Meet the trailblazing team behind Freshmo Brands Pty Ltd, a proudly South African company that's breaking barriers in the oral care industry. Founded by Paul Masilo, Freshmo Brands Pty Ltd is the first township-based and black-owned business to manufacture mouthwash packaged in innovative sachets in Africa.

 

Under Paul Masilo's leadership, Freshmo has revolutionized the way Africans access affordable, quality oral care products. With a passion for empowering communities, Freshmo's mission is to make fresh breath and healthy smiles accessible to all. We manufacture mouthwash packaged in sachets and biodegradable toothbrushes, with botanical toothpaste launching soon.

 

Freshmo Brands Pty Ltd is committed to creating opportunities and driving economic growth in South Africa's townships. By providing employment opportunities and partnering with local communities, Freshmo is making a tangible impact on the lives of many.

 

Freshmo Brands Pty Ltd - where innovation meets empowerment, and freshness meets opportunity! 😊

As an independent family-owned business the Kit Kat Group has seen great evolution over the past 50 years and even more in the most recent decade.

Founded in 1953 by members of the Gani family, this independent wholesaler and retailer started off as the Kit Kat Café and Restaurant. Over the years, the well-established business grew in success as the café was converted into a self-service supermarket in 1973 and is still currently growing from strength to strength.

Kit Kat has been able to successfully expand their store footprint around Gauteng Allowing for the expansion of their brand and stores into Limpopo through their Kit Kat Express model at the end of 2021.

Kit Kat is amongst the very few independent wholesalers to have an effective and functioning fully operating online store that caters to all shoppers.

An interesting development resulted in Kit Kat partnering with Food Lovers Market to drive growth and success with the Fresh division of their business.

 

McDonald’s opened its first restaurant in South Africa in November 1995 making this year our 30th year of legacy. Today, we operate over 400 restaurants in all nine of South Africa’s provinces and serve an estimated 8 million customers a month.

The Pick n Pay Group is a leading South African retail business in the fast-moving consumer goods industry. Founded in 1967, 

Pick n Pay has built a strong legacy of serving customers with quality, affordability, and service excellence.

 

Headquartered in Cape Town and listed on the JSE, the Group operates through two core brands: Pick n Pay - a multi-format

retail brand serving middle to higher-income customers; and Boxer a limited-range, discount supermarket chain focused on the 

lower-income market, in which the Group holds a 65.6% majority stake.

 

With over 2,000 stores across South Africa and several other southern African countries, the Group’s retail formats include 

hypermarkets, supermarkets, clothing stores, liquor outlets, a growing online platform, and Pick n Pay asap! its on-demand delivery service.

 

Through its customer-first strategy, strong private label offering, and continued investment in price and innovation, 

the Pick n Pay Group is committed to delivering unbeatable value, improving access to essential goods, and supporting economic inclusion 

across the region.

Ms. Amanda Lotheringen joined the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) in 1993 and currently serves as the Senior Manager: Copyright and IP Enforcement at the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). In 1999, she assumed responsibility for implementing the Counterfeit Goods Act, No. 37 of 1997, and oversaw the declaration of the first counterfeit goods depot in South Africa. She has played a leading role in training law enforcement officials across government departments on the enforcement of IP rights. Ms. Lotheringen was nominated as Vice-Chair at the inaugural meeting of WIPO’s Advisory Committee on Enforcement (ACE) in Geneva in 2003 and went on to chair the ACE in 2015, 2016, and again in 2024. She is a passionate advocate for SMMEs and actively champions sustainable waste management initiatives to upcycle confiscated counterfeit goods into usable products. She is also a vocal supporter of gender equity in the IP space. In 2023, she was instrumental in launching the South African chapter of ChIPs (Chiefs in IP), a global network advancing women in intellectual property, and has participated in the first two Women in IP Symposiums. Additionally, she played an active role in the first-ever Global Women in IP Mentoring Pilot Programme, helping to build a foundation for future women leaders in the field. In 2024, Ms. Lotheringen launched the CIPC IP Youth Awards, an initiative aimed at empowering and recognizing young South African innovators and creators. She holds a degree in Development Economics and an Honours degree in Economics from the Rand Afrikaans University, now called UJ.

