The SA Chamber of Commerce UK, in partnership with Invest Global, the UK Department for Business & Trade, and the British Chamber of Business proudly hosted the UK-SA SMME Forum on 4 November 2025 at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) generously sponsored the venue, with Vodacom and Department for Business & Trade (DBT) providing sponsorship for catering and digital signage. The event was expertly directed by Ms Pumela Salela, former UK Country Head, Brand SA and now CEO of Invest Global, who served as Programme Director.
Attendees heard from Ms Vuyo Lee, Director Marketing and Corporate Affairs of the JSE, Mr Sannesh Beharie, Managing Executive, SME Propositions, Mobile Products and Sales at Vodacom Business and the Hon. Minister Mmoba Solomon “Solly” Malatsi, South African Minister of Communications & Digital Technologies, who shared insights on various initiatives supporting SMME development.
John Humphrey, HM Trade Commissioner for Africa, DBT, delivered an address on UK–Africa trade opportunities, followed by Natalie Naude, Director of SA Chamber of Commerce UK (SACC UK), who spoke about the Chamber’s growing impact and commitment to SMME collaboration.
From the legal and regulatory side, Jason Morris of Snaid & Morris discussed the UK regulatory landscape and the role of the British Chamber of Business (BCB), while Yael Shafir of Webber Wentzel provided valuable insights into the South African regulatory environment.
A key highlight of the event was a dynamic SMME panel discussion, moderated by Ms Chim Chalemera, Regional Director, Southern Africa / Country Director, South Africa, DBT. With warmth and humour, Chim guided a conversation that revealed the real-world experiences of four inspiring entrepreneurs:
• Kerryne Krause, I-Slices Innovations Pty (Ltd)
• Clayton Hayward, EFT Corporation
• Kaluba Chikonde, Livetec
• Benjamin Goodwin, Outsource SA
The panellists shared authentic accounts of their entrepreneurial journeys – from early challenges to achieving sustainable success – offering valuable advice on resilience, networking, and overcoming imposter syndrome. Their stories deeply resonated with attendees, offering relatable lessons for both emerging and established business owners.
Another highlight was the draw for a prize of a return air ticket from Johannesburg to London, including accommodation and a stipend for an SMME. The flight was provided by AirlinePros South Africa and the accommodation and stipend by Convaya Travel. The winner was Mahlogonolo Monyeki, a businesswoman in the Energy sector. Pumela’s dream to give this prize to someone who has never been to the United Kingdom before, so that it could be more meaningful, came true as Mahlogonolo confirmed she had never been to the UK before, and she also stated that as it was her 50th birthday recently, this was a bonus and a gift to celebrate her ‘Year of Jubilee’.
The Forum brought together 180 guests, with ample opportunity for networking before and after the formal proceedings. Attendees, speakers, and panellists engaged in meaningful dialogue about shared goals and opportunities for cross-border collaboration.
A special thank you goes to Pumela Salela, whose vision and leadership were instrumental in bringing this initiative to life. As Programme Director, Pumela ensured a smooth flow of the agenda and expertly underscored key takeaways from each session.
This Forum marks the beginning of a long-term partnership among stakeholders committed to driving SMME growth and innovation in both the UK and South Africa. The event underscored the SACC UK’s ongoing commitment to empowering small and medium enterprises and strengthening the bridge between our business communities.
Please note the photographs are the assets of Invest Global.
