SUNDAY TIMES - September 24 2023 1

Surveys Sunday Times

SEE THE
WORLD
THROUGH
THE YOUTH’S
FIRST-HAND
PERSPECTIVE

#STGenNext
2 September 24 2023 - SUNDAY TIMES

Sunday Times
Surveys
SEE YOUTH DIFFERENTLY

Foreword Foreword

Taking Smart,
charge dynamic,
of their unique
own lives Speak their language,
on their platforms
Today’s youth are self-
S
unday Times is honoured and excited Pule Molebeledi, Arena’s MD of news and

reliant and optimistic Ntombi Mkhwanazi, youth platform

manager at Yellowwood
to be involved in the country’s most
extensive research into the minds of
media

our youth market. an advertising and a readership perspective —

T
he youth of South Africa are grappling importantly — relevance that can result in Now in its 19th year, the Sunday Times as to what the youth feel about our titles and
with a barrage of issues, including un- building meaningful and potentially lifelong GenNext study is the leading annual youth what we can offer advertisers that meet their
employment, economic struggles, en- relationships. brand preference and consumer behaviour needs.
vironmental disruptions and rolling The 2023 GenNext Youth Behaviour Re- survey. It’s vital for brands to capture the The GenNext Survey 2023, conducted by
blackouts. These challenges have disrupted port seeks to uncover insights over a three- hearts of the youth market, a sector that our partner Yellowwood, clearly identifies
their daily lives and created an ambivalent at- year period (2021-2023). This invaluable wields incredible annual spending power. which brands are sought after.
titude towards the world. knowledge can help drive organisational Combining current and historical data, the In keeping with youth trends of “now, next
The youth are increasingly sceptical and growth by providing a deeper understanding survey provides great insights for all mar- and new”, businesses can be proactive when
distrustful of government institutions and or- of youth sentiments, their needs and beha- keters to help them harness the often perplex- it comes to dealing with the challenge of rel-
ganisations that do not deliver on promises to viours, economic influence, online social be- ing and mercurial heartland of brand love evance.
improve their lives, particularly due to the per- haviour, connectivity and interactions with among the youth. This survey also showcases those enter-
sistence of the challenges they face. brands. Research conducted by YDx Youth Dyna- prises that are already servicing this market
In response to this disruption, youth have This year, the GenNext Youth Behaviour mix has revealed the following facts and what well, thereby providing benchmarks for oth-
become more self-sufficient, taking matters Report targets youth aged eight to 30, with a they mean for marketers. ers to study.

R303bn
into their own hands and voicing their con- sample of over 7,000 respondents split into ● SA’s youth currently spend and influ-

7,000
cerns. This newfound self-reliance has con- ence R303bn.
tributed to an increase in self-esteem, self-ac- What is your brand actively doing to se-
tualisation and resilience among the youth. cure a piece of this spend?
Despite the hardships they face, they are ● Two in three young adults are stressed.
optimistic about their future. They are show- How is your brand showing up in their The amount SA’s youth currently spend
ing a greater interest in self-development, respondents, split into four distinct reports lives to make a tangible and meaningful dif- and influence
learning new skills and using technology to that speak to the youth segments in far ference?
entertain themselves: they believe they are greater depth ● 78% of young adults use customer re- It is a segment that is smart, dynamic and
progressing despite the adversities they face. views to decide when purchasing a brand. unique and expects to be marketed to in its
Brands that are relevant to the youth in this four distinct reports that speak to the youth How is your brand encouraging youth to own language and on its own platforms. We
context are those that provide solutions to segments in far greater depth, including a positively promote your brand? congratulate those brands that have emerged
their realities and challenges. These may in- gender and provincial split. The survey res- ● 90% of youth will support brands that as the frontrunners and winners in the survey.
volve helping them better understand the ults included private, public and non-profit share and demonstrate their values. GenNext has long afforded the youth an op-
world, navigate through the chaos, find mo- organisations. Where and how are you communicating portunity to express themselves unequivoc-
ments of respite and enjoyment, demonstrate In our research for both the Youth Beha- your brand values with the youth? ally and will continue to do so.
personal growth, and explore the world safely viour Report and the Brand Preference Sur- With about 200-million people aged Sunday Times would not be in this position
with limited risk. vey, we employed a stringent data collection between 15 and 24, Africa has the youngest were it not for the support of the loyal and
The report underscores the importance of and auditing process to ensure the credibility population in the world. Clearly, understand- new clients of our much-loved brand — a
understanding how youth interact with and authenticity of the data results. The ing the brand decisions of the youth will be privilege we don’t take for granted.
brands. Those brands that align with the Brand Preference Survey is audited by PwC, critical to future business success. Together, we are able to bravely navigate
youth’s needs, values and aspirations have which has a disciplined, standardised meth- Given the broad range of Sunday Times the world of GenNext and we eagerly anticip-
the potential to create resonance and — more odology to drive audit quality and objectivity. readers, we need to gain insights — from both ate the milestone 20th edition of this survey.

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SUNDAY TIMES - September 24 2023 3

Su
DRIVE BRAND IMPACT
rveys Sunday Times

By LYNETTE DICEY
Coolest Brands

T
he Coolest Brand as voted for by
South Africa’s youth at the Sunday
Times GenNext Awards is Nike. The
brand won both the Coolest
Shoe/Footwear Brand as well as the Coolest
Clothing Brand and took home the coveted
overall award for the ninth year running.
Apple comes in second, with Samsung in
third place and Adidas fourth.
Nike, along with other footwear and ap-
parel retailers, has not been immune from a
challenging global economy, which has seen

The youth
consumers pull back on discretionary spend-
ing. In June, the company announced that it
had missed its earnings targets for the first
time in three years.