Anni has served as the Head of Business Intelligence for RFG Foods for over 8 years, starting with RFG Foods in 2011. She started her career within the Absa Bank in Commercial Banking, after which she completed an MSc, MA in Finance and Investment in the UK and completed her traineeship. Inspired by her roots in agriculture, love for Africa and passion for food she joined RFG Foods in 2011 as a Brand Manager, ultimately moving back to South Africa. Gaining valuable experience in the FMCG industry, acquisitions integration, and multiple departments within the Group, Anni established Business Intelligence for the Group and still holds this position. RFG Foods was acquired by Premier Group in March 2026.

Christelna Reynecke joined the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) as the Chief Operating Officer in January 2021. Her current portfolio encompasses inter alia the implementation organizational transformation enabled through technology and this includes SAHPRA's AI strategy, alongside driving ISO certification processes and WHO Global Benchmarking certification initiatives. Christelna holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Edinburgh Business School (Heriot-Watt University) and a Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) degree from the University of the North West. Prior to her role at SAHPRA, Christelna spent 13 years in the pharmaceutical logistics sector, where she developed expertise in Quality Assurance, Regulatory Compliance, and Logistics Operations. During this time, she cultivated a deep appreciation for Lean Six Sigma methodologies and process improvement strategies that drive organizational efficiency. Her career foundation was built during eight years in the retail and courier pharmacy sectors, where she developed her commitment to prioritizing patient well-being and innovative problem-solving approaches to support frontline healthcare workers.

Cos is an accomplished international trade, economic growth, enterprise development, trade shows specialist with professional and practical experience spanning over 25 years. He has significant experience supporting Africa enterprises to export to the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, North Africa, and other markets, including intra-Africa trade. Cos has supported the creation and implementation of national AGOA utilization strategies, has provided project management leadership, facilitated market access, established export linkages and technology transfer, and managed trade events (trade shows, buyer missions).

Dasheek Naidu is a Digital Transformation and Innovation Expert at the United Nations Development Programme with over 15 years of experience leading enterprise technology and innovation across the public and private sectors. A Pr.Eng., PMP, and dual Master’s graduate in both engineering and management, he has delivered large-scale digital programmes at organisations including Exxaro Resources and African Rainbow Minerals, driving impact through digital innovation, strategy, and transformation.

Deon Saayman was born in the coastal city of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, in 1969. He started at Mohair SA in 1998 and became general manager in 2008. In 2015 he was promoted to Managing Director. He was instrumental in establishing the Mohair Industry’s Sustainable Guidelines in 2009 and the audit process was fully digitised by the start of 2018. In February 2019 Saayman was appointed as the new general manager for Cape Wools SA (CWSA) and later promoted to CEO. In July 2020 Cape Wools launched a South African wool industry standard, namely the Sustainable Cape Wool standard (SCWS). At the start of 2023 the standard was expanded and adapted to be implemented within the communal farming sector, which is done at the shearing sheds. CWSA is currently also in the process to build a blockchain platform whereby CWSA will be the trust anchor for the South African wool industry. Deon has a passion for sustainability and believes that the South African wool industry is ideally positioned to become the trusted source for sustainable, traceable wool.

Dr Vincent Henwood is Deputy Director for Veterinary International Trade Facilitation at the Western Cape Department of Agriculture. A qualified veterinarian, his work sits at the intersection of animal health, food safety, traceability, and international trade systems. He leads the provincial unit responsible for veterinary export certification, overseeing the issuance of more than 20,000 product export certificates annually and the auditing of over 160 export-approved establishments. His work focuses on strengthening regulatory systems that support market access while maintaining biosecurity and public health protections. Dr Henwood is the project lead for the development of ECOS (Export Certification and Compliance System), a digital platform designed to support risk-based traceability, certification, and regulatory coordination across supply chains. The system integrates data from multiple authorities and industry stakeholders to improve transparency, enable faster disease response, and support more resilient regional and international trade. Through his work with national partners and industry, he contributes to advancing practical traceability solutions that link animal health systems, product certification, and digital trade infrastructure. Dr Henwood holds an MSc in Human, Animal and Environmental Health from the University of Pretoria, where his research analysed the risk of Salmonella Enteritidis in broiler meat production in the Western Cape.

