Save the date – Saturday, 28 March 2026 – and join us at the beautiful Sandringham Farm in Stellenbosch from 9am to 7pm for a day full of sunshine, family fun, and unforgettable music, brought to you by Samsung and Kfm 94.5.

These latest artists add exciting textures to an already packed line-up, joining the likes of pop sensation Will Linley, soulful veterans Liquideep, commanding vocalist Ard Matthews (Just Jinjer), heartfelt Msaki, lyrical dynamo YoungstaCPT, and crowd favourite Booshle G. This carefully crafted bill promises a rich and diverse musical journey for everyone attending.

Hennie Myburgh, Kfm 94.5 Station Manager, says: “Welcoming Lordkez, Templeboys and DJ Kent adds exciting new dimensions to Galaxy KDay 2026. Sandringham Farm provides a stunning backdrop for these extraordinary artists to connect with our Western Cape audiences. Our mission remains to create unforgettable moments of music, joy and community – and this broadened line-up promises just that. The energy is palpable, and we can’t wait to share the day with everyone.”

Rae Hargreaves, Head of Marketing MX, Samsung South Africa, adds: “Galaxy KDay keeps getting better, and the 2026 edition is getting even bigger. We’re excited to announce three more incredible artists to an already unmissable line-up. Templeboys are set to bring their infectious energy and feel-good rhythms, with DJ Kent adding his signature house sound that South Africans know and love, and Lordkez will deliver her fresh, soulful edge that speaks to music fans. These additional acts will bring even more depth and diversity to a festival that’s all about connection, shared moments, and unforgettable live experiences. And as Samsung, we’re proud to help create a platform which blends music, technology, and culture.”

Event Details:
Date: Saturday, 28 March 2026
Venue: Sandringham Farm, Stellenbosch
Gates Open: 9am
Show Starts: 11am
Show Ends: 7pm

Tickets:
General Access (GA): R400
Kiddies (3-12 years GA): R180
Family Pack: (2 GA + 2 Kiddies): R1,000
Chill Zone (18+ only): R750
Hospitality Area (18+ only): R1,500

Tickets are selling fast, with over 50% of General Access already sold.

Secure yours now at www.ticketmaster.co.za before they’re gone.

Don’t miss your chance to experience this ultimate family-friendly music celebration at one of the Western Cape’s most iconic venues. Whether chilling with family, enjoying the Chill Zone or indulging in the Hospitality Area, Galaxy KDay 2026 promises outstanding music, great food, and unforgettable vibes.

Get ready – Galaxy KDay 2026 is shaping up to be a day to remember!

This Institute’s Certification Programme is a standout benchmark for HR excellence – recognising Samsung for its positive, inclusive and supportive environment that fosters teamwork, respect and a sense of belonging. Samsung’s certification was awarded after a rigorous, data-driven assessment of the organisation’s HR best practices across various domains, including people strategy, work environment, talent acquisition and employee well-being.

Some of the common factors that contributed to the distinction in this prestigious award included employee satisfaction, a clear indication of high levels of overall morale within Samsung coupled with engagement and job satisfaction – often measured through independent, employee surveys. This certification also provides organisations such as Samsung with insights to help them focus on any areas for improvement. 

Loren Naicker, People Group Head at Samsung South Africa said: “For us at Samsung, this recognition is quite significant – a testament of our continued dedication to our employees’ wellbeing, innovative work culture and strong career development opportunities. As a company, we would like to express our genuine gratitude to our people because this award is a direct result of their hard work and dedication.”

Samsung views its people as its greatest asset and strength. For this reason, the company supports its employees through its continued commitment to providing opportunities, fostering an inclusive culture and developing their full potential through various programmes. These professional development initiatives include some of Samsung’s most robust training programmes, clear paths for career advancement and ongoing investment in employees’ long-term growth and skills development.

Naicker adds: “This award is a strong external validation that our company is indeed a great place to work for. As Samsung, we pride ourselves on people-centric policies and initiatives that support a healthy equilibrium between professional and personal life. Importantly, this recognition continues to help in boosting our employees’ morale and enables us to attract the best talent that this country has to offer.”

