Media Rendezvous

18/09/2026

😎

17/09/2026

Tough market conditions are not stopping SA’s entrepreneurs ……….
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South African entrepreneurs are operating in one of the world’s most challenging business environments.

South African business owners have spent the past six years absorbing a pandemic, sustained load shedding, water interruptions, port and rail failures and rising input costs and they have kept trading through all of it.

Some have gone further and built businesses out of the disruption itself, turning problems the country has been struggling with into commercial opportunities.
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One of fifteen of them now shortlisted for the 38th edition of Entrepreneur of the Year - a contender who has been identified and selected in the following category: Emerging Business Entrepreneur of the Year - awarded to businesses operating for one to five years with turnover up to R10 million - is:

Dr MICHELLE VON STEIN - CoralBloom Studio - which creates functional art collections for the destination retail, hospitality and tourism sectors, including homeware, tableware, stationery, accessories and bespoke corporate gifts.
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The 2026 winners will be announced at an official awards ceremony in October, where they will share in award prizes designed to accelerate business growth, including funding, mentorship, technical assistance and business exposure opportunities.

Cape Business News (CBN)
September, 2026
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About Dr Michelle von Stein: scientist-turned-designer ……….
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Michelle, the founder and owner of CoralBloom Studio, is a scientist-turned-designer with a remarkable background in Botany and Microbiology.

After achieving success in the scientific community, including international publications, speaking engagements and prestigious grants for her PhD research from organizations like the NRF and UNESCO, Michelle made the bold decision at the age of 28 to pivot toward a creative career.
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Now an award-winning designer, Michelle has earned international accolades, including being named Best Functional Art Design Company and Best Table Linen Designs in Africa & the Middle East by the prestigious MEA Market Awards, a UK-based organization.

Over the past five years, Michelle has completed over 60 successful projects, developing a signature design style recognized by leading décor, design and lifestyle brands in South Africa and abroad.

Her creations fuse art and science, driven by her love for nature, passion for design and keen attention to detail.
https://coralbloomstudio.com/pages/dr-michelle-von-stein?srsltid=AU7gw4VtuONnt5aDm6jGfM12Q-eFcwtSKHY9Ck-5fwNMhP4exBipVb1l
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🌿 Nature's Artisans 🎨 Celebrating South African Flora & Fauna 🌸🐆 Handcrafted with Love & Care 🤍 Sustainable & Ethical Functional Art 🏡
https://www.facebook.com/CoralBloomStudio

16/09/2026

15/09/2026

HOW TO REGISTER ON MUNICIPAL DATABASES
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Getting a contract to supply a large entity such as a municipality can sometimes be the opportunity that catapults a small business that is scraping by towards consistent sales.

If your business intends to conduct business with a local municipality, there are a few things you need to know first, such as how to register and what to expect.
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(*) What is a Municipal Supplier Database?

In South Africa, municipalities follow a strict process for finding suppliers.
This ensures that everybody has an equal opportunity to compete for the same work and that successful suppliers are chosen fairly.

This is a wonderful way for SMEs to generate business and increase their reach; but there are two elements that you need to understand ……….

(**) Central Supplier Database (CSD)

The central supplier database is mandatory to register for, regardless of where you are geographically-located.
All businesses must first ensure that they are included in this database, before approaching municipalities for work.

The CSD is South Africa’s centralised platform where all arms of government find suppliers - including municipalities and their various departments.
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(**) Municipal Supplier Database

The framework that established the CSD has largely replaced municipal supplier databases.

This means that very few municipalities rely on a separate database and all require small businesses to be a part of the CSD, regardless of whether or not they have an additional step to apply locally.

When you want to apply for a tender or provide any kind of service or product to your municipality, confirm whether or not there is a separate database to apply to.
(As an example, the municipality of City of Matlosana (Klerksdorp) requires you to present proof of registration on the CSD when registering on their database.)

Remember, registering with the CSD does not guarantee automatic work.
You still need to submit applications for tenders or any additional documentation asked for when calling for specific suppliers.
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(*) Who can register as a supplier?

Any business can apply to be a supplier and there is no limit on what industry you need to belong to.

Just by scrolling through the list of open tenders on the municipal website, you can see that the sky really is the limit.
For services such as cleaning, environmental management and marketing, to products such as office equipment, maintenance equipment or furniture.

Tenders relate to the various arms of the municipality and their involvement.
It can include any project they are involved with or responsible for, like an orphanage or road works.
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(*) Register on the Central Supplier Database

The self-registration process is quite lengthy; but the steps are clear and easy to follow.

Head over to the Central Supplier Database website -https://secure.csd.gov.za/Account/Register - and follow the following steps:-
Step 1: Create a CSD User Account
Step 2: Log in and Complete Information
Step 3: Submit Your Supplier Information
Step 4: Obtain your CSD Supplier Number

Read more ………..
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(*) What documentation do you need?

Read more ………..
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(*) Register on a Municipality’s Supplier Database

Read more ………..
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(*) What happens after applying to the Municipal Supplier Database?