Dr. Golden Mahove, DBA, is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ndarama Works (Pty) Ltd, a pan-African economic advisory and project management firm advancing trade, investment, manufacturing support, innovation ecosystems, and data-driven growth across the continent. A seasoned market systems and private sector development specialist, Golden has led and advised multi-country programs across Africa, bringing three decades of experience that spans agribusiness development, value chain transformation, venture support, and business model innovation. He is recognized for designing and executing inclusive buyer–supplier models that connect African firms with regional and international buyers to unlock scale and competitiveness. Previously, Golden served as Senior Technical Director for Africa on USAID’s Africa Trade and Investment (ATI) platform—the US government’s flagship under Prosper Africa—where he helped catalyze private sector–led outcomes, including the closure of $1.7 billion in exports and $600 million in investment deals within two years. He also convenes and leads the Africa Tech Startup Forum, a platform that equips ventures and ecosystem partners to accelerate innovation across priority sectors. Golden’s current collaborations include Ndarama Works’ partnership with The Afreximbank on its Creative Africa Nexus, the Good Life Show Africa, Africa Food Show to scale market access and B2B opportunities for African food brands into international markets. Golden holds a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) with a specialization in business model innovation, an MBA in enterprise development, and a postgraduate diplomas in design thinking and innovation. He has also completed a recent post-graduate senior executive education program in Venture Capital/Private Equity (Columbia Business School Executive Education, 2026) and Family Enterprises & Wealth (2025). When he’s not building growth platforms, Golden supports football’s most entertaining bra

My career included a significant focus on visibility and traceability in supply chains. That include topics from the use of a RFID protocol for counting items with the same identity code to enterprise and supply chain level traceability and visibility in the cotton industry to the development and deployment of a generic global platform for supply chain visibility and traceability that operates in any industry sector focusing on any physical product type. More recently I am also involved in the development of a global platform to support enterprise level monitoring, recording and data management of production of any physical product type in any industry globally. This platform will operate in a complementary fashion, and co-exist with, existing ERP systems without replacing any existing digital data capture system and enable digital enterprise level visibility and traceability audit trails. My business focus is on the facilitation, coordination and alignment of entire supply chains, from primary production through all intermediate production steps up to the retail shelf, and beyond for products in circularity. The real value proposition for each, and all, participating organisations in such visible and traceable supply chains lies in creating and sharing the evidence of compliance to the commitments made in day-to-day trade of commodities through supplying products that conform to agreed standards and regulations on terms agreed to in contracts and according to agreed schedules and specifications of supply.

Eric is an experienced Technology professional with exceptional Engineering and Commercial skills who specializes in Telecommunications/Broadcasting with a wealth of knowledge of the African continent. Expert in Public Policy and Regulation frameworks of the Region, he operates in the capacity of Regulatory Affairs Executive, driving digital and financial inclusion as an Expert and Project Manager in several network infrastructure or ICT projects with various organisations, as well as a Senior Consultant for Digital transformation in many sectors. He is the PMO Head of the DRC Barcode Center initiative supported by GS1 ZA for the digitalisation of minerals traceability.

Mr. Mashimbye is a qualified financial accountant who studied at the Technikon Northern Gauteng (now Tshwane University of Technology) and the Technikon South Africa (now UNISA). He majored in Financial Accounting and Corporate Law and also studied towards his MBA with the Management College of SA (still to be completed). He is currently completing his studies towards his Corporate Governance qualification through the Chartered Secretaries Institute of South Africa. He spent the initial years of his career in accounting and financial management positions, in both the public and the private sector with Telkom, Edcon, the Department of Trade & Industry and Proudly SA, with more than 10 years of these at senior management level. Mashimbye has served on the board of The Business Place and is currently a Director on the Board of the South African Savings Institute, where he previously also held the position of Audit and Risk Committee Chairperson. He has previously fulfilled the role of CFO (for a 10 year period), Acting COO and Acting CEO of Proudly South African and was appointed permanent CEO in December 2016.