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has announced it will showcase new projects that, with the support of its C-Lab program, are innovating in a wide range of fields, including AI, robotics and digital health, at CES 2026, the world’s largest consumer electronics and IT exhibition, running Jan. 6-9.

At CES, Samsung will operate a dedicated C-Lab exhibition area to support the startups’ expansion into the global market. It will be located in Eureka Park at the Venetian Expo, the designated startup zone of CES, where participating startups will showcase innovative technologies.

“Samsung supports C-Lab startups through CES as a platform to validate innovative technologies and build momentum for global growth,” said Byoung Chul Lee, Vice President and Head of the Creativity & Innovation Center at Samsung Electronics. “This year, expanded participation from regional startups highlights the continued evolution of the C-Lab ecosystem.”

C-Lab Outside: 15 Startups That Include AI, Robotics and Digital Health

This year, C-Lab will feature 15 startups, including eight startups directly incubated by Samsung Electronics through the C-Lab Outside program, four from the Samsung Financial Networks-operated Samsung Financial C-Lab Outside, two from Samsung Electronics’ internal venture program, C-Lab Inside, and one that was jointly incubated by Samsung Electronics and the Daegu Creative Economy Innovation Center.

Record Participation of Regional Startups

Since 2023, Samsung has expanded C-Lab outside to the Korean cities of Daegu and Gwangju, as well as the Gyeongbuk province. The program identifies and supports promising startups to strengthen regional startup ecosystems, then provides workspace, stage-based consulting and opportunities to collaborate with Samsung and its affiliates. This allows startups to grow without relocating to the much larger city of Seoul and fosters a sustainable local innovation cycle.

To date, 40 regional startups have been incubated through this initiative, contributing to the revitalisation of regional ecosystems and laying the groundwork for future global unicorns.

At CES 2026, seven startups from Daegu, Gwangju and Gyeongbuk will participate, marking the largest-ever presence of regional C-Lab startups at CES.

Regional Startup Achievements Continue to Grow

The technological competitiveness of these regional C-Lab startups continues to gain recognition.

Repla, a plastic recycling startup from C-Lab Outside Gyeongbuk, received a CES 2026 Innovation Award for its Puri-Checker, a device that analyses plastic composition ratios.

“For a regional startup, collaborating with a global company like Samsung has been a valuable opportunity,” said Dong-eun Seo, CEO of Repla. “Plastic recycling is a global challenge, and CES provides an important platform to explore international market opportunities.”

The seven participating regional C-Lab startups are as follows:

• Stress Solution (Gyeongbuk): An AI-based personalised mental care sound creation solution
• Deepscent (Gwangju): An AI-powered digital scent solution tailored to every space
• Elevenliter (Daegu): AI-Powered diagnostics for progressive diseases in pets
• AunionAI (Gwangju): A web-based AI solution for automated multilingual dubbing and subtitles with expressive voices and sound effects
• Repla (Gyeongbuk): Enzyme-purified recycled plastic, free of impurities
• Univa (Daegu): An on-device multimodal large language model solution
• 10kM.ai (Daegu Creative Economy Innovation Center): An enterprise AI video production solution that can generate, edit and monetise videos

C-Lab Inside Showcases AI-Driven Internal Ventures

Every year since 2016, Samsung has used CES to showcase projects from C-Lab Inside, gauging global market response and validating business potential.

This year, two AI-driven projects evaluated highly for their innovation, global scalability and completeness will be exhibited:

• ChronoMix: An AI solution for object-centric video composition
• EZ Reco: A generative AI platform that makes electronics recommendations based on expert knowledge

Expansion of C-Lab to Affiliates, Including Financial Startups

Reflecting the expansion of Samsung’s open innovation model across its affiliates, four startups from Samsung Financial C-Lab Outside will participate in CES for the first time. This participation enables startups across various industries to seek new global collaboration opportunities by leveraging Samsung’s incubation experience. The Samsung Financial C-Lab Outside startups are as follows:

• Selectstar (Samsung Life Insurance): Copyright-cleared datasets and an all-in-one AI evaluation platform
• Datumo (Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance): Cyber risk modeling to quantify and reduce the financial impact of cyber attacks
• WINNING.I (Samsung Card): Next-gen identity verification (eKYC) powered by simultaneous fingerprint and face biometrics
• Pillsang (Samsung Securities): Real-time phishing (scam/fraud) detection solution using on-device AI

C-Lab Startups Win 17 CES 2026 Innovation Awards

C-Lab startups have received a total of 17 CES 2026 Innovation Awards, including two Best of Innovation Awards, as announced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA).

