Enterprise Africa - April 2024

Positioning South Africa on the world stage is no easy feat, but three of this month’s feature companies have managed to do so through determination, innovation, and long-term planning. For these companies, there is no short-termism – they all believe in the country, and they have put investments in place to ensure that the eyes of the world look to South Africa, and the customers they serve remember that the country can deliver so much.

In Franschhoek, at the much-loved Boekenhoutskloof winery is expanding its footprint, buying up new sites and planting out new varietals to continue broadening its portfolio. The Chocolate Block – its signature wine – is popular around the world, going into more than 60 global markets and selling at a premium. Few others in the country can boast such success and Director Marc Kent puts it down to an unwavering focus on quality production.

Providence Hotels has operations around the world but is focused on the South African hospitality market with local industry veteran Neil Hughes driving success. He is promoting a third-party management structure for independent hotel owners, taking the stress and challenges out of hospitality operations, allowing operators to realise the true value of their assets. Not yet a popular model in the country, the team is busy educating the SA market on the major benefits that come from a team of highly experienced professionals taking care of daily operations.

Golden Arrow Bus Services provides commuter transport in Cape Town, but this forward-thinking organisation is ahead of the curve. The company is busy testing modern electric buses to reduced emissions and improve passenger experience. Longer-term, this innovation will also provide cost savings in maintenance and fuel.

These companies are paving the way for their industries in the future. They could easily carry on as normal and claim the rewards but instead they are looking further down the line and trying the encourage change. Now, it’s more important than ever to be ambitious and flexible, and there’s no doubt that our featured companies will reap the benefits.

Tell us how your company is future proofing and prepping for change. We’re always online at LinkedIn.