Delivering a keynote address at the Afrika Kaizen Awards 2025 (AKA) as well as the National Productivity Awards held in Johannesburg today, 28 October 2025, Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth said Kaizen Philosophy is an African necessity.

The awards are just on the heels of the Africa Kaizen Annual Conference, which concluded earlier today. The events held under the theme: “African Industrialization through Fostering Competitive Firms and Value Chain on the Continent" are hosted by The Department of Employment and Labour's entity- Productivity SA.

“Kaizen is not an imported concept. It is an African necessity, a mindset of discipline, accountability, and progress. It is how nations transform from potential to performance," Meth said.

According to Minister Meth, productivity is the heartbeat of competitiveness. “It is the bridge between effort and impact, between investment and outcomes. It determines whether our factories expand or close, whether our workers upskill or remain trapped in cycles of low-wage work."

Meth told the gathering that the government's mission is to align productivity with industrial policy, skills development, and localisation; embed Kaizen principles across the public and private sectors, as well as redefine efficiency as a patriotic duty.

She warned business, labour, and government that the productivity revolution will fail if each operates in silos. “Collaboration must be our competitive edge. The social compact must not be a slogan; it must be a living instrument that drives workplace innovation, inclusive growth, and sustainable employment," Minister Meth cautioned.

According to Meth, the time is no longer enough to speak about potential. She said the time for talk has expired, and the global marketplace does not reward intentions, but it rewards execution.

“Let us transform Kaizen from a philosophy into a movement and let that movement propel our economy toward the promise of decent work, industrial growth, and inclusive prosperity," Minister Meth.

The Africa Kaizen Awards recognise African companies and institutions that have embraced the Kaizen philosophy, and on the other hand, the National Productivity Awards recognise local Small, Micro-Medium Enterprises MMEs that have broken barriers and redefined what productive excellence means.

The AKA 2025 had 28 entrants with three categories being: Micro- and Small-scale organisations, Medium-scale organisations, and Large-scale organisations. The winners in the Micro- and Small-scale organisations are SS Business School and Coronary Care unit at Dr A.G. Jeetoo Hospital, both from Mauritius; For the Medium-scale organisations, the winners are Daylight Applied Technologies PLC from Ethiopia and Mauritius Prison Service from Mauritius. The victors for the Large-scale organisations are Leoni Wiring Systems Tunisia and Sopal, all from Tunisia.

The National Productivity Awards winners are MAWASHA CHEMICALS (PTY) Ltd and MEM WORKS (PTY) Ltd in the Competitiveness Improvement Services (CIS); GLOBAL CUISINE (PTY) Ltd in Business Turnaround and Recovery Programme in the small-size category; Ngcongwane Trading Enterprise CC Trading as Obees Brands in Business Turnaround and Recovery Programme in the medium size category; CAPEWELL (PTY) Ltd in the Quality and Productivity Improvement (QPI) in the micro and small size category; HARNTECH (PTY) Ltd in the QPI in the medium size category.

Minister Meth took the opportunity to congratulate the new Productivity SA Board under the leadership of Zola Baba Tshefu." To Ms Tshefu and the entire Board, congratulations on your appointment, and thank you for availing yourself to serve the nation through this critical institution. Your stewardship comes at a time when South Africa and indeed Africa are redefining productivity as a strategic lever for inclusive growth, industrial competitiveness, and sustainable employment. Lead with courage, govern with integrity, and inspire with vision," she said.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Teboho Thejane

Departmental Spokesperson

082 697 0694/ teboho.thejane@labour.gov.za

-ENDS-

Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour

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