Both Best of Innovation Award recipients — MangoSlab and StudioLab — originated from C-Lab Inside and later spun off as independent startups, reaffirming the technological excellence and growth potential of Samsung’s internal ventures.

*This article contains products and features currently in development. The plans, product claims, timelines, and specifications described are subject to change without notice. Their future availability is not guaranteed.

*Availability may vary per region, country or carrier.

The Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) Graduation was held at Lerotholi Polytechnic (LP) in Maseru, Lesotho on 14 November 2025 where 27 C&P (Coding & Programming) and 14 AI (Artificial Intelligence) students were awarded their certificates. Dignitaries who addressed students at the event included representatives from Samsung, strategic education partners and key government officials.

The year 2025 marks the third (3^rd) year that the SIC programme has been in operation in Lesotho with 41 students graduating in this current cohort and cumulatively, a total of 145 students have benefitted from this initiative, including opportunities for employment. This graduation ceremony was a celebration of the beneficial effect of the three-year partnership between Samsung and LP, as well as the remarkable achievements of the current group of students who have completed the SIC programme.

The day’s proceedings were filled with moments of pride and inspiration as graduates received their official SIC certificates. Notably, top three (3) students from AI & C&P were awarded Samsung devices [Galaxy S25’s] as additional recognition for being best performers. In addition, the graduating students had an opportunity to showcase their cutting-edge tech projects in coding, AI and digital solutions designed to address real challenges in their communities. The day’s activities also included some uplifting stories from the beneficiaries as well as a display of cultural performances that reflected the vibrant Basotho spirit.

As part of the significant announcements made during the graduation ceremony, the CEO of Wasco — a Lesotho-based Water and Sewerage company and a strategic partner to LP — Mr Falla Seboko, pledged their support to the SIC programme by officially offering employment to two students from this year’s graduating cohort.

For Samsung, ensuring gender diversity in its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes — particularly within its education and technology skills training efforts — has always been one of the key priorities. In this SIC programme in particular, it was important to ensure that there was equitable gender representation, fostering an environment where everyone had equal access to opportunities and resources.

The ultimate objective of the SIC programme in Lesotho has been to equip young people with practical digital and technological skills that enhance their employability and prepare them for the future workforce. Through training in areas such as coding, AI and problem-solving, the programme has been seeking to empower youth to become creators of innovative solutions that address local and global challenges.

Lefa Makgato, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Samsung Electronics in Southern Africa, said: “As Samsung, we are very proud of both the outstanding achievements of the graduating students as well as the overall, positive impact that this three-year milestone has had on the lives of 145 Lesotho students since inception.

“We are pleased to note that 20 alumni students are employed, two (2) have started their own companies and about 40 opted to pursue their postgrad studies. As a socially responsible corporate in the African continent, we feel that by aligning with Lesotho’s education and digital transformation goals, the SIC programme has been able to bridge the skills gap, promote inclusive access to technology education and contribute to the country’s socio-economic development through youth empowerment and innovation.”

In addition, the 2025 version of the SIC programme included the AI Capstone Presentation which was formulated by five (5) groups. Each group had two or three members from the AI 2025 class. They had a month to idealise, code, create a prototype and a presentation for their prototype project. The capstone was of an open theme, thereby allowing students to target multiple sectors to solve their own community problems.

In his speech during the graduation ceremony, the Rector of Lerotholi Polytechnic, Professor Spirit Tlali, expressed the institution’s deepest gratitude to Samsung for its visionary partnership. He said: “Through the SIC programme, you have shown genuine commitment to equipping young people with the essential skills needed to thrive in the 4IR era. This collaboration stands as a model of how academia and industry can join hands to deliver education that is relevant, practical and transformative.

“Our C&P students have learnt to code as well as new ways of thinking. The AI graduates, on the other hand, now understand that it’s not about replacing human intelligence but rather enhancing it, amplifying creativity and solving problems that matter. We have now all learnt that technology, when guided by purpose, can uplift lives. Today, we have not only celebrated the achievements of young, bright minds but also innovation, resilience and the potential of our youth to shape the digital future of our nation and the globe.”

