Nielsen Sports South Africa Launches Locally Built AI-Powered Platform

August 12, 2026

Nielsen Sports South Africa has launched SIYA (Sponsorship Intelligence Yielding Answers), a locally built AI-powered platform that puts more than 150 million verified South African sports fan data points at the fingertips of brands, rights holders, advertisers and broadcasters.

The company used its Annual Sports Trends Breakfast, held in July at The Forum, Bryanston, to unveil the platform that enables brands, rights holders and broadcasters to access Nielsen Fan Insights research and receive real-time, verified insights in minutes.

SIYA gives Nielsen Sports SA subscribers direct access to more than 150 million sports fan data points from a catalogue of Fan Demographics, Sport and Lifestyle Awareness, Sport and Lifestyle Interest, Sport Consumption Behaviours, Media Platforms used to consume sports and Sport Participation research, just to name a few available topics. Users can ask natural-language questions in all eleven South African languages and instantly generate tailored charts, reports and audience breakdowns, comparing fan behaviour across sports, demographics, interests and lifestyle categories.

SIYA was developed entirely in-house by the Nielsen Sports SA technology and engineering team over the past year. It was a deliberate process of integrating the depth of the Nielsen Fan Insights research product with the accessibility of a conversational AI interface. The result is a platform that does not generate assumptions or synthesise generic data, instead every response is drawn from and verified against Nielsen Sports SA’s primary research.

‘We spent the last year asking one question: how do we make 150 million data points feel as simple as a conversation? SIYA was the answer.’

‘We built it from the inside out, starting with the research we have been conducting across South Africa for the past four years, and engineering an interface that allows clients to access it the way they actually think about their business.’

‘We believe we have launched a truly game-changing South African sports industry innovation, and with the relevant consent, what comes next is the integration of total audience sports consumption and viewership data, which is where it gets truly exciting,’ said Tumelo Selikane, Managing Director of Nielsen Sports South Africa.

Where research has traditionally required briefing an analyst and waiting a few days for a report, SIYA transforms that process into a conversation, giving Nielsen Sports SA a competitive edge. Each query returns data points and presentation-ready insights within minutes rather than weeks.

That speed creates value differently depending on who is asking. For brands and sponsors, it enables faster, more informed investment decisions. For rightsholders, it strengthens the commercial evidence behind sponsorship proposals. For broadcasters, it becomes a live planning tool as audience behaviours continue to shift across platforms.

For complex tasks and comparisons, you can also request direct access to internal expertise directly off the platform, which will provide you with the necessary human support and data verification when it matters most.

This innovation also provides Nielsen Sports SA with greater visibility into the questions clients are asking and their needs, helping shape future research priorities and ensuring evolving Fan Insights are captured and reported on alongside the needs of the sports industry.

That combination of speed and verified data makes SIYA a strategic asset for any organisation navigating a sponsorship decision or planning fan or audience-led campaign.

For organisations wishing to see SIYA demonstrated with their own data questions, Nielsen Sports SA is offering in-person workshops and live demo sessions.

NIELSEN SPORTS
https://nielsensports.com/

Retroviral Announces First Executive Creative Director

Modern Marketing

August 12, 2026

Retroviral Announces First Executive Creative Director — Koketso Masisi, Retroviral.

The appointment Koketso Masisi as its first Executive Creative Director (ECD), reflects both Masisi’s creative leadership and Retroviral’s transformation over the past four years from a specialist social media agency into one of South Africa’s leading independent integrated creative businesses.

This marks a significant milestone in the agency’s evolution and signalling its continued investment in creativity that drives earned attention, cultural relevance and commercial impact.

Joining Retroviral as Head of Design, Masisi quickly became one of the architects behind the agency’s creative evolution. She has helped build a multidisciplinary creative studio, developed an integrated creative offering and played a defining role in shaping work that has consistently blurred the lines between public relations, advertising, social, digital and culture.

During her tenure, Retroviral has cemented its reputation as one of Africa’s most recognised independent agencies, earning accolades including Ad Age International Small Agency of the Year (Silver), SABRE Africa Consultancy of the Year, and both MarkLives and AdFocus Small Agency of the Year in 2025.

‘Koketso’s promotion represents far more than a new title,’ said Mike Sharman, founder and chief creative officer of Retroviral. ‘It represents the next chapter of our agency. We’ve always believed creativity shouldn’t sit inside channels. It should solve business problems, create culture and earn people’s attention. Koketso has been instrumental in building that philosophy into our business. She’s helped redefine what creativity looks like at Retroviral, elevating design into integrated thinking, strategy into storytelling and ideas into work that people genuinely want to talk about.’

