May 2024

Pioneering spirit is at the heart of modern South Africa. The macroeconomic climate forces an innovation drive on the business community. While no one wants blackouts, potholes, inequality, or corruption, these issues bring with them a level of invention that you would not find elsewhere.

The ideas and businesses that grow in this creative and forward-thinking country are demonstrative of how, despite the news, South Africa will grow and accelerate in the future (whatever the election brings).

At Mintek – the world-renowned mineral processing research company – every day is filled with originality as an unrivalled team of academics, engineers, and technicians dream up ways of utilising minerals for the benefit of people around the world. Professor Indresan Govender tells us more about 90 years of this historic operation.

In Durban, at Collies Group – a leading manufacturer in the fashion and textile space – new family leadership is taking the group on a journey of re-strategisation as demands from clients drive a need for new and different. MD Roland Hansen wants more market share and entry to new sectors as the team capitalises on success in a post Covid world.

Hubble Energy is a unique and young company supplying battery infrastructure to the renewable energy industry. CEO Marius Vincent tells us about some exciting upcoming product development that will help propel businesses with solar into a new era of sustainability.

Then there’s Link Africa – a major fibre infrastructure company. acquiring BitCo Telecoms and starting Cloud Dynamics, the company is now able to provide a bigger and better range of products and services including its patented FOCUS™ methodology of installing cables alongside existing infrastructure – it’s genius.

These companies are booming because they do things differently. They apply unique thinking to local issues, and come up with ideas that international players could never imagine. In modern South Africa, if you can’t do this then you’ve probably had your time.

Tell us what you’re doing differently. We’re online all the time at LinkedIn.