Top HR executives gathered in Cape Town for the second CHRO Summit of 2026, to trade insights on what it means to lead in the age of digital acceleration.

Capitec group HR executive Rizwana Butler shares how putting technology at the forefront of everything the company does is key to keeping the organisation relevant, while empowering employees and helping them realise their dreams.

Duke Mgaga, CPO for Parliament of South Africa, fosters a people-first culture. He says the human capital strategy should be an enabling one and cannot work in isolation.

Khabonina Ramoupi, group chief people officer at AECI, is shaking up the culture at the company and managing change in a business that has been around for 100 years.

Head of human capital for Axiz, Robert Nkuna, says he has been privileged to work with many CEOs through mergers and acquisitions on his HR journey. This, he believes, has given him a solid foundation.

Middle managers play a vital role between decisions taken at executive level and their implementation on the ground, says Dolores S Mashishi, managing director: HR solutions, and advisor and executive coach at DSM Advisory.

The executive head of human capital for Santam, Norah Sehunoe, believes in a holistic and strategic approach to the employee experience. CHRO South Africa spoke to Norah about being an employer of choice, nurturing staff, and focus points for the year ahead.

JJ Van der Walt, legal counsel for employment law at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, unpacks why a recent Constitutional Court judgment has put the spotlight on retirement age, agreed upon retirement age, and how that is interpreted.

HR executives say the employment equity bill marks a pivotal step in South Africa’s journey toward a more equitable and inclusive workplace.

Bertus Jacobs, the new head of people at Multi-Media, says he likes to create impactful solutions that empower individuals and strengthen organisations.

A new year often means a new start and a new way of doing things. This is as applicable in the C-suite as it is within the rest of the organisation. And, while CHROs often consider EAPs and wellness programmes for their teams and the wider organisation, executive health is also an important focus area.

Menushka van der Westhuizen is the new human resources director for South Africa at Saint-Gobain.

JJ Van der Walt, legal counsel for employment law at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, unpacks key provisions of the bill.

Eskom’s new people chief, Dr Candice Hartley, says it is a great honour to join the utility's giant in navigating the complexities of the energy sector and striving towards a sustainable future.

Nomsa Mngadi has been appointed as head of people services: Southern Africa at De Beers Group.

Duke Mgaga has been appointed as the chief people officer at the Parliament of South Africa.

Empathy and prioritising people will no doubt continue to be top of mind for the people agenda for 2025.

All things tech dominated CHRO conversations in 2024 – balancing AI with the human touch, for one, will no doubt continue to dominate in the new year.

Executive director of HR at Vodacom SA and 2022 CHRO of the Year winner Njabulo Mashigo is the latest addition to the 2025 CHRO Awards judging panel.

Nomfundo Vilakazi has been appointed as HR director for Dis-Chem Pharmacies.

Attracting, engaging and retaining top talent has become more important than ever. And, as economic pressures mount and regulatory frameworks evolve, companies are being forced to innovate their pay and benefits strategies to ensure equity, fairness and financial security for their employees.

Palesa Matoli, the executive head of human capital and transformation at Bidvest Bank, who recently took home both the 2024 Transformation & Empowerment Award and the Young CHRO of the Year Award, shares her approach and leadership style.

C-suite HR leaders gathered to discuss the profound impact AI and robotics continues to have on HR practices at an exclusive dinner at Table Seven in Cape Town.

Ndivhu hopes to put her unique vision and strategic mindset to work at MAZIV to create a collaborative environment.

Mmabatho Tlale, ZEDA’s chief human capital officer, is a doer who is not afraid to get her hands dirty. Part of an exco made up predominantly of black women, she says this strategy is an intentional one to empower women in the car rental sector.