Proudly South African will join the Creative Cnergy Policy & Investment Symposium 2026 as a sponsor, taking place on Thursday, 03 September 2026 at AlexForbes, Sandton, under the theme "Aligned for Impact."
Proudly SA's participation at the event is in line with the organisation’s mandate of stimulating reindustrialisation and job creation by championing consumer, public and private sector support for locally manufactured goods and services. This mandate aligns closely with the symposium's core purpose of strengthening South Africa's creative and cultural industries, which currently contribute an estimated R300 billion to the national economy (about 4% of GDP) and support approximately 1.4 million jobs.
“South Africa’s s creative industries are far more than a source of cultural expression; they are a powerful economic driver with the potential to accelerate localisation, stimulate enterprise development, and create meaningful employment opportunities across the country. By supporting local creatives, designers, producers, artists, and content creators, we strengthen domestic value chains, keep more economic value within our borders, and showcase the innovation and talent that make South Africa globally competitive.
Every locally produced film, fashion item, design, piece of music, or digital product represents more than creativity in action. It represents jobs created, businesses supported, livelihoods sustained, and communities empowered. As we continue to champion localisation, the creative sector offers a unique opportunity to transform South African talent into economic value, fostering entrepreneurship, stimulating demand for locally made goods and services, and driving inclusive growth,” says Eustace Mashimbye, Chief Executive Officer of Proudly SA.
The symposium brings together government, investors, and creatives for a day of programming that includes keynote addresses, panel discussions on AI and copyright reform, and the launch of the South African Cultural Observatory's "Fair Pay for Creatives" report.
About Proudly South African
Proudly South African is the country’s official Buy Local campaign seeking to stimulate much-needed job creation and retention in our country through the lobbying for and promotion of local goods, services, and industries. The organisation lobbies the public and private sectors to increase their levels of local procurement through their supply chain structures and encourages consumers to do so through changing their purchasing habits. Proudly SA is a membership-based organisation, and only companies that have been audited and approved are entitled to carry the logo, which symbolises the adherence of that product or service to required local-content thresholds and quality standards.
Media Contact
Unathi Shologu-MolebatsiMedia Relations, Creative Cnergy [email protected]
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