have their say

In the US, the company has been spending
more on marketing and promotions to reduce
its inventory levels. The company appears to
be backing down from its direct-to-consumer
strategy introduced in 2020 as it restores
wholesale relationships in the US market.
Despite its challenges, the appeal of the Mercedes-Benz is again voted the Coolest Motor Vehicle Brand. Picture: Mercedes-Benz AG – Communications & Marketing
brand for the local youth market endures.
Adidas and Zara came second and third re- The Sunday Times GenNext, in partnership brand preferences. meBank.
spectively in the Coolest Clothing Brand cat- with Yellowwood, is the leading South Afric- In the bank category, Capitec Bank once For the second consecutive year, Old Mutu-
egory. Zara moved up six positions from 2022, an youth brand preference and consumer be- again comes out tops, followed by FNB in al is the coolest insurance brand, with AVBOB
kicking Mr Price out of the top three. In the haviour campaign and research report. second place and TymeBank third. Capitec in second place and Discovery in third.
Coolest Shoe/Footwear Brands category, Established in 2004, the study surveys Bank is also ranked the Coolest Savings & In- Google wins two categories this year:
Adidas came in second place, followed by more than 5,900 tweens, teens, young adults vestment Platform for the second consecutive
Puma in third. and young professionals to establish their year, followed by EasyEquities and Ty- To Page 4 ➛

TBWA\HUNT LASCARIS 941367

THANKS FOR
KEEPING US COOL
OVER THE YEARS
MCDEEZ
4 September 24 2023 - SUNDAY TIMES

Sunday Times
Surveys
SEE YOUTH DIFFERENTLY

➛ From Page 3
an offering that appeals to the youth segment
of the market because a high percentage of its
Coolest Advertising Medium and Coolest shoppers are under the age of 24.
Company to Work For. “In tough economic times such as these,
Siya Madikane, Google South Africa’s com- our exceptional value and offering is even
munications & public affairs manager, says more relevant both to the youth market and
the youth segment is a huge part of Google’s the wider South African market. Value under-
user base. “We continuously do research on pins everything we do, ensuring an affordable
the youth market to find out how they are us- price tag so that customers can look and feel
ing our products and how we can explore their best even on a budget,” he says.
their experience. The Mr Price Money Start Up account is
“A recent study into the South African targeted at 18- to 25-year-old customers and
youth found that the youth — or who we call offers a four-month revolving credit with a
the GenZ generation — consider themselves lower credit limit. Shoppers are also rewarded
open-minded (81.5%), ambitious (67.5%) and through the Insiders rewards programme.
creative (62.6%). They believe in equal rights It will be no surprise that Netflix retains its
(75%), like to explore the world (64.5%) and position as the Coolest TV/Streaming/Con-
are interested in other cultures (61.3%).” tent Platform. Showmax comes in second
A significant proportion of Google’s mar- again, with TikTok moving into third place.
keting activity is focused on the youth seg- Netflix, the world’s largest streaming service,
ment, he says. The Google Hustle Academy, has grown its subscriber base significantly in
for example, is a boot camp aimed at provid- South Africa in recent years. It has spent more
ing the necessary skills to start up businesses. Google wins Coolest Advertising Medium and Coolest Company to Work For. Picture: 123rf than R2bn on film and TV projects in the
Another initiative is the Black Founders Fund, country between 2016 and 2022. It is expec-
which provides African startups with an op- about making profit, winning the Coolest in both categories. ted that on-demand content platforms will
portunity to get funding of up to $100,000. Brand that Cares about my Community. Keneiloe Precious Kgorane, strategy and continue to grow in the years ahead.
YouTube again wins Coolest Digital Learn- Samsung and Apple are both perennial fa- integrated marketing communications lead at The Virgin Active App is the Coolest Fitness
ing Platform category, followed this year by vourites among the youth. Samsung is once Samsung Africa, says Samsung Galaxy devices App, followed by Google Fit. The global fitness
K53 and Mindset Learning 319 in third place. again voted the Coolest Cellphone Brand, fol- appeal to a shared human truth that all of us, app market has exploded in recent years as
Vodacom usurps Telkom this year as lowed again by Apple iPhone. Interestingly, beyond age and geographical location, strive more people switched from traditional gyms
Coolest Telecoms Provider, followed by MTN. their positions are reversed in the Coolest for: connection. “As an enabler of both con- to virtual training platforms. Statista projects
Telkom comes in third. Vodacom is also per- Technology Brand category, with Apple first nection and self and creative expression, the sector’s revenue will reach more than
ceived by the youth as a brand that is not just and Samsung second. Huawei is placed third today’s youth naturally gravitate towards mo- $19.3bn this year and grow to $33bn by 2027.
bile phone devices as they bring them closer Insurance is widely regarded as a grudge
to the things and people purchase by all groups. Des-
they love.” pite this negative perception,
The brand uses a “show, Old Mutual continues to suc-
don’t tell” approach in its
marketing, she says. “Au- We cessfully appeal to the youth

SHOW
market, again coming first in
thentic product integra- continuously do the Coolest Insurance Brand
tion, both on- and offline,
is a huge driver of both research on the category. This year, AVBOB
comes in second while Dis-
millennials and GenZ’s youth market to covery retains its third place.
purchase consideration
because these age groups find out how In the Coolest Hotel Brand
category, Protea Hotels by
they are using

UP
often struggle to under- Marriott moved up one place
stand how brands fit into this year to take the top spot,
their lives and aspirations. our products followed by City Lodge and
Couple this with in-real-
life experiential content
and how we can Sun International. Book-
ing.com took first place as the
and storytelling and you explore their Coolest Online Accommoda-
should start to see an in- experience tion Booking Site, followed by

EVERY
crease in engagement.” airbnb and Trivago.
Samsung has a number Siya Madikane Uber remains the Coolest
of initiatives aimed spe- Google South Africa communications & Public Transport Brand this
cifically at the youth mar- public affairs manager
year, with Gautrain moving
ket, including partnering up from its fourth position in
with Primedia Broadcasting to host the 2022 to second place in 2023. Bolt moves to
Galaxy 94.7 Joburg Day and Galaxy KDay mu- third place.

