31/07/2026
SAPCC Co-Hosts Insightful Discussion on Navigating Business in Uncertain Times
Last night, the South African Portuguese Chamber of Commerce, together with BDO South Africa and the Belgian Chamber of Commerce in South Africa, hosted an engaging discussion on navigating and growing businesses in uncertain conditions.
Moderated by Ricardo Teixeira, Managing Director of BDO Wealth, the conversation featured valuable perspectives from Andries Kotzee, Chief Investment Officer of Celerity Investments, and Zaf Mahomed, Chief Financial Officer of Oceana Group.
The discussion moved beyond economic forecasts and focused on practical lessons for business leaders:
• Take the long-term view. Norway’s disciplined management of its natural resources demonstrated the importance of retaining ownership, managing cash flows responsibly and diversifying globally. Similarly, successful businesses make decisions with a 10-, 20- or even 30-year horizon, rather than reacting to every headline.
• Focus on what you can control. Currency movements, regulation, infrastructure and political uncertainty will always create challenges. Resilient businesses concentrate on their assets, cash flows, relationships and operational performance and turn obstacles into opportunities.
• Prepare rather than predict. The greatest risks are often those we cannot see. Diversification, strong balance sheets and multiple sources of revenue can be more valuable than trying to forecast every possible disruption.
• Embrace AI as an enabler. AI gives smaller businesses access to capabilities previously available only to large organisations. The opportunity is not simply to save time, but to use that time to think more critically, improve productivity and serve customers better.
• Cash remains king. Revenue and accounting profits matter, but a business must ultimately convert its activity into cash. Working-capital discipline, debtor management and sustainable margins remain fundamental.
Perhaps the strongest message of the evening was one of grounded optimism: conditions will never be perfect, but South African businesses have repeatedly demonstrated resilience, ingenuity and the determination to succeed.
Thank you to our speakers, partners and guests for contributing to such a thoughtful conversation and to BDO South Africa for hosting us. Events like these remind us of the value of strong business communities, shared experience and meaningful connections.