Masisi has also played a pivotal role in shaping the agency’s culture. Today, women represent 78% of Retroviral’s workforce, while Black women make up 52% of the business, reflecting the agency’s long-standing commitment to building diverse creative leadership.

Her leadership has coincided with a period of sustained commercial growth, with the creative studio helping deliver award-winning work and new business across brands including AB InBev, AutoTrader, BIC, Lil-Lets, Motus, Truda Foods, Emeris and The Braai Republic.

Beyond the agency, Masisi has established herself as one of South Africa’s emerging creative leaders. She regularly serves as a juror across local and international award programmes, speaks at industry conferences and leadership forums, and is currently completing the ACA Women in Leadership Programme.

She is also the founder of Ko.Kreate, an initiative dedicated to creating opportunities for women of colour in advertising through mentorship, collaboration and leadership development, extending the same philosophy of empowerment that has shaped her leadership within Retroviral.

‘For me, creativity has never been about making advertising. It’s about creating work that changes how people think, feel and behave while building spaces where talented people can thrive,’ said Masisi. ‘This appointment is incredibly meaningful because it reflects the belief that creative excellence and people leadership should go hand in hand. I’m excited about what we can build next, not just for our clients, but for the next generation of creative talent coming through our industry.’

Sharman believes Masisi’s influence reaches well beyond the campaigns she has creative-directed.

‘Great creative leaders don’t simply produce great work. They leave an organisation fundamentally different from how they found it. Koketso has done exactly that. She’s brought extraordinary creative standards, immense humility and a relentless commitment to building ideas with purpose. Awards have followed, but they’ve never been the destination. The real achievement has been helping transform Retroviral into an agency where integrated creativity isn’t a department. It’s our operating system.’

As Executive Creative Director, Masisi will lead Retroviral’s integrated creative output across the agency’s growing client portfolio while continuing to build a multidisciplinary team focused on creating ideas engineered for earned media, business growth and lasting cultural impact.

The appointment marks another significant chapter in Retroviral’s growth story, reinforcing the agency’s belief that the future belongs to businesses where creativity, strategy and communications are seamlessly integrated to build brands that people do not just see, but actively participate in.

C1W Initiative

Change 1 Woman (C1W) aims to empower women in the branding, print and signage industries. As part of this initiative, Modern Marketing would like to spotlight women-focused content like this piece. If you have any trend/business articles related to the signage, branding and printing industries, please email content to: info@c1w.co.za. Follow C1W on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates.

RETROVIRAL
https://retroviral.co.za/

Renowned Copywriter, Educator And Keynote Speaker Receives Lifetime Honour

Modern Marketing

August 12, 2026

Renowned Copywriter, Educator And Keynote Speaker Receives Lifetime Honour. — Tiffany Markman, Copywriter.

Tiffany Markman has received a lifetime honour for advancing workplace communication. She was recognised at the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa’s annual convention in July, and was inducted into the Southern African Educator Hall of Fame (SAEHoF), one of the association’s highest lifetime honours. She is one of only six women worldwide to have received this accolade.

For more than two decades, Markman has worked with organisations to strengthen one of their most important capabilities: communication. Through business writing programmes, AI education, keynote presentations and consulting, she has helped more than 700 brands in 18 countries to communicate with greater clarity and impact, training 36,000 professionals along the way. Her work focuses on email writing, communication strategy, creative ideation and the optimal use of genAI in the workplace.

Markman’s induction comes at a time when communication has become a strategic business capability rather than a soft skill. As organisations grapple with constant change and information overload, the ability to explain ideas clearly, build trust and help people to learn has become increasingly valuable.

The citation was delivered by Stef du Plessis, Global Speaking Fellow (GSF), Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) and Founder of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa (PSASA). He said, ‘Tiffany has built and teaches her own frameworks, methodologies and IP. She has trained tens of thousands of people, worked with hundreds of companies, earned widespread recognition, contributed to the profession and delivered with distinction on global stages. She develops people. She raises capability. She leaves teams better than she found them. She’s exactly what Hall of Fame calibre looks like.’

Three additional honours were presented during the convention. Cobus Visser CSP and Steve Johnson were inducted into the Southern African Speaker Hall of Fame for their sustained contribution to professional speaking, while Bruce Wade received the Stef du Plessis Founder’s Award for his service to the profession and the association.

