The intersection between public procurement and B-BBEE
The state has a golden opportunity to enforce localised procurement across all spheres of government, at national, provincial, and local levels, including within state-owned entities.
Steep learning curves and personal transformation: 3 lessons in business
Entrepreneurship is often framed as a story of growth, opportunity and success. Those moments are real, but in my experience, the journey has been shaped just as much by uncertainty, steep learning curves and personal transformation.
The partnership taking tourism in the Western Cape to the next level
By Jessie Taylor The Western Cape’s tourism sector continues to gain momentum as international connectivity, strategic partnerships and destination marketing drive strong visitor growth across the province. At the centre of this success is Wesgro, the official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, which has emerged as a critical player in strengthening global tourism links and positioning the province as one of Africa’s most competitive destinations. Wesgro recently announced a major new partnership with Emirates to increase inbound tourism to Cape Town and the broader Western Cape. Signed at the World Travel Market Africa, the memorandum of understanding will see the airline and Wesgro collaborate on destination marketing campaigns, trade engagements, and promotional initiatives targeting key international markets, including the Gulf region, India, the Far East, and Europe. Partnering to build tourism The partnership is the latest example of how Wesgro is leveraging air access and global connectivity to grow tourism numbers and stimulate economic activity across the province. By working closely with airlines, tourism operators and government stakeholders, the agency has helped transform Cape Town into one of the best-connected cities on the African continent. Tourism remains one of the Western Cape’s most important economic sectors. According to the provincial government, international tourists spent approximately R25.9 billion in the Western Cape during 2025, underlining the sector’s significance to the regional economy. Tourism supports thousands of businesses across accommodation, restaurants, retail, transport, events and attractions, while also sustaining employment opportunities in urban and rural communities alike. Wesgro’s approach recognises that air connectivity is one of the strongest drivers of tourism growth. The easier it becomes for travellers to access Cape Town and the Western Cape directly, the more competitive the destination becomes internationally. Through its Cape Town Air Access initiative, powered by Wesgro, the agency has spent the past decade securing new international routes and expanding airline partnerships to boost visitor arrivals. The results have been substantial. Cape Town International Airport recorded a historic 11.1 million two-way passengers during 2025, the highest total ever achieved by the airport. International passenger growth continued to accelerate, with December 2025 alone recording almost 364,000 international two-way passengers, reflecting year-on-year growth of 10%. These increases are translating directly into higher tourism activity and broader economic participation across the province. Increasing access for tourists Wesgro’s strategy extends far beyond simply increasing flight numbers. The organisation has focused on identifying high-value source markets that can deliver long-term tourism growth. The Emirates partnership, for example, provides the Western Cape with enhanced exposure to the airline’s extensive global network spanning more than 140 destinations. This creates opportunities to attract travellers from rapidly growing outbound tourism markets such as the Middle East, India and Asia, while strengthening existing European visitor flows. While international arrivals remain a major focus, the agency also supports initiatives aimed at dispersing tourism benefits more widely across communities and regions. By encouraging visitors to explore smaller towns, cultural experiences and nature-based attractions, tourism growth can contribute more directly to local economic development. The success of the Cape Town Air Access initiative has increasingly attracted international recognition. Over the past decade, the programme has helped secure dozens of new routes and route expansions, strengthening connectivity with North America, Europe, South America, the Middle East and Africa. These achievements reflect strong collaboration between Wesgro, the City of Cape Town, Airports Company South Africa, the Western Cape Government and private sector partners. Ultimately, the agency’s success demonstrates the importance of strategic collaboration in building a globally competitive tourism economy. Through initiatives such as Cape Town Air Access and partnerships with leading international airlines, Wesgro is not only bringing more visitors to the province – it is helping unlock investment, create jobs and strengthen the Western Cape’s position as one of the world’s leading travel destinations. Wesgro’s successful air access partnerships Over the past decade, Wesgro has transformed international connectivity to Cape Town and the Western Cape through its Cape Town Air Access initiative. Working alongside government, airports, and airline partners, the programme has secured numerous international routes, significantly boosting tourism and economic growth. Among the most notable successes has been United Airlines’ expansion of flights, which launched direct seasonal services between Newark and Cape Town, dramatically improving connectivity between the Western Cape and North America. The route helped stimulate high-value tourism from the United States, one of the province’s fastest-growing international markets. Delta Air Lines also strengthened connectivity through direct flights linking Atlanta and Cape Town, while Air France expanded services from Paris to Cape Town, increasing European access to the destination. Cape Town Air Access also supported the announcement of a new direct LATAM Airlines route between São Paulo and Cape Town, scheduled to launch in 2026. Collectively, these partnerships have contributed to record passenger growth at Cape Town International Airport, which handled more than 11.1 million two-way passengers during 2025. The expanded connectivity has strengthened tourism, supported exports, increased conference tourism and enhanced Cape Town’s position as one of Africa’s leading international gateway cities. Sources: Emirates | IOL | Bizcommunity | Wesgro | Western Cape Government | Wesgro
