Is A Franchise Agreement Invalid if it Does Not Comply with the Consumer Protection Act? Edging Towards Clarity – Ian Jacobsberg
The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) contains extensive regulations prescribing terms and information that must be included in franchise agreements. However, although it had been raised in several cases that a franchise agreement that the parties had concluded omitted some of the prescribed details, in none of these cases had the courts declared outright that these omissions rendered the agreements void, or even that it afforded either of the parties the option of cancelling the agreement. For example, in Steynberg v Tammy Taylor Nails Franchising No 45 (Pty) Ltd, the Court noted that the franchisee had raised the argument that the franchise …
The Day That Belongs to Every Franchisee, Franchisor, and Future Entrepreneur in South Africa
World Franchising Day is coming, and FASA is making it count. Every year, on the 11th of June, the global franchise community pauses to celebrate something remarkable: a business model that has turned ordinary people into business owners, and local brands into household names. World Franchising Day is not just a date on a calendar; it is a celebration of entrepreneurship, economic resilience, and the power of partnership. In South Africa, where unemployment remains one of the most pressing challenges of our time, franchising represents something deeply significant. It is a proven, structured pathway to business ownership, one that …
Renewed focus on localised procurement at upcoming Buy Local Summit & Expo
The importance of increased localised procurement and consumer spend will come under the spotlight at the Proudly South African Buy Local Summit & Expo, which is taking place in the backdrop of debilitating tariff hikes that the Donald Trump-led administration has slapped on South African exports to the United States. The imposition of 30% tariff increases on South African exports to the United States has reignited fears of a jobs bloodbath and has seen many industries scrambling to find alternative exports for their produce. While tariff hikes will not form part of the discussion items at the 14th edition of …
Are you ready to pitch your African brand to Saudi and Middle East investors?
Did you know that investors from the Gulf are actively seeking African brands and franchise opportunities? Will your business be ready when the opportunity comes? As part of the journey toward CEO Drawing Board 8.0 – Egyptian–Saudi International Franchise Expo (FRANEX 2026) in Cairo, we are hosting our second preparatory webinar to help African entrepreneurs prepare for investment and partnership opportunities with Saudi and Middle East investors. Webinar Topic: Preparing for Your Pitch to Saudi & Middle East Investors Date: March 16th, 2026 Time: 12:00pm GMT+1 🔗 Register here: https://ceodrawingboardfranex.businessroom.io/ In this session we will cover: * What Saudi and …
FASA Conference 2026 Draws Strong Industry Backing as Key Platform for Franchise Growth
Alderman Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, Executive Mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni FASA Conference 2026 Draws Strong Industry Backing as Key Platform for Franchise Growth The City of Ekurhuleni (CoE), leading financial institutions, sector education and training authorities and industry bodies have reaffirmed their commitment to franchising through support of the Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA) Conference and Expo 2026. The event takes place on 19 February at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Centre in Boksburg, Ekhurhuleni. “The CoE is proud to partner with FASA to empower our SMMEs and drive sustainable economic growth,” states Phakamile Mbengashe, HOD: Communication, …
Don’t Miss Your Seat at the Table: FASA 2026 Conference & EXPO
Secure your place at the annual FASA 2026 Conference and EXPO event. On the 19th of February 2026, FASA Members, industry leaders, innovative entrepreneurs, and forward-thinking investors will converge for the Franchise Association FASA Speaker Post 29 aAll Speakers 2 (2)of South Africa’s Conference & EXPO. This isn’t just another business event; it’s where the future of South African franchising takes shape. Why you need to be there: The theme says it all: Building the South African Economy through Franchising. While others talk about economic growth, you’ll be amongst those actively driving it. This is where partnerships are forged, game-changing insights …
Building an Inclusive Economy: FASA 2026 Conference and Expo Unlocks the Next Wave of South African Entrepreneurship
As the countdown begins for the 2026 National Conference & Expo, the Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA) is highlighting the sector’s pivotal role as the country’s premier engine for job creation and inclusive growth. Scheduled for Thursday, 19 February 2026, at the Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg, the event will showcase how franchising is evolving to meet the challenges of a modern South African economy. Since its initial announcement last year, the conference themed “Building the South African Economy through Franchising” has drawn significant attention from government and private sectors alike, as franchising now contributes …
Services SETA Opens 2026/27 Discretionary Grant Applications
The Services SETA, a proud sponsor of the FASA Conference and Expo happening in February 2026 invites sector employers, employer associations, professional bodies, recognised trade unions and accredited Skills Development Providers to apply for Discretionary Grant funding for 2026/27. The grant supports Learning Programmes aligned with the Sector Skills Plan, Strategic Plan, 2026/27 Annual Performance Plan and National Skills Development Plan 2030, focusing on developing scarce and critical skills through workplace-based learning. Application Period Applications open: Monday, 10 November 2025 at 08:00 Applications close: Tuesday, 9 December 2025 at 15:00 Late, manual or emailed submissions will not be accepted. …
Strengthening Connections: FASA’s Member Engagement Initiative
At FASA, we believe that meaningful engagement drives mutual success. Our management team has launched an innovative member outreach program to deepen relationships and foster collaboration across the franchising community. Taking FASA Directly to You Recognising that face-to-face connections create lasting impact, FASA leadership has embarked on a nationwide member engagement journey. Our team is visiting member locations to: Provide personalised updates on association programs and initiatives Share critical industry developments and market insights Gather valuable feedback directly from business leaders Strengthen the partnership between FASA and our member community Learning Through Dialogue These on-site engagements have already yielded invaluable …