In her acceptance speech, Markman said, ‘Because I had many excellent teachers, I believe that really good educators create more really good educators. So if, over the last 20 years, I’ve managed to do that for others, I’m doing the work I hoped to do.’

TERESA SERRAS COMMUNICATION
https://tscommunications.co.za

Hunter’s Introduces Creative Platform Alongside New Product Range

Modern Marketing

August 12, 2026

Hunter’s is bringing a bold new dimension to the beverage market with the national launch of its Hunter’s ICED range, introducing ICED Watermelon and ICED Apple alongside a national campaign inspired by the brand’s distinctive cooling taste experience.

Available in stores nationwide, Hunter’s ICED features a unique Cooling Finish that delivers a refreshing sensory taste experience and sets it apart within the category.

A New Take On Refreshment.

‘We saw an opportunity to bring something new to the category through flavour innovation and sensory refreshment,’ said Nicole Hewitt, Marketing Manager at Hunter’s. ‘Hunter’s ICED delivers a distinctive cooling taste experience that gives consumers a refreshing new way to enjoy Hunter’s during social occasions.’

Bringing The Cooling Taste Experience To Life

To launch the range, Hunter’s is introducing its ‘Refresh Ahhh’ campaign, a creative platform inspired by the product’s sensory finish. The campaign will transform traditional media into interactive outdoor experiences where consumers can unlock rewards and engage with the Hunter’s ICED brand experience.

To bring the idea to life, Hunter’s is launching one of its most ambitious campaigns yet supported by a high-impact ATL campaign across television, digital and outdoor media, amplified through immersive sampling experiences and consumer activations.

‘Most brands talk about refreshment. We wanted to embody it by creating an experience that brings our product innovation to life,’ said Nontsikelelo Gumede, Brand Manager at Hunter’s. ‘From the Cooling Finish to the interactive campaign elements, Hunter’s ICED showcases our commitment to delivering exciting flavour experiences and innovation for adult consumers.’

Hunter’s ICED offers a refreshing taste experience that is ideal for sharing during social occasions with friends.

Product Details

Hunter’s ICED Watermelon: Juicy watermelon flavour with a refreshing icy twist, creating a smooth and distinctive taste experience.

Hunter’s ICED Apple: The familiar crisp taste of apple complemented by a distinctive cooling sensory finish.

The new flavours will be available nationwide from 1 August 2026. Hunter’s ICED is best served ice-cold and enjoyed responsibly. Hunter’s promotes responsible drinking. Not for sale to persons under the age of 18.

Watch The Product AV

For more information, follow Hunter’s on social media:

– Instagram: @Hunterscider
– Facebook: @HuntersCider
– TikTok: @Huntersciderza
– Twitter/X: @HuntersCider

About Hunter’s

Hunter’s has been delivering refreshing taste and quality since its launch in 1988. Today, the brand continues to offer consumers flavour innovation and easy-drinking refreshment across its portfolio. The Hunter’s range includes Hunter’s Dry, Hunter’s Gold, Hunter’s Export, and the new Hunter’s ICED Apple and Watermelon variants.

HUNTER’S
www.hunters.co.za

The Impact Of Meta’s New WhatsApp Fees

Modern Marketing

August 12, 2026

The Impact Of Meta's New WhatsApp Fees — Arno van Huyssteen, Helm.

Meta is changing how it charges for WhatsApp Business API usage, and from 1 October, the free-form customer service replies businesses have relied on for free will start costing money. It affects every business using WhatsApp for customer service, in every market, through every provider.

Helm, an AI and customer experience company that builds WhatsApp service solutions for brands like DStv, Absa, Capitec, and MTN, has put together a local breakdown covering what this means for businesses in South Africa and how it will impact their costs.

In July, Meta announced changes to how it charges for usage of its WhatsApp Business API. From October, the free-form replies that make up most day-to-day customer conversations on WhatsApp will no longer be free. This shift affects every business using the platform regardless of their provider, and highlights the importance of multichannel communication strategies.

Most of what has been written about it so far comes out of the US and Europe, priced in dollars, aimed at a global audience. But what does it mean for South African businesses in rand terms, and what can you do about it before the new fees kick in?

