Get Started

Category: Uncategorised

Flags of the future with Clem Sunter – futurist, strategist, visionary (1944 – 2026)

Clem Sunter

Clem Sunter joined Anglo America in 1966 in London, through its gold division, then moved to its Zambia division and later moved with them to South Africa in 1973. Later he was tasked with devising different scenarios for future proofing the organisation. In this Business Unusual podcast from the days of lockdown, the late scenario planner joined Ralf Fletcher to discuss what the future might hold. At the time, the pandemic had made the world incredibly vulnerable and they spoke of the importance of being like a fox: agile, adaptive and ready for change Clem identified 4 main ‘flags’ which are still relevant six years later: LISTEN NOW

Practical tips to take control of your finances

Practical tips to take control of your finances

By Jessie Taylor With economic pressures mounting and the 2025 Budget reshaping household finances, creating and maintaining a smart budget is essential. From rising inflation and VAT changes to wage stagnation, many South African households find their incomes increasingly stretched. Yet, budgeting is not about restriction: it’s about empowerment, planning, and building stability for the future. Budget 2025 brought modest tax relief but also heightened costs in essentials. Consumers face a tightening squeeze as rising living expenses and potential future VAT increases require careful financial planning. This makes strategic household budgeting more critical than ever. Here are practical, structured tips to help households redesign their financial plans: Start with a clear financial assessment:  Before drafting any plan, take stock of your income streams, monthly essentials, debts, savings, and discretionary spending. Pull recent bank statements or use a budgeting tool to categorise expenses. This upfront clarity is the foundation of all smart budgeting. Rather than indiscriminate cuts, prioritise deep savings where possible without losing security. For example, reviewing insurance policies, such as bundling or adjusting excess, could lower premiums without sacrificing coverage. Avoid cutting essentials that pose risk, such as health insurance. Also consider meal planning, bulk shopping, and cancelling underutilised subscriptions. Review your budget monthly, track performance, and tweak allocations. Allocate your money wisely: Once you have this foundation, set SMART ( Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) financial goals. For instance, look to “save R3,000 by December 2025” or “pay off R10,000 credit card debt in six months”. SMART goals give focus and keep progress measurable. A tried-and-true budgeting structure, the 50/30/20 rule allocates 50% of net income to needs (housing, food, transport), 30% to wants (lifestyle, entertainment), and 20% to savings and debt repayment. South African versions may tweak these percentages slightly based on cost-of-living pressures. Track every rand you spend Aim for a zero-based budget. Zero-based budgeting allocates every rand of net income to a specific purpose – expenses, savings, or debt – so that your budget ends with zero remaining. This forces intentional spending and eliminates waste. At the month’s end, recalculate and adjust. Use budgeting apps or spreadsheets to monitor daily and monthly spending. As raw numbers surface, unnecessary expenses often appear—small, recurring costs like subscriptions or impulse purchases that eat into savings. Tracking provides powerful insight. Setting up debit orders can also ensure you stay on top of your allocations. Consider setting up a debit order into a separate savings or goals account immediately after payday. Auto-saving ensures consistency and reduces reliance on willpower. Adjust your budget in line with the 2025 Budget Budget 2025 introduced a phased VAT increase to 16% and maintained tax brackets, effectively increasing tax drag on low- to middle-income earners. Social grants increased, but household costs continue rising, especially for groceries and utilities. Households should prepare for higher essential spending and allocate savings buffers accordingly. Review your budget as national cost structures shift. Lower food prices in zero-rated categories help, but everyday essentials still rise. Adjust savings and discretionary categories to account for VAT impact on groceries and transport. If you’re unsure, consider consulting a trusted financial advisor, especially when planning large financial decisions or revising tax-efficient strategies. Advisors can help align investment, debt management, and savings plans with long-term objectives.  Mindset matters Understanding your money mindset can help you to make empowered financial decisions. Emotional drivers – such as impulsive spending or fear-based saving – can derail plans. Adopt a long-term perspective, focus on progress over perfection, and celebrate small wins along the way. Involve your entire household in the budget. Budgeting works best when everyone involved understands and participates. Share goals, track spending together, review progress, and set reward milestones. Collective commitment enhances accountability and unity.  Budgeting isn’t about austerity—it’s about empowerment. South Africans face rising costs and fiscal pressure, but households can build financial fitness and security by reassessing budgets and setting financial goals. A healthy household budget helps take control on the micro-level, reducing stress and creating the space to save and plan for meaningful life milestones.  Understanding Budget 2025: What Has Changed? The 2025 National Budget, presented by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, reflects the government’s commitment to maintaining fiscal discipline while supporting economic resilience. With South Africa’s economy still under pressure from high unemployment, rising inflation, and global volatility, Budget 2025 prioritises stabilising public debt, boosting infrastructure, and improving service delivery – while also acknowledging the financial strain felt by households. One of the most notable changes in Budget 2025 is the adjustment to personal income tax brackets, ensuring they keep pace with inflation. This provides some relief to middle-income earners, effectively preventing bracket creep and slightly improving disposable income. Although the tax-free threshold remains unchanged, taxpayers earning under R95 750 annually are still not liable for personal income tax. While no major new taxes were introduced, sin taxes on alcohol and tobacco products have gone up again, reinforcing the government’s dual goal of generating revenue and discouraging unhealthy consumption habits. For consumers and households, these adjustments make it more important than ever to have a clear, adaptable household budget – one that factors in price increases, interest rate shifts, and potential changes in employment or income stability. Sources: The Citizen  |  Mail & Guardian  |  Legal & Tax  |  Property24  |  Nedbank  |  Woman & Finance  |  BusinessTech

