The economy has been held hostage! I repeat, the South African economy has been held hostage. And the culprit is none other than every single one of us. We are the masterminds who have orchestrated the biggest heist, the country has ever seen.

What have we done, who will we call, how do we fix the greatest faux pas committed by us, the citizens entrusted with the country's lifeline? Well firstly, we take accountability. We look in the mirror and face the enemy which threatens to take away the future of our children. Secondly, we offer to be the change, that can help our economy not only to turn the tide but to thrive amid the stormy seas.

The charge is supporting global, neglecting local and pretending that the economy is not in our hands, and we the citizens of one of the greatest nations in the world have been found GUILTY! Alas, as we stand accused, we have an opportunity to clear our name and save our nation's economy. And it's as easy as getting familiar with the Proudly South African campaign. The nation's official Buy local campaign, which advocates for the procurement of local goods and services in both the private and public sector. 

Our mission is one, and that is to be the voice on your shoulder continuously nudging you towards advocacy, national pride and most importantly, putting your randelas where your pride is. And that is in the South African economy, the many homegrown businesses that account for 80% of the employment rate in the country.

Thus, as we step expectantly into March, we are thrilled to invite you to the 13th annual Buy Local Summit and Expo. Proudly South African will be hosting the Buy Local Summit & Expo on 17 and 18 March in Johannesburg at the Sandton Convention Centre to renew the clarion call to consumers, the public and private sector to step up procurement of goods and services locally in line with this year’s theme: “Building a resilient economy through localisation.” 

The Buy Local Summit and Expo is a two-day, annual flagship event of Proudly South African that attracts nearly 200 local exhibitors spanning several industries, over 1 500 delegates, 450 trade buyers, and 160 stakeholders from both the public and private sector. It is the premier local procurement campaign that enjoys the support of various government departments, state-owned entities, and leading private sector companies. 

The Take A Stand March, a new addition to this year’s Buy Local Summit & Expo, will be led by the Retail, Clothing, Textile, Footwear, and Leather (R-CTFL) sector. It will bring together members of the Buy Local campaign and the public in a peaceful demonstration around the Sandton Convention Centre. This march aims to highlight the devastating impact of illicit goods on our local economy while rallying support for industries and sectors that rely on consumer backing. By choosing local, we can help small businesses scale, safeguard existing jobs, and create new employment opportunities through the circulation of the rand within our borders.

We look forward to hosting many consumers, key industry players, and captains of industry to the Buy Local Summit and Expo. I can only hope that if you are not exhibiting, you will come show your support of local creation and experience the best of what comes out of the South African soil.

Here is a recap of the previous month:
In February we had the pleasure of partnering with parliament to elevate and support the R-CTFL sector through the Local Fashion Police activation on the Red Carpet at SONA 2025. The "Local Fashion Police Officers", Sello Medupe of Scalo, Palesa Mokubung of Mantsho, Otsile Sefolo of Otiz Seflo, journalist Leonie Wagner, and red-carpet MC Thami Dish, celebrated those who chose to showcase local fashion and reminded influential figures who didn’t to prioritise supporting local designers on the importance and impact of buying local. In the same thread, Proudly South African partnered with the Gauteng Legislature, and local designers Hangwani Nengovhela and Birgit (Biji) Gibbs, to showcase on the SOPA 2025 red carpet, highlighting the power local fashion has in economic growth and job creation. 

In an effort to provide access to market opportunities for small businesses, a few of our members joined us at Play Braam for two consecutive weekends to sell at the consumer-facing market.
The campaign also visited Letsibogo Girls High School to hand over a donation to refurbish a dormitory and a new signage board. The celebration included an exciting prize giveaway, a lively dance challenge, and a special visit from our beloved Lolo Warona! We're thrilled to support the growth and well-being of these young women, helping create a better learning environment for them.

We look forward to the many amazing success stories that will come from the Buy Local Summit and Expo and the good tidings that March will bring.
Be Part of the Buy Local Movement!
Join us at the Buy Local Summit & Expo 2025, where industry leaders, procurement decision-makers, and local businesses come together to drive economic resilience through localisation.
Date: 17 – 18 March 2025
Venue: Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg
Register now: https://proudlysa.co.za/buy-local-summit/
Please look out for upcoming access to market events & webinars on our social media channels. 

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.