Local AI and customer experience company Helm breaks down what changes from 1 October 2026, and how you can lessen the impact:

Meta will begin charging for service messages, again, these are the free-form replies that a chatbot/digital agent (or your team) sends back to a customer inside an open conversation. Until now, as long as the customer sent you the message first and you replied within 24 hours, those replies were free and unlimited. However, that is about to change.

Arno van Huyssteen, Chief Solutions Officer at Helm, added, ‘It’s easy to read this as WhatsApp getting more expensive, full stop. But even with the new fees, customer service conversations on WhatsApp still cost around four times less than running the same volume through a traditional call centre. That gap doesn’t close in October, it just narrows slightly.’

Template messages such as marketing, utility, and authentication, are not new to this. They have carried a per-message cost for a while, so what is new is that the ordinary back-and-forth of a support conversation now carries a cost too, and it applies at the platform level to every business with no exceptions.

Meta has committed to publishing the official rate card by 1 September 2026. Until then, the industry is working from an educated estimate: that service messages will be priced roughly in line with utility and authentication messages, but without the volume discounts those categories get.

Van Huyssteen explained, ‘Once you convert this into rand and local conversation patterns, the impact becomes more relatable, and it’s clear that businesses need to start adjusting their message flows now in order to lessen that impact. We are also in ongoing conversations with Meta and other BSPs about how this gets rolled out, and we’ll keep clients updated as that develops.’

The good news is that these are changes you can plan for, and here are five practical ways from Helm to soften the impact before October:

1. Consider a second channel for high-volume, low-cost interactions. Seek out platforms that are zero-rated on major South African networks, removing data costs for customers and giving you an alternative channel for high-volume, low-complexity conversations that do not carry WhatsApp’s new pricing.

2. Consolidate your message flow. If your workflows currently split one response into two or three shorter messages for readability, each of those will be billed separately under the new model. Reviewing and combining workflows without compromising the customer experience can meaningfully reduce your billable message count.

3. Use WhatsApp Flows for anything structured. This is the single strongest lever available. A Flow presents a full form, multiple questions, dropdowns, uploads, as one interactive screen inside the chat, instead of five or six back-and-forth messages. It is a natural fit for applications, claims intake, competition entries, and bookings.

4. Shift volume into templates where it belongs. Utility and authentication templates still qualify for volume discounts that service messages will not get. Making sure messages are correctly categorised, rather than defaulting to free-form replies, will reduce cost and improve accuracy at the same time.

5. Use click-to-WhatsApp ads as an entry point. Conversations that start from a Facebook or Instagram click-to-WhatsApp ad open a 72-hour free messaging window that is not affected by the October changes. It is a currently underused way to open conversations without the new cost exposure.

So, without the measures mentioned above, what could these incoming charges actually cost you in rands?

Nothing here is final as these are working estimates based on current utility/authentication pricing for South Africa, at an exchange rate of roughly R16.80 to the US dollar (July 2026). Once Meta’s official rate card lands in September, the numbers may change.

Using that basis, a service message could land somewhere in the region of 10–15c per message. That sounds small until you multiply it by volume. For example, a business running:

– Retail/e-commerce support (order queries, delivery updates, returns) often needs three to six replies to close out one conversation. At even conservative volumes, that is a real new line item every month.
– Fintech/insurance support (KYC checks, claims intake, account queries) tends to run longer, multi-step conversations, which is exactly the pattern that gets hit hardest under per-message billing with no volume discount.
– Telco and utilities support: High-volume, high-repetition queries such as balance checks, top-ups, outage reports will feel this at scale, even if each individual conversation is short.

If your team is running a digital agent or chatbot through a third party, or using Meta’s own digital agent, the billing model will differ depending on the provider. Either way, it results in a per-message fee.

‘Helm doesn’t profit from Meta’s fee increase,’ said van Hyssteen. ‘Our job is the exact opposite of marking up, we want to make sure that this fee change costs our clients (and any other clients who need our help) as little as possible. We’d rather have that conversation now than have them find out from an invoice.’

HELM
www.helm.africa

Absa Launches Bank-Led Micro-Drama Series

Modern Marketing

August 12, 2026

Absa Launches Bank-Led Micro-Drama Series

Absa is changing the way financial wellness is communicated through entertainment with the launch of its bank-led micro-drama series, For Better Or For Whatever, brought to you by Absa, a first in South Africa.

For Absa, financial wellness is about helping people feel more confident with their money. That means giving them the knowledge to make smarter money decisions, from budgeting for life’s biggest moments to managing unexpected expenses. It also means helping them recognise scams, protect their money and keep their personal information safe. Together, these everyday skills help people take control of their finances and proudly say, ‘I grew it’.

