTERS: Turning their mother’s baking into a national empire

By Sitha Maliwa: ABOVE: Rhulani (left) and Rirhandzu Chauke (far right), co-owners of Conza’s Biscuits, with Maanda Milubi, Director Enterprise and Supplier Development, Tiger Brands. Conza’s Biscuits is one of the township-based, women-owned businesses that Tiger Brands has supported. (Image: supplied) In the heart of Soweto, in a tiny kitchen warmed by the smell of vanilla and ambition, a single mother once stood over five battered baking pans, determined to change the course of her family’s life. That woman was Constance Chauke - and the seed she planted in 2004 has grown into one of South Africa’s most inspiring SMME success stories: Conza’s Biscuits. What began as a survival strategy has risen, against the odds, into a beloved national brand now touching homes, re...

BEYOND THE MINES: RCDT’s 10-year journey of empowering Rustenburg

13Nov

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Business

BEYOND THE MINES: RCDT’s 10-year journey of empowering Rustenburg

By Sitha Maliwa: A decade ago, the Rustenburg Community Development Trust (RCDT) was founded on a bold vision to transform mining-linked communities into self-sustaining powerhouses of innovation, skills, and enterprise. Today, that vision stands tall. As RCDT prepares to host its 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 27 November at the RCDT Hub in Paardekraal, the organisation marks 10 years of transformative community impact that has reshaped lives across Rustenburg’s 65 villages. This is no ordinary AGM. It’s a celebration of progress, resilience, and a renewed promise to build a Rustenburg that thrives beyond the mines. From humble beginnings in 2014 to a thriving network that has reached over 50,000 beneficiaries, RCDT’s journey reads like a blueprint for sust...