Step into the spotlight with a compelling business pitch – 3 tips
By Shumirai Chimombe The challenges that women entrepreneurs encounter along their business journeys are all too familiar and well known. They range from securing funding, growing their client base, to finding a supportive network of fellow women entrepreneurs and mentors to encourage them and lift them up. It is also helpful to receive constructive feedback from successful business people who will ask the right questions about your business and your offering, helping you fine tune your ideas and grow as a business owner. This is where creating and delivering a compelling business pitch comes in. A business pitch is a brief presentation that an entrepreneur gives to an audience of potential stakeholders who may take an interest in your business. These can include potential funders, investors, partners, or clients. Also known as an ‘elevator pitch’, it requires you to develop a presentation that is concise and goes straight to the point, that captivates your audience, and successfully outlines and communicates the key elements of your business idea, product or service. Pitching dens have risen in popularity at networking events such as conferences and they have become one of the best opportunities for start-ups and small businesses to state their case to funders to support their ideas. They are also a great platform to promote your product or service to a wider audience. To get your business idea to the right people, there are some tips to keep in mind: Network, network: The thought of putting yourself on the spot and speaking to a roomful of influential people can be very daunting. Especially if you are not used to public speaking, and it’s easier to stay out of the limelight. So it’s important to understand that networking is an essential part of being a businesswoman. It opens up opportunities for you to meet and learn from like-minded entrepreneurs, while creating new and potentially lucrative connections. Finding the courage to showcase yourself and your idea could turn out to be one of the most valuable undertakings you can do for your business. Craft a compelling and authentic story: The bottom line is that you are selling a product, service or solution that addresses a problem that you have identified in the market. The pitch needs to outline the key elements of your idea with the aim of getting buy-in from potential funders, partners or clients. It needs to succinctly cover what your company does and what differentiates you. It is your opportunity to impress by giving you the chance to make a positive and lasting impression on your audience , increasing your chances of securing interest and support. Elevate your communication skills: A well-prepared business pitch enables you to effectively communicate your value proposition. Therefore it is important to work on your verbal presentation and refine it as much as possible. Boost your confidence by practising with your friends and colleagues to give feedback on your delivery. It is also essential to be very well prepared to be able to give credible answers to questions from your audience. The more professional and confident the pitch, the more likely it will receive a positive response. The EmpowHER Cape Town Pitching Den – one last chance to be seen Applications for the 2026 Standard Bank Top Women EmpowHER Cape Town Pitching Den close on Friday 12 June – and this is your final chance to put your business forward. The EmpowHER Pitching Den gives women entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their businesses live in front of industry leaders, decision-makers, and a powerful network of business professionals. Selected winners from each regional event (Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg) will receive R50,000 and advance to the national Standard Women Conference, taking place on 8–9 September 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre. They will then proceed to attend the 23rd annual Standard Bank Top Women Awards in Johannesburg on 3 December 2026, where one entrepreneur will be crowned overall winner and receive the R100,000 cash prize. Whether you’re building, scaling, or ready to take your business to the next level, this is your opportunity to step into the spotlight and be seen. Words from last year’s Cape Town winner, Tina Long, Founder of Home Bao I entered the pitching den because I wanted to share the Home Bao journey. From rolling dumplings in my garage to building a proudly South African brand that celebrates Asian heritage. Competitions like this give entrepreneurs a platform to be heard, to learn, and to connect with people who believe in bold ideas. It was such a humbling experience being exposed to so many amazing entrepreneurs and hearing truly creative business ideas. Often, as entrepreneurs, we get so caught up in our own worlds that we forget what else is out there. The pitching den gave me the chance to make connections, and it was reassuring to see that other female entrepreneurs face the same struggles I do. It can be quite lonely at times, and this experience reminded me that I’m not alone on this journey. Honestly I feel proud and grateful for winning the pitching den. Proud of how far Home Bao has come, and grateful for the support from my team, my family, and our customers. Winning this round feels like recognition that Home Bao is more than making delicious dumplings – they can carry culture, community, and impact. Apply now to enter the pitching den. Entries close on 12 June here. To experience the conference as a delegate and participate in the conversations, book your ticket here.