Premiering this September, For Better Or For Whatever, brought to you by Absa, brings these ideas to life through humour, relatable storytelling and authentic South African characters. Rather than relying on traditional financial education campaigns, the series shows how everyday financial decisions influence some of life’s biggest moments, helping audiences see themselves in the stories and reflect on their own choices.

Micro-dramas are one of the world’s fastest-growing entertainment formats, telling compelling stories through short episodes made for watching on a cellphone. Designed for social media platforms such as TikTok, YouTube Shorts and Instagram, they fit naturally into the way people consume entertainment today: easy to watch, easy to share and easy to binge.

The series follows two families brought together by a wedding where nothing goes according to plan. Packed with humour, heart and relatable South African moments, it explores how money quietly shapes relationships, family dynamics and life’s biggest moments, encouraging audiences to reflect on their own financial decisions through entertainment rather than instruction.

The series forms part of Absa’s broader commitment to making financial wellness more accessible through stories that are relevant, relatable and easy to understand. That commitment focuses on two key areas: financial literacy and financial protection.

This confidence is built through two important elements: financial literacy, helping people make smarter everyday money decisions, from budgeting for life’s biggest moments to managing unexpected expenses, and financial security, helping people recognise scams, protect their money and keep their personal information safe.

Designed to entertain first, the series naturally encourages audiences to reflect on their own money habits. By weaving practical financial literacy and financial security lessons into relatable stories, Absa demonstrates that learning about money can be engaging, memorable and enjoyable. Whether planning a wedding, supporting family, managing unexpected expenses or recognising a scam, the series encourages people to make informed financial decisions and better protect what they have worked hard to build.

The new series builds on Absa’s growing portfolio of entertainment-led financial education, following the success of I Grew It: Finance 101, hosted by Tumi Morake, and the I Grew It Show with Absa, hosted by entrepreneur Alphi Sipho Mkhwanazi.

Candice Thurston, Managing Executive: Brand and Marketing, Absa Group, said, ‘Stories have always helped us learn, connect and see ourselves. Today many of those stories are watched on mobile phones in short, engaging formats. That is what makes this series so exciting. It allows us to meet people where they already are, with stories that entertain, spark conversation and help audiences feel more confident about the financial decisions they make. That is what Your story matters means to us.’

With For Better Or For Whatever, brought to you by Absa, Absa demonstrates that financial wellness can be more than advice or information. It can be entertainment that people recognise, enjoy, share and talk about.

For Better Or For Whatever, brought to you by Absa, premieres this September, with new episodes streaming exclusively on Absa South Africa’s YouTube Shorts (@AbsaBankLtd) and Absa Group’s TikTok channels (@absa_group).

ABSA
absa.co.za

HOT 102.7FM Announces ICASA-Approved Licence Amendment

Modern Marketing

August 12, 2026

HOT 102.7FM Announces ICASA-Approved Licence Amendment — Lloyd Madurai, HOT 102.7FM

HOT 102.7FM is a commercial radio station based in Johannesburg. It has secured a significant amendment to the programming format of its commercial broadcasting licence, giving the station substantially greater scope to deliver the Old Skool and R&B format on which its audience and commercial growth have been built.

Approved by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), the amendment changes the station’s licensed music format from a 50% split between Classical music and Old Skool and R&B to 85% Old Skool and R&B and 15% Classical music.

For HOT 102.7FM, this is far more than a change to the music mix. It is a major strategic step forward that brings the station’s licence into much closer alignment with its core audience proposition, giving listeners more of the music they choose HOT for and further strengthening its offering to advertisers and commercial partners.

The station submitted its application to ICASA in September 2024 as part of a long-term strategy, led by Founder and Managing Director Lloyd Madurai, to build a focused and distinctive commercial radio brand around exceptional content.

‘We thank ICASA and its Council for the considered manner in which they assessed our application,’ said Madurai. ‘This amendment allows us to align our licensed format much more closely with the music our listeners choose HOT 102.7FM for, while continuing to honour the Classical music component of our licence.

‘This is a landmark moment for the station. It gives us significantly greater scope to strengthen an already successful radio product and deliver even more value to our listeners, advertisers and partners.’

The amendment comes at a time when HOT 102.7FM’s focused commercial proposition is delivering measurable momentum.