Non-Executive Director Gareth Ackerman BSocSci, CMS and AMP (Oxon). An executive at Pick n Pay for 15 years until 1999, Gareth headed up various divisions and served as Joint Group Managing Director and the Managing Director of Pick n Pay Group Enterprises. He was appointed to the Board in 1990 as an executive director, until becoming a non-executive director in 1999. From 2002 to 2010, Gareth was Chair of Pick n Pay Holdings Limited, which at that time was the ultimate holding company of the Group. In 2010, he was appointed non-executive Chair of Pick'n Pay Stores Limited, and stepped down in August 2025. Among his other involvements, Gareth is co-chair of the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa and GS1 SA and is a previous co-chair of the international Consumer Goods Forum. Gareth sits on the Board of Business Unity South Africa and was a trustee of the Masisizane Fund and was a member of the global board of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). He is a member of the board of advisors of UJ Business School and a Trustee of WWF SA. He is an associate Fellow at Green Templeton College, University of Oxford. Gareth chairs the Ackerman Family interests.

Gene Ravele is a lawyer by training and a former student activist and leader. He is currently Head: Syndicated Tax and Customs Crimes Divsion and is a career public servant with 26 years’ experience, including 21 years at the South African Revenue Service (SARS). He progressed from Junior Manager (1997) to Chief Officer (2008) and has held roles across labour relations, transformation, anti-corruption, communications, stakeholder relations, international relations, border management, customs and enforcement. Within SARS, he has served across the enterprise, giving him end-to-end organisational exposure and strengthening his management and leadership capability. He has participated in national, regional, continental and international forums, negotiating and building relationships across the global tax and customs environment, and is particularly well known within customs circles.

Lindiwe Nhlapo is a Chartered Accountant and currently Chief Financial Officer of the Wholesale & Retail Sector Education and Training Authority. A seasoned and accomplished professional with over 18 years of experience providing fiscal, strategic and executive leadership in multiple sectors. Her career spans across several disciplines and sectors, serving as a Senior Financial Analyst at both Hewlett-Packard and SAP Africa. She’s also served as the Chief Financial Officer at the merSETA, 4 Africa Exchange and Technologia Group. Lindiwe has established herself as a diverse and multi-industry leader who has served as a non-executive director for Oriole Healthcare Administrators and ROI Africa (Media-Monitoring) as well as a council member of the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Mpumalanga Human Resources and Development Council. Consequently, her dedication and astute leadership has seen her gain recognition as a Finalist in the Public Enterprises Sector of the CEO Magazine’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government Award. A dynamic, talented and result-oriented black woman with diverse experience and proven abilities in executive leadership, developing and implementing strategy, risk management and well-rounded business leader who finds balance in life by travelling and engaging in endurance sports such as cycling, golf, and marathon running.

Maude Modise is the Enterprise and Government relations Executive at the Shoprite Group and heads up Shoprite Next Capital, a business division dedicated to developing and growing commercially viable Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMMEs). Furthering the Group’s continued effort to give small suppliers access to its consumer market, Shoprite Next Capital – under Modise’s leadership – operates as a one-stop shop for SMME partners by providing marketing opportunities, working capital assistance, data sharing, product range and geographic expansion, as well as possible private label partnerships. Modise, who grew up in Mabopane near Pretoria, obtained a BCom Accounting at North-West University, after which she joined the Group’s graduate programme as a trainee accountant in 2014. Her roles have included Financial Manager at Shoprite’s Distribution Centre in Johannesburg and Divisional Financial Manager for USave Gauteng. Combining her education, skills and previous roles in finance with Modise’s extensive experience mentoring of young graduates, she now brings new impetus to the Group’s development of small and medium businesses to give them access to market, to increase local procurement and to create jobs.

Michael Sudarkasa is the Founder and Chairman of Africa Business Group (ABG) a South Africa-based, continentally active, African economic development company. An American commercial attorney by training, Michael is an internationally recognized African economic development specialist. He has lived, travelled, and worked in 53 countries around the world, including 35 in Africa, and is the author of several publications, including: The African Union Commission’s Africa Business Directory: Toward the Facilitation of Growth, Partnership and Global Inclusion (African Union, 2014), A Field Guide to Inclusive Business Finance (UNDP 2012), Investing in Africa: An Insider’s Guide to the Ultimate Emerging Market (John Wiley & Sons, August 2000) and The African Business Handbook (1991-92; 1993-94; 2007-08) Founded in 2005, Africa Business Group specializes in the areas of private sector development, public – private engagement facilitation, and trade and investment facilitation and promotion within Africa, and between Africa and the global business community. Specifically, ABG provides economic development and management consulting services; supports varied industry development projects; and also offers varied capacity development services. ABG also undertakes a range of initiatives that support the inclusion of youth and women in the African business sector, whic involve creating and strengthening business linkages between the African diaspora and the African continent, and that support the role of the private sector in disaster risk reduction on the continent. Michael is a member of the Global Board of the Rainforest Alliance, of the University of Michigan Provost’s Advisory Committee, sits on the Advisory Board of the African Center for the Study of the United States of the University of Witwatersrand, and serves as Chair of Impact@Africa, an initiative focused on the development of communities of practice within Africa’s impact investment ecosystem. He holds a B.A.