Claude Hanan: The value of speed, scaling Superbalist, building Bash, and the omnichannel retail revolution
In this Business Unusual Podcast he joins Ralf Fletcher to chat about his journey, the Takealot days, the move to co-found Bash.com and the importance of speed and young talent in a competitive landscape.
Alan Knott-Craig: Post-Mxit, bouncing back & building a R5 fibre revolution
In this episode of the Business Unusual Podcast the entrepreneur, author and founder of fibertime joins Ralf Fletcher to chat about everything from the lessons he learned from one year of running Mxit to the reason why he believes luck and networks have contributed to his success.
Standard Bank EmpowHER Gauteng winner, Khabonina Mnguni | 5 start-up tips from a successful entrepreneur
Standard Bank EmpowHER Gauteng winner, Khabonina Mnguni’s story behind starting and growing her business Zibangwenya Supplies trading as ZS Uniforms in Tembisa serves as an inspiration.
How to set yourself apart with a storytelling strategy
Storytelling has become an essential necessity for entrepreneurs, business owners and leaders who wish to distinguish themselves in today’s fast-paced and competitive market.
You’re losing millions in fees – Fynbos Money’s Adrian Hope-Bailie knows how to fix it
In this episode of the Business Unusual Podcast he joins Topco CEO, Ralf Fletcher to chat about the shocking realities of traditional financial advisory fees, the emotional barriers to investing, and why Fynbos Money has adopted a radically transparent, flat-fee membership model.
A roadmap for your business in turbulent times
By Dr Linda Meyer In an era where economic, regulatory, and social conditions can shift rapidly, business leaders need to rethink the purpose of a 12-month plan. Rather than serving as a fixed script, the annual plan should serve as a strategic anchor that provides clarity on intent, priorities, and outcomes, while remaining open to refinement. Its value lies in aligning the organisation around a coherent direction, not in locking leaders into assumptions that may become obsolete within months. Agility is enabled when plans are principles-led, assumption-aware and outcome-focused, allowing leaders to adapt without losing strategic coherence. Operationalising agility Although many leaders speak about the importance of flexibility, few successfully operationalise it. Building real agility requires deliberate choices at the leadership level. Decision-making authority must be clearly defined so that teams can act within agreed guardrails without constant escalation. Budgets should evolve from static control mechanisms into dynamic tools that include contingency, scenario-based allocations, and regular re-forecasting. Shorter planning cycles, disciplined review rhythms, and access to timely, reliable data must support execution. Agility is not the absence of control; it is the presence of clarity, accountability, and informed discretion. Decoding signals One of the most challenging leadership judgements is distinguishing between staying the course through uncertainty and persisting with a plan that no longer reflects reality. The difference lies in evidence rather than intent. Staying the course is justified when core assumptions remain valid, and performance variance can reasonably be attributed to temporary disruption. A plan becomes misaligned when underperformance persists, explanations become repetitive, and operational realities increasingly contradict strategic assumptions. Signals warranting reassessment include structural changes in customer behaviour, persistent margin erosion, regulatory shifts, or weakening of capabilities required to deliver the strategy. Effective leaders test assumptions early and adjust before momentum is lost. Discerning innovation Rapid technological change, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, further complicates annual planning. Leaders should approach such developments as strategic enablers rather than reactive distractions. The focus should be on identifying where technology can meaningfully improve productivity, decision quality or service delivery, rather than chasing every innovation. This requires disciplined prioritisation, clear investment criteria, and strong governance to ensure alignment with strategic objectives. By embedding technological considerations into the planning process in a structured way, leaders can harness opportunity without destabilising focus. Ongoing vigilance Over the course of the year, leadership confidence is built through consistent sensing and reviewing disciplines. Regular performance and risk reviews, explicit testing of assumptions, and structured scenario discussions enable early detection of change. Equally important is external scanning of regulatory trends, market dynamics, and competitor behaviour. High-performing leadership teams foster a culture that encourages challenge and surfaces emerging risks early. This allows organisations to adjust course thoughtfully and decisively, guided by insight rather than urgency. Dr Linda Meyer is the Managing Director of ADvTECH’s Independent Institute of Education – Rosebank College, ADvTECH’s Waterfall School of Business, and Capsicum Culinary Studio and the President of Rosebank International University College in Ghana.