Human Capital

If you ask any South African tech leader what keeps them up at night, chances are the answer will not just be the country’s unreliable energy grid or regulations. You can add skills to that list as well. More precisely, the lack thereof. As businesses push ahead with digital transformation, the demand for specialised IT skills has never been higher.

Poor candidate experiences in corporate hiring not only drive away top talent but also inflict lasting damage on company reputations. Organisations would do well to consider the unintended impact of flawed hiring practices, a leadership expert says. Ultimately, losing talent, losing trust become a predictable outcome when companies fail to value candidate experience.

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills revolution is no longer a future concept or speculative technology. Generative AI is here now. It is rapidly reshaping industries and rewriting the rules of competitiveness. In South Africa, generative AI holds immense potential. It can drive inclusive economic growth, boost productivity and spark entrepreneurial innovation.

Chasing savings on business travel has become almost automatic for many organisations. With budgets under scrutiny and finance teams laser-focused on spend, booking the cheapest possible fare seems like an easy win.

The way we hire is being rewritten - not by chance, but by code. As organisations grapple with increasing hiring demands, limited HR bandwidth and fierce competition for top talent, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged not just as a tool, but as a transformational force across the entire recruitment lifecycle.

Cabinet announced on 28 May 2025 that it has approved both the National Labour Migration Policy (NLMP) 2025 White Paper and the Employment Services Amendment Bill, 2021 (ESAB). These will now proceed to implementation and submission to Parliament.

South Africa’s unemployment figures are not abstract statistics. They are the lived reality of millions of parents unable to provide, of young people whose talents lie dormant, and of communities yearning for hope. We must move beyond analysis to action.

In the dynamic landscape of workforce management, the concept of retirement age holds both rational and practical importance. For employers, understanding the legal framework is crucial. It helps ensure compliance and supports adaptation to evolving standards.

In safety-critical sectors, the reliability of breathalyser testing must be unquestionable. Any potential for miscalibration carries serious risks. These range from compromised safety to significant legal liabilities. To ensure accuracy, employers must prioritise regular calibration and maintenance

Over-indebtedness is becoming a pervasive issue in South Africa. It carries profound legal, psychological and social consequences. Beyond its clear economic impact, excessive debt has been linked to deteriorating mental health, impaired decision-making, and reduced functional capacity. These effects raise a critical question for employment law: to what extent can over-indebtedness constitute incapacity or serve as a mitigating factor in cases of employee misconduct?