ESD initiatives

Telkom’s FutureMakers initiative has reached its 10-year milestone with a 153.4% year-on-year surge in enterprise and supplier development investment in FY2025. Launched in 2015 with an initial R250 million, the programme has incubated ICT-focused SMMEs and expanded market access at scale. By Ashley Lechman – Business Report Over the decade, FutureMakers has supported 459 youth- […]

Pick n Pay’s enterprise and supplier development push is opening doors for emerging brands, giving small producers shelf space, mentorship and a route into national retail. The promise is scale, credibility and a clearer pathway from kitchen-table startup to stable business. By Jamie Bennjamin – Daily Maverick The gains come with real pressures. New entrants

Sappi is marking Arbor Month by highlighting work that runs year-round to protect and restore indigenous forests on its land. About 7% of Sappi’s holdings comprise biodiverse forest patches that support wildlife and rare plants. In 2024 the company partnered with The Biodiversity Company to assess these areas—including 28 patches within 156 Important Conservation Areas—and

SEDFA’s Enterprise & Supplier Development Dialogue in Graaff-Reinet brought MSMEs, corporate partners and local government together to grow supplier capacity and unlock deals. Hosted at the Botanical Gardens, the session focused on practical collaboration to move small firms into corporate value chains. By Mfanekiso Ngqondeni – Pondoland Times What happened What’s next

Galp Moçambique, in partnership with AIESEC, has launched Vocational Light, a four‑week vocational guidance programme at two high schools in Maputo, offering students aged 14 to 20 practical exposure to different professions and support in planning their future careers. By Doreen Molefe – Daily Sun This Women’s Month, six female farmers from North West and

Africa Data Centres, part of Cassava Technologies, has become the first carrier- and cloud-neutral data centre in South Africa to earn a level one B-BBEE certification, the highest ranking under the country’s B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice. By Africa Data Centres – IT Web According to Ziaad Suleman, CEO of Cassava Technologies South Africa and

In 2025, boards face mounting geopolitical challenges—escalating tariffs, volatile trade, and evolving regulations. Amid this instability, integrating social responsibility into supply chains has become a strategic way to enhance resilience and long-term value. By Purvee Kondal – Nasdaq Center for Board Excellence Boards can guide leadership to strengthen social responsibility in procurement through these five

Sappi Southern Africa’s sale of the Lomati Sawmill to Normandien Farms is more than a business transaction—it’s an example of how responsible corporate action can protect jobs, sustain local economies, and open new opportunities for enterprise and skills development. The Competition Commission’s unconditional approval clears the way for the handover on 1 September 2025. All

Njabulo Mahlalela argues that South Africa’s current enterprise and supplier development (ESD) framework holds back meaningful transformation by treating small business support as a compliance chore rather than a core commercial strategy. By Njabulo Mahlalela – Business Live He highlights that corporates often reserve ESD funding until after profits are confirmed, reducing it to an

A bold new initiative is reframing fundraising as a strategic tool for economic transformation. The upcoming event, Strategic Fundraising as a Catalyst for ESD, will bring together donors, ESD leaders, funders, and development experts to unlock new pathways for funding black industrialists at scale. By BizCommunity Event details:📍 The Capital on the Park, Johannesburg📅 Tuesday,