The Honourable Minister of Education, Prof Ntoi Rapapa, commended the graduates for their exceptional commitment and emphasised the transformative power of digital education in Lesotho. He had this to say to the graduates, “You are the pioneers of Digital Lesotho, the generation that will lead us into the future. The skills you have gained in coding, artificial intelligence and innovation are not just technical tools; they are instruments of change. Today’s celebration is a testament to the power of strategic partnerships and the brilliance of young minds transforming classroom knowledge into solutions that improve lives, create jobs and inspire hope. Your achievements embody the future we are building, one driven by innovation, creativity and technological mastery.”

This gathering provided an opportunity for the company to acknowledge the invaluable impact these women have made in shaping a better future for all. The global theme for this year’s commemoration was Accelerate Action for Women’s Equality, which resonated deeply in the local event’s theme: ‘This is Our Story – We Listen, We Don’t Judge’. The atmosphere was filled with positive energy as women shared their personal stories, some of which included overcoming significant challenges. The event was a space to recognise these women, uplift them and spread messages of love, positivity and empowerment.

The event kicked off with a powerful address by Simon Lee, President & CEO of Samsung Africa, who extended a warm and motivating message to all the women in attendance and those within the company. “This commemorative day is used globally as an opportunity to celebrate women’s achievements and advocate for gender equality,” said Lee. “Today’s event is Samsung’s way of recognising the many achievements made by our women regardless of ethnicity, language, culture, economic or political status.”

Lee went on to emphasise the significance of allowing employees to share their life stories and journeys of perseverance. He remarked, “The main objective is to inspire other women at Samsung, create togetherness and a support group. We want the women at Samsung to feel inspired and their efforts to continue to be celebrated so that together we can shape a more equal future for all.”

The women in attendance looked stunning in their best attire, exuding elegance and grace as they celebrated their collective strength. As the event unfolded, a series of speakers took to the stage to share personal accounts of their lives, offering authentic and powerful narratives of overcoming adversity. The intimate session allowed the speakers to open up, vulnerably addressing topics such as Mental Health (Healing, Resilience and Perseverance) as well as physical well-being which includes the unspoken issues around marriage and transition.

Some of the sessions on the day included ‘The Journey Of Motherhood and How to Come Back Strong’, ‘How to Overcome When Life Gets You Down’, ‘‘How to Be Sane During Chaos’, ‘How to Keep Going’ and ‘Finding a Way Through It’ left a lasting impression on everyone.

As the event drew to a close, the floor was opened for audience members to share their stories. One woman shared her experience of how the support of family, friends and colleagues made all the difference during a personal challenge she experienced. Her story resonated deeply with many, reinforcing the importance of community and connection. A special surprise awaited two lucky attendees – as part of a giveaway, two random seats held tickets that led to the winners each receiving a Samsung sound bar and a vacuum cleaner, which was a delightful way to end the celebration on a high note.

The event concluded with a pledge from everyone to continue supporting one another, showing compassion, treating each other with kindness as well as to listen and not judge. The sentiments echoed the idea that while everyone has personal struggles, we can all thrive together when we share our experiences, uplift each other and create an environment of mutual respect and understanding.

The event’s hashtags, including: #AccelerateAction, #ThisIsOurStory, #IWD2025, #WeListenAndWeDontJudge, #HealingTogether and #Wellbeing, captured the essence of the day – spreading a message of empowerment far beyond the occasion itself.

Samsung has been named a Top Employer in South Africa for 2025. This prestigious certification recognises Samsung’s exceptional commitment to creating an outstanding workplace through excellent human resources (HR) practices and people-first policies.

The award, granted by the Top Employers Institute, acknowledges Samsung’s dedication to employee wellbeing, innovative work culture, and strong career development opportunities. This achievement reflects Samsung’s continuous investment in its most valuable asset – its people.

Loren Naicker, People Group Head at Samsung South Africa said “This achievement celebrates our incredible team. The Top Employers Institute has recognised what we’ve always known: our workplace isn’t just exceptional on paper, it’s exceptional because of the spirit each of our employees bring to the office every day.”

