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Welcome Address Workplace Challenge Programme Mpumalangamilestone Event

Productivity SARef: https://productivitysa.co.za/2026/07/22/welcome-address-workplace-challenge-programme-mpumalangamilestone-event/

Official source

Source domain: productivitysa.co.za

Collected on 28 July 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

Our copy (archived 28 July 2026)Official source

What this means

This document is a welcome address speech for the “Workplace Challenge Programme Mpumalanga Milestone Event,” written by Samantha Absol and dated 22 July 2026. The Acting CEO of Productivity SA, Ms Amelia Naidoo, welcomes partners and participating enterprises and explains the purpose and impact of the Workplace Challenge Programme, which is funded by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic). It reports programme results in Mpumalanga for the 2025/26 financial year (156 enterprises capacitated, 211 entrepreneurs/workers/managers receiving capacity-building, 39 Productivity Champions trained, and 6 companies enrolled in a four-month Kaizen Programme). The speech also references South Africa’s improved competitiveness ranking in the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook and calls for continued “bold moves” and collaboration to improve productivity and competitiveness.

Facts

Places

Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape

Reference

https://productivitysa.co.za/2026/07/22/welcome-address-workplace-challenge-programme-mpumalangamilestone-event/

Key Takeaways

  • Event: Workplace Challenge Programme Mpumalanga Milestone Event
  • Written by: Samantha Absol
  • Date: 22 July 2026
  • Speaker: Ms Amelia Naidoo, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Productivity SA
  • Programme theme: “Beyond the Usual: Bold Moves for Bigger Impact”
  • Programme duration/administration: Productivity SA has administered and managed the Workplace Challenge Programme for almost three decades
  • Programme funding: Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic)
  • Mpumalanga 2025/26 results: 156 enterprises capacitated; 211 entrepreneurs/workers/managers capacity-building; 39 Productivity Champions trained
  • Kaizen Programme: 6 companies enrolled; 4-month programme; 262 people employed
  • Competitiveness reference: IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026 ranking improved from 64th (2025) to 54th out of 70 economies (2026)
  • Mandela Month context: event held 2 days after 18 July (Nelson Mandela’s birthday)
  • Productivity SA
  • Ms Amelia Naidoo
  • Samantha Absol
  • Mr Mninawa Zwakala
  • Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic)
  • Mpumalanga Department of Economic Development and Tourism
  • Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA)
  • Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA)
  • Automotive Industry Development Centre Eastern Cape (AIDC Eastern Cape)
  • Mr Mandla Sibiya
  • Mr Wiseman Myeni
  • Ms Smangele Nkwinika
  • Ms Dineo of Dee’s African Spa
  • Ms Fikile Mazhaka
  • Ms Gracious Masuku
  • Danica Primary
  • Shi Xi Xigombe
  • IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook
  • Nelson Mandela

Dates

Closing Date

22 July 2026