Panel Discussion including Fireside Chat with HE Kingsley Mamabolo

In November 2025, South Africa will host the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, marking the first time this pivotal global forum convenes on African soil. This milestone underscores South Africa’s emergence as a key middle power and its growing influence in shaping international economic and geopolitical discourse.

To explore the implications of this historic event, the South African Chamber of Commerce in the UK, in partnership with the London School of Economics and the Royal African Society, will host a high-level forum titled G20: South Africa’s Moment on the Global Stage on Wednesday 1st October 2025.  These gathering aims to dissect the intersection of diplomacy, business, and foreign policy, and to assess what South Africa’s G20 presidency means for its global positioning, investment landscape, and leadership credibility.

Objectives:
•   Highlight the significance of South Africa’s G20 presidency within a broader African and global context.
•   Assess the implications for business leaders, investors, and diaspora communities.
•   Foster collaboration, build networks, and elevate discourse on South Africa’s role in the world.

Format:
•   Welcome Address: South African Chamber of Commerce UK
•   Fireside Chat: H.E. Kingsley Mamabolo, South African High Commissioner to the UK and Ronak Gopaldas, Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics and Director at Signal Risk
•   Panel Discussion:   
                     Darias Jonker (Moderator) - Anglo American
                     Adam Habib, SOAS University of London
                     Moh Cassimjee - Geopolitical Consultant
                     Menzi Ndhlovu - Signal Risk
                     Jaynisha Patel- Tony Blair Institute
                     Charles Perry - Sustainable Future for All

 The event aims to attract over 100 participants, including members of the South African diaspora, business leaders, policymakers, academics, and members of the hosting institutions.  Please join us for interesting discussions and networking opportunities.

Members and guests:  £20 + VAT

Book early to avoid disappointment

Speakers

His Excellency Jeremiah Nyamane Mamabolo is South Africa’s High Commissioner to the UK. It is a role he combines with being Joint Special Representative for Darfur and Head of the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

His distinguished diplomatic career has seen him serve as Deputy Joint Special Representative for UNAMID and roles representing his homeland, South Africa, as Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Chair of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China. He has served as High Commissioner to Nigeria and as Special Envoy to the Great Lakes where he played a central role in the peace processes in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was also High Commissioner to Zimbabwe and to the African Union where he led reconciliation efforts in post-war Sierra Leone.

Ronak Gopaldas is a political economist, “pracademic”, writer and speaker. His work focuses on the intersection of politics, economics and business in Africa. He is currently a Director at Signal Risk, a fellow at GIBS and the co-founder of Mindflux Training. He was previously the Head of Country Risk at Rand Merchant Bank, where he worked for almost a decade. Ronak is a 2019 Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow, an alumnus of the Asian Forum on Global Governance, as well as the young African Leadership Initiative. He also serves in a number of advisory roles, most notably the Institute of Security Studies’ ENACT programme, which builds knowledge and skills to enhance Africa’s response to transnational organised crime.

Professor Adam Habib is the Vice-Chancellor of SOAS University of London. He is a former Principal and Vice-Chancellor of University of the Witwatersrand, former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research at the University of Johannesburg and former Professor of Development at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Professor Habib co-founded the African Research Universities Alliance, is an American Academy of Arts and Sciences member and fellow of the African Academy of Science and Academy of Science of South Africa.

Jaynisha Patel is a Senior Analyst at the Tony Blair Institute, specialising in African geopolitics. She supports political leaders on geostrategy and foreign policy, with a particular focus on African security challenges and cross-regional strategies. She has contributed to the UK White Paper on International Development and supported policy processes across Africa, including South Africa’s Social Cohesion Strategy. Her analysis has been featured widely, including on the BBC World Service, Voice of America, Foreign Policy, and Project Syndicate, and she has presented her research at international forums such as the Belgrade Security Conference. Previously, she led the Inclusive Economies Project at a leading African peacebuilding think tank, and she holds an MPhil in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE).

Mohamed Cassimjee is a  geopolitical consultant at Global Compass. He was a senior diplomat for South Africa for over 26 years. He served as deputy ambassador to Germany from 2016-2020, and prior to that served abroad in Washington DC, Uganda, and Senegal
He worked as the Director at the foreign ministry. He attended the Netherlands Institute for International Relations (Clingendael) as part of his diplomatic training. Prior to joining the foreign ministry, he practiced as an advocate in South Africa

He is a research associate at the Centre for African Studies and a mentor at the Blavatnik School of Government, both at Oxford University. He is an associate fellow at the British Foreign Policy Group (BFPG). He also serves on the advisory board of the SA Chamber (UK). He has presented and written on South African foreign and domestic policy and on global issues. He has appeared on podcasts and on South African and British television.