Samsung’s commitment to excellence shines through its people-first culture. By fostering an environment of mutual respect and innovation, Samsung’s created a workplace where professional growth and collaborative success go hand in hand. Their supportive ecosystem empowers every individual to contribute their best and achieve extraordinary results.

Naicker concluded “As an 11-time Top Employer award winner, Samsung continues to set the benchmark for workplace excellence. We invite talented individuals to join our innovative team where exceptional careers are built, diversity is celebrated, and tomorrow’s innovations come to life.”

At CES 2025, the C-Lab companies consist of 12 startups from the C-Lab Outside program, which incubates external startups; two startups from C-Lab Inside, which is an internal venture program for employees; and one startup that was spun-off from Samsung. At the event, Samsung expects C-Lab startups to assess global market response, strengthen business feasibility and meet with investors.

“CES is an important opportunity for Korean startups to gain a foothold in the global market and increase brand awareness,” said Pilgyu Jeon, Executive Vice President and Head of the Creativity & Innovation Center at Samsung Electronics. “C-Lab will continue to support startups on the journey to becoming internationally recognized global innovators.”

C-Lab Outside: Twelve Startups That Include AI, IoT and Digital Health

This year, C-Lab will feature 12 startups, including 11 startups directly incubated by Samsung Electronics through the C-Lab Outside program and one startup jointly incubated by Samsung Electronics and the Daegu Center for Creative Economy & Innovation. The 12 startups are as follows:

AI

• DEEP.FINE: An XR solution using Vision-AI and Visual Localization (VL) for precise digital space creation
• Mainspace: An online shopping service based on automated 3D interior design technology
• ENERZAi: A next-generation AI inference optimization engine
• Cochl: An AI-based sound technology that can understand any sound like a human
• Korea Greendata: Revolutionizing energy data analytic platform with AI-driven chatbot integration
• 10kM.ai: An enterprise AI video production solution that can generate, edit, and distribute at scale

 Digital Health

• Riduck: An AI-based aerobic exercise coaching solution based on data from a wearable device
• LabSD: A digital ophthalmoscope manufactured with upcycled smartphones and a teleophthalmology system
• Meditrix: A VR-based neuro-biofeedback motion chair and mobile digital therapeutics

 IoT

• Ghostpass: A remote hands-free authentication solution by storing user biometrics on smartphones
• Pinpoint: Smart building OS that integrates operations and user experiences into a unified solution

 Robot

• Quester: A high-performance hand tracking glove with sensor fusion technology

C-Lab will showcase four local startups from Daegu and Gwangju, Korea, which is a new record achieved through Samsung Electronics’ efforts to promote the local startup ecosystem. Since 2023, Samsung Electronics has expanded the C-Lab Outside program to discover and nurture innovative startups in these regions. The immense potential of these startups has been demonstrated by GhostPass, a startup from C-Lab Outside Gwangju that has won the Best of Innovation Award in Fintech at CES 2025.

“Thanks to the support and coaching of C-Lab Outside, we were able to grow our company in a short period of time,” said Sunkwan Lee, CEO and founder of GhostPass. “We are excited to attend CES 2025 with C-Lab and showcase our solution, which won the CES Best of Innovation Award.”

C-Lab Outside was created in October 2018, and startups selected for the program receive full support — including a business support fund, office workspaces and customized development programs — along with business cooperation from Samsung Electronics.

Two C-Lab Inside Projects From Samsung Employees; One C-Lab Spin-off That Began at Samsung

Since 2016, Samsung has been exhibiting its C-Lab Inside projects at CES to see how the global market responds and to test their business viability.

The C-Lab Inside projects that Samsung Electronics is showcasing at CES have been widely recognized for their innovation, global marketability and completeness — including IoT solutions that provide differentiated experiences in conjunction with Samsung Electronics products, as well as a new conceptual robotics platform. This year’s projects are as follows:

• GreenFollow: Galaxy-enabled autonomous driving solution for electric golf trolley
• Modulero: A modular platform for robotics development

In 2015, Samsung Electronics introduced its C-Lab spin-off program, which allows C-Lab Inside projects with high market potential to be launched as fully-fledged startups. At CES 2025, C-Lab spin-off Edint will showcase its mobile-based AI online exam proctoring service.