BrandMapp estimates that the station reaches 710,000 regular listeners, giving it an 11% footprint in Gauteng. That scale is supported by a loyal and affluent audience, trusted on-air personalities and a clearly defined music format.

Rather than chasing mass reach for its own sake, HOT 102.7FM has deliberately built a premium and highly targeted brand. The amended format will make that proposition even stronger, delivering more of the music its audience wants, greater consistency across the schedule and a more distinctive environment in which brands can connect with listeners.

The station’s performance has also been recognised across the business and broadcasting sectors. HOT 102.7FM was named 2025 Commercial Radio Station of the Year at the Telkom Radio Awards, earned seven wins at the 2026 New York Festivals Radio Awards and was named a News24 South African Growth Champion for the second consecutive year.

These accolades recognise not only the quality of the station’s programming, but the strength of the business behind it and its ability to translate listener attention and loyalty into sustainable commercial value.

From 1 August, the expanded Old Skool and R&B offering will be supported by a refreshed evening and weekend line-up. Patrick Heyworth, Steve Bishop, Justin Toerien, Ursula Chikane and Shane Wellington will all take on new or expanded shows, giving listeners even more opportunities to enjoy HOT 102.7FM’s music and personalities throughout the week.

Classical music remains an important part of the station’s licensed offering. Carolyn Steyn will continue to keep Classical music lovers company overnight from 1-5am every day, with classical favourites, show tunes, jazz standards, classic songs and memorable movie themes.

‘We have built HOT 102.7FM by remaining focused on what we do best and on the audience we serve,’ concluded Madurai.

‘This amendment allows us to take that proposition further, deepen listener loyalty and create even greater value for brands that want to connect with a commercially responsive audience. It is a significant step forward for the station and marks the next chapter in our growth.’

HOT 102.7FM
https://hot1027.co.za

Effie Awards Announces Finalists For 2026 Programme

Modern Marketing

August 12, 2026

Effie Awards Announces Finalists For 2026 Programme

Hosted by the Association for Communication and Advertising (ACA), the Effie Awards remain the globally recognised benchmark for marketing effectiveness. Effie Awards South Africa has announced 45 finalists for the 2026 programme, following the first round of judging.

Following 2025’s record-setting programme, the 2026 Effie Awards South Africa recorded a further 29% increase in entries, reflecting growing participation from agencies, clients and specialist partners and reinforcing the value placed on marketing effectiveness across the industry.

Reaching finalist status is already a significant achievement, recognising work that has demonstrated the potential to meet Effie’s rigorous standard for effectiveness through clear objectives, strategic thinking, creativity and measurable results.

‘Finalist status at Effie means the work has stood up to a process that interrogates not only the idea, but the challenge, the strategy, how the idea was brought to life and the results achieved,’ said Gillian Rightford, ACA Executive Director for Effie South Africa. ‘With a record number of cases entered this year, the continued growth of the programme reflects how seriously the industry is taking effectiveness. These finalists represent the cases that have shown the discipline, ambition and evidence required to compete at the highest level.’

All Effie finalists earn points towards the global Effie Index, giving both agency and client teams recognition beyond the local programme. Finalists now progress to the next stage of adjudication, where Round 2 judging will determine which campaigns will go on to win Bronze, Silver and Gold, with the most effective work considered for the prestigious Grand Effie.

Effie South Africa extends its appreciation to the moderators who guided the adjudication sessions, managed the judging rooms and helped keep discussions focused and on track: Refilwe Maluleke (Jury Co-Chair), Ahmed Tilly (Jury Co-Chair), Franco D’Onofrio, Sue Napier, Sarah Dexter, and Quantin Montello, and the Effie Score Review, comprising the Jury Co-Chairs, Adeshia Singh and Mpume Ngobese, for their time and expertise in supporting the integrity of the judging process.

Appreciation is also extended to the Emeris students who provided valuable technical support during judging.

Effie South Africa congratulates all 2026 finalists. This is a significant achievement, recognising work that has demonstrated the potential to meet Effie’s global standard for marketing effectiveness.

Round 2 judging will take place on Thursday, 13 August 2026, followed by Grand Effie adjudication on Thursday, 10 September 2026. Winners will be announced at the 2026 Effie Awards South Africa Gala on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.

2026 Effie Awards South Africa Finalists

ENTERING ORGANISATION	ENTRY	CATEGORY	PRODUCT / BRAND
Boundless	Forever Committed	Corporate Reputation	South African Breweries
Boundless	Rein In The Pain	Non-Profit	NSPCA
Clockwork	The Bare Minimum	Influencer Marketing	NIVEA
Clockwork	Protect What Built You	Insurance	Old Mutual Business Insure
Clockwork	The Bare Minimum	Marketing Disruptors	NIVEA
Clockwork	Escape It	Media Idea / Media Effies	The Salvation Army x National GBV Command Centre
Clockwork	Escape It	Non-Profit	The Salvation Army x National GBV Command Centre
Clockwork	Escape It	Small Budgets – Non-Profit, Products, Services	The Salvation Army x National GBV Command Centre
Clockwork	Escape It	Social Good – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion	The Salvation Army x National GBV Command Centre
Edelman South Africa	The Unburied Casket	Non-Profit	Women For Change
Edelman South Africa	The Unburied Casket	Social Good – Brands / Positive Change	Women For Change
Grid Worldwide	Inverroche House of Amber	Experiential Marketing: Live & Digital	Inverroche Amber
Halo	How Totes Relentless Consistency Keeps Paying Off for Pineapple	Sustained Success – Products, Services	Pineapple
Joe Public	Changing How People C Us: How Cell C Cracked the Toughest Code in Marketing – Shifting Perception	David vs. Goliath (Situational)	Cell C
Joe Public	Own the Hours Others Abandoned	Delivery Services	Uber Eats
Joe Public	Changing How People C Us: How Cell C Cracked the Toughest Code in Marketing – Shifting Perception	Internet & Telecom	Cell C
Joe Public	Own the Hours Others Abandoned	Marketing Disruptors	Uber Eats
Joe Public	The Revealing Pour: A print ad that went beyond ink and paper.	Media Innovation – Emerging & New Channels, Existing Channels / Media Effies	Castle Milk Stout
Joe Public	Out Of Your Home: How We Made Flying Fish impossible to ignore	Media Innovation – Emerging & New Channels, Existing Channels / Media Effies	Flying Fish
Joe Public	Takealot: the marketing case for hyperlocal marketing	Multicultural – Products, Services	Takealot
Joe Public	Nothing to Bite Into. Everything to Talk About.	Restaurants	Chicken Licken
Joe Public	Takealot: the marketing case for hyperlocal marketing	Retail	Takealot
Joe Public	The Revealing Pour: A print ad that went beyond ink and paper.	Small Budgets – Non-Profit, Products, Services	Castle Milk Stout
Joe Public	Hard‑working Professionals: How Criminals Arrested a Sales Slump	Finance	Nedbank
Joe Public	Hard‑working Professionals: How Criminals Arrested a Sales Slump	Marketing Disruptors	Nedbank
Joe Public	Hard‑working Professionals: How Criminals Arrested a Sales Slump	Seasonal Marketing – Products, Services	Nedbank
KAMuses Consultancy	Add Hope The Biggest Hunger Hack	Corporate Reputation	KFC Africa
KAMuses Consultancy	Add Hope The Biggest Hunger Hack	Social Good – Brands / Positive Change	KFC Africa
McCann Joburg	Check My Beat: Heart Health Tracks	Small Budgets – Non-Profit, Products, Services	SA Heart® (South African Heart Association)
Mscsports	Possibility in Play	Experiential Marketing: Live & Digital	Telkom
Ogilvy	When love Is the Cover Story: How Vodacom Turned “Seeing” Abuse Into a National Intervention System.	Social Good – Brands / Positive Change	Vodacom Foundation
Ogilvy	What Happens When Search Never Leaves The Gen Z Feed?	Youth Marketing	Google
Ogilvy	Obsessively Building KFC’s Taste Platform to Unlock a New Generation of Fanatics	Sustained Success – Products, Services	KFC South Africa
Ogilvy	Forever Golf – How VW Turned a 47‑Year Nickname Tradition into a Record‑Breaking Golf 8 Launch.	Brand Content & Entertainment	Volkswagen South Africa
Ogilvy	Carling Black Label – Be The Champion Coach: reimagined as the highest-stakes fan mechanic in SA football	Engaged Community	Carling Black Label
Ogilvy	Forever Golf – How VW Turned a 47‑Year Nickname Tradition into a Record‑Breaking Golf 8 Launch.	Engaged Community	Volkswagen South Africa
Ogilvy	Carling Black Label – Be The Champion Coach: reimagined as the highest-stakes fan mechanic in SA football	Experiential Marketing: Live & Digital	Carling Black Label
Ogilvy	Forever Golf – How VW Turned a 47‑Year Nickname Tradition into a Record‑Breaking Golf 8 Launch.	Experiential Marketing: Live & Digital	Volkswagen South Africa
Ogilvy	How Vaseline Rewrote the Rules of Trust in the Social Era	Marketing Disruptors	Vaseline PJ
Ogilvy	When Everyone Went Cheap, KFC Went Bottomless	Seasonal Marketing – Products, Services	KFC South Africa
Ogilvy	TikTok Test Drive: How Audi turned TikTok’s scroll into a steering wheel	Social Media	Audi
PHD South Africa	Uber Eats Delivers groceries till midnight	Media Innovation – Emerging & New Channels, Existing Channels / Media Effies	Uber
Promise Group	The Draught Story	Sustained Success – Products, Services	Castle Lite
VML	Insure Your Unsure	Insurance	Hollard
VML	The Perfumistic Launch That Made Laundry Desirable	New Product/Service Introduction / Commerce & Shopper Effies	Comfort

