BY: TANA MALINGA First National Bank (FNB) continues to strengthen South Africa’s informal and community economy through an R18 billion funding commitment that now supports more than 250,000 entrepreneurs nationwide. In the most recent financial year alone, the bank expanded this portfolio by over R2 billion, enabling more small business owners to access the capital…
BY: TANA MALINGA As South Africa prepares for the National Budget Speech later this month, focus is shifting to whether government commitments to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) will be supported by the funding and practical implementation needed to drive real economic impact.In the 2026 State of the Nation Address delivered last week, President…
BY: TANA MALINGA As South Africans prepare for the 2026 National Budget Speech, the real impact of government decisions will be felt at home rather than in Parliament. Changes announced in the budget influence everyday expenses such as fuel, groceries and take home pay. With households spending more than 60% of their income on essentials…
Pride Hlungwani, Senior marketing & transformation manager, bp Southern Africa If you aren’t a member of at least one loyalty programme, you’re in the minority. According to a recent TruthLoyalty and BrandMapp survey, 82% of South Africans used loyalty programmes in 2025, up from 76% in 2023 and 67% in 2015. There’s a good reason…
BY: TANA MALINGA Valentine’s Day 2026 is set to deliver stronger spending growth, with FNB anticipating increased customer activity as the occasion falls on a Saturday this year. The weekend timing gives consumers more flexibility to celebrate, creating extended opportunities to spend across dining, travel, accommodation, gifting and experience-based activities. According to FNB, when Valentine’s…
BY: TANA MALINGA Makhosini Ndlovu, Head of Product: Commercial Property Finance at FNB owning a commercial property outright may feel like the ultimate achievement. However, it should not be the final goal. In fact, a fully paid-off property can limit your growth if its value is not being used while other investment opportunities pass by….
Kopano Monaheng EARNING an income and gaining work experience, even on a casual basis can be more beneficial and life-changing. Too many people in Mzansi today are unemployed, especially the youth. To help create jobs for all South Africans, the government along with the private sector needed to work together. This is why Mzansi’ most…
BY:TANA MALINGA South Africa’s mining sector remains a cornerstone of the economy, contributing 6-7% to GDP, generating over 50% of merchandise export earnings, and supporting more than 450,000 direct jobs, with many more across mining value chains, according to the Minerals Council South Africa. As global demand rises for critical minerals such as platinum group…
BY:TANA MALINGA South Africa’s brewing and farming future took a bold step forward today.Soufflet Malt, the world’s leading malt producer, has officially launched construction of a €100 million (R2 billion) malting facility in Midvaal, Gauteng, a landmark investment set to transform the country’s agricultural and brewing value chain. Built next to HEINEKEN Beverages’ Sedibeng Brewery,…
BY: TANA MALINGA Standard Bank Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) will host the second edition of its flagship African Markets Conference (AMC 2026) from 22 to 24 February 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa. The conference will bring together global institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, African policymakers, and financial leaders with one clear goal: to…
