Leadership in the South African Market: It’s Not Just Biltong and Boardrooms…

Remona Taylor - Brand Experience Director

Let’s be honest being a leader in South Africa is like being in a bumpy taxi ride through Jozi traffic, there are potholes and unexpected stops. 

Leadership here isn’t for the faint-hearted. It’s a wild mix of legacy systems, global influences, and uniquely South African challenges, from navigating load shedding like a corporate MacGyver, to managing diversity like you’re assembling the Avengers.

First things first, forget the Hollywood version of Africa where everything is about lions and sunsets. Leadership in South Africa is far more complex (though the sunsets are pretty epic). You’re dealing with a market that’s incredibly diverse in language, culture, and consumer behavior. If you’re leading a team or a business, you need to know your isiZulu from your isiXhosa, and that calling someone “just now” doesn’t mean right now.

And don’t even think about one-size-fits-all strategies. What works in Sandton might flop in Soweto. What your Jhb team thinks is a “crucial deliverable” might be seen by your Dbn branch as “chill vibes, we’ll do it after lunch.”

You’ll never survive this market without a sense of humour. South Africans are world-class at laughing through the madness, and good leaders tap into that. Not because it’s fluffy, but because humour builds culture, breaks tension, and reminds people that we’re all human, even when things feel broken.

So yes, it’s okay to make jokes about Eskom in meetings, as long as you’re also solving problems. The best leaders know when to be serious and when to lighten the mood with a meme or a well-timed “eish.”

If you want to thrive in the South African market, you have to lead with both heart and hustle. Understand the nuances, respect the people, embrace the chaos, and build something that’s not only profitable but also meaningful.

Because in this country, leadership isn’t about wearing a fancy title. It’s about resilience, reinvention, and riding the wild wave with your team, with a smile, a plan, and maybe a backup power bank.