Menzi Ndhlovu is the lead country risk analyst at Signal Risk. Through his work, Menzi regularly consults with government institutions, banks, corporations, and other public and private stakeholders navigating  Africa. He has written extensively on issues that lie at the nexus of politics, economics, geopolitics and security on the continent, with a particular focus on multilateralism. His work has been published on outlets such CNBC, The Economist, Bloomberg, Financial Mail and African Business, among others.
 
Charles Perry is the Founder of Sustainable Future for All, Sustainability Pioneer & South African V20 Ambassador.  A sustainable business, energy and climate leader with a track record of building purpose-driven businesses and embedding sustainability to deliver financial, social and environmental value.
As a pioneer of the sustainability movement since the 1990s, he is driven by passion for accelerating the transformation to a post fossil fuel, green economy that eradicates pollution and delivers a sustainable future for all.

Join Talent Sam and SA Chamber of Commerce UK on 23 October, for a live session that shows you exactly how to hire smarter; and scale without the stress.

South Africa offers an unmatched combination of skill, professionalism, and affordability.   This webinar will help open the door for UK companies to build remote teams that are not only cost-effective but culturally aligned and immediately productive. 

South African remote professionals bring:
    1. Ability to reduce your payroll overhead by up to 70%
    2. High-level qualifications and strong English fluency
    3. Time zone compatibility with the UK
    4. Strong work ethic and reliability
    5. Easy cultural alignment with UK-based teams

At this webinar you will learn:
    •  How UK businesses are using remote teams to cut costs
    •  What makes South African talent uniquely valuable
    •  Real-world examples of remote hiring that works
    •  How Talent Sam handles the recruitment, onboarding, HR, and retention for you

Whether you're hiring for one role or a whole team, this webinar is your shortcut to doing it right.
 
Speaker bio’s:

Michael Bassin
Michael Bassin is the Co-Founder of Talent Sam, a global hiring platform that connects companies with top South African talent through a fully managed process. Born in the United States and having spent years living in Israel, Michael brings a unique cross-cultural perspective to building high-performing remote teams. He has also founded other successful ventures, combining entrepreneurial vision with a people-first approach to business.

Milan Levy
Milan Levy is the Co-Founder of Talent Sam, where he helps businesses worldwide access and manage exceptional South African talent. A South African entrepreneur who has lived in Tel Aviv and now New York, Milan draws on years of experience building companies and leading distributed teams to make remote hiring seamless, compliant, and results-driven. He has also founded other ventures, blending innovation, community impact, and a passion for empowering talent.

Participation is free, but registration is essential. Zoom links will be sent out in the 24 hours prior to the event.

Join us for our monthly Ubuntu Virtual Global Networking event on Thursday 30 October 2025, 12:00 UK time.

Attending our monthly global networking event, on the last Thursday of each month, not only provides a valuable platform to connect with professionals from diverse industries but also embraces the spirit of ubuntu, a fundamental philosophy deeply rooted in South African culture.

We’ll be hosting two dynamic networking sessions during the webinar, where attendees can connect across industries, share knowledge, and exchange ideas.

Ubuntu emphasizes the interconnectedness and importance of community, fostering a sense of togetherness and collaboration.

Our virtual networking events offer numerous benefits such as:
•   Expanding professional connections, in the UK and SA
•   Knowledge sharing
•   Exchanging ideas and business challenges
•   Unlocking career opportunities
•   Enhancing visibility
•   Fostering a sense of emotional support and camaraderie

Our speaker will be announced soon.

Participation is free, but registration is essential. Zoom links will be sent out in the 24 hours prior to the event.

You are cordially invited to attend the UK-SA SMME Forum 2025, a strategic convening of public and private sector partners from the United Kingdom and South Africa, dedicated to advancing bi-national small business growth and resilience. This landmark event will serve as a dynamic platform to explore collaborative business models, share investment insights, and promote inclusive, trade-led development.

The UK-SA SMME Forum 2025 is a strategic convening of public-private partners from the United Kingdom and South Africa to foster bi-national SMME growth and resilience. Anchored in the complementary goals of township industrialisation in South Africa and revitalisation of the UK’s foundational industries, the Forum serves as a platform to explore collaborative business models, share investment insights, and promote inclusive trade-led growth.

The UK-SA SMME Forum 2025 seeks to strengthen cross-border trade linkages, spotlight opportunities in foundational industries, and improve market access through clearer regulatory guidance. It aims to empower township entrepreneurs with tailored support, foster institutional collaboration across public and private sectors, and drive tangible outcomes through business matchmaking and access to growth-enabling services.

