Promoting synergy between business and community: A blueprint for shared progress in South Africa
In a country grappling with complexity, an ever-changing landscape, and socio-economic inequalities, the alignment of business and community interests is not just a catalyst for progress but a shared responsibility. The socio-economic inequalities in South Africa are deeply rooted in our country's history. We continue to battle disparities that ensure unequal access to resources, opportunities, and basic services. These, in turn, have continued to exacerbate social tensions and hinder inclusive growth. Our only solution is meaningful partnerships between communities and businesses, partnerships rooted in addressing equitable development that businesses and communities must face together to build a better tomorrow for all our people.
Amidst the challenges of high unemployment and economic inequality, businesses in South Africa have a unique opportunity to make a significant impact. By sourcing locally, investing in job creation and skills development, and offering entrepreneurship support programmes, businesses can be the catalyst for positive change. They have the power to uplift communities in their value chain, stimulate inclusive economic growth, and pave the way for a brighter future for all.
For businesses, community engagement ought not to be just a corporate responsibility exercise but a strategic necessity. By actively participating in community development initiatives, businesses can earn their social license to operate and build stronger ties with local stakeholders. This engagement also fuels innovation as businesses gain valuable insights into the needs and aspirations of communities, driving the development of locally relevant products and services. Furthermore, by prioritising local procurement and supply chain integration, businesses can strengthen the domestic economy and create sustainable livelihoods in communities across the country.
Effective community-business partnerships are built on principles of collaboration, inclusivity, and shared value creation. By bringing together government agencies, civil society organisations, and community leaders, businesses can leverage collective expertise and resources to address pressing social challenges while driving business growth. From combating poverty and hunger to promoting access to education and healthcare, collaborative problem-solving initiatives hold the key to unlocking transformative change and building resilient communities.
In the realm of collaborative partnerships within South Africa's agricultural sector, Moletele Corona Limes shines as a vivid illustration of transformative potential. This initiative, forged from a common challenge and vision, serves as an emblem of progress, inclusion and innovation. With the collective efforts of South African Breweries (SAB), the Moletele Community, and Komati Fruit Group, the project delivered an innovative means of addressing lime shortages all-year round in South Africa. Moletele Corona Limes transcends conventional business paradigms, placing emphasis on economic empowerment, community development, sustainable environmental practices, and consistent growth.
Through purposeful collaborations and a steadfast dedication to creating shared value, this initiative has not only uplifted emerging farmers and bolstered economic resilience but has also acted as a stimulant for comprehensive community advancement. By embracing sustainability principles and upholding responsible business practices, Moletele Corona Limes exemplifies how, as businesses, we can be agents of positive change, propelling economic empowerment and community development toward a future marked by inclusivity and prosperity for all.
To drive meaningful change and ensure accountability in these partnerships, as businesses, we must, together with our partners, establish clear metrics for measuring impact. By tracking key performance indicators and conducting regular impact assessments, we can demonstrate the tangible benefits of these initiatives and identify areas for improvement. Moreover, transparent reporting and stakeholder engagement processes are critical for fostering mutual trust and strengthening the bonds between businesses and the communities they serve.
Our journey of the Moletele Corona Limes is a compelling case study for businesses seeking to forge meaningful connections with local communities. By prioritising purpose-driven partnerships, inclusive economic development, and long-term sustainability, we can hit the triple bottom line.
Over the past 130 years, SAB's commitments have extended deeply into the communities it serves. Its legacy is one of consistent investment in uplifting South Africans, unpacking this role reveals a history of long-term community impact and support that continues to shape lives today.