Michele Francis Padayachee is Global Standards and Solutions Executive at GS1 South Africa, where she leads initiatives advancing digital transformation, interoperable supply chains, and trusted product data across Africa. With over 28 years’ experience spanning technology, business integration, and supply chain transformation, she is recognised for driving standards-based solutions that improve traceability, enable regulatory compliance, and support safe trade. Michele also serves as Chairperson of the SABS Board Advisory Forum and is a strong advocate for standards harmonisation, digital innovation, and resilient supply chains.

Patricia Hangula is a supply chain and retail industry expert with over a decade of experience leading procurement, vendor management, and trade facilitation in Namibia. She began her career in buying and progressed through key leadership roles at the Shoprite Group, where she shaped sourcing strategies, contract negotiations, and supplierrelationships across Southern Africa. Now serving as CEO of GS1 Namibia, Patricia plays a central role in advancing product standardization, traceability, and global trade compliance for local businesses. She champions the integration of GS1 global standards to ensure Namibian SMEs can access both regional and international markets. Patricia's transition from high-impact retail operations to national standardization leadership positions her uniquely to drive market access, retail readiness, and digital transformation. Her work bridges traditional procurement expertise with modern supply chain innovation.

Reabetsoe is a Commercial Manager at RFG, responsible for managing the Boxer and Pick n Pay portfolios. He brings 16 years of FMCG experience, with 6 years in buying and 10 years in account management, giving him a strong understanding of retailer relationships, commercial strategy, and what it takes to grow brands in a fast-moving market.

Sophie is an Associate Director at Eleveya, where she focuses on clients in the life sciences and global health sectors. Sophie currently serves as the Focal Point for the Secretariat of the Fight the Fakes Alliance, a multi-stakeholder non-profit association that aims to raise awareness and influence change about the proliferation of substandard and falsified medicines. She holds a dual Master’s degree in International Affairs from the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin and Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs in New York. Before joining Eleveya, Sophie worked at the Geneva office of High Lantern Group, a strategic positioning firm. Prior to that, she consulted for the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), mapping Uganda’s clean cooking sector and reforming tendering and grant allocation processes. She also worked with the Resource Mobilization Division at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva, contributing to an initiative under the ‘Grand Bargain’—a UN-led effort to address the humanitarian financing gap. Originally from France, Sophie holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Geneva and speaks French, English, and German

Thulani Mlambo is the founder of Local to Global Foods, an award-winning Foodpreneur, and an advocate for local economic empowerment through culinary innovation. With over 15 years of leadership experience in service delivery and vendor management, Thulani transitioned from the corporate world to the food industry, driven by a deep-rooted passion for African flavours and sustainable enterprise. He is the visionary behind Nayi Le Achaar Pâté – a pioneering product that reimagines traditional South African Achaar into a premium gourmet format. Under his leadership, Local to Global Foods has earned accolades locally and internationally, including participation in prestigious showcases such as the Summer and Winter Fancy Food Shows in the USA, and graduation from the Specialty Food Association’s Maker Prep Cohort. Thulani’s work sits at the intersection of heritage and entrepreneurship, championing food systems that are inclusive, resilient, and distinctly African. His voice has become increasingly recognised in discussions on local food economies, township enterprise development, and agro-processing innovation.

After studying electrical engineering with a focus on automation technology, he worked in the automotive industry at General Motors. Since 2007 he is active for the WIPOTEC Group, the world market leader in Track & Trace systems for marking products in various industries with unique codes. As a Project Manager Mr. Ditscher lead several hundred such serialization projects. Since he launched the Track & Trace Product Division in 2011, he is responsible as the Director Global Sales Track & Trace and the relevant Business Unit Director at WIPOTEC.