DAY...
sic festivals in Joburg and Cape Town. A new category introduced this year is the
In the Coolest Music Store/Web- Coolest Accessories & Jewellery Store cat-
site/Streaming category, iTunes takes the top egory. American Swiss, part of the TFG Group,
spot, followed by MP3 Juices and Spotify. wins this category, followed by Claire’s and
Mercedes-Benz again takes pole position Déonne le Roux Jewellers.
as Coolest Motor Vehicle Brand and, proving Despite a perception that the youth don’t
the aspirational nature of the brand as far as read, they continue to turn to the Sunday
the youth are concerned, jumps to second po- Times, which retained its position as the
and we'll always sition in the Coolest Company to Work For.
“Mercedes-Benz is a top-tier brand, with
Coolest Weekly Newspaper.

show up for you our vehicles frequently used in movies, music

videos and popular on social media. This adds Samsung was
with hot drops to the appeal of the brand to the youth,” says
Justin Jacobs, media specialist for brand com-
voted Coolest
Cellphone
& epic value! munications & marketing at Mercedes-Benz.
The brand’s marketing efforts include a fo-
Brand.

cus on young adults and those entering the

career space. Jacobs says the brand has a
number of finance programmes available that
make ownership more accessible.
In the Coolest Alcohol category, the top five
most-loved brands all retain the same posi-
tion as 2022, with Jägermeister at number
one, followed by Savanna, Brutal Fruit
Spritzer, Hennessy Cognac and Heineken.
mrprice.com I shop our app I follow @mrpfashion In the Coolest Clothing Store category, the
top three brands are unchanged from 2022
MPM5186

with Mr Price in first position, followed by

Nike and Sportscene. Kevin Smit, MD of Mr
Price, says the brand is focused on delivering
SUNDAY TIMES - September 24 2023 5

Su
DRIVE BRAND IMPACT
rveys Sunday Times

we are the coolest

because of you!

Thank you for voting Clicks as

the Coolest Specialist Health & Beauty
Store and ClubCard as one of the
Top 5 Coolest Loyalty Programmes!
2023
Join today for feel-good rewards.
Scan the QR code to join.
6 September 24 2023 - SUNDAY TIMES

Sunday Times
Surveys
SEE YOUTH DIFFERENTLY

By LYNETTE DICEY
Health & Beauty a perennial favourite that came in
the top five in four health and

T Keep innovating,
he importance of looking beauty-related categories.
after oneself has received “Brands that care for their com-
renewed focus in the wake munity, planet and humanity above
of the pandemic, with the profits are being considered in

but be authentic
youth segment making up a signi- shopping journeys over those that
ficant share of the health and beauty don’t walk the talk. Diversity and
market. inclusion also play a key role for this
Retailers Clicks and Dis-Chem — segment of the market.”
voted as the top two Coolest Spe- Avon recently launched a cam-
cialist Health & Beauty brands by a opinions can drive choices of their Clicks’ new experiential beauty Clicks is Coolest Health & Beauty paign called “Beauty Your Way”. The
substantial margin — are well aware parents, siblings and extended fam- halls, designed to allow shoppers to brand Picture: Thapelo Morebudi content is modern, digitally led and
of the power of the youth market. ily members. Satisfied young cus- engage with brands at every touch- uses a tone of voice familiar to
Offering an extensive suite of tomers can become brand advoc- point. The brand has also teamed up Beauty brands are feeling the im- younger consumers, says Kowal-
products and with ever-expanding ates, spreading positive word-of- with popular health and beauty in- pact of constrained consumer czyk. “It promotes a life that’s not
footprints ensuring easy accessibil- mouth online and offline,” she says. fluencers across social media. spend. This is even more sharply felt driven by preconvictions and estab-
ity, both chains have become one- The youth, says Van Rooy, are “By creating an engaging online among younger consumers given lished work norms, embracing the
stop retail outlets with successful particularly conscious of health and presence through content that is the high rate of youth unemploy- freedom to act on an individual’s
loyalty programmes in place, which beauty. “This presents an opportun- meaningful and purpose- ment. That’s not to say that terms, supporting values such as
include partnerships with other ity for Clicks to offer quality ser- driven, we can reach and the youth aren’t buying community, family and friends.”
brands. Delivery services add to the vices and products at an affordable interact with this demo- beauty products, but Key to ensuring a brand has en-
convenience offered to customers. price, because value is important to graphic, which is crucial rather that they’re more during appeal to the youth market,
For winner Clicks, it’s about un- this income-sensitive segment.” to remaining relevant in discerning about their he says, is to continuously innovate.
derstanding that building a relation- Young people are trendsetters today’s digital age,” she purchases and the brands “Relevant product innovation is
ship and establishing brand famili- and early adopters of new products says. they choose to support. key to keeping young people excited
arity with customers from a young and technologies, and appealing to Its efforts to appeal “Young people, par- in a brand. The youth market is used
age builds long-term loyalty and this market allows Clicks to position to the youth market are Lukasz Kowalczyk ticularly GenZ, are at- to seeing new trends and follows
purchasing preference, says Melanie itself as a trendy and innovative clearly paying off: more tracted to brands them closely on social media. An in-
van Rooy, Clicks head of marketing. brand, attracting not only the youth than 10% of the Clicks ClubCard which are driven by purpose in all fluencer strategy is key, but authen-
She says the youth market often but also older consumers who ad- active membership base of 10.4- aspects of their business opera- ticity will win their hearts and
influences purchasing decisions in mire these qualities, says Van Rooy. million members are between the tions,” says Lukasz Kowalczyk, mar- minds and ensure brand loyalty for
households. “Their preferences and Recent innovations include ages of 15 and 25. keting director of Avon South Africa, years to come.”

