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Stuff from Johannesburg

Opening Doors for SA’s Women and Youth

Johannesburg: Hyundai Automotive South Africa has been named a finalist in the 2026 Future of HR Awards, a recognition that celebrates the company’s growing focus on women and youth empowerment, skills creation and an inclusive workplace as strategic drivers of business growth.

According to Ralf Fletcher, Top Media CEO and organizer, the awards celebrate the visionaries, innovators, and change-makers who are actively shaping the future of work across Africa.

“Hyundai Automotive South Africa’s nomination highlights your exceptional dedication, leadership and impactful HR practices within your organisation. Being recognized as a finalist places the company among an elite group of industry pioneers setting the benchmark for organisational excellence.”

The recognition comes at a time when Hyundai is expanding its investment in South Africa’s talent pipeline. Its national apprenticeship programme supports 338 active apprentices, including 80 women whilst challenging traditional gender barriers in automotive technical trades.

“For us, empowerment is not a programme sitting parallel to our core business however it is part of how we build the business,” said Christine Masinga, Human Resources Director at Hyundai Automotive South Africa. “Whether it is giving a young person their first opportunity, creating pathways for women into technical careers or enabling our employees to grow into leadership, our responsibility is to create meaningful opportunities that translate into lasting capability.”

The scale of youth demand was highlighted by Hyundai’s recent Youth Employment Service (YES) programme, which attracted 33,000 applications for just 150 positions. The response reflected both the appetite for opportunity and the urgency of South Africa’s youth unemployment challenge.

“Our empowerment agenda is about building capability for the future of the automotive industry,” added Stanley Anderson, CEO of Hyundai Automotive South Africa. “Our responsibility is to create opportunities that allow people to enter, grow and ultimately lead.”

Powered by South African Local Government Association (SALGA), the Future of HR Conference/Awards takes place on 14-15 October in Fourways, Gauteng and brings together leading human resources and business executives to explore the future of work across Africa.

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The Maboneng Precinct: Architecture

Maboneng is architecturally distinct because it rejects the “demolish and rebuild” philosophy. Instead, it embraces adaptive reuse. The Bioscope, South Africa’s only independent cinema, operates out of an old industrial space; The Living Room is a lush rooftop oasis that offers panoramic views of the skyline from atop a concrete shell; and the Museum of African Design (MOAD) was housed in a massive 1970s warehouse. This aesthetic—exposed brick, industrial steel, and vibrant street art—has become the visual shorthand for “cool” Johannesburg. The murals here are particularly significant; they aren’t just decoration but are often massive social commentaries by local and international street artists like Faith47 and ROA, turning the very walls of the city into a public gallery.

However, Maboneng is also at the center of a complex debate regarding gentrification and social integration. Critics argue that while the precinct is a “bubble” of safety and creativity, it often stands in stark contrast to the surrounding poverty of the inner city. The challenge for Maboneng has always been how to be an engine for economic growth without alienating the residents who lived there during the “dark” years. In response, many initiatives within the precinct focus on local entrepreneurship, such as the Market on Main, which provides a platform for local food vendors and designers every Sunday.