Effie Awards South Africa is hosted by the Association for Communication and Advertising (ACA) and sponsored by Nedbank, South African Breweries (AB InBev), Heineken Beverages, Emeris, IAS, Eat Big Fish, Investec, Boundless and Motion Ads.

EFFIE AWARDS SOUTH AFRICA
www.effieawards.co.za

Nedbank IMC Announces Additional Speaker

Modern Marketing

August 7, 2026

Nedbank IMC Announces Additional Speaker — Dawn Rowlands, dentsu Africa.

Dentsu Africa CEO will share lessons from growing an 11-market network, building local talent and launching privacy-led marketing technology. The Nedbank IMC has announced Dawn Rowlands, CEO of dentsu Africa, as a speaker for its 2026 conference, taking place on Thursday, 17 September 2026 at Mosaïek Teatro in Johannesburg or online.

Under the 2026 theme Shift Happens™, Rowlands will present Africa is the Shift, a session on how businesses, talent and technology built on the continent are influencing marketing beyond it.

For more than 30 years, Rowlands has built and scaled businesses across Africa. As CEO of dentsu Africa, she oversees 11 markets and has helped grow the network from 40 people to more than 1,500 professionals, largely through home-grown talent.

At dentsu Africa, Rowlands has helped build local teams, routes from internships into permanent roles and technology designed for the region.

Initiatives launched under her leadership include Merkury, a privacy-compliant identity platform introduced in South Africa with Telkom, and programmes that redirected major media investment into black-owned enterprises.

Rowlands argues that growth models cannot simply be imported. They must be commercially strong, built around local talent and responsive to the markets and communities they serve.

At the Nedbank IMC, her session will examine four practical questions: how to scale across diverse markets, build talent locally, use data responsibly and direct investment in ways that strengthen local businesses.

‘Dawn has spent more than 30 years building businesses across Africa,’ said Dale Hefer, CEO of the Nedbank IMC. ‘She brings a practical, commercially grounded view of why the continent matters now.’

The Nedbank IMC 2026 will feature a curated, not crowdsourced, speaker line-up, combining global insight with African context.

Tickets are available here.

Nedbank IMC
www.imcconference.com

Visit The Modern Marketing Expo For The Latest Trends In Signage, Display And More

Modern Marketing

August 5, 2026

Experience the latest trends in signage, displays, visual communication, print and production technologies, digital experience and engagement, as well as retail and shopper marketing, at the Modern Marketing Expo 2026, where brands build momentum. The event is taking place 8-10 September (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) at the Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg.

This is Africa’s focused marketing expo for marketing professionals, who can also see the latest developments and innovations in: marketing, branding and technology including advertising, media, promotional products, branded apparel, AI design and content technologies.

Supercharge Your Marketing At The Modern Marketing Power Hour

Industry leaders will share their expertise and insights in the ever-evolving field of marketing at the free-to-attend Modern Marketing Power Hour, taking place in Hall 3 at Gallagher Convention Centre. Book your slots here.

Please register online for free attendance to the Modern Marketing Expo, taking place 8-10 September, 9am-5pm at Gallagher Convention Centre. The event is co-located with: Sign Africa, FESPA Africa, Africa Print and Graphics, Print and Sign expos.

MODERN MARKETING EXPO
+27 11 568 1894
https://modernmarketingexpo.co.za

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