A dedicated regulatory professional at the Botswana Medicines Regulatory Authority (BoMRA), where I am strategic lead and mana of the Market Control department. I possess knowledge of pharmaceutical regulation, supply chain dynamics, proficient in ICT systems such as traceability tools. I am a seasoned health care practitioner who has served the military, health insurance and administrators, and pharmaceutical companies such as Glaxosmithkline, Lundbeck, and Inova Pharmaceuticals. Key Career Milestones: Strategic Oversight: Managing the end-to-end regulatory lifecycle of medical products by bridging the gap between high-level regulatory strategy and hands-on field enforcement to protect the public. TRVST System Implementation Lead: Serve as a key driver in the national implementation of secure traceability systems, reliable, and comply with global serialization standards such as GS1. For example, the TRV traceability initiative developed in partnership with UNICEF to detect and prevent falsified vaccines and medicines from entering the supply chain. Monitoring stakeholder collaboration on combating SFs: Lead the sensitisation of healthcare providers, public, law enforcement agencies at country level, regional and globally culminating the culture of preventing, detecting and responding to Substandard and Falsified (SFs) medical products. WHO Maturity Level 3 (ML3) Progress: Play an integral role in BoMRA’s journey towards achieving WHO ML3 rating, a global benchmark for fully functional pharmaceutical regulatory systems, by strengthening market control safety requirements. Public Safety Advocacy: Actively participate in public education platforms of combating SFs such as segments on radio shows, TV, conferences further demystifying complex pharmacovigilance for the Botswana public. Setting up new departments/units: Have a good track record of establishing, setting up and implementing fully fleshed departmental units in newly established roles and organizations.

Warwick Robinson is the founder of PhotoSVR, an imagery platform that transforms product photography into structured, scalable infrastructure for retail and e-commerce. Focused on eliminating inconsistency and improving efficiency, PhotoSVR uses a single capture event to produce marketplace-ready image sets, 360°3D assets and standardised outputs for multi-platform, multi-format and AI-ready use. The platform delivers GS1-aligned outputs and is a recognised service provider within the Takealot and Amazon ecosystem networks. Alongside PhotoSVR, he leads Swift Design & Creative, publishes AutoForum, and is a speaker with the African Academy of AI, contributing on the application of AI in design and video. With decades of experience across brand, UX and digital platform design, he brings a practical, systems-led perspective to the intersection of content, data and retail.

Wilson Chandomba, CSCL is a Certified Supply Chain Leader with over 27 years of experience across the pharmaceutical value chain in Africa. He is the Founder and Managing Consultant of CMCOMMS Supply Chain Quality Assurance. He is a member of the African Continental Technical Working Group on Substandard and Falsified Medical Products and Chairperson of its Communications Sub-Working Group. Wilson also serves as the Southern Africa Regional Lead for the International Association of Public Health Logisticians (IAPHL). His work focuses on strengthening health supply chains, quality assurance, and safeguarding patients from substandard and falsified medical products.

Zinhle Tyikwe is the Chief Executive Officer of GS1 South Africa, where she leads with strategic clarity, institutional integrity, and a deep commitment to inclusive advancement. Her career spans more than two decades in human resources and executive management, marked by a consistent focus on unlocking potential, driving transformation, and elevating women within the consumer goods sector and beyond. Since joining GS1 South Africa in 2013, Zinhle has played a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s culture and strategic direction—first as Executive for Human Resources and Communications, and now as its CEO. Her leadership is grounded in academic excellence, holding two honours degrees in Human Resources Development and Industrial Psychology & Organisational Development from UNISA, and an MBA from the University of South Wales. Zinhle’s influence has extended across sectors through her previous board roles with the Wholesale and Retail SETA and the Steve Biko Academic Hospital, where she contributed to national skills development and healthcare governance. She continues to lend her voice to strategic transformation as a member of the SAB Sharp Advisory Board, helping guide responsible industry practices and community impact. As we honour the theme Empowering Women, Empowering the Future in this year’s Women Colloquy, Zinhle embodies the principle that empowered women are architects of progress. Her leadership is not only institutional—it is generational. And at the heart of her journey is her role as a mother to Wongalamasengwa and Zimkitha, where her passion for growth, development, and nurturing the future finds its most personal and profound expression.

Chabi’s Ginger delivers a specialised powder product that gives you the taste of homemade gemere with only the addition of cold water.

