As we move into April, we pause to consider the major events of the previous month, which included a triumphant Buy Local Summit & Expo, a passionate protest against illegal trade, a pitching workshop that changed the business landscape, and a lively display of South African design at the Takealot House of Beauty. March has been a month of momentum, a time when South Africans reaffirmed their commitment to local businesses, economic growth, and job creation.

Kicking off this year’s highly anticipated Buy Local Summit & Expo, we launched into an exhilarating media event, a ground-breaking premiere showcasing the impact of the summit and expo, held at Ster-Kinekor. The room was abuzz with industry heavyweights from various media houses and stakeholders. Guests were welcomed with a networking session featuring local delicacies, before settling in for the unveiling of the event’s powerful impact film. 

Held at the Sandton Convention Centre from March 17–18, the 13th edition of the Buy Local Summit & Expo exceeded all expectations. With 1,500 delegates, 450 trade buyers, and more than 200 exhibitors, the event confirmed its position as South Africa's leading local procurement platform. The rallying cry, "Buy Local to Create Jobs," was emphasised throughout the summit through captivating panel discussions and stirring keynote speeches.
 
Lebogang Maile, Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, gave the keynote presentation to formally launch the event. He stated that boosting local procurement is a crucial tool that should be used to support economic self-reliance and encourage the expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises. Localising the economy, he claimed, is a strategic tool that may bring about change and foster creativity, talent, and inventiveness. Maile emphasised that the country's mineral resources, which are essential for cutting-edge industries like electric vehicles, should be used as a competitive advantage and that the recent geopolitical events should act as a wake-up call to accelerate self-reliance. 

Throughout the jam-packed programme, we hosted thought-provoking discussions that benefitted all sectors of society. Over the course of both days, panellists explored a range of topics, from unpacking the theme itself to examining legacy brands that are local heroes, positively impacting South African homes, alongside other invigorating conversations focused on building a resilient economy through localisation. We highlighted the R-CTFL industry with a discussion on the effects of illicit trade and counterfeits on local fashion designers. Additionally, PG Bison helped us celebrate local businesses by showcasing their success stories.

Howard Gabriels, the chairman of the Proudly South African Board, asserted that the governmental, private sector, and consumers must pool their resources to buy goods and services locally in order to stop the unemployment rate from skyrocketing, which causes a number of societal problems. In order to do this, he declared the opening of the Proudly South African online portal, the first of its kind in South Africa, that sells only goods produced in South Africa. We encourage all our members who haven’t yet joined the Proudly South African platform to sign up and showcase their locally produced goods. Together, let’s support local businesses and stimulate job creation by shopping on this unique platform, where every purchase helps drive our economy forward.

A heartfelt thank you to all our generous sponsors: ABSA, DSBD, dtic, SANTAM, TRANSNET, GDED, GEP, SOUTH 32, SAB, AITF, SASOL, TELKOM, STANDARD BANK, SA TOURISM, HULAMIN, IDC, NESTLE ESAR, SOUTHERN SUN, and BRAND SA and Proudly SA members who made the Buy Local Summit & Expo 2025 a resounding success. Your support continues to drive our mission of strengthening local businesses and creating sustainable jobs.

Together with designers, government representatives and business leaders, Proudly South African marched to the streets on March 17 to express disapproval of the growth of illegal trade and counterfeit goods, which is seriously harming respectable local companies. The march served as a forceful protest against the flood of fake goods, an issue that threatens South Africa's economic stability.

This campaign served as a call to action to ‘Take A Stand’ and back legitimate, locally owned companies that create jobs and promote long-term economic prosperity.

We extend our gratitude to every designer, organisation, government representative, and individual who joined us in taking a stand against illicit trade. Together, we are building a fair and thriving economy that prioritises legitimate local businesses.
On March 22, Proudly South Africa held the Buy Local Summit Festival of Ideas Pitching Booster Workshop in recognition of the difficulties faced by SMEs. Twenty entrepreneurs participated in a high-impact workshop guided by seasoned executives and business coaches that aimed to improve their pitching abilities and increase their capacity to attract clients and capital.

Three winners received R20,000 apiece in the exciting pitch competition that followed the workshop:
· Lindiwe Sanitary Pads' Lindiwe Moselakgomo
· Mamaila Mahlatse from INO Biodiesel
· Kool Crew's Mapula Ramothwala

These SMEs presented their companies with remarkable vision, clarity, and confidence. The workshop's success highlights how crucial it is to give SMEs the soft skills they need to succeed in South Africa's cutthroat business environment.

Congratulations to our outstanding pitch competition winners, Lindiwe Moselakgomo, Mahlatse Mamaila, and Mapula Ramothwala! Your innovation and determination exemplify the future of South African entrepreneurship, and we can’t wait to see your businesses grow.

To round off a month of economic advocacy and entrepreneurship, the final weekend of March (28-30 March) saw South African designers shine at the Takealot House of Beauty. This platform gave local creatives an opportunity to showcase their work to a broader market, reinforcing the importance of supporting homegrown talent. Designers displayed unique, high-quality South African fashion, offering consumers a compelling reason to prioritise local over imported brands.

As we move forward into April, we urge you to continue making impactful procurement decisions. Whether you are a consumer, an SME, or a corporate buyer, every choice to Buy Local strengthens our economy and creates jobs. April also brings the joy of Easter, a time for reflection, renewal, and celebrating the spirit of togetherness.

Let’s carry this momentum forward. Let’s continue to build a resilient economy through localisation.
For information on South African products to look forward to, please contact our team at [email protected]. We will gladly share insights from our trusted member stakeholders.

Remember to check out Proudly SA’s latest CI document to see the various ways in which you as a member of Proudly SA can use our logo on all your qualifying products, websites, and other marketing material.

Should you have any questions or suggestions, or would like to collaborate on future initiatives, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Should you wish to share with the newsletter team any milestones, events, awards, or sales, please send your email to [email protected]. We value your feedback and involvement in shaping the course of our movement.