Management

South Africa is currently undergoing a rapid digital transformation. Mobile banking, smart infrastructure, cloud-based services and AI-powered platforms now shape how we live, work and govern. However, every new digital service introduces a new vulnerability, and cybercriminals are evolving just as fast. Thus, it is now more important than ever to explore what it takes to build cyber resilience.

On Thursday, 29 January 2026, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) took a fundamental step in South Africa’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) transformation narrative by publishing Government Gazette Number 54032. This development marks a new chapter for B-BBEE and signals a shift in regulatory direction.

Africa doesn’t have a capital problem. It has a collaboration problem. For decades, we have convinced ourselves that more investment is the answer. However, we have asked the wrong question. The continent’s real constraint is not money. It is the leadership discipline we have yet to master: building together across borders.

We’ve all felt it - the quiet, heavy pause when we look back on our business journey and a wave of “if only” hits. Maybe it was a client who never approached. Perhaps it was a daring idea you hesitated on. Or maybe it was a moment with your team that went uncelebrated. That lingering feeling whispers, “I could have done more … I should have tried harder”.

Weak accountability, limited skills, and slow consequence management continue to undermine procurement reform. Despite years of regulatory efforts, irregular expenditure and procurement failures persist. These issues have eroded governance and public trust in South Africa.

South Africa heads into 2026 on a firmer economic footing than in recent years. A steadier macro backdrop and modest growth prospects are beginning to take shape. This shift should support the country’s Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector. The sector picked up some momentum in the second half of last year, albeit from a low base. At the same time, sentiment has improved and confidence has returned.

In the African National Congress (ANC)’s annual “January 8 statement”, President Cyril Ramaphosa again placed fixing local government at the top of government priorities. This emphasis is not new. The president made the same point last year. He also referenced having said it before. The repetition matters. It signals that the challenge is no longer about intent. Instead, it is about execution and delivery in fixing local government.

Corporate reputation now carries measurable value. Companies with strong reputations can realise as much as 4.78% in additional annual shareholder returns. This creates a global 'reputation economy' worth an estimated $7.07 trillion, according to our landmark new study.

South African Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are entering 2026 under intense pressure. Rising operating costs continue to squeeze margins. At the same time, regulatory complexity weighs heavily on business confidence. Weak economic conditions further erode consumer spending power.

Venezuela’s oil industry offers one of the clearest illustrations of how politics can both create and destroy economic prosperity. The country holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves. In theory, this endowment should place Venezuela among the most prosperous energy economies globally. Instead, it has become a case study in political failure.