2023
SUNDAY TIMES - September 24 2023 7

Su
DRIVE BRAND IMPACT
rveys Sunday Times
8 September 24 2023 - SUNDAY TIMES

Sunday Times
Surveys

By MASEGO SEEMELA
Social media

W It’s all about

e live in a world where
everything is lived
through social media.
As they say, if it wasn’t

community and
posted on Instagram, TikTok, Face-
book or Twitter [now X], it didn’t
really happen.
According to Demandsage.com,

self expression
there are 4.9-billion people who use
social media globally, but this num-
ber will reach 5.85-billion by 2027.
The two leading the pack by a
generous margin in GenNext’s Social media has transformed the way society — particularly young
Coolest Social Media App category the creation and sharing of informa- society — socialises and connects. Picture: Reuters
are WhatsApp, closely followed by tion, ideas, interests and other
TikTok. Facebook, Instagram and
YouTube came third, fourth and
I wanted forms of expression through virtual
communities and networks has
but they didn’t get a great response.
In 2019, he started using TikTok.
monetisation feature such as You-
Tube and other platforms where
fifth respectively, but don’t have to put my work huge youth appeal. Those fortunate Initially his videos were not getting you can make money based on your
quite the same pull with the youth.
You may be wondering about the
out there, and enough to monetise it have become
macro “influencers”, working with
the love they should have, but dur-
ing the pandemic, his following rose
engagement or audience reach,
Songo says the way to earn on Tik-
appeal of WhatsApp when it’s more TikTok has brands on various platforms. exponentially. Today he has more Tok is through campaigns or collab-
of an instant messaging service
than a social media app. But it’s the
given me the TikToker Atlegang Songo, known
as PapiNiceThingz, always wanted
than 320k followers.
“TikTok has done wonders for
orating with brands.
However, he says, it isn’t sustain-
range of social features such as audience reach to be an actor, but with no resources me. South African entertainment able enough at this point as cam-
status sharing, profile pictures, and to pursue his dream, he felt hope- has a quick turnaround time. I paigns tend to be quite limted. “I
creating and sharing media files Atlegang Songo less. wanted a way to put my work out haven’t monetised fruitfully on the
that appeals to younger users. TikToker The 23-year-old from Pretoria there. It gave me the audience reach platform yet, but as it grows, I be-
Social media is a relatively new turned to social media to showcase and my skits were seen by the right lieve it will gain sustainability. I
phenomenon, but has transformed society — socialises and connects. his acting skills. He first shared his people,” says Songo. can’t wait to see where being a Tik-
the way society —particularly young Its interactive tech that facilitates hilarious short clips on Instagram, While TikTok doesn’t have a Toker takes me.”

Social media landscape

Time’s TikToking for Facebook
By LYNETTE DICEY nomic levels. At the lowest two socioeconom-

W
ic levels, TikTok’s penetration drops to below
hile Facebook continues to 8%, showing the platform and privilege go
dominate the South African hand in hand.
social media landscape, Tik- Among all age groups, TikTok showed a
Tok is the social media plat- steady rise in penetration in South Africa from
form to watch as far as the 25% to 28%.
youth market is concerned. It appears that Instagram may be starting
South African youth are active users of so- to lose the support of the youth market. The
cial media including TikTok, Instagram and penetration of Instagram users is similar in
Facebook. Among all age groups, the local me- the 15 - 24 and 25 - 34 age groups, with only a
dia landscape is dominated by Facebook 2% difference, revealing that while Instagram
(56.7%), followed by TikTok, Instagram, Twit- is a good platform to reach all South African
ter and LinkedIn, according to the 2023 Social age segments, it’s no longer the preferred
Media Landscape Report released by Ornico platform when targeting the youth.
and World Wide Worx earlier this year. Dean McCoubrey, founder of MySociaLife
The extent to which Facebook use in South and creator of OneLife, a social media video
Africa is still directly correlated with age tells news show for teens, says the social media
Upgrade your Tech its own story, says Arthur Goldstuck, MD of landscape is permanently shifting.
and Stay Cosy with the From
World Wide Worx. More than half of 25- to 34- “We’ve moved from text and images to
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ant and have largely gravitated to an older age group — he says that
TikTok. The report reveals that Tik- TikTok has innovation and youth
From Tok enjoys 44% penetration in the Dean McCoubrey on its side, including a growing
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Facebook for overall dominance of the social Coubrey, is the integration of AI into a number
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that TikTok’s one weakness is the extent to users doing more, and spending more time
which penetration correlates with socioeco- online with these channels.”
SUNDAY TIMES - September 24 2023 9

Su
DRIVE BRAND IMPACT
rveys Sunday Times

ON-TREND &
INSPIRATIONAL

WHAT OUR
YOUTH HAS TO
SAY ABOUT THE
COOLEST BRANDS ˘˘˚ ˜˘  ˘˜  ˛˘˜  ˘  ˚ ˘  ˘˙˘ ˛˘˘   ˘ ˘ ˚˘ 

ACCESSORIES & JEWELLERY ADVERTISING MEDIUM ALCOHOL

1 American Swiss 24.7% 1 Google Ads 11.5% 1 Jägermeister 12.7%
2 Claire’s 12.1% 2 TikTok 11.4% 2 Savanna 11.8%
3 Déonne le Roux Jewellers 9.2% 3 Instagram 9.5% 3 Brutal Fruit Spritzer 10.0%
4 Gold Star Jewellers 8.8% 4 YouTube 8.5% 4 Hennessy Cognac 8.8%
5 MJ Fashion 8.0% 5 Twitter 8.4% 5 Heineken 6.3%

BANKS BRAND OVERALL BRAND THAT CARES ABOUT MY COMMUNITY

1 Capitec Bank 19.4% 1 Nike 14.1% 1 Vodacom 11.5%
2 First National Bank 16.0% 2 Apple 11.3% 2 Sasko 8.6%
3 TymeBank 11.4% 3 Samsung 8.1% 3 Gift of the Givers 6.0%
4 Standard Bank 11.1% 4 Adidas 7.7% 4 Adidas 5.9%
5 Nedbank 9.5% 5 BMW 6.9% 5 Unilever 5.7%