Shaping the Future of Franchising in South Africa
Strategic Review: Positioning FASA for Excellence in 2025 The Franchising Association of South Africa (FASA) is proud to announce a comprehensive strategic review initiative designed to strengthen our mandate and enhance our value to the franchising community. Driving Strategic Transformation In anticipation of 2025, FASA has partnered with leading strategic consultants to conduct an in-depth organisational review. This forward-thinking initiative focuses on three critical pillars: Mandate Refinement – Ensuring our core mission aligns with the evolving needs of South Africa’s dynamic franchising landscape Strategic Repositioning – Enhancing FASA’s role as the premier voice and resource for franchising excellence Continuous Improvement …
Shaping the Future of Franchising in South Africa
Strategic Review: Positioning FASA for Excellence in 2025 The Franchising Association of South Africa (FASA) is proud to announce a comprehensive strategic review initiative designed to strengthen our mandate and enhance our value to the franchising community. Driving Strategic Transformation In anticipation of 2025, FASA has partnered with leading strategic consultants to conduct an in-depth organisational review. This forward-thinking initiative focuses on three critical pillars: Mandate Refinement – Ensuring our core mission aligns with the evolving needs of South Africa’s dynamic franchising landscape Strategic Repositioning – Enhancing FASA’s role as the premier voice and resource for franchising excellence Continuous Improvement …
Exhibition Opportunity: North-West MSME Mega Expo 2025
The North-West MSME Mega Expo is taking place on 9 and 10 December 2025 at Sun City, and you are invited to be part of this prestigious event. Organised by the North-West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), this flagship provincial event is designed to strengthen the MSME ecosystem, unlock market access opportunities, and foster collaboration between government, the private sector, and development partners. As a key stakeholder in South Africa’s economic landscape, your organisation’s participation will play a vital role in empowering local MSMEs and showcasing the programmes, services, and support available to them. Why Exhibit? …
Your Voice, Amplified: Exclusive FASA Member Rates on Radio Pulpit
Radio Pulpit, in collaboration with FASA, has a special negotiated discount offer for you, tailored especially for FASA Members, to help you increase your brand awareness. As a valued member of FASA, your business represents the quality and entrepreneurial spirit that South Africans trust. At Radio Pulpit / Radiokansel, we share that same commitment to integrity, service, and community. We would like to invite you to partner with us by advertising your products or services on one of South Africa’s most trusted radio platforms. With a loyal, values-driven audience that spans across language, culture, and region, Radio Pulpit offers an …
RealPay Drives Digitised Payments Across Africa
Since 2003, RealPay has been at the forefront of transforming financial transactions across Africa – empowering businesses from small startups to multinational corporations – to optimise cash flow, reduce fraud, and embrace the digital economy. Operating seamlessly across countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini, Zambia, Lesotho, Uganda, and Kenya, RealPay advances financial integration through technology. Our secure, accessible, and locally compliant solutions are tailored to meet the unique needs of each market – including point of sale, digital mandates, PayShap, Instant EFT, In-app payments, ecommerce, and recurring collections – driving digitised payments and enabling inclusive growth across the …
Why your franchisees need to be in the room for this conversation
Every franchisor wants consistency. Every franchisee wants autonomy. Somewhere between those two goals lies the secret to brand strength — and it’s found when both sides talk, listen, and learn together. The FASA Virtual Networking events is all about: building systems where execution excellence becomes everyone’s business. …
Leadership’s role in making values stick: why actions trump words every time
You’ve crafted thoughtful values statements. You’ve built decision trees that translate those values into actionable guidance. Your training materials are polished, and your operations manuals reference values throughout. So why do you still see team members making decisions that seem completely disconnected from what you say you stand for? The answer often lies in the gap between what leaders say about values and what their actions actually communicate. In franchise operations, this leadership challenge is amplified—franchisors must model values for franchisees, who must then model them for their teams, creating multiple layers where mixed messages can derail even the best …
From words on walls to daily decisions: the values challenge every franchise faces
Walk into any franchise headquarters or location, and you’ll likely spot them, those carefully crafted values statements hanging on walls, printed on business cards, or featured prominently on websites. “Integrity.” “Excellence.” “Customer First.” “Innovation.” The words are inspiring, aspirational, and often remarkably similar across different brands and industries. …
Turning Customers into Lifelong Fans: Insights from FASA’s Virtual Networking Session
At the latest FASA Virtual Networking session, the conversation zeroed in on a universal business truth: customer experience is the ultimate differentiator. Why Customer Experience Matters More Than Ever Peach Olive, presenting for PetroCONNECT, opened with a clear challenge, retaining customers is far more cost-effective than constantly chasing new ones. Research shows it costs several times more to acquire a new customer than to keep an existing one, and brands that consistently deliver exceptional experiences grow faster and enjoy higher loyalty. Peach introduced the five pillars of the customer journey, from initial awareness to post-purchase advocacy, showing how every stage …
Franchisee performance is a leadership problem not a franchisee problem
Let’s be honest: When a store underperforms, the default response from many franchisors is to look at the franchisee. “They’re not following the system.” “They’re not cut out for this.” “We need to tighten compliance.” But what if that lens is broken? What if poor franchisee performance is actually a leadership issue? Because here’s the truth no one talks about in franchise circles: Franchisees don’t fail because they’re lazy. They fail because they’re unsupported. The Myth of “Bad Franchisees” Yes, sometimes you pick the wrong partner. But most franchisees don’t wake up trying to fail. They’re often passionate, committed, and …






























































































