Staying innovative and relevant in competitive markets

By Ziphindiwe Ngcobo, ISUZU SA As a team, staying ahead of the latest marketing trends and technologies is essential – to continuously seek ways to innovate approaches thereby remaining competitive and meeting objectives effectively. Collaboration ensures that marketing initiatives are cohesive and supportive of overall business goals. Regular performance analysis and reporting are fundamental to understanding the effectiveness of strategies and making necessary adjustments. I have always been fascinated by the power of data and how numbers behave in a pattern. This has always driven a keen interest in me to tell a story through numbers. It’s easy for marketers to get caught in the pretty pictures but our decisions need to be fueled by how the organisation operates to avoid the say-do gap. We need to be punting lived experiences. Align innovative strategies with business objectives Innovation strategies are informed by thorough market and competitor analyses, ensuring that innovations are relevant and competitive. Cross-functional teams which bring together diverse expertise, fosters creativity and ensures practical implementation. Regular reviews against key performance indicators enables an individual and team to adapt strategies in real-time, maintaining agility in response to market changes. Encouraging all employees to contribute ideas, with leadership championing these efforts and providing necessary support fosters a culture of innovation by. This integrated approach is considered an innovative strategy which drives sustainable growth and maintains a competitive edge. Understanding customer behaviour and trends Understanding customer behaviour and trends is essential for staying ahead . This is achieved through leveraging advanced data analytics tools and conducting extensive market research to gather insights into customer preferences, buying behaviour, and emerging trends. Furthermore, regular customer engagements are crucial for grasping customers’ needs and expectations, allowing tailored offerings to be effective. This is achieved through closely monitoring industry trends and technological innovations, to anticipate changes in customer behaviour and adapt strategies proactively. This comprehensive approach ensures being  responsive to customers’ evolving needs and preferences, ultimately maintaining a competitive edge. Marketing is not just about selling a product, but about creating value and building lasting relationships with customers. Through partnerships and sponsorships, it makes it possible to foster a strong brand affinity and trust among customers, reflecting positively on sales and customer loyalty. Often, other brands might be tempted to select their sponsorships based purely on popularity and therefore, anticipated exposure.  Strategic thinking sits at the core, ensuring that  brand direction aligns with broader business objectives and market needs. Adaptability is crucial in the face of market changes and evolving consumer behaviours; it allows for timely adjustments to strategies to remain competitive. Furthermore, a consumer-centric approach ensures that strategies and campaigns resonate with target audiences, fostering loyalty and enhancing brand perception. Lastly, a commitment to continue learning ensures that brands stay abreast of the latest trends, tools, and best practices, keeping them innovative and relevant in the competitive landscape.