Zakariya Alli joins Nexia SAB&T as CFO

Against the backdrop of a conversation about capital investment, Cape Town's finance leaders turned their attention to one of South Africa's most pressing challenges: youth unemployment. At a CFO dinner at Mount Nelson, the discussion explored how businesses can help young people enter the workplace, develop the skills needed for tomorrow's economy and become the finance leaders of the future.

From family time and golf to running and travelling, three finance leaders share what they do when they step away from the numbers and make time for themselves.

As AI takes on more analytical work, CFOs must rethink what makes their leadership valuable. Curiosity, critical thinking and sound judgement will become increasingly important in a workforce shared by people and AI agents.

Retirement outcomes are built over decades, but the choices that shape them are often made by different people, in different institutions and at different points in an employee’s working life. New Old Mutual Corporate research gives CFOs a way to test whether the choices their organisations influence are turning employee-benefit spend into better retirement outcomes.

Phetogo Mabaso, CFO and executive director at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions South Africa, has been nominated for the 2026 CFO Awards. She has more than 16 years of experience in the insurance and reinsurance industry.

The Capital Hotels, Apartments and Resorts CFO Dale Smith reflects on navigating the Covid-19 pandemic, his entrepreneurial career and his approach to building a nimble finance function that supports the group’s long-term growth.