HR Indaba: the biggest HR conference in Africa

As AI changes how people work, organisations must decide how to embrace innovation without losing employee trust. Drawing insights from Sage’s latest HR and Payroll Leaders’ Report, a panel discussion at the 2026 HR Indaba explored how leaders can adopt AI responsibly, support employees through transformation, and create more connected experiences across HR and payroll.

HR leaders from Standard Bank, Tsebo Holdings and Deloitte discussed the disconnect between organisational values and employees’ experiences at the 2026 HR Indaba, emphasising the need to balance business performance with workplace behaviour.

Panellists from healthcare provider and financial services company Kaelo unpacked how organisations can adapt employee benefits to address employees’ changing physical, mental and financial wellbeing needs at the 2026 HR Indaba.

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!

2026 HR Indaba attendees heard how Coca-Cola’s culture helped spark a Powerade Springbok campaign, more than doubling volume sales targets – yet coming from the most unlikely of places.

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.

Middle managers carry significant accountability, often without the authority to match. This was a talking point at the 2026 HR Indaba.

Attendees at the 2026 HR Indaba got to hear how AI is rewriting jobs. But are HR leaders ready to lead the change?

Shedding the workforce is one of the most emotionally taxing experiences for employees and the exco alike. Leading HR executives at the 2026 HR Indaba unpacked how to navigate retrenchments with transparency and empathy while sharing practical strategies for communication, leadership alignment and preserving culture.

At the 2026 HR Indaba, attendees explored how to access specialised expertise without the full-time overheads, but this needs a mindset shift

In a packed room at the 2026 HR Indaba, three top HR execs led a conversation about navigating toxic work cultures without losing yourself.

The future of deskless work in the age of automation was at the heart of an insightful discussion at the 2026 HR Indaba, where Portia Mogale, executive head of HR at Santam Corporate; Karen Hammond, group CHRO at Meridian Group; and Nomvula Nxumalo, executive head of people and transformation at MiWay Insurance, explored how organisations can ensure deskless workers also benefit from automation.

Empathetic change management was a key focus for three HR leaders who discussed how to navigate organisational and cultural transformation with a people-centred approach at the 2026 HR Indaba.

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.

Top HR leaders at the 2026 HR Indaba unpacked why a CPO presence in the boardroom is now a non-negotiable requirement, due to new and binding changes to the Companies Amendment Act.

As HR leaders face growing workloads, expanding responsibilities and pressure to adopt AI, Abel Makgato, field sales manager for payroll and HR at Sage, urged organisations to prioritise trust, accuracy and simplicity when choosing technology at the 2026 HR Indaba.

With thousands of attendees at the 2026 HR Indaba, top HR execs tackled the critical conversation about strategies for correcting undesirable manager traits early in organisations.

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.

The 2026 HR Indaba kicks off today with thousands of HR professionals streaming through the doors of the Sandton Convention Centre, as the people tasked with solving workplace challenges come together for an insight-filled day to compare notes, challenge assumptions and debate on the future of work.

Altron Document Solutions has joined as a Silver partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, taking place on 20 October.

CatalyzU has been named a Silver partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.

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

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

Payroll Professional has been named a Silver partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.

AppConverge joins as a Gold partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.

Henley Business School has joined as a Silver partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.

Wyzetalk joins as a Gold partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.

Discovery joins as a Platinum partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.

RB Advisory Partners has been named a Gold partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.

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

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH) joins a Silver partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.

Simplify HR has been named a Silver partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.

The LLC Academy has joined as a Silver partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

College SA has joined as a Silver partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.

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

SA Business School has joined as a Silver partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.

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

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

GameON Mobile has joined as a Silver partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.

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

Humanly, in partnership with Insight Consulting, has joined as a Gold partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.

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

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

iOCO Digital has come on board as a Diamond partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.

Factorial has come on board as a Gold partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.

Wealthbit has come on board as a Silver partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.

Wits Plus has come on board as a Silver partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.

Momentum Corporate has come on board as a Silver partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.

Envoy Global has come on board as a Silver partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.

YuLife has come on board as a Silver partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.

Triple E Training has come on board as a Silver partner for the 2026 HR Indaba, set to take place on 20 October.

As momentum builds toward the 2026 HR Indaba, K2 Group has come on board as a Silver partner for this year’s event, set to take place on 20 October.

As preparations ramp up for the 2026 HR Indaba, Paymenow comes on board as a Silver partner for this year’s event, set to take place on 20 October.

Partnerships continue to gather momentum for the 2026 HR Indaba, with Busec Nova joining as a Gold partner for this year’s event, set to take place on 20 October.

Partnerships continue to pour in for the 2026 HR Indaba, with The Social Craft joining as a Platinum partner for this year’s event, set to take place on 20 October.

With the countdown to the 2026 HR Indaba underway, Red & Yellow Creative School of Business joins as a Silver partner for this year’s event, taking place on 20 October.

As the countdown to the 2026 HR Indaba begins, Raizcorp joins as a Silver partner for this year’s event, taking place on 20 October.

Partnerships continue to pour in for the 2026 HR Indaba, with Boston City Campus joining as a Platinum partner for this year’s event, set to take place on 20 October.

Momentum is building for the 2026 HR Indaba, with the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) confirmed as a Silver partner for the highly anticipated gathering on 20 October.

Anticipation continues to build ahead of the 2026 HR Indaba, as Milpark Education comes on board as a Silver partner for the event on 20 October.

Anticipation is building ahead of the 2026 HR Indaba, as BEE123 comes on board as a Gold partner for the event on 20 October.

Momentum continues to build around the 2026 HR Indaba, with Deel Local Payroll joining as a Platinum partner for this year’s event, set to take place on 20 October.

Partnerships continue to pour in for the 2026 HR Indaba, with Mancosa joining as a Silver partner for this year’s event, taking place on 20 October.

Partnerships are already pouring in for the 2026 HR Indaba, with The Sales Enablement Company joining as a Platinum partner for this year’s event, taking place on 20 October.

Top HR execs shared their insights on effectively collecting and managing data to enable data-driven HR at the 2025 HR Indaba.

Preparing for a workplace that doesn’t yet exist but is already rewriting the rules of how HR professionals work, strategise, and lead demands new thinking, curiosity, and a willingness to adapt.

As South African corporates embrace new employment equity amendments, compliance company BEE123 encouraged more compliance amid its optimism that HR practitioners can meet new government targets. BEE123’s Saul Symanowitz and Adele Francis were addressing the 2025 HR Indaba.

During a panel discussion at the recent 2025 HR Indaba titled Transform or Avoid? Dealing with Toxic Workplace Cultures, Khabonina Ramoupi, group CPO at AECI, Reabetswe Motshegare, HR director at Scatec Sub-Saharan Africa and Boniwe Dunster, HR and industrial relations executive at Lanseria International Airport, reflected on what toxic cultures look like, how to spot the early warning signs and what role HR must play in addressing them.

Executive confidence was at the heart of a frank discussion about leadership at the 2025 HR Indaba by a trio of visionary leaders, each with a unique story of personal mastery and self-assurance.

HR leaders shared what they must do now in preparation for the next decade at the 2025 HR Indaba, as the world of work is transforming fast – and artificial intelligence, automation and shifting employee expectations are redefining what it means to work, lead and belong.

At the 2025 HR Indaba, the conversation around accountability took a sharp, introspective turn. In a packed Bill Gallagher Room, a panel of HR thought leaders, Dolores Mashishi founder and seasoned HR executive; and James Ramakau associate director: talent management at KPMG Africa tackled a hard truth: when employees fail, it often says more about leadership than about the individuals themselves.

Mismatched leadership is a hidden cost in the fiercely competitive world of rapid business expansion, where success is often measured by simple metrics like revenue growth, market share and operational efficiency, attendees at the 2025 HR Indaba heard.

At the 2025 HR Indaba, speakers challenged the myth of work-life balance, calling instead for intentional rest, focus and self-leadership.

At the 2025 HR Indaba, senior HR professionals and legal experts called on leaders to move past symbolic gestures of inclusion and address the deep-rooted blind spots that undermine fairness in the workplace.

The 2025 HR Indaba saw HR leaders tackle neurodiversity, an often-neglected part of inclusion in the workplace. Speaking at a session titled Wellness spectrum toolbox: Supporting neurodivergent employees, Mmabatho Tlale, chief human capital officer at ZEDA; Felicity Ramiah, staffing manager at Rand Refinery and Phetheni Nkuna, director of employment law at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr; unpacked how organisations can create environments where neurodivergent employees thrive.