As South Africa navigates the complexities of economic recovery and social progress, the imperative for collaboration between business and community has never been greater. By harnessing the power of collective action and embracing shared goals, businesses can play a transformative role in shaping a more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous future for all. Together, we must seize the opportunity to build a brighter tomorrow, where business and community thrive in harmony, united by a common vision of shared prosperity. DM
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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ On the other hand, transition risks are exacerbated by an uncoordinated global response to climate change, where financial institutions face challenges in recognising, preparing for, and complying with evolving climate-related regulations. With South Africa's financial system significantly exposed to carbon-intensive activities and assets, the bank warned that the country was particularly vulnerable to these insidious risks. Sarb Governor Lesetja Kganyago said the risk of a disorderly global shift to a low-carbon economy had intensified as countries transition at varying paces. However, Kganyago said South Africa's financial system was so far demonstrating a high degree of resilience in response to global shocks such as intensifying global conflict with the conflict in Ukraine and the escalating war in the Middle East. 'Climate change will be an abiding challenge with impacts that include risks to financial stability. 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The FRS said the convergence of rapid technological advancements, mounting geopolitical uncertainties, and a significant skills gap in the cybersecurity industry was creating an increasingly complex cyber-environment that posed substantial risks to the financial sector and beyond. The Sarb has highlighted that this technological evolution was not merely a challenge for local firms but also exacerbates the disparities between advanced economies and emerging markets like South Africa. Current reporting shows that South Africa's cybersecurity spending consistently remains alarmingly low—less than the mature market benchmark of 0.25% of GDP annually. This deficit comes despite the pressing reality of costly data breaches. In 2024, the average cost of data breaches in South Africa was $2.78 million, a marginal decrease from $2.79m the previous year, yet a figure that remains unacceptably high. 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National Financial Ombud recovers R328 million for disgruntled financial consumers
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SA's iconic protea flower relocates as climate warms
Protea flower grower Nico Thuynsma poses for a photograph next to one of the Protea flower species growing at his fam in Cullinan, east of Pretoria on June 3, 2025. Thuynsma is experimenting with different seed varieties to find out which ones can thrive in drier, hotter conditions. His farm has become a testing ground for the future of the species, as climate zones shift northward. On his farm two hours north of Johannesburg, Nico Thuynsma gestured towards thousands of orange, yellow and pink proteas in flower and thriving 1,500 kilometres (930 miles) from their natural home at the southern tip of Africa. Image: Phill Magakoe / AFP On his farm two hours north of Johannesburg, Nico Thuynsma gestured towards thousands of orange, yellow and pink proteas in flower and thriving 1,500 kilometres (930 miles) from their natural home at the southern tip of Africa. 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Next Stay Close ✕ Its status offers the King Protea some protection but almost half of South Africa's other protea species face extinction because of pressures on their native habitats in the mountains of the Cape, according to South Africa's National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). These include habitat loss to agriculture, the proliferation of invasive alien species and "changes to natural fire cycles", SANBI said in a 2021 report. Icon Protea flower grower Nico Thuynsma poses for a photograph inside a greenhouse at his fam in Cullinan, east of Pretoria on June 3, 2025. Thuynsma is experimenting with different seed varieties to find out which ones can thrive in drier, hotter conditions. His farm has become a testing ground for the future of the species, as climate zones shift northward. On his farm two hours north of Johannesburg, Nico Thuynsma gestured towards thousands of orange, yellow and pink proteas in flower and thriving 1,500 kilometres (930 miles) from their natural home at the southern tip of Africa. Image: Phill Magakoe / AFP "People come to South Africa to see proteas," Nigel Barker, a professor in plant sciences at the University of Pretoria, told AFP. "It's the plant equivalent of the elephant or the lion." Most proteas are endemic or semi-endemic to the Cape Floral Kingdom biome of "fynbos" ("fine bush") that stretches across the southern tip of South Africa and is one of the world's richest flora biodiversity hotspots. But climate projections predict "hotter, drier conditions", Barker said. "We'll be looking at a completely different vegetation type in the future, semi-desert almost in some places." "Many species, because they're so range-restricted, will probably go extinct under those scenarios," he said. "The only solution we have is to cultivate them artificially... in greenhouses or farms where you control irrigation," Barker said. An example is Thuynsma's farm in the grasslands of the north, where he began planting proteas three decades ago. Here, winters are dry and frosty, and the summers rainy -- conditions very different to those in the far south where the proteas are at home. Gel for irrigation Through trial and error, Thuynsma has been able to cultivate close to 200 protea varieties, including some long forgotten and abandoned by farmers in their original habitats. In his latest experiment, he has planted 36 varieties with just two litres (four pints) of saturated gel for irrigation. "I hope to unlock the power of some of these varieties," Thuynsma said. "They come from the Western Cape out of very harsh conditions, so they do have it in them." "I learn from them, I learn with them. And, hopefully, in the future I can advise my nursery public -- and even estates -- how to plant this lovely fynbos without irrigation," he said. "I don't think I have a solution for climate change," he joked, crouched over a small seedling in freshly turned soil. "But I do have a solution: to plant proteas." A few metres (yards) away, in a warm nursery, thousands of protea sprouts awaited their turn in the soil. "I love them, I protect them, I collect them," Thuynsma said. "The protea is part of South Africa's DNA." AFP
