Tag: SkillsDevelopment

Volunteering is often framed as an act of goodwill rather than a pathway to professional growth. However, this view misses an important point. In many cases, volunteering builds capability, credibility and leadership. April, designated as Global Volunteer Month, offers a timely opportunity to reassess this practice. It remains widely misunderstood, particularly in emerging markets.

Africa’s economic outlook remains resilient. However, geopolitical tensions and global trade uncertainty continue to create headwinds. Despite these pressures, the continent continues meeting Africa’s growing demand across key sectors. According to the African Development Bank, real GDP growth is projected at 4.3% in 2026. This reflects an increase from 4.2% in 2025 and 3.1% in 2024. Improving macroeconomic stability supports this growth.

Hospitality has always welcomed guests effectively. However, an important question remains. Are we equally good at welcoming young people into lasting, meaningful careers? South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis is well-documented. Hospitality should play a stronger role in changing that story. The sector can offer first jobs, skills, confidence and exposure to the world.

As the 2026 academic year has now started, thousands of South African students face uncertainty about continuing their studies. They struggle because of outstanding university debt. This challenge has growing implications for access to education. It also affects companies that invest in bursaries as part of their Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) strategies.

Recent commentary has created confusion around professional qualifications, regulatory designations and pathways into the Registered Auditor (RA) profession. As such, we wish to clarify the distinction between the Chartered Accountant (SA) [CA(SA)] designation, the registration of auditors by the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors (IRBA) and other qualifications with professional bodies.

By now, most organisations claim to be “learning organisations”, yet few can learn and adapt at the pace their environment demands. Despite rising investment in learning technology, leadership programmes and continuous development initiatives, progress has not kept pace with the speed and complexity of change.

Professional advancement is increasingly shaped by decisions around education. Qualifications signal capability, open doors and promise career progression, yet their value is often assessed too narrowly. Beyond remuneration, education carries costs and returns that unfold over time. These factors influence professional mobility, leadership access and long-term relevance.

We congratulate the class of 2025 following last week’s release of their matric results. The announcement also highlights fast-track pathways to employment through technical and vocational studies. As the class of 2025 reflects on their results and the class of 2026 settles into the new school year, we have a powerful message for young people: there are 99 high-demand jobs that you can qualify for through technical and vocational education.

Education reshapes family histories. For South Africa’s first-generation graduates, one degree transforms what entire households believe is possible. Postgraduate learning can create ripples across generations, communities and the nation. Drawing on my experience as both a legal practitioner and mentor to prospective students, I explore why investing in education is investing in collective progress.

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) reshapes how work is done, its most profound impact isn’t mass job losses, it’s the erosion of entry-level roles that once trained future leaders. This article explores how automation is hollowing out the talent pipeline, what it means for mentorship and succession planning, and why businesses must rethink how they develop the next generation of professionals.