The role of human resources is changing faster than most leaders can keep up with. At the 2025 HR Indaba, Sage regional vice president for medium business Gerhard Hartman argued that the question is no longer whether to adopt technology but how to use it to drive value.

Zuko Mdwaba, JEM HR advisory board and investor; Selo Govender, Discovery executive head: talent, learning and leadership development; and Avanthi Parboosing, chief people officer, Life Healthcare; highlight the role of data analytics in helping companies make better decisions around employee wellness during a frank 2025 HR Indaba 2025 panel discussion.

The Sandton Convention Centre housed over 3,000 attendees for the 2025 HR Indaba, where senior HR executives from Standard Bank, SABC and Sanlam unpacked how people leaders have moved to steering business strategy and shaping organisational success.

With thousands of HR professionals in attendance at the 2025 HR Indaba, conversations about the future of work were impossible to ignore.

As global migration patterns continue to shape the world of work, HR professionals must prepare for the impact of brain drain on succession planning, said Michele Simpson-Crew, managing partner of academy at Busec Nova, at the 2025 HR Indaba.

At the 2025 HR Indaba, industry leaders Charlotte Mokoena, Lindiwe Miyambu, and Kyle Chetty unpacked how organisations can break down barriers and build collaborative cultures that drive performance and impact.

During a panel discussion at Africa’s biggest HR conference and expo, S’ne Magagula, CPO of Tiger Brands; KG Bako, managing executive: talent management & transitions at Absa Group; and Juba Mashaba, CPO at Cell C, spoke about how profit may keep the doors open, but highlighted purpose as what keeps people and organisations moving forward.

Clicks Group CEO Bertina Engelbrecht kicked off the 2025 HR Indaba with a captivating keynote address, sharing critical insights on the role of HR in supporting business in an unpredictable world.

Udemy will be joining the 2025 HR Indaba as a Gold partner.

Henley Business School will be joining the 2025 HR Indaba as a Silver partner.

Nathan Digital SA will be joining the 2025 HR Indaba as a Silver partner.

Academy Busec Nova International will be joining the 2025 HR Indaba as a Gold partner.

Old Mutual will be joining the 2025 HR Indaba as a Gold partner.

The Speakers Firm will be joining the 2025 HR Indaba as a Silver partner.

PickUpSkills (Privatizz) will be joining the 2025 HR Indaba as a Silver partner.

Remchannel will be joining the 2025 HR Indaba as a Silver partner.

Momentum Corporate will be joining the 2025 HR Indaba as a Silver partner.

Netcampus Group will be joining the 2025 HR Indaba as a Silver partner.

Milpark Education will be joining the 2025 HR Indaba as a Silver partner.

iOCO Digital will be joining the 2025 HR Indaba as a Platinum partner.

Automatic Data Processing (ADP) will be joining the 2025 HR Indaba as a Gold partner.

Jem HR has joined the 2025 HR Indaba as a Gold partner.

Wits Plus has joined the 2025 HR Indaba as a Silver partner.

Optimi Workplace has joined the 2025 HR Indaba as a Silver partner.

MyMobile, powered by Samsung, has signed on as a Gold artner for the 2025 HR Indaba.

Sage has joined as a Diamond partner for the 2025 HR Indaba.

Factorial has signed up as a Gold partner for the 2025 HR Indaba.

Discovery has signed up as a Platinum partner for the 2025 HR Indaba.

Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator has joined as a Gold partner for the 2025 HR Indaba.

Regent Business School has signed up as a Silver partner for the 2025 HR Indaba.

Top Employers Institute has signed on as a Gold partner for the 2025 HR Indaba.

Awetomate has signed up as a Silver partner for the 2025 HR Indaba.

YuLife has signed up as a Silver partner for the 2025 HR Indaba.

The Social Craft has signed up as a Gold partner for the 2025 HR Indaba.

Diversifi has signed up as a Silver partner for the 2025 HR Indaba.

MasterStart has signed up as a Silver partner for the 2025 HR Indaba

SAP has joined the 2025 HR Indaba as a Platinum partner.