After successfully registering on the central supplier database and the municipal supplier databases, if applicable, you still need to look at the tenders yourself and submit your applications.

Monitoring municipal procurement opportunities doesn’t happen on its own.
It is a manual process you have to identify and submit for.

You can find out more about how to ensure you are compliant with tender requirements in our article Tender Compliance Checklist Every SME Needs - https://smesouthafrica.co.za/tender-compliance-checklist-every-sme-needs/

You will also need to regularly update your information and ensure that you are still listed accurately as a supplier across the various databases.
https://smesouthafrica.co.za/how-to-register-on-municipal-supplier-databases/

14/09/2026

Monday motivation .........

11/09/2026

🤪

10/09/2026

From shack to R1m: paint maker wins in Standard Bank SME Challenge
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From a 5m² shack in Soshanguve to a R1m national prize, RODNEY MADUWA’s entrepreneurial journey is gaining momentum.

His company, MADUWA PAINT WORLD, has been named the winner of the 2026 Standard Bank Kasi SME National Pitch Challenge, beating hundreds of businesses from across South Africa’s nine provinces.

Maduwa Paint World was initially crowned the Gauteng provincial winner, before progressing to the national finals, where the SME emerged as the overall champion.
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Maduwa Paint World produces decorative and industrial coatings, while pursuing plans to establish a local acrylic emulsion manufacturing facility aimed at reducing reliance on imported raw materials.

Judges recognised the company's commitment to local manufacturing, industrialisation, job creation and its vision to build black-owned industrial manufacturing capability in South Africa.
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The following SME businesses were announced as runners-up:-

(*) 1st runner-up:
Ezempilo Primecare Clinic - founded by Sisanda (Sr San) Potye - advanced to the national finals through the competition's Viewers' Choice category.

(*) 2nd runner-up:
PSD Scent Perfumes (Pty) Ltd - founded by Phumulile Mkhonza - who represented the Mpumalanga province.
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The Standard Bank Kasi SME Summit and National Pitch Challenge have become one of South Africa's leading platforms dedicated to unlocking the growth potential of township businesses and entrepreneurs.

This year's event brought together entrepreneurs, industry leaders, policymakers and business development partners under the theme Commercialising Kasi: Unlocking Competitive Township Businesses.
https://www.bizcommunity.com/article/from-shack-to-r1m-paint-maker-wins-in-standard-bank-sme-challenge-075695a

pics:-
1st runner-up:
(centre right) Sisanda (Sr San) Potye
2nd runner-up:
(bottom right) Phumulile Mkhonza

09/09/2026

Wangari Maathai
(1 April, 1940 - 25 September, 2011)

08/09/2026

Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems compared: which one is right for South African SMEs?
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Choosing a Point-of-Sale (POS) System is one of those decisions that quietly shapes how your business runs day-to-day; from how fast you can serve a customer, to whether you can get a stock report before a Monday morning meeting.

For South African small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the decision is also shaped by local realities: load shedding, patchy rural connectivity and the need for affordable, flexible cash flow.
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(*) What is a POS System?

A POS System is the hardware and software that a business uses to complete customer transactions.
It replaces the old cash register, serving as the central hub where you ring up sales, process card or cash payments and track day-to-day business operations.

There are various types of POS Systems - ranging from traditional stand-alone systems, to mobile POS Systems and cloud-based POS Systems.

(*) How do POS Systems work?

A POS System allows your business to accept payments from customers and keep track of sales.
As simple as that sounds, the setup can look different depending on whether you sell online, in-person, or both.

(*) POS Systems compared: which one is right for your South African SMEs?

All business owners understand the importance and function of POS Systems.
However, the critical moment comes when it’s time to choose the right one for your SME.
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The following 4 POS SYSTEMS all work in SOUTH AFRICA and we will compare each - under the headings COST, FEATURES, FINANCING and IDEAL FIT FOR - to help make your decision easier:-

(1) Yoco POS
Yoco has various POS offerings ……….

(read more)

(2) iKhokha
Nedbank acquired iKhokha’s POS System, a business management and POS solution designed to help retail shops, kiosks and restaurants ring up sales, track inventory, print receipts and manage staff.

(read more)

(3) Capitec Card Machines
Capitec’s POS devices (Pro and Print) are aimed at existing Capitec business banking clients, syncing settlements directly into your Capitec account.

The machines directly integrate into your Capitec Business App for sales tracking and account management.

(read more)

(4) Stitch Express POS (with Shopify POS integration)
Stitch Express recently launched its in-person payments offering for growing South African retailers and, with it, became the first provider to offer a fully integrated Shopify POS solution in South Africa.

If you already sell on Shopify, a Stitch terminal connects directly to your online store, so in-store sales sync automatically with the same product catalogue, orders and fulfilment you use online.

(read more)
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There’s no single “best” POS System; the right choice depends on your transaction volume, whether you sell online, as well as in person and how much you value having a financing safety net built into your payments provider.

https://smesouthafrica.co.za/point-of-sale-systems-comparing-pos-systems-for-smes/