BREAKFAST CEREALS CAMPAIGNS TARGETED AT YOUTH CARTOON SHOWS

1 Nestlé Cheerios 9.9% 1 KFC’s Add Hope 10.1% 1 Mr. Bean: The Animated Series 7.6%
2 FUTURELIFE Cereal 7.8% 2 Adidas Impossible is Nothing 7.1% 2 Tom & Jerry 7.3%
3 Bokomo Corn Flakes 7.5% 3 R350 Sassa SDR Grant 6.8% 3 Regular Show 7.1%
4 Nestlé Milo Cereal 7.3% 4 Vodacom NXT LVL Get A Gig 6.3% 4 Dragon Ball Z (DBZ) 6.7%
5 ProNutro 6.0% 5 Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator 6.0% 5 Supa Strikas 6.2%

CELLPHONE BRANDS CHOCOLATES CLOTHING BRANDS

1 ˆ  ˚ 22.8% 1 Kit Kat 9.0% 1 Nike 15.3%
2 iPhone 22.1% 2 Ferrero Rocher 7.9% 2 Adidas 9.2%
3 Huawei 12.7% 3 Bar One 7.5% 3 Zara 5.8%
4 Xiaomi 5.2% 4 Lindt Lindor 7.0% 4 Lacoste 5.4%
5 Nokia 4.9% 5 Cadbury Dairy Milk 6.8% 5 Mr Price 5.3%

#STGenNext ˇ˛˘˘˛˘˘˘  ˜˘  ˘ ˜ ˘ 

10 September 24 2023 - SUNDAY TIMES

Sunday Times
Surveys
SEE YOUTH DIFFERENTLY

WHAT
OUR YOUTH
HAS TO SAY
CLOTHING STORES COLD BEVERAGE COLLEGES
1 Mr Price/MRP 9.3% 1 Coca-Cola 18.8% 1 Tshwane North TVET College 9.5%
2 Nike 6.8% 2 Appletiser 9.5% 2 IIE Rosebank College 8.0%
3 Sportscene 6.4% 3 Cappy 7.4% 3 Boston City Campus 7.9%
4 H&M 6.2% 4 Sprite 7.2% 4 CityVarsity College 6.1%
5 Zara 5.9% 5 Liqui Fruit 7.1% 5 Damelin College 5.6%

COMPANY TO WORK FOR CONSOLE GAMES DAILY NEWSPAPER

1 Google 7.9% 1 FIFA 14.0% 1 ˜ ˆ 13.8%
2 Mercedes-Benz 7.6% 2 Grand Theft Auto/GTA 7.2% 2 Sowetan 8.5%
3 Apple 7.0% 3 Call of Duty/COD 5.8% 3 The Citizen 6.8%
4 Transnet 6.0% 4 WWE 5.5% 4 Daily News 6.2%
5 Coca-Cola 5.0% 5 Subway Surfers 5.4% 5 The Star 5.9%

DIGITAL LEARNING PLATFORM ENERGY DRINKS FAST-FOOD PLACES

1  ˇ˘ 14.4% 1 Switch 13.7% 1 McDonald's 14.5%
2 K53 6.5% 2 Energade 10.3% 2 KFC 11.4%
3 Mindset Learn (channel 319 DStv) 6.4% 3 Score 7.5% 3 Burger King 8.6%
4 LinkedIn Learning 6.3% 4 Predator 7.2% 4 Debonairs Pizza 8.4%
5 Google Play Books 5.9% 5 Red Bull 6.9% 5 Spur Steak Ranches 8.2%

FEMALE DEODORANTS FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS FITNESS APP

1 ˜˘ 8.7% 1 Kotex 15.6% 1 ˜˚˜ ˜˘ 11.6%
2 Oh So Heavenly 7.7% 2 Always 13.6% 2 Google Fit 7.9%
3 Dove 6.6% 3 Lil-Lets 10.1% 3 30 Day Fitness Challenge 7.8%
4 Playgirl 6.4% 4 GynaGuard 8.4% 4 Samsung Health 7.7%
5 Avon 5.6% 5 Stayfree 7.7% 5 Nike Training Club 7.2%

FOOD DELIVERY APP GAMING CONSOLE GROCERY STORE

1 Uber Eats 16.8% 1 PlayStation 5/PS5 13.2% 1 Woolworths 11.9%
2 Mr D 16.1% 2 PlayStation 4/PS4 10.8% 2 Food Lover’s Market 9.9%
3 Checkers Sixty60 8.5% 3 Xbox Series X and Series S 8.1% 3 Game Stores 9.8%
4 Debonairs Pizza 8.4% 4 Xbox One 7.1% 4 Boxer Super Stores 9.2%
5 KFC 7.8% 5 Xbox 360 7.0% 5 Checkers 7.6%

HAIRCARE PRODUCTS HOT BEVERAGE HOTEL BRANDS

1   ˘  8.7% 1 Milo 8.3% 1 Protea Hotels by Marriott 8.2%
2 TRESemmé 8.0% 2 Mugg & Bean Coffee 7.5% 2 City Lodge 8.0%
3 Sofn’free 6.9% 3 Nestlé Hot Chocolate 6.9% 3 Sun International 7.9%
4 Aunt Jackie’s 5.9% 4 Nescafé 6.4% 4 Southern Sun 6.5%
5 Dove 5.7% 5 Cadbury Hot Chocolate 6.3% 5 Manhattan Hotel 5.8%

ICE CREAM INSURANCE BRAND KIDS TV CHANNELS

1 ˚  11.6% 1   7.6% 1 Cartoon Network (301) 10.6%
2 Woolworths Tin Roof 9.6% 2 AVBOB 6.8% 2 Disney Jnr (309) 8.2%
3 Milky Lane 6.6% 3 Discovery 6.2% 3 Disney Channel (303) 8.1%
4 Oreo 6.5% 4 OUTsurance 5.8% 4 NickToons (308) 7.4%
5 Woolworths Blueberry 6.2% 5 1st for Women 5.7% 5 Boomerang (302) 7.2%
SUNDAY TIMES - September 24 2023 11

