A High-Level Dialogue & Employer Workshop shaping the future of digital connectivity and sustainable economic growth across the continent.
Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) convenes a pivotal workshop bringing together stakeholders from across Africa to facilitate dialogue on the platform economy. This two-day event unites government representatives, business leaders, and international organizations to develop a concrete advocacy strategy.
South Africa emerges as a launchpad and connector for platform economy growth across the continent, driving digital connectivity, regional leadership, and continental impact.
Discover the Impact →Participation from South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Egypt, and Uganda
Government, business, ILO, African Union, and international partners
Concrete advocacy strategy for sustainable economic development
Four pillars guiding the workshop's strategic direction and outcomes
Connecting the continent through technology and digital platforms
South Africa as a launchpad for innovation across Africa
Preparing Africa for sustainable platform economy growth
Developing concrete strategies for forward-looking growth
The voices shaping Africa's platform economy conversation
Khulekani Mathe
CEO
Business Unity South Africa (BUSA)
CEO of BUSA since January 2025. Previously Head of Financial Inclusion at BASA. Fellow of the African Leadership Initiative and alumnus of the Ford Foundation International Fellowship Programme.
Jacky Molisane
Acting Director-General
Department of Employment and Labour, South Africa
Acting DG and accounting officer for the Compensation Fund and the Unemployment Insurance Fund. Leads the department's mandate on labour policy, inspection services, and employment programmes.
Alexio Musindo
Director, ILO Pretoria
International Labour Organization
25+ years in international development across Africa. Former ILO Special Representative to the African Union and Economic Commission for Africa (2019–2024). Former ILO Director for East Africa.
Ofentse Madisha
Head of Public Policy
Uber South Africa / E-Platform Task Force, Digital Council Africa
Focuses on Future of Work strategy and stakeholder collaboration. Previously a lecturer in transport economics at North-West University, advising on provincial and national transport regulation.
Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa
Group Executive Director
Naspers Ltd. & Prosus N.V.
Ranked #42 in Fortune's Most Powerful Women International list (2020). Former CEO of Shanduka Group. Co-founder of Sigma Capital. Forbes Woman Africa Businesswoman of the Year, 2014.
Jahni de Villiers
Facilitator & Director
Labour Amplified
20 years in labour relations and industrial relations. Represented South African employers at ILC 113 on Decent Work in the Platform Economy. Active in the platform economy space since 2021.
Sanelisiwe Jantjies
Acting Head: Social Policy
Business Unity South Africa (BUSA)
Convenor of the Development Chamber at NEDLAC. Represents organised business at the African Union, SADC, ILO, and IOE. Advances labour law reform, migration, social security, and the Decent Work Agenda.
Stéphanie Winet
Head: Stakeholder Relations
International Organisation of Employers (IOE)
Shapes IOE's global engagement strategy with member federations and multilateral partners. Expert in diplomacy, public affairs, and corporate communications advancing employment and responsible business advocacy.
Ewa Staworzynska
Head: Corporate Responsibility & Labor Affairs
US Council for International Business / IOE
Lead employer negotiator for the ILO Platform Economy standard. Chair of the IOE Policy Working Group on Human Rights and RBC. Vice-Chair of the OECD BIAC Employment, Labor and Social Affairs Committee.
Lisema Matsietsi
Senior Technical Advisor
GIZ Digital Skills for Jobs and Income (DS4JI)
Supports youth transitioning to employment through digital skills. Chartered development financial analyst with nearly two decades of banking experience and two published books. Chairman of Empowervate.
Chris McClay
Program Director, Kenya
JobTech Alliance
Presenting "The 10 Commandments of Job Tech in Africa" — a practical framework for building inclusive, scalable digital job ecosystems across the continent.
A strategic discussion between Organised Business and Government representatives, fostering high-level consensus on Africa's platform economy readiness.
An exclusive business workshop focused on developing a concrete advocacy strategy and practical pathways for sustainable economic development.
Two days of high-impact sessions — March 11 & 12, 2026
High-Level Dialogue · Facilitated by Mrs Jahni de Villiers
Business Mandate
Articulate the unified African business position, emphasising the need for a conducive regulatory environment.
Platform Perspective: Innovation & Investment
Real-world insight on investment drivers and the impact of regulatory environments on platform growth.
ILO Perspective
The importance of social dialogue in shaping international and local regulations for the platform economy.
National Vision
Setting the policy context for digital and labour market transformation in South Africa.
The 10 Commandments of Job Tech in Africa
A practical framework for building inclusive, scalable digital job ecosystems across the continent.
Panel: The Regulatory Landscape
A multi-stakeholder panel examining how regulatory frameworks can enable or constrain the platform economy across Africa.
Lunch
Digital Skilling & (Self-)Employment in the Digital Economy
Exploring how digital skills programmes can create pathways to employment and entrepreneurship for Africa's youth.
Closing Remarks & Summary
Employer Technical Workshop · Facilitated by Mrs Jahni de Villiers
Summary of Day 1
Structured analysis of government's key messages and regulatory signals from the High-Level Dialogue.
Panel: Shaping the Future of Work
Innovation for a sustainable and resilient platform economy — perspectives from global platform operators and employer organisations.
Open Floor Dialogue: Innovating for Decent Work in Africa
ILC Text Deconstruction
An IOE expert-led analysis of the latest ILC draft text to identify where African business intervention is most critical.
Open Floor Dialogue: Blue Report & Global Employer Position
Networking Lunch
Meeting of Global Employers: Blue Report Discussion
Closed session for global employer representatives to consolidate positions ahead of the 114th International Labour Conference.
Action Plan & Delegation Prep: Road to ILC
Developing the concrete African business advocacy strategy and government engagement roadmap ahead of ILC 114.
Comprehensive summary of the two-day engagement in Johannesburg
This report summarises the strategic discussions and outcomes from March 11–12, 2026, where African employer federations, platform companies, and government representatives came together to consolidate a unified African business voice ahead of the 114th International Labour Conference (ILC) in June 2026.
Stakeholders
8 African Countries
Focus Areas
Policy & Strategy
Policy Context and Technological Change
Regulatory Strategy and Global Standards
Explore highlights from the event and browse the official photo gallery capturing key moments, speakers, and discussions shaping Africa’s digital future.
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