Participation is free, but booking before 21st October 2025 is essential.

We are delighted to invite you to an exclusive evening celebrating innovation, inclusion, and excellence within South Africa’s dynamic wine industry.

Hosted by Perold Wine Cellar Limited, in collaboration with the South African Chamber of Commerce UK, Wines of South Africa (WOSA), and the International Trade Centre (ITC), this special event will spotlight the next generation of South African winemakers — talented Black and Women-Owned producers who are transforming both their communities and the global perception of South African wine.

Event Highlights

Curated Wine Tasting – Sample exceptional wines from four leading brands:
• Brothers in Vines 
• McFarlane Wines
• Moedi Wines  
• Three Quarters

Inspiring Speaker – Hear from Lesego Holzapfel, founder of Moedi Wines, as she shares her remarkable journey and insights on community empowerment and the power of inclusive trade.

Networking Opportunity – Connect with UK trade professionals, buyers, investors, and partners passionate about building sustainable and inclusive business links between the UK and South Africa.

Afternoon Reception – Enjoy light refreshments and drinks in good company while celebrating the success of this UK Government and ITC-supported trade mission.

Join us as we raise a glass to the future of South African wine - bold, inclusive, and world-class.

We look forward to welcoming you to this important showcase of South African excellence.

Join us for our monthly South African Business Breakfast in Cambridge from 07:30 to 09:00 on Thursday, 13th November. This event continues to offer an invaluable opportunity to connect with fellow South African professionals in the UK, fostering new relationships, exchanging ideas, and enhancing business networks.

With the support of our esteemed sponsor, Mills & Reeve LLP, a leading national law firm with long-standing and deep roots in East Anglia and a strong international outlook, the time is perfect to reconnect.

Who Should Attend?

If you’re a South African professional based in the UK, or someone in the UK with an interest in South Africa, this event is for you. Whether you’re looking to expand your network or simply connect with like-minded individuals, you’ll find a warm South African welcome here.

Why Attend?

• Expand your network
• Gain insights from our speakers
• Build meaningful business relationships
• Uplift the lives of South Africans.

Getting There:

The venue (Botanic House) is a five-minute walk from Cambridge rail station. The closest parking is at the Cambridge rail station, and the nearest Park & Rides are at Babraham Road, about 2 miles south of Botanic House, and Trumpington, about 3 miles from Botanic House. Buses run every 10 minutes to the rail station. Cycle racks are available at both Cambridge station and Botanic House.

Booking Details:

Booking is essential, as places are strictly limited. To secure your place, please book as soon as possible. Booking is only available via the website and bookings are only final once payment has been received, and may be cancelled if no payment is received within 24 hours.

Price:
Members: Free
Non-members: £10.00 (including VAT)

Dietary Requirements:
If you have any dietary requirements please add them on your profile page (you will need to be logged in to the website), or please let us know.

Join us for a special evening with celebrated Stellenbosch University professor and thought leader, Prof. Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, as she reflects on her life's work in conversation with Paul van Zyl, co-founder of The Conduit and fellow South African.

This unique gathering offers alumni, friends, and interested guests the opportunity to celebrate Prof. Gobodo-Madikizela’s remarkable achievement as the 2024 Templeton Prize Laureate—a prestigious global honour recognising her contribution to social healing, justice, and human dignity.

Prof. Gobodo-Madikizela is the South African National Research Foundation’s Chair in Violent Histories and Transgenerational Trauma and the Director of the Centre for the Study of the Afterlife of Violence and the Reparative Quest at Stellenbosch University. Her groundbreaking work on the psychology of trauma and forgiveness in post-apartheid South Africa continues to influence global conversations on reconciliation. Her concept of “the reparative quest” has become a powerful framework for healing in societies grappling with legacies of violence.

A former commissioner on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Human Rights Violations Committee, and author of the internationally acclaimed A Human Being Died That Night, Prof. Gobodo-Madikizela remains a beacon of hope and intellectual leadership, both in South Africa and abroad.

Come celebrate one of our own—a South African who continues to shape the future through her work with young scholars at Stellenbosch University.

RSVP by 17 October 2025

There are limited spaced available, so please book your place as soon as possible, registration for this event will close on 17 October at 2pm GMT.

Cost:  

Instead of a traditional event fee, we invite you to stand with Prof. Pumla in supporting meaningful charitable work at Stellenbosch University. Your £10 ticket will be treated as a full donation to the Bridge the Gap Fund - Move4Food, which combats food insecurity amongst students on campus.

As Stellenbosch University is a registered UK charity, you can make your gift go even further by activating Gift Aid—allowing us to claim an additional 25% from HMRC at no extra cost to you.

We look forward to welcoming you.