Su
DRIVE BRAND IMPACT
rveys Sunday Times

#STGenNext
LOCAL CELEBRITIES LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION LOCAL ONLINE INFLUENCER
1 ˇ˘˛ 8.7% 1 ˘˘˙˜  11.3% 1 MacG 6.8%
2 AKA 6.4% 2 Sun City 11.0% 2 Nomzamo Mbatha 6.3%
3 DJ Zinhle 6.1% 3 Kruger National Park 8.2% 3 Connie Ferguson 6.2%
4 Makhadzi 5.6% 4 uShaka Marine World 6.7% 4 Zozibini Tunzi 5.7%
5 DJ Kabza De Small 5.3% 5 Konka 6.4% 5 Boity Thulo 5.4%

LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITIES LOCAL TV PROGRAMMES/SERIES LOCAL SPORTSPEOPLE

1 Thando Thabethe 6.8% 1 Skeem Saam 9.9% 1 Siya Kolisi 10.1%
2 Dineo Ranaka 6.4% 2 The River 7.9% 2 Percy Tau 7.5%
3 DJ MoFlava 6.0% 3 The Wife 6.7% 3 Caster Semenya 6.6%
4 Somizi Mhlongo 5.6% 4 Uyajola 9/9 6.5% 4 Thembinkosi Lorch 6.3%
5 Skhumbuzo Hlophe (Skhumba) 5.5% 5 Blood & Water 6.2% 5 Benni McCarthy 5.9%

LOYALTY PROGRAMME MAKE-UP BRANDS MALE DEODORANTS

1 ˆ˛˜ ˘ ˆ˜ ˚ 9.8% 1 L’Oréal 7.9% 1 ˜˘ 10.5%
2 Pick n Pay Smart Shopper 8.8% 2 Maybelline 7.6% 2 Hugo Boss 9.1%
3 Checkers Xtra Savings 8.6% 3 Avon 7.4% 3 Diesel 8.2%
4 Clicks ClubCard 7.6% 4 Clinique 6.1% 4 Yardley English Blazer 5.8%
5 Capitec Live Better 6.4% 5 Revlon 6.0% 5 Solo 5.7%

MOTOR VEHICLES MUSIC STORE/WEBSITE/STREAMING ONLINE ACCOMMODATION BOOKING SITES

1 Mercedes-Benz 11.3% 1 ˜ˇ ˘ 12.9% 1 Booking.com 11.1%
2 BMW 9.5% 2 MP3 Juices 9.5% 2 airbnb 8.4%
3 Audi 7.1% 3 Spotify 6.0% 3 Trivago 8.1%
4 Range Rover 6.8% 4 Joox 5.9% 4 Sho’t Left 7.1%
5 VW 6.7% 5 Fakaza 5.8% 5 Safari.com 6.4%

ONLINE STORE PETROL STATIONS PUBLIC TRANSPORT BRAND

1 Shein 15.3% 1 Engen 18.2% 1 Uber 17.1%
2 Takealot 13.5% 2 Sasol 12.5% 2 Gautrain 9.5%
3 Superbalist 7.3% 3 BP 12.4% 3 Bolt 9.1%
4 Mr Price/MRP 5.6% 4 Shell 11.6% 4 Greyhound 7.7%
5 Amazon 5.3% 5 Caltex 9.8% 5 City to City 6.2%

RADIO STATIONS SAUCES SAVINGS & INVESTMENT PLATFORM

1 5FM 12.2% 1 Nando’s 10.5% 1 Capitec 9.2%
2 Thobela FM 7.1% 2 All Gold 9.5% 2 EasyEquities 7.1%
3 Radio 2000 FM 6.7% 3 Steers 8.1% 3 TymeBank 6.5%
4 Motsweding FM 6.4% 4 Spur Sauce 7.3% 4 FNB Investor Platform 6.4%
5 Good Hope FM 5.9% 5 Mrs Ball’s 5.4% 5 Old Mutual Invest 5.4%

SHOE/FOOTWEAR BRANDS SHOPPING MALLS SHOWER GEL

1 Nike 16.8% 1 ˙˙˜ 14.6% 1 ˜˘ 8.8%
2 Adidas 9.4% 2 Sandton City 10.7% 2 Oh So Heavenly 8.4%
3 Puma 7.2% 3 V&A Waterfront 10.0% 3 Dove 6.8%
4 Air Jordan 6.7% 4 Menlyn 7.9% 4 Avon 6.6%
5 Vans 6.6% 5 Canal Walk 7.4% 5 Radox 5.9%
12 September 24 2023 - SUNDAY TIMES

SundaySIT-DOWN
Su
Times RESTAURANTS
rveys
SKINCARE PRODUCTS SNACK BRAND
1 ˆ ˆ ˘ ˛˘ 13.2% 1 ˜˘ 10.3% 1 Simba 8.6%
2
3
4 RocoMamas
SEE YOUTH DIFFERENTLY
Mugg & Bean
McDonald's
9.6%
9.5%
9.0%
2
3
4
Vaseline
Dove
Avon
7.0%
6.4%
5.7%
2
3
4
Go-Slo’s
Oreos
Pringles
6.7%
6.6%
5.4%
5 Ocean Basket 8.6% 5 Neutrogena 5.2% 5 Doritos 5.3%

SOAP BARS SOCIAL MEDIA APP SPECIALIST HEALTH & BEAUTY STORE
1 Protex 10.7% 1 WhatsApp 16.6% 1 Clicks 16.4%
2 Dove 10.3% 2 TikTok 16.2% 2 Dis-Chem 14.9%
3 Dettol 8.6% 3 Facebook 12.3% 3 Woolworths 6.6%
4 Palmolive 8.4% 4 Instagram 11.7% 4 Edgars 6.1%
5 Sunlight 7.9% 5 YouTube 8.4% 5 Sorbet 5.8%

