We have just crossed the year’s halfway threshold in the month of June, a month that also marks the onset of winter, cooler temperatures, shorter daylight hours, and a shift towards indoor activities. As a sports crazy nation, we went through a rollercoaster of emotions during this memorable month - from the euphoria of celebrations as our national football team made a historic qualification into the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to the depths of despair when Canada scuppered our dreams. But we soldier on. We will dust ourselves off, rise again stronger and wiser.
On the home front, the month of June was equally busy as the team traversed the length and breadth of South Africa to drive the localisation mandate and create commercial pathways for our members. We took part in the GRYND youth event hosted by Yfm and invited Shesha 3.2.1 game quiz and Nomgenge, a local fashion brand, to exhibit at the event. GRYND afforded our members an opportunity to engage directly with young attendees and raise their brand profile among the young audience.
I delivered the welcome address at the event and stressed the importance of supporting locally produced goods and services as a vehicle for job creation and entrepreneurship development. Our message was well received and resonated positively with the young audience and our members.
In the month under review, we provided five of our members with an opportunity to exhibit and sell their products at From the Ground Market. Participating members comprised: The Lights Candle, Butter and Grace, Cook’d by Amanda, Lily Rose Collection, and Nys Chilli. The market created a valuable platform for member exposure, customer engagement, and sales opportunities. Members performed very well throughout the day and received customer feedback. Overall, the market was a success and reinforced the importance of creating platforms that support and promote local businesses.
In the same vein, we also participated in the Victoria Yards Market in Johannesburg and gave four members a market access opportunity to interact and sell their products directly to customers. Participating members included Mokka Chocolates, Maloane Foods, Zak'Cents, and Axeline Works.
At Proudly South African, we take cognisance of the important role that faith-based organisations can play to drive the localisation agenda. It is for this reason that I immediately accepted an invitation from the Lutheran Bapedi Church Youth League in Atteridgeville, outside of Pretoria, to share words of encouragement with the congregants.
I used the platform to encourage the youth to remain grounded and to be mindful of the critical role their purchasing decisions can play to stimulate economic growth and job creation.
I was also honoured to receive an invitation to be a guest speaker at the upcoming Afri-Masterclass Youth Month Edition which took place in Johannesburg. The event was hosted under the theme: “The role of youth in driving economic development in South Africa.”The session sought to ignite meaningful dialogue and actionable insights on how young people can actively contribute to and shape the country’s economic future. My presentation before a diverse audience of industry professionals and aspiring youth from across the country focused on local economic empowerment, enterprise development, and how national pride can be harnessed to drive economic growth and generate employment opportunities.
Notwithstanding the punishing schedule, we are still hard at work making final preparations for participating in the annual Hollywoodbets Durban July and the Proudly SA Local Wine Expo, which kicks off on July 24.
The free invitation for this premier, three-day local wine extravaganza is still open. You can confirm your attendance by filling in your details on this link: https://tickets.tixsa.co.za/event/proudly-south-african-local-wine-expo-2026.
We are in the middle of the winter season, which comes with a set of challenges such as the infectious flu. Please dress up warmly in locally made apparel, keep warm, and stay safe.
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.
We are also pleased to share with you our CODE OF CONDUCT for your kind perusal and understanding.
Sincerely,
As a reminder, we’ve partnered with Briefly News to bring our members exclusive access to discounted advertising packages. It's a valuable opportunity to boost your brand visibility on one of South Africa’s most visited digital platforms.
If you're aiming for reach and targeted exposure, this offer is still available and worth exploring.
Get in touch with Aneme Faba directly at [email protected] or 079 885 9396 to take advantage.
We’ve partnered with LM Radio to offer our members exclusive discounted advertising rates on this beloved station that reaches a loyal and engaged audience. Whether you're promoting a product, service, or campaign, LM Radio offers a trusted platform to get your message heard.
This is a great opportunity to tap into a mature, affluent listenership that values quality content and proudly South African brands.
For more information or to book your spot, contact Jonathan Lloyd directly at [email protected].
Proudly South African members are invited to partner with the South African Social Media Awards (SASMA) 2026 – the premier platform celebrating South Africa’s most impactful digital creators, content-preneurs and brands. SASMA 2026 offers proudly local businesses the opportunity to align with influential content creators and highly engaged online communities across the country.
Showcase your brand, support homegrown talent, and position your business at the forefront of digital innovation and local economic growth.
Join us in amplifying proudly South African stories, products and services on a powerful national stage taking place on 21 November 2026 in Johannesburg Fairlands Mosiek, where over 2000 live guests will attend.
Partner with SASMA 2026 and let’s grow local together. Contact us at [email protected] or 083 385 0158 to explore customised partnership opportunities
If you’ve had a recent success, milestone, or inspiring story to share, we’d love to feature it in an upcoming newsletter. Send your story and high-quality images to [email protected] let’s show South Africa the power of buying local, together.
Made in Mzansi Celebrates South African Heritage, Local Manufacturing and Everyday Health
Haleon has launched its Made in Mzansi campaign to celebrate the heritage of some of South Africa’s most trusted everyday health brands, recognising the generations of South Africans who have relied on them and the local people who help bring them to life.
For generations, brands such as Eno, Grand-Pa, Aquafresh and Med-Lemon have been part of South African households, helping people manage everyday health needs and supporting self-care across communities. From oral care to relief for common everyday ailments, these trusted products have earned their place in the lives of millions of South Africans and form part of the country’s shared heritage.
While many consumers know and trust these brands, they may not realise that they are also manufactured locally, supporting jobs, skills development and economic activity across the country. The Made in Mzansi campaign celebrates the South African people, skills and manufacturing expertise behind these household names, while highlighting Haleon’s continued commitment to improving everyday health and wellbeing.
Supporting this commitment is Haleon’s extensive local footprint, including a R750 million investment in its South African operations, the milestone of producing one billion Grand-Pa stick packs at its Epping facility last year, and local manufacturing that accounts for approximately 85% of its South African sales. By manufacturing these trusted products locally, Haleon helps ensure that South Africans can continue to access the health solutions they rely on every day, while contributing to economic growth and community development.
“These brands have been part of South African households for generations and have earned the trust of millions of consumers over many years,” said Farhan Haroon, Managing Director of Haleon South Africa. “As we celebrate our heritage, we are proud to recognise the South Africans behind these products and the role they play in supporting everyday health. From oral health to relief from common ailments, these brands help people take care of themselves and their families every day.
”The campaign reflects Haleon’s ongoing commitment to local manufacturing and better everyday health. By producing trusted healthcare products locally, the company helps ensure that consumers can continue to access the products they rely on, while reinforcing the important role of self-care in helping people proactively manage their health and wellbeing.
“We are excited to be part of the Haleon story, which showcases South Africa’s manufacturing excellence. Over the years, Haleon has produced exceptional products that have become household brands and an integral part of the country’s DNA. The success of the company gives credence to the work that we do at Proudly SA to galvanise South Africans to ramp up their support for locally made products, and it further emboldens us to redouble our efforts to ramp up the uptake of home-grown products, which will significantly help to create much-needed jobs and alleviate poverty, These great heritage brands being celebrated by Haleon through this Made in Mzansi campaign live up to our Loved Here. Made Here. tagline, which is all about how much these products that are made in SA are adored and loved here in Mzansi,” said Eustace Mashimbye, Proudly SA CEO.
As part of the campaign and broader heritage celebrations, consumers will also see special-edition packaging across participating products, recognising both South Africa’s manufacturing heritage and the generations of people who have trusted these brands as part of their everyday health journeys.
“We are incredibly proud that some of the country’s most trusted healthcare brands are manufactured locally,” added Haroon. “Made in Mzansi celebrates products made by South Africans for South Africans, while reaffirming our commitment to supporting better everyday health and self-care across the communities we serve.”Through Made in Mzansi, Haleon aims to celebrate the heritage of its trusted brands, recognise the people behind them, and reinforce its commitment to local manufacturing and better everyday health across South Africa.
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