The Media Online’s weekly round-up of media business moves, all in one place.
The BIG move
Joe Public makes Virgin Bet’s first brand campaign outside the UK
Virgin Bet South Africa has launched ‘A Good Bet’, its first brand campaign outside the United Kingdom, created by award-winning South African agency Joe Public and shot by Darling Productions.
The campaign moves away from the outcome-led conventions of the betting category. Rather than leading on winning, ‘A Good Bet’ focuses on the enjoyment of sport and entertainment – from the entertainment of watching a game and the excitement of casino play, to the conversations and shared moments around both – introducing South African audiences to the Virgin Bet proposition through a distinctly local lens.
Brendan Hoffmann, executive creative director at Joe Public, said: “To launch Virgin Bet in a highly competitive market, we needed to make it look, sound and feel different to the usual betting ad. The TV ad is a celebration of what A Good Bet is – and that’s so much more than just winning. It’s the highs and lows, the excitement and anticipation, the big moments and little ones, brought to life in a uniquely Virgin way for a richly diverse South African target market.”
Chloe Coetsee, director at Darling Productions, said: “The idea was to hone in on the human truth of how a good bet really feels. The small, instinctive moments of celebration and delight. The slower frame rate meant we could suspend the performances just enough to give it a subtle but still cinematic confidence to cut through a category that usually shouts. It was great to work with a brand and creative team doing something so different in the category.”
The campaign is being rolled out across television, out-of-home, sports programming, digital and social, with the start of the sporting season providing a key moment to build brand visibility.
People moves
Penquin strengthens leadership team
Penquin has announced the appointment of Albert De Andrade as chief creative officer and Lerato Moleko as strategy director, strengthening its leadership team as the agency continues to evolve its integrated offering.
The double appointment marks a significant milestone in Penquin’s growth trajectory, uniting decades of combined industry experience across creative excellence, business consulting, brand strategy and commercial growth. Together, De Andrade and Moleko will lead the agency’s creative and strategic engines, reinforcing Penquin’s commitment to being a growth challenger partner to clients.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Albert and Lerato to the Penquin leadership team,” says Veronica Moleele, CEO at Penquin. “Both bring an exceptional depth of experience, but perhaps more importantly, they share our belief that the best work happens when strategy, creativity and business thinking come together from the very beginning.”
Saki Mafundikwa and Dr Russell Kennedy join 21-speaker lineup for Pan Afrikan Design Week 2026
Zimbabwean design scholar Saki Mafundikwa and Australian Indigenous design expert Dr Russell Kennedy are among 21 speakers confirmed for Pan Afrikan Design Week 2026, bringing together creative leaders, researchers and change-makers to explore one central question: How do we design to thrive?
Pan Afrikan Design Week 2026 runs from 21–24 October, with the three-day conference taking place from 21–23 October at Workshop17 in the Watershed at the V&A Waterfront. Speakers have been confirmed from Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Australia, with a broad range of delegates expected from across Afrika and beyond.
Mafundikwa, the Zimbabwean design scholar, TED speaker and author of Afrikan Alphabets, and Dr Kennedy, co-author of the International Indigenous Design Charter, will join FORMALL Design Lab founder Juliet Kavishe in a day-one dialogue exploring Indigenous wisdom, cultural memory and the value of Afrika’s visual languages and design codes.
CFI South Africa appoints François Du Plessis as CEO
CFI Financial Group, a leading global online trading provider, has appointed François du Plessis as chief executive officer of CFI South Africa, reinforcing the Group’s long-term commitment to the South African market and its continued investment in local leadership.
Du Plessis brings extensive leadership experience across the online trading industry, with a strong track record spanning business development, commercial strategy, partnerships and regional growth. Throughout his career, he has played a key role in expanding market presence, strengthening client engagement and driving business growth across South Africa and the wider region.
Business moves
The Jester Group unveils new structure for next phase of growth
The Jester Group has brought its sports, marketing and talent businesses together under a single group structure, formalising the way its different areas of expertise will operate under the Jester name.
As part of the change, Oxigen Communications will become Jester Integrated Marketing, marking the next chapter for the marketing business established in 2011. The existing team, client relationships and core marketing services remain in place, with the business expanding its capabilities in areas including sales enablement, lead generation, AI and automation.
The Jester Group will provide the overarching structure for three specialist businesses:
- Jester Sports & Entertainment: Sponsorship, commercial rights, sports properties and entertainment.
- Jester Integrated Marketing: Marketing, digital, creative, sales enablement, lead generation and AI solutions.
- Jester Talent: Talent management, representation and commercial partnerships.
Each business retains its specialist focus and client relationships while having access to the capabilities and expertise available across the wider Group.
GoTyme Bank partners with 947 Joburg Day
947 Joburg Day, one of Gauteng’s most anticipated music and lifestyle events, is returning to Crocodile Creek Polo Club in Lanseria on Saturday, 5 September 2026, with an exciting new partnership. GoTyme Bank has joined as an official bank partner to the event, which promises a day packed with South Africa’s biggest music stars, unforgettable experiences and thousands of fans celebrating together under the spring sun.
The collaboration signals GoTyme Bank’s strategic commitment to building meaningful connections with South Africans in culturally relevant spaces.
“The Joburg Day partnership is an important opportunity for GoTyme Bank to connect with South Africans in a way that goes beyond traditional banking,” says Lucia Malapane, head of brand at GoTyme Bank. “947 Joburg Day has become one of Gauteng’s most loved and recognisable live music and lifestyle events, bringing together thousands of people to celebrate local music, culture and community.”
Student safety should be part of the learning experience
The reality is that while many tertiary education institutions have made significant investments in security infrastructure and technology, no campus exists in isolation from South Africa’s broader security challenges.
With this in mind, Richfield has partnered with Namola to give its students access to affordable personal safety technology that protects them both on and off campus. Students can make use of the Namola app’s security and emergency response features at a preferential monthly subscription fee, adding a practical layer of wellbeing to their education experience.
Adam Kelly, group chief commercial officer at Richfield, says all education institutions have a responsibility to consider the safety and wellbeing of their students in and beyond the classroom. “Students should be able to study, commute, socialise and live their lives with a sense of security. By making personal safety support more readily available, we are helping to create an environment in which our students can focus on their education and pursue their goals with greater confidence.”
Namola brings private armed and medical response, live location tracking, community safety features and map-based safety awareness together in one app.
The partnership also extends its impact beyond student security. Every Richfield student, family member or alumnus who subscribes to Namola automatically contributes towards a bursary fund that will help other students gain a tertiary education qualification at Richfield.
South African industry organisations featured at the 17th Durban FilmMart
The Durban FilmMart remains a significant gateway to the African and global film industry for film professionals. This year, the programme, which features panel discussions, masterclasses, pitch forums and networking opportunities, also offers a focus on South African cinema through its SA in Focus programming stream. This focus brings together the nation’s most influential industry bodies, guilds and creative professionals to address the current state and future of the local audiovisual sector.
Taking place under the theme Shifting Worlds: Turning Towards Ourselves, the 17th Durban FilmMart, scheduled for 9–12 October 2026, once again anchors conversations about the health and future of the local industry within the wider market.
“The local industry is navigating real challenges,” says Durban FilmMart Institute director Magdalene Reddy. “The 2026 DFM has been programmed with a view that answers begin at home: it begins in the strength of our guilds, the ability of our practitioners to pivot, and our willingness to have honest conversations about what needs to change. By bringing together the organisations that represent South African film professionals, DFM 2026 reaffirms that a thriving local industry is the foundation for everything else we build internationally.”
Deadline looms for mobile network operators to implement their zero-rating obligations
The clock is ticking for South Africa’s major mobile network operators to fulfil their legal obligation to zero-rate information and services that carry social value. Companies including MTN, Vodacom and Cell C have been given until 15 January 2027 to make the digital content of public benefit organisations (PBOs) data-free for users.
The zero-rating requirement is not a corporate social responsibility initiative; it’s a condition attached to the multi-billion-rand spectrum auction held by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) in 2022. The expected revenues foregone were factored into the bid prices by the network operators. But ICASA has yet to indicate how it intends to hold operators accountable.
In a country with unequal access to the internet and high data costs, the zero-rating of digital content is a bridge across the digital divide that could connect people to information for education, social services, healthcare and job seeking.
“Almost every home in South Africa has a mobile phone, but many in poor communities can’t afford the cost of data. This means the tools for stimulating socio-economic change are out of reach for millions of people in a country where barriers to connectivity and access to information and resources are a systemic choke which reinforces inequality,” explains David Harrison, CEO of the DG Murray Trust (DGMT).
“When content that carries social value is zero-rated, new mothers can access trusted information about breastfeeding and nutrition, preschool teachers can tap into support networks and receive training, and young people can be linked to work opportunities,” Harrison adds.
How Bothners and The Ear Academy are inspiring school music appreciation through UGC
Midday breaks and music classrooms across South Africa are filling with sound as thousands of students get creative for the Chakalaka Challenge, a nationwide campaign inspiring schools to share their musical spirit.
The seven-week initiative invites schools, classes and student groups to put their own spin on Boom Chakalaka, an original track from music education platform The Ear Academy. From full-class body percussion routines and instrumental covers to dance choreography and original vocal and dance remixes, the challenge celebrates open participation and creativity over technical perfection.
Beyond the excitement online and in classrooms, the movement shines a light on a critical issue: when school budgets tighten, arts and culture education is often the first to face cuts. By offering free access to downloadable music stems and simple entry guidelines, the challenge gives every school a platform to express itself while highlighting real resourcing gaps.
Schools, classes and student groups across South Africa can still enter the challenge by uploading a video or music submission at chakalakachallenge.com and sharing it publicly on social media using #ChakalakaChallenge. All entries must be submitted before the deadline on 19 September 2026, with the winning school standing a chance to receive R15,000 in new musical instruments.
Africa’s most powerful AI Cloud launches in South Africa
Stratos Lab (South African neocloud provider), ECOBLOX (global AI infrastructure provider) and Digital Parks Africa (South African data centre) are officially launching Africa’s most powerful AI Cloud, bringing a massive cluster of 50+ NVIDIA B300 servers (400+ GPUs) directly to South Africa.
This isn’t just a hardware upgrade; it’s a foundational shift for sovereign AI in the region, delivering exascale performance for Africa. Historically, African enterprises and researchers have relied on overseas cloud providers, facing high latency, data sovereignty concerns and steep egress costs. This deployment directly addresses those hurdles, alongside localised bottlenecks such as power density, cooling and hardware lead times.
South African youth innovation earns a place on the world stage
As South Africa prepares its youth for a future shaped by digital transformation, artificial intelligence and rapidly changing industries, the country’s next generation of thinkers is already proving that innovation does not only come from global technology hubs. It is also being built here at home by young people who understand local challenges first-hand and are developing practical, purpose-led solutions for their communities. What many of these innovators need now is access to platforms, resources and networks that can help take their ideas beyond their immediate environments and scale them for greater impact.
This September, one of those South African innovations will be showcased on an international stage when Talita Boodhram, chief impact officer at MiDesk Global, represents MiDesk at the International Festival of Youth 2026 in Yekaterinburg, Russia.
Taking place from 11–17 September, the festival will bring together 10,000 young people from 191 countries, creating a space for young people to exchange ideas, develop solutions and build connections across borders.
For Boodhram, the festival is an opportunity to showcase the kind of innovation and problem-solving already coming out of South Africa. Since 2016, she has been part of MiDesk’s journey to address a familiar education challenge through a practical, locally developed solution.
Campaign moves
WONDERBAG launches limited-edition Bowl Cosy Collection for Winter Warmer Campaign
WONDERBAG is marking the start of its August Winter Warmer campaign with the launch of a limited-edition Wonderbag Bowl Cosy Collection – a practical kitchen accessory designed to keep meals warmer for longer while reflecting the brand’s ongoing commitment to thoughtful, sustainable design.
Suitable for everything from soups and stews to porridge, curries and pasta dishes, the Bowl Cosy fits around most standard-sized bowls, helping to insulate hot meals while making them more comfortable to hold. Whether it’s a leisurely breakfast, a quick lunch or dinner around the family table, the Bowl Cosy is designed to add a little more comfort and warmth to everyday mealtimes.
The reason behind its limited availability is closely linked to the brand’s sustainability philosophy. Each Bowl Cosy is crafted using carefully selected pieces of the colourful Wonderbag fabrics that remain after the production of the brand’s iconic retained-heat cookers. By finding a purpose for every possible piece of fabric, WONDERBAG can reduce material waste while creating a functional new product that celebrates the distinctive prints and colours the brand has become known for.
Netflix and Stella Artois bring the perfect serve to The Gentlemen Season 2
Stella Artois and Netflix have announced The Gentlemen’s Serve, an integrated global partnership built around the highly anticipated second season of The Gentlemen. This marks the first brand partner for the series and the first true multi-market brand collaboration between Netflix and AB InBev, bringing one of the world’s leading premium beer brands into Guy Ritchie’s stylish yet gritty universe. The partnership is anchored by The Gentlemen’s leading man Theo James and Stella Artois ambassador Sir David Beckham.
Developed by creative agency GUT Amsterdam in close collaboration with the Netflix Brand Studio, “The Gentlemen’s Serve” centres on a simple creative idea: perfectly serving a Stella Artois is more than a pour; it’s a power play. The content brings that idea to life through the hero film, The Auction, and a collection of vignettes detailing the brand’s iconic five-step pouring ritual: The Clean-Up, The Sacrifice, The Angle, The Cut and The Judgement.
The partnership takes shape in the US, the UK, Canada, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea and invites fans deeper into the series. At the centre of the content is James, in character as Eddie Horniman, opposite Beckham – two of the world’s most recognisable stars, whose pairing extends the world of The Gentlemen well beyond the show’s core fanbase.
Making moves
FAIRLADY Hot! Time Out is back
FAIRLADY HOT! Time Out, the honest, informative and empowering event for women in peri- and menopause, is coming back to The Venue, Melrose Arch, on Saturday, 19 September 2026.
Following the success of the inaugural Johannesburg event in 2025, FAIRLADY HOT! Time Out hosts expert-led discussions, brand experiences and community connection – breaking the silence around menopause and perimenopause in its own unique, unapologetic way.
This year’s expert panel features five leading voices in women’s health and wellness:
- Dr Mpume Zenda: OBGynae & Sexologist
- Tasvi Naik: Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist
- Xoli Madlala: Menopause Coach & Author
- Nicki Brivik: Sex Coach & Author
- Dr Maureen Allem: Expert Dermatologist & Aesthetician
The event is brought to audiences by Bobbi Brown, Cipla, Jockey and Vita Serena, offering attendees the opportunity to interact directly with trusted brands in the women’s health, beauty and wellness space.
Tickets include the expert panel discussion, live Q&A with the experts, snacks and canapés, lucky draw prizes, access to all activation stands and a gift bag.
- Date: Saturday, 19 September 2026
- Time: 10am
- Venue: The Venue, Melrose Arch, Johannesburg
- Tickets: Quicket
Cape Town International Kite Festival puts mental health at the heart of #ColourTheSky!
Now in its 32nd year, the festival returns to Youngsfield Military Base in Ottery on 24 and 25 October 2026, inviting South Africans to #ColourTheSky while helping to shine a brighter light on mental health.
Every October, people gather to watch hundreds of kites rise above Cape Town. But behind the colour, movement and spectacle is a much bigger question: why do we fly? For the Cape Town International Kite Festival, the answer has always been about more than kites.
Hosted by Cape Mental Health, the festival is a celebration of hope, connection and community – but it is also an opportunity to have conversations that too often remain unspoken.
Mental health affects far more people than we may realise. The South Africa Stress and Health (SASH) study estimated that 16.5% of adults experienced a common mental disorder within a 12-month period, while around 30.3% experienced one during their lifetime. The South African Mental Health Conference (SAMHC), held in Johannesburg in April 2023, noted that common mental illnesses are estimated to have increased three- to seven-fold since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019. Yet access to support remains a significant challenge, with stigma, limited resources and other barriers preventing many people from getting the help they need.
Globally, the picture is equally urgent. The World Health Organization estimates that more than one billion people live with a mental health condition, while most do not receive adequate care. WHO also identifies stigma and discrimination as persistent barriers to people seeking and receiving support.