Each batch is expertly blended and conveniently available to add flavour to your event.

In modern days, it’s not easy to make big drums of gemere through an overnight process of many steps, so Chabi’s Ginger helps the modern makoti keep the traditions alive. From South Africa to Sudan, the Cameroon to the Caribbean, ginger beer is a staple in the African diaspora and beyond!

Chabi’s Ginger’s Chabi’s Ginger’s vision is to share this gift, a taste of home. For years, Gemere Ginger Drink has been the hallmark of our family gatherings. Our mission is to craft amazing gemere for family and community events across South Africa.

The Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (CGSO) is an independent, accredited alternative dispute resolution scheme established in terms of the Consumer Protection Act. The CGSO enforces the Consumer Goods and Services Industry Code of Conduct which governs the conduct of businesses operating within the consumer goods and services sector in South Africa. Our mandate is to provide consumers with a fair, accessible, and cost-effective way to resolve disputes with suppliers while promoting compliance with the Industry Code and improving ethical business practices across the sector.

Mitas Corporation is a leading global provider of marking, identification, traceability, automation, inspection and authentication systems. The company’s name reflects its core offerings—Marking, Identification, Traceability, Automation, and Systems/Solutions—and it operates through a portfolio of fully owned divisions and strategic partner businesses that deliver end‑to‑end, bespoke solutions. 

 

Mitas Corporation supports manufacturers and non‑manufacturing sectors alike with advanced technologies for product marking, asset management, brand protection, and supply‑chain visibility. 

 

Our solutions range from high‑temperature metal marking and ultra‑fast production‑line coding to covert and forensic anti‑counterfeit systems, enabling unit‑level traceability across industries. With capabilities spanning everything from red‑hot steel billets to items stored in liquid nitrogen, Mitas is known as an ultimate industry solutions provider, committed to innovation, reliability, and global traceability excellence.

PojuPoju (Pty) Ltd is a South African Company established in 2024 by Dorothy Dolly Fatima

Mofomme. Earlier in 2018 Ms Mofomme established and co-founded Nalydia, a company which specializes in baby food products packaged in glass jars.

In 2023, Ms Mofomme visited Swaziland for a wedding where she was advised by her friend to export the baby food products packaged in pouches , the friend referred to these pouch packaged baby food as Abo PojuPoju which means “SQUEEZE OUT” from the pouch and it’s also INFORMAL PRAISE NAME for the LITTLE ONES(Babies).

The packaged baby food are sealed with MINICAPS / multipurpose ANTI-CHOKE LIDS used for capping the pouches and for building creative blocks. These Minicaps inspires cognitive development, enhance creativity, and problem-solving skills of a child.

In 2024 Ms Mofomme stepped down from Nalydia to pursue her own vision due to incompatible aspirations with other partners. She later registered PojuPoju (Pty) Ltd to persue her aspirations.

The company produces pouched natural food free from Artificial Colorant, Artificial Flavour and Preservatives. The food caters for Infants and persons from 7 months and older.

Tolokazi Beer & Cider is a South African craft brewery founded by Apiwe Nxusani‑Mawela, the country’s first Black woman to earn a brewing diploma and establish her own brewery. Launched in 2020, the brand celebrates African brewing heritage and the historic role of women in beer-making. Using indigenous ingredients like sorghum, rooibos, hibiscus, and marula, Tolokazi creates uniquely African flavors that combine tradition with modern brewing science.

The company has gained recognition for both its quality and innovative packaging, winning awards locally and internationally. Beyond brewing, Tolokazi mentors aspiring brewers through Brewsters Academy, promoting economic inclusion and fostering diversity in a traditionally male-dominated industry. By blending cultural storytelling with craft excellence, Tolokazi Beer & Cider aims to elevate African brewing traditions onto global stages while inspiring a new generation of brewers.

Wipotec is your innovative, reliable partner for high performance, process and customer-oriented weighing and inspection solutions – including marking, coding and labeling systems. As one of the world's leading businesses for dynamic weighing technology and product control, Wipotec stands for outstanding manufacturing quality "Made in Germany", the highest ease of integration and profound sector expertise. Wipotec’s "Traceable Quality System" - TQS – integrates modules for printing, labeling and verification. Instead of offering individual components, we offer a perfectly coordinated system – user-friendly and easy to operate.