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Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Call for Presidency and DFIs to focus on ‘high-growth’ startups to move GDP needle

It takes blood, sweat and tears to take a fledging SMME to a mighty high-growth startup, and as we see on a daily basis, South African entrepreneurs indeed have the grit to achieve it.

Phumzile Chifunyise|Published

Building a winning brand: How small businesses can stand out in a crowded market

Building a winning brand isn’t necessarily about big budgets or expensive ad campaigns. It’s about clarity, consistency and connection.

Jeremy Lang|Published

Searching for VAT survivors after a bumpy ride for small businesses

The real victims, township businesses and family-run businesses, are left wondering if it is going to rain cats and dogs or bring clear blue skies for VAT season.

Bongani Ntombela|Published

How local SMEs can leverage cross-border e-commerce opportunities

The rise of cross-border e-commerce trade is unlocking new opportunities for South African businesses eager to expand their reach and revenue.

Ashley Lechman|Published

Beyond the bottom line: how to motivate, engage, and retain small business employees

Today’s workforce, especially Millennials and Gen Z, are not motivated by long-term promises or end-of-career rewards. Instead, they crave purpose, recognition, and work that reflects their personal values and ethics.

Jeremy Lang|Published

Real costs and implications of an unpredictable political landscape for SMEs

This month, Miguel da Silva, Group Executive: Business Banking at TymeBank, looked at the very real costs and implications of an unpredictable political landscape for SMEs.

Ashley Lechman|Published

Economic realities: workers and job seekers to consider entrepreneurship as the major economic driver

While we continue to value traditional employment, it has become increasingly clear that the formal job market cannot absorb the majority of South Africans, a reality that calls for a stronger emphasis on entrepreneurship.

Londiwe Khuzwayo|Published

Five signs that your business plan needs to be revisited in today’s economy

While some economists remain optimistic, predicting growth of up to 2. 1% this year, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) recently trimmed its 2025 forecast down to 1. 7%, citing ongoing supply constraints and weak demand.

Jeremy Lang|Published

AI-powered Lean could level the playing field for South African SMEs

Historically, advanced technologies like AI have been largely inaccessible to SMEs, putting them at a distinct disadvantage compared to larger corporations.

Rowen Pillai|Published