Photo Gallery: 3 September 2025, Executive Day, Melrose, Johannesburg

During a session called Radical Inclusion: How KFC Africa moved from regulatory compliance to real belonging at the 2026 HR Indaba, Andra Nel, people, culture and purpose director at KFC Africa explained how the organisation is embedding inclusion in the workplace culture, strengthening psychological safety, and bringing franchise partners along the journey.

Vodacom Group CHRO Matimba Mbungela took the delegates through his career journey and shared valuable insights on the evolving role of HR practitioners, the importance of gaining enterprise-wide knowledge, the value of humility and how HR practitioners should leverage smart applications such as AI to enhance their productivity and stay ahead of the curve.

The 2026 HR Indaba has filled the Sandton Convention Centre with the smiles and the unmissable energy of thousands of HR professionals, all coming together to connect, share ideas and talk to all things people.

Matthew Randall, recently promoted to head of HR for South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa at Haleon, has a soft spot for creating peace and seeing people grow into their potential. It is a passion he carries from the workplace to the football field, where he volunteers as a youth coach in Durban.

Jannes van Aswegen, HR executive at Innovation Group South Africa, believes that not every lightbulb moment happens under fluorescent boardroom lights because he has learnt that the quieter moments can be the most productive ones.

Sandi Richardson’s 13 years at RCS have taught her that organisational heritage should have a handover plan. For the chief people officer, that means sharing hard-earned knowledge, creating opportunities to grow and knowing what is worth carrying forward.