C-Lab Startups Win 12 CES 2025 Innovation Awards

In November 2024, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) announced the winners of the CES 2025 Innovation Awards, including the award for Best of Innovation. C-Lab startups received one Best of Innovation Award and 11 Innovation Award Honorees.

C-Lab’s products and services that received honors include GhostPass, DEEP.Fine, Mainspace, ENERZAi, Quester and others. The CES 2025 Innovation Award-winning products and services will be displayed separately at the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas.

The C-Lab program was created in 2012, and since it was established, Samsung has nurtured a total of 912 startups and projects (506 through C-Lab Outside and 406 through C-Lab Inside) so far. Through “C-Lab Family” program, a unique professional network, all startups of C-Lab can also continue to co-operate with Samsung even after graduating from the C-Lab Outside or spinning off from C-Lab.

^[1]Started in December 2012, C-Lab Inside nurtures employees’ innovative ideas while instilling a corporate culture in which creativity is at the fore. Since 2015, Samsung has been supporting successful C-Lab projects that demonstrate great market potential and facilitating their launch as startups under the C-Lab spin-off policy.

In the spirit of celebrating Nelson Mandela International Day, the Samsung great workplace committee embarked on a journey to encourage employees to give back, by donating some essential items to those in need at a children’s home: the Hotel Hope Ministries. This initiative is part of Samsung’s ongoing Employee Volunteer Programme (EVP), which aims to help improve the lives of others in communities where it operates.

Hotel Hope Ministries is a fully registered South African non-profit organisation (NPO) established with the aim of ensuring that each and every child is brought up in a safe, happy and healthy home, so that they can grow up and develop into responsible and positive adults. Although children are their main focus, the organisation has a holistic approach to the problem of orphaned and abandoned children.

The organisation has long realised the need to focus on the cause of the problem too and not only the symptoms. In response to this, they have projects that focus on assisting Mothers and Fathers, so that they can look after themselves and their children.

Celebrated under the 2024 theme: “It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity” – Mandela Day is a day to honour the legacy of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s former President and his values, through volunteering and community service. Driven by the need to make a difference, the group of employees from the Samsung Head Office in Bryanston came together to donate over 300 items to the Children’s Home. These essential items included nappies, baby food, children’s clothes, household materials and toiletries, to name but a few.

Sihle Mooi, CEO of Hotel Hope Ministries said: “We were delighted to welcome the Samsung team to our Melville premises, where the hand over took place. We really appreciate Samsung’s partnership and donation as it will go a long way in helping us to continue pursuing our mission of loving and nurturing orphaned and abandoned children, so that they can become well-adjusted and productive adults.”

Samsung expressed just how inspired they were by the wonderful work done by Sihle and his team. Also, the electronics giant is looking forward to working with Hotel Hope Ministries on future initiatives. In an effort to eradicate child abandonment, the NPO’s work also extends into helping pregnant teenagers as well as confronting late stage abortions. They offer a full service covering, either by themselves or in partnership with others including Children’s Homes, Adoption Advocacy, Counselling Centres, Training Academy as well as Charity Shops and Trading.

Loren Naicker, Africa People Lead said: “As Samsung, we are committed to driving positive change in the lives of children and the society as a whole. Also, we are dedicated to encouraging a volunteering spirit within our businesses and empowering our employees to assist in giving back to communities where we operate.

“It is exceptionally encouraging to see our employee’s passion for giving. It is even more rewarding to witness the impact that we are making together and the incredible ripple effects that our volunteering programme has on our local communities.”

Under the local theme “Be Lekker, Buy Local”, the day kicked off with a bustling atmosphere as various vendors from the Bryanston Art and Craft Market set up shop on campus, offering an array of Africa-inspired ornaments and sculptures.

Food enthusiasts were in for a treat as a variety of traditional food vendors lined the premises. From mouth-watering South African dishes from TSA Restaurant to aromatic Indian cuisine from Lal Qila and sizzling braai from Dlicious, there was something to satisfy every craving. Not to be missed was the stall specialising in kota, a South African street food favourite also known as ‘sphatlho’ – a quarter loaf of bread filled with a variety of savoury ingredients from 2selai.

