SA Businesses Conference Report
Date: 23rd April 2026 Venue: Observatory Golf Club, Johannesburg Theme: Empowering
Businesses for Growth End Time: 16:30 hrs
Background & Planning
The planning of the conference began in late 2025, with full swing preparations, invitations,
sponsorship outreach, and exhibitor recruitment, accelerating in January 2026. SA Businesses
positioned the event as a platform to empower companies, provide exposure, and foster
collaboration.
Business partners came on board as partial sponsors, NH Hotels provided all welcome packs,
Rock Events supplied all water, and Mofaya sponsored the drinks used on the day. Special
recognition goes to Sui Hing Hong, one of our valued sponsors, whose contribution was
instrumental in the success of the event.
Programme of the Day
Registration
- 08:00 – 09:00 | Registration & Welcome Coffee
Morning Session - 09:00 – 09:30 | SMEs as a Vehicle to Drive the Economy – Helen Tuso
- 09:30 – 10:00 | Empowering Businesses for Growth – Advie Tuso
- 10:00 – 10:30 | Funding – Xander Ngoyi (Business Partnership)
- 10:30 – 11:00 | Morning Break & Networking
- 11:00 – 11:30 | Leading with Empathy and Humility – Charity Nyarirangwe
- 11:30 – 12:00 | Empowering Businesses for Growth through Technology Tools –
Ngqabutho Sylivester Mbele - 12:00 – 13:30 | Lunch, Exhibits & Networking
Afternoon Session - 13:30 – 14:00 | Marketing – Craig Young
- 14:00 – 14:45 | Compliance & Tax – Steward Lumpa
- 14:45 – 15:30 | Panel Discussion – Moderated by Helen Tuso
- 15:30 – 15:45 | Prize Giving Ceremony (Attendance required to win)
- 15:45 – 16:30 | Closing Remarks & Networking
All speakers delivered phenomenal presentations, enriching the conference with practical
insights and strategies for business growth.
Attendance
247 people had shown interest of attending the conference but the conference was attended
by 210 delegates representing diverse businesses. The turnout reflected strong interest in the
theme and confirmed the relevance of SA Businesses’ mission to empower and expose
enterprises.
Exhibitors
The exhibition area was vibrant, showcasing products and services from: - Rock Events
- Rock Honey
- NH Hotel Sandton
- Business Partners
- MTN
- Standard Bank
- Vimbai from PamGolding
- Imsyser
Exhibitors provided attendees with valuable networking opportunities and practical exposure
to innovative solutions.
Key Success Factors - Rich Content: The programme covered critical areas such as SMEs, funding,
leadership, technology, marketing, and compliance. - Networking Opportunities: Breaks and exhibition sessions allowed businesses to
connect and explore partnerships. - Strong Sponsorship Support: Contributions from NH Hotels, Rock Events, Mofaya,
Sui Hing Hong, and others ensured smooth logistics and added value to the delegates’
experience. - Professional Execution: The Observatory Golf Club provided an excellent venue,
while System Audios ensured seamless sound and technical support. - Behind-the-Scenes Effort: Special thanks to Helen, Mable and Elizabeth, whose
hard work ensured the event ran smoothly.
Acknowledgements
SA Businesses extends heartfelt gratitude to: - Business Partners
- System Audios
- Sui Hing Hong
- Rock Events
- Rock Honey
- Observatory Golf Club
- Vimbai PamGolding
- MTN
- Darien Mofaya
- Standard Bank
- NH Hotel Sandton
- All Speakers who shared their expertise
Conclusion
The SA Businesses Conference 2026 was a resounding success. With 210 attendees, strong
sponsorship, and rich content, the event achieved its goal of empowering businesses for
growth. It provided exposure for exhibitors, strengthened SA Businesses’ reputation as a
hands-on directory, and showcased Rock Events and other partners as valuable contributors
to the business ecosystem.
The conference demonstrated the power of collaboration and set a strong foundation for
future events. SA Businesses looks forward to building on this success with continued
support from sponsors, partners, and the business community.