Season 14 Episode 2

Sarah Mthintso on inclusion and grassroots entrepreneurship in South Africa

26 January 2026 · 18:34 min

South Africa’s growth story isn’t being written in boardrooms or policy documents — it’s being built on the ground by small businesses, township entrepreneurs, and rural innovators. In this episode of Business Talk, host Michael Avery speaks to Sarah Mthintso, Executive Director of the SAB… Foundation, about why entrepreneurship is one of the country’s most powerful tools for job creation, inclusion, and long-term economic resilience.

Sarah shares how the foundation identifies and supports high-impact entrepreneurs — particularly women, youth, people with disabilities, and rural businesses often overlooked by mainstream funders. The conversation explores what it really takes to move from survival to scale, why inclusion must be designed into support programmes from day one, and how patient capital, mentorship, and ecosystem support can unlock meaningful job creation outside South Africa’s major metros. It’s a grounded, optimistic look at where real economic change is happening — and how to accelerate it. Show more