In true African style, music filled the air, adding to the festive ambience of the celebrations. The rhythmic beats and melodies resonated with the spirit of Africa, making the occasion all the more special.

As part of the festivities, Samsung ran an engaging competition leading up to Africa Day, where employees were invited to share videos showcasing their African identity. The response was overwhelming, with participants sharing personal stories, cultural traditions, and expressions of African pride. Bradley Perumal won the competition, see more here https://youtu.be/UY-PbTk8d34?feature=shared.

Africa Day at Samsung South Africa was more than just a celebration; it was a testament to the company’s commitment to embracing diversity, fostering inclusivity, and honouring the rich cultural heritage of the continent. It served as a reminder that Africa’s strength lies in its unity, its resilience, and its people – values that Samsung South Africa proudly embodies.

In South Africa, the ladies pulled out all the stops and hosted a fun-filled vibrant celebration at Samsung DQX, Design Quarter in Johannesburg. All the ladies in attendance looked exquisite and fully understood the assignment of Shades of Purple and Pink dress code. The event itself was themed ‘Inspire Inclusion’, to put out a rallying call to have more gender inclusivity. The atmosphere at the DQX store was charged with enthusiasm and empowerment as women from various departments and roles within Samsung South Africa gathered to commemorate this special occasion. The event was not only a celebration but also an opportunity for networking, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas among the talented and diverse women within the organisation.

The highlight of the day was a series of inspiring speeches delivered by some of the accomplished women leaders from Samsung South Africa. A panel of four leaders shared their personal journeys, highlighting the challenges they’ve overcome and the milestones they’ve achieved in their respective careers. These empowering stories resonated with the audience, fostering a sense of unity and motivation among the women present.

In addition to the inspiring speeches, the celebration featured interactive discussions on topics such as work-life balance, underrepresentation of women in leadership positions, suitable conditions of employment, micro-aggressions, inadequate maternity and family support. The aim was to create a space for learning and growth while encouraging the exchange of insights and experiences.

Samsung’s commitment to empowering women was on full display at the event. Among other interventions was People Group (HR) revealing updates to some policies that directly affect women. Maternity leave, which was previously a 3-months paid and 1-month unpaid leave, is now going to be 4 months paid leave (with immediate effect), with the introduction of flexi-return in the first month of resuming work. Parental leave has changed from 3 days paid and 7 unpaid to 10 days fully paid leave. Adoption leave for new-born babies is 3 months paid while for a child of up to 3 months old, it’s 2 months paid. The event also saw the launch of a new voluntary forum to empower the company’s women called Women In Samsung Electronics Africa (WISE).

Lefa Makgato, who got exposed to Samsung through one of its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiatives as an 18-year old high school learner, to now being employed within the CSI team, gave an account of how she witnessed some transformation from the time of her initial exposure to the company to date. “Previously corporate affairs within Samsung was predominantly led by men, and throughout the years there has been a drastic change and women are now leading the department. I am glad to be part of that change and to be part of the transformation,” said Makgato.

“I’m happy to see that Samsung prioritises diversity and inclusion, and proud to work for a company that has ensured inclusivity regardless of gender, where everyone is given the same opportunity to learn and grow in their careers,” said Rehema Nyambura, Mobile eXperiences (MX) Product Manager at Samsung’s East Africa office in Kenya.

“For me, inspired inclusion means no gender bias with regards to income. I want to be able to earn the same as my male counterparts if we are doing the same job. We also want to see care support for women, especially mothers, such as having a crèche in the facility that would allow us some flexibility for child care. It also means seeing women in top positions in the company so that aspiring women, young ladies can look up to them and be inspired,” said Dominica Imogirie, Consumer Electronics (CE) SCM Analyst in Samsung Nigeria.

There was a healthy combination of in-depth conversation, good food, prize giveaways, and good old fun and laughter as the attendees enjoyed themselves outside of the office. The event concluded with a symbolic gesture of unity as the women of Samsung South Africa collectively committed to continue supporting and uplifting each other in their professional journeys. Many of the smiles were also captured through pictures to mark the moment of solidarity, showcasing the strength and resilience of the women within the Samsung family.

Samsung South Africa remains dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, where women are recognised, valued, and given the opportunities to thrive.