Photo Gallery: 13 August 2026, Executive Communities Women's Dinner, NH Sandton, Johannesburg

Caroline van der Merwe, Jem co-founder and chief product officer, says the company uses WhatsApp-based technology, workforce management tools and financial wellness solutions to help employers operate more efficiently, while improving deskless workers’ lives.

Missing a target does not automatically mean non-compliance, but employers must show how shortfalls were assessed and addressed. This was emphasised by BEE123 representatives at the 2026 HR Indaba during a session titled EE reporting readiness: Five critical actions every employer should take, now!

As organisations race to adopt AI, HR leaders must ensure that the pursuit of efficiency does not come at the expense of employee wellbeing, trust and workplace culture. This was explored in-depth by Kutlwano Rawana, group HR executive at the Mustek Group, and Themba Chakela, head of people, culture and change at e-Motion Consulting.

Rendani Baumgartner, managing director at RB Advisory Partners, says the biggest mistake companies can make with AI is adopting it simply because everyone else is. Before deciding what work to automate, she believes leaders need to first understand the problem they are trying to solve.

AI can take repetitive work off HR’s plate, freeing the people function to focus more of its time and expertise where it matters most. According to Paolo Urzi, partner development manager for the SADC region at Factorial, that is the most useful AI conversation for HR leaders.

ArcFinder has joined as a Gold partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.