WeeklySA_AdminPROSPECTS: Next year’s annual Franchise Association of South Africa conference will gather industry leaders, entrepreneurs and policymakers to reimagine franchising as a catalyst for jobs, growth and economic transformation…
By WSAM Reporter
The Franchise Association of SA (FASA) will host its landmark 2026 Annual Conference at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg on February 19, bringing renewed urgency to the role franchising can play in rebuilding South Africa’s fragile economy.
The event marks FASA’s first major in-person conference since the COVID-19 pandemic and the first under the leadership of the association’s newly appointed CEO, Freddy Makgato.
Makgato says the conference arrives at a critical moment for the country, as unemployment, low growth and limited entrepreneurial opportunities continue to restrain South Africa’s economic prospects.
While a range of government programmes—from learnerships and internships to TVET training—exist, their impact has been largely fragmented.
“South Africa continues to face persistently high unemployment, sluggish economic growth, and limited opportunities for meaningful business expansion,” Makgato notes.
“We believe the franchise business model represents one of the most underutilised yet powerful mechanisms for job creation, entrepreneurship development and inclusive economic growth. This conference will serve as a platform to reimagine how franchising can become a central catalyst in rebuilding our economy”.
The franchising sector currently contributes roughly 15% to the national GDP, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs across industries ranging from food and retail to healthcare, education, and professional services.
FASA believes that increasing the sector’s contribution to 18% or even 20% could generate sizeable benefits, including expanded SME activity, wider access to structured skills training, and greater investor interest—both domestic and international.
The conference will bring together industry leaders, policymakers, investors and entrepreneurs to explore how franchising can align with national economic priorities.
Focus areas include:
• Economic growth and sustainability: Developing scalable and resilient franchise models;
• Job creation and youth employment: Using proven franchise systems to tackle unemployment;
• Skills development: Harnessing franchising as a platform for mentorship and business education;
• Digital transformation: Integrating AI and technology into franchise operations;
• Regional and international expansion: Opening new markets for South African brands; and
• Franchise financing: Connecting entrepreneurs to funding and investment partners.
Makgato says the gathering will go beyond traditional dialogue.
“We must fundamentally rethink collaboration between business, government and civil society. Franchising can serve as a powerful engine for inclusive growth, provided we unlock its full potential”.
Amid ongoing structural challenges—including youth unemployment topping 50%, energy insecurity and sluggish GDP growth—the franchise model offers a proven system for reducing business failure and accelerating entrepreneurship.
Franchising provides aspiring business owners with established systems, brand recognition, and ongoing support. It enables faster replication of successful businesses, supports local job creation, strengthens supplier partnerships and opens pathways to business ownership for individuals who may lack traditional business experience.
FASA’s 2026 conference aims to position franchising not just as a business model, but as a strategic instrument for national recovery and long-term prosperity.
