Mammei Hlehlisi-Galo takes on the role of HR Director, MillBake, Tiger Brands

A mentimeter survey at the recent CHRO Day in Johannesburg became a space for Mzansi’s top HR leaders to reflect on what is really happening inside their organisations.

Addressing a room of nearly 200 of South Africa’s leading HR executives during the opening panel of the 2026 CHRO Day, Matimba Mbungela, group CHRO at Vodacom, shared insights on the tough calls that define leadership.

HR leaders went on a ‘speed date’ at the 2026 CHRO Day in Johannesburg – not the romantic kind, but one where they were paired up for seven-minute networking conversations designed to help them connect, share ideas and talk honestly about the challenges they are facing at work.

Cell C’s listing towards the end of 2025 marked a journey shaped as much by people as by performance.

As organisations reset their people strategies for the year ahead, Bianca Anthon, HR director at Illovo Sugar; Juan du Toit, CHRO at Master Drilling Group; and Emelia Abotsi, CHRO at Fuchs Electronics, share how they are turning 2025’s hard-won lessons into 2026 HR new year’s resolutions, shaped by the realities of the work ahead.

In a country where every greeting, proverb, or shared meal carries echoes of heritage, HR leaders such as Tembi Topham, HR executive for talent & D&I at RCL Foods; Phil Tshikotshi, vice president of HR at Startek; Khululiwe Nxumalo, head of people, culture and learning at Starbucks South Africa; and Angela Munger, head of HR for the MEA region at Centurion Systems, are finding ways to let heritage breathe throughout the workplace.