SPREADS STATIONERY STORE SWEETS

1 Rama 14.0% 1 CNA 13.5% 1 Maynards 10.6%
2 Nutella 12.3% 2 PNA 8.9% 2 Cadbury Eclairs 8.5%
3 Melrose 10.8% 3 Shoprite 6.1% 3 Yogueta 7.0%
4 Black Cat Peanut Butter 10.1% 4 Makro 5.5% 4 Pin Pop 6.6%
5 Stork 9.0% 5 Typo 5.4% 5 M&M’s 6.3%

TECHNOLOGY BRAND TINNED FOOD TELECOMS PROVIDER

1 Apple 13.7% 1 KOO 21.8% 1 Vodacom 15.2%
2 Samsung 10.7% 2 Lucky Star 16.5% 2 MTN 14.2%
3 Huawei 8.4% 3 Woolworths 11.1% 3 Telkom 13.9%
4 Google 7.7% 4 All Gold 10.1% 4 Rain 6.9%
5 TikTok 7.4% 5 Rhodes 9.4% 5 Cell C 5.4%

TOY STORE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS TV CHANNELS

1 Toys R Us 14.5% 1 Cape Town 8.8% 1 Mzansi Magic 8.4%
2 Crazy Store 10.9% 2 Durban 7.4% 2 Moja Love 7.9%
3 Makro 8.3% 3 Maldives 7.1% 3 MTV Base 6.6%
4 Takealot 7.4% 4 Dubai 6.8% 4 Disney Channel 6.0%
5 Game 6.8% 5 New York 6.5% 5 Studio Universal 5.9%

TV/STREAMING/CONTENT PLATFORMS UNIVERSITIES WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS

1 ˘ ˜ 16.0% 1  ˜˘˜ ˙˘   !"  8.6% 1 ˆ ˇ˜$˘ 15.2%
2 Showmax 10.2% 2 Yale University 6.7% 2 City Press 7.9%
3 TikTok 9.0% 3 Stanford University 6.6% 3 Sunday World 7.1%
4 YouTube 8.9% 4 University of Oxford 5.4% 4 Mail & Guardian 6.0%
5 DStv Now 6.1% 5 University of Fort Hare/UFH 5.3% 5 Rapport 5.4%

ABOUT THE STUDY

The study surveys a representative We visited 98 schools
sample of young people in 8 provinces
across the country. The Northern Cape
has been excluded due to the sparse We gained responses on over
distribution of schools but has not 70 categories that are relevant
affected the representativity of the sample. to our youth

TWEENS 8 - 12 years
We reached a representative
TEENS 13 - 18 years sample of over ˚ ˘ ˘
YOUNG ADULTS 19 - 24 years across different ages
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS 25 - 30 years
(includes those currently unemployed)

The Brand Preference Survey is audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers

(PwC) who have a disciplined, standardised methodology to drive
˜ ˜    ˝˘ ˜˜  ˇ˛˘ ˜˜ ˚  ˘ ˜ ˜˚ ˜   
imperative to this report as it validates the authenticity of the results
and allows for a thorough reviewing of the analysis checking process. #STGenNext
SUNDAY TIMES - September 24 2023 13

Su
DRIVE BRAND IMPACT
rveys Sunday Times

YOUTH
GOTTA
TASTE
FOR LIFE THANK YOU FOR VOTING US
NO. 1 COOLEST SIT-DOWN RESTAURANT
14 September 24 2023 - SUNDAY TIMES

Sunday Times
Surveys
SEE YOUTH DIFFERENTLY

Reports by LYNETTE DICEY

Retail

T Affordable,
he grocery category is a hotly con-
tested space in South Africa given
growing concerns about affordability.
Retailers are under pressure as the

on-trend,
tough economic conditions curtail consumer
spending.
PwC’s Global Consumers Insights Survey
reveals that South Africans are trying to save
money by delaying purchases until the items
are on promotion and buying in bulk to save
over time. PwC estimates that there will be online are
first prize
significant decreases in consumer spend
across all categories as economic constraints
persist.
For the second consecutive year, Wool-
worths clinched the Coolest Grocery Store For the second consecutive year, Woolworths won the Coolest Grocery Store category in
category in the GenNext rankings, proving customers with a seamless shopping experi- the Sunday Times GenNext rankings. Supplied
that the brand is successfully appealing to the ence across all channels.
youth market. Food Lover’s Market, voted second Coolest cess to funds or even credit, often making it
Woolworths also performed well in PwC’s Grocery Store in the 2023 GenNext survey, difficult for them to make major purchases.
first Retail Sentiment Index, outperforming
other retailers as far as service, pricing and
celebrated its 30th anniversary this year and
has become a well-loved brand in South
Establishing Given the tough economic climate, it’s per-
haps no surprise that benefits and value
product offering is concerned. Africa, offering value, quality and choice. brand loyalty at are the key focus of customers, includ-
The Retail Sentiment Index is a study
which showcases customer sentiment to-
When it comes to the Coolest Online Store,
Shein overtook Takealot to take the top spot,
a young age ing the youth. “Establishing brand loy-
alty at a young age can create a cus-
wards South African retailers by investigating with Superbalist in third position. can create a tomer base that remains loyal over
public social media posts about Woolworths,
Shoprite, Checkers, Spar, Pick n Pay and Food
The low-cost fast-fashion retailer based in
China has a growing customer base in South
customer base time,” she says.
TFG uses its loyalty programme,
Lover’s Market during 2022. Africa, appealing to young, fashion-conscious that remains TFG Rewards, to provide exclusive of-
Conceding that consumers’ positive exper-
iences and perceptions around pricing may
consumers.
The online retailer has been accused of un- loyal over time fers and personalised experiences.
“Research reveals that the youth are par-
seem surprising against a challenging eco- dercutting local retailers by bypassing cus- Fionna Ronnie ticularly interested in birthday offers, airtime
nomic backdrop of elevated inflation and toms duties. The brand has also come under head of customer and loyalty at TFG and data, competition entries, personalised
rising interest rates, the report says retailers increased scrutiny for alleged human rights discount vouchers, surprise and unexpected
leveraged special offers and promotions — es- abuses of its employees and greenwashing. In rewards, educational courses, points re-
pecially relating to essential items — to shape the US, 16 states have requested that Shein in- Store category. deemed into products and exclusive member-
their narrative around pricing. dependently verify that it is not using forced Woolworths only features in eighth posi- only discounts,” says Ronnie.
The report notes, however, that “while labour to manufacture its products. Yet anoth- tion in the clothing store category. “TFG Rewards has therefore invested in
special offers played a key role in driving pos- er accusation levelled against the brand is the That could change in the next year given building out a gamification platform where
itive sentiment around pricing, it should be theft of intellectual property. the recent announcement that Woolworths TFG Rewards members can play to earn coins
noted that consumers still value the general Despite these controversies, it appears that will be opening much smaller clothing stores that can be redeemed for exclusive competi-
affordability of products over special offers young, fashion-conscious consumers can’t in townships where the brand is not currently tion entries, airtime and data, educational
and campaigns”. get enough of Shein’s affordable clothing. represented. courses, Uber rides and more.
Delivery services have become essential In the clothing store category, Mr Price A new addition to the GenNext study is the “The Swipe & Win competition, first intro-
for retailers, with Checkers, Pick n Pay, Wool- once again takes the number one spot, prov- Coolest Accessories & Jewellery Store cat- duced in 2021, delivers on the surprise and
worths and Spar all providing their own deliv- ing that affordability, combined with on-trend egory. American Swiss, part of TFG, wins this delight element, offering over 2,000 daily
ery offering. fashion, remain top priorities for younger category by a huge margin, followed by winners across TFG’s more than 3,000 stores
PwC warns that customers have the same consumers. Claire’s and Déonne le Roux Jewellers. the choice to claim clothing and lifestyle re-
expectations from their digital retail delivery Nike, a perennial favourite among the Fionna Ronnie, head of customer and loy- wards including TFG fashion, fast food,
experience as they do with the physical store, youth, wins the Coolest Clothing Brand and alty at TFG, says that younger customers are streaming, health and fitness, transport and
which means that retailers need to provide takes second position in the Coolest Clothing cautious of how they spend, with limited ac- entertainment vouchers, to name a few.”

A
cross the board, banks are pulling
out all the stops to attract — and re-
Banking & FNB, voted second in the Coolest Bank cat-
egory, has partnered with Fetola in its FNB
tain — younger customers. Once
again, Capitec proves it has the
financial services Youth Start-up Accelerator Programme, a
mentorship and training programme for first-

Keeping it
secret sauce that appeals to the youth market, time entrepreneurs between the ages of 18
winning Coolest Bank for the second year in a and 35. TymeBank, South Africa’s first fully
row, followed by FNB and TymeBank. Capitec digital-only bank, moved up from sixth place

simple and
is also the Coolest Savings & Investment Plat- to third this year, showing the degree to which
form. digital-only banks are making inroads into
Francois Viviers, group executive for mar- the youth market.
keting and communication at Capitec, says One of the reasons TymeBank appeals to
younger consumers want simplicity when it
comes to their choice of bank. “Given the high
levels of financial illiteracy in the country, we
believe that simplifying financial processes
personalised Capitec is voted Coolest Bank again.
Picture: Freddy Mavunda
the youth market is its low bank fees. It also
employs more than 1,000 — mostly young —
ambassadors to work at its kiosks at retail
stores such as Pick n Pay, Boxer and TFG to
and avoiding gimmicks is crucial.” expanded its product range to address the cation platforms including the Live Better help customers open a bank account. In 2022,
Banks have quickly realised that digital- evolving requirements of its youth clients’ Academy and MoneyUp Chat, which offer the bank announced a partnership with
first customers are no longer the future of ever-evolving lives. free courses covering topics from saving and Ikusasalethu Youth Development Project to
banking but are today’s customers. As digital The bank has specific marketing and en- building a credit score to managing debt. provide business banking services to gradu-
natives, younger consumers can’t imagine a gagement initiatives targeted at the For banks, the big challenge when it ates of the NPO’s skills development pro-
world that’s not online. They expect no less youth, including a recent content comes to the youth market is to cater gramme. The 10% Millionaires Movement, an
from their bank. series featuring young South to an audience redefining traditional initiative of fourth-placed Standard Bank, is
“Young South Africans have many options African influencers presented on norms, says Viviers. aimed at young adults between the ages of 18
given the numerous new entrants in the various social media platforms. “Income sources are changing, and 30. The movement encourages young
banking sector. That’s why Capitec offers a The series tackled themes such with young individuals generating people to build R100,000 in savings or invest-
strong digital solution that we continue to in- as personal branding, networking revenue through platforms such as ments, in the process becoming 10% million-
novate to remain cutting-edge. This is backed and the fourth industrial revolu- YouTube, Twitter [now called X] and aires. Fifth-placed Nedbank’s YouthX plat-
by a personalised experience that gives cli- tion. “Amid growing economic Francois Viviers various side hustles. As a result, form is designed to give young people access
ents the freedom to challenge their bank to unrest, our aim is to keep the banks are being challenged to re- to resources, inspiration and mentorship to
give them the best solution tailored to their youth inspired and empowered and help think their credit models and grant credit in unlock their potential.
needs.” them to develop and kickstart their careers,” ways that accommodate this evolving land- The bank has partnered with six prominent
To ensure longer client retention, Capitec says Viviers. scape.” changemakers — all below the age of 35 — who
actively listens to its clients’ needs, says Vivi- To promote financial literacy among the Capitec is far from the only bank with initi- have been successful in their industries, to
ers. Over the past three years, the bank has youth, Capitec has invested in financial edu- atives aimