Free State entrepreneurs—unlock your next opportunity for growth. Join Absa and the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) at the Absa–SACCI Entrepreneur Empowerment Summit in Welkom. Under the theme “Unlocking Growth. Enabling Opportunity. Transforming Enterprise.”, connect with business leaders, government representatives and industry stakeholders to explore: • Access to finance and market opportunities • Business development support and innovation • Partnerships and opportunities in the Free State’s priority economic sectors 📅 Tuesday, 3 November 2026 🕣 08:30–15:30 📍 Goldfields Casino and Entertainment, Welkom, Free State Participation is FREE. Registration is required. Secure your seat: forms.cloud.microsoft/r/2nr4… Share this invitation with entrepreneurs, MSMEs and businesses in your network. #AbsaMSME #SACCI #Entrepreneurship #MSMEs #Welkom #FreeState #BusinessGrowth

The President of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry will undertake an East African Business trip to the Republic of Kenya on the occasion of the Africa Commerce and Industry Summit 2026 (ACIS 2026), which will be held from 14th to 16th October 2026 at the Uhuru Gardens National Monument and Museum, Nairobi, Kenya. Asante Sana. 🇰🇪 🇿🇦

Thank you to everyone who contributed to today’s VISA × SACCI Engagement Session at the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino in Gqeberha. The programme brought together perspectives from government, business and development institutions on adopting digital tools for SMME growth. Discussions covered the SACCI–Visa partnership, support and funding opportunities for small enterprises, customer engagement, entrepreneurship in the digital economy and digital payment solutions. Business case studies showed how technology can help enterprises improve operations and access markets. The questions and exchanges throughout the day reinforced the importance of accessible support, digital skills and sound business records. Networking also gave participants an opportunity to make connections and continue discussions beyond the formal sessions. Our thanks to all partners, speakers, delegates and the organising team for their time and contributions. We look forward to seeing today’s insights put into practice and the relationships formed in Gqeberha develop further. What will you take back to your business from today’s session? #VisaSACCI #SMMEGrowth #DigitalTransformation #WomenInBusiness #Gqeberha

How much of your smartphone’s potential are you using in your business? At today’s VISA × SACCI Engagement Session, Ms Nwabisa Maloma, SMME Development and Digital Transformation Practitioner, encouraged business owners to start with the tools they already have access to. Her presentation, Empowering SMEs Through Digital Transformation, showed how small changes can improve everyday work: prepared replies for customer enquiries, a digital product catalogue, a spreadsheet to track orders and organised folders for business documents. She also highlighted the connection between good recordkeeping and funding readiness. Keeping financial records and supporting documents up to date helps a business respond when opportunities arise, although it does not guarantee funding. Her message extended to the organisations supporting SMMEs: business owners need accessible guidance and ongoing support to put these tools to use. What is one process in your business you could improve this week? #VisaSACCI #SMMEGrowth #DigitalTransformation #WomenInBusiness

Can customers find your business, see what you sell and pay without difficulty? At today’s VISA × SACCI Engagement Session in Gqeberha, Mr Bulelani Balabala @BulelaniBala , Founder of Township Entrepreneurs Alliance (@JoinUsForTEA ) and CEO of IAF Brands, walked business owners through Customer Engagement in a Digital World. His presentation followed four steps: get found, get chosen, get paid and get customers back. The advice gave business owners a starting point they could put into action this week: • Update your Google Business Profile with accurate trading hours, contact details and real photographs. • Use WhatsApp Business to display products and prices, and prepare replies to common questions. • Offer customers more ways to pay and confirm payments in your own banking app before releasing stock. • Follow up after a sale, ask for feedback and keep in touch with customers who want to hear from you. He also explored how AI can help with everyday tasks, including writing product descriptions and drafting customer replies. For business owners leaving today’s session, there’s a clear place to start: choose one part of your customer’s experience and make it easier. Which will you work on first? #VisaSACCI #JoinUsForTEA #CustomerEngagement #TownshipEconomy #SMMEGrowth

Before eFama, there was the “3AM club”: waking before sunrise, preparing the harvest and travelling 8km to market, without knowing who would buy the produce or how much it would earn. At today’s VISA × SACCI Engagement Session, Ms Pretty Kubyane, Co-Founder and CTO of eFama App, shared how growing up in a farming family helped shape the business she co-founded. eFama connects farmers with buyers through a digital marketplace. Vetted farmers list their produce, buyers place orders, and logistics partners deliver to the door. The platform also supports farmer verification, product quality and order management. In her presentation, Ms Kubyane reported that eFama has grown to 5,000 farmers and 6,000 buyers. Her story gives a clear example of today’s theme, building sustainable businesses through technology. It begins with a problem the founders understood personally and a platform designed to help farmers access markets. Thank you, Ms Kubyane, for sharing eFama’s journey with us in Gqeberha. #VisaSACCI

What does your business need to take its next digital step? At today’s VISA × SACCI Engagement Session, SEDFA outlined support for small businesses investing in equipment, digital systems and online sales, alongside assistance with business planning and funding readiness. The presentation covered financing options for township and rural businesses through TREP, and opportunities for young entrepreneurs through the Youth Challenge Fund. SEDFA also highlighted mentorship, technology support and assistance with accessing markets. A useful takeaway for business owners: keeping accurate records matters when applying for funding. Digital payment records, business bank statements and up-to-date accounts help demonstrate how your business is performing. Cash-flow projections and supplier quotations help explain what you need and how you plan to use it. If you’re unsure where to begin, SEDFA’s business development support can help you prepare. Business Development Support: 086 010 3703 Lending & Investments: 012 748 9600 Funding is subject to the relevant programme’s criteria and assessment. #VisaSACCI #SEDFA #SMMEGrowth #DigitalTransformation #Gqeberha

How can digital transformation better serve small businesses? Ms Gcobisa Soci, Deputy Director General: Corporate Management Services at the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, delivers the keynote address at today’s VISA × SACCI Engagement Session in Gqeberha. For SMMEs, adopting technology comes with practical questions about cost, skills and choosing the right tools. Today’s programme brings these concerns into a conversation about improving business operations and customer engagement. We welcome Ms Soci’s contribution and the department’s participation in this discussion with business owners and partners. hashtag#VisaSACCI hashtag#DCDT hashtag#SMMEGrowth hashtag#DigitalTransformation hashtag#Gqeberha

#VISASACCI - We have everything we need to grow as Entrepreneurs here in the Eastern Cape- scenes from today's event.

For a small business, adopting digital tools starts with knowing what will help and where to turn for support. At today’s VISA × SACCI Engagement Session, Neil Pollock, Vice President of SACCI, presents the SACCI–Visa Partnership Overview, setting the context for a day focused on digital adoption and SMME growth. The questions for business owners are practical: How can we make payments easier? Reach more customers? Spend less time on administration? These are the conversations we’re bringing together at the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino in Gqeberha today. What is the biggest challenge your business faces when adopting digital tools? #VisaSACCI #SMMEGrowth #DigitalTransformation #Gqeberha

Setting the scene for today’s VISA × SACCI Engagement Session. Mr Brian September, Eastern Cape Business Chamber Representative, opens the programme’s discussions with the “Setting the Scene” session at the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino in Gqeberha. Today’s focus is adopting digital tools for SMME growth, looking at how technology can improve business operations and customer engagement. For business owners joining us today: where could digital tools make the biggest difference in your business? Follow #VisaSACCI for updates throughout the day. #SMMEGrowth #EasternCape #DigitalTransformation #Gqeberha

Good morning, Gqeberha. Today is the VISA SACCI Engagement Session! We look forward to welcoming business owners, speakers and partners to the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino for a morning focused on adopting digital tools for SMME growth. We’ll be discussing digital payments, online commerce and how technology can help businesses improve their operations and connect with customers. 📍 Boardwalk Hotel and Casino, Gqeberha 🕣 08:30–14:00 | Today, 7 October 2026 Joining us? Tell us which business you’re representing. Follow #VisaSACCI throughout the day for speaker highlights and updates from the venue. #VisaSACCI #SMMEGrowth #Gqeberha

Are you ready Eastern Cape !!! #VISASACCI 1 Day to Go

Just 1 day to go! Have you reserved your place? Join us tomorrow at the VISA SACCI Engagement Session in Gqeberha to explore how digital tools can improve your business operations, help you reach customers and support growth. Meet fellow business owners, hear from our speakers and bring your questions about digital payments, online commerce and growing your business. 📅 7 October 2026 🕣 08:30–14:00 📍 Boardwalk Hotel and Casino, Gqeberha There’s still time to RSVP. Reserve your place today: forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/… Share this with a business owner who would benefit from attending. We look forward to seeing #VisaSACCI

Meet our featured speaker, Babalwa Lobishe, Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay, at the VISA SACCI Engagement Session. Discover how digital tools can help SMMEs improve business operations, connect with customers and unlock new opportunities for growth. Join entrepreneurs, business leaders and partners for a morning of insights and meaningful connections. 📅 7 October 2026 🕣 08:30–14:00 📍 Boardwalk Hotel and Casino, Gqeberha New tools. New markets. New opportunities. New future. Reserve your place today: forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/… The future of business is digital. Be part of the conversation. #VisaSACCI #DigitalEmpowerment #SMMEGrowth #NelsonMandelaBay #WomenInBusiness @NMandelaBaymuni

Ms Gcobisa Soci, Deputy Director-General at the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, will deliver the keynote at the Visa–SACCI Engagement Session. 7 October | Boardwalk Hotel and Casino, Gqeberha RSVP: forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/… #VisaSACCI @SAgovnews

Explore the highlights from #UNDPSACCI, held on 22 September 2026 at The Capital, Mbombela. The SACCI–UNDP Critical Minerals Investment and Jobs Pipeline Stakeholder Engagement brought together government, business and development partners to explore how South Africa’s mineral wealth can translate into investment, enterprise growth and jobs. 📸 Access event photography, video interviews, blog articles, the analytical report, social media reels and more in our public event folder: drive.google.com/drive/folde… Share the insights and keep the conversation moving. #SACCI #UNDP #CriticalMinerals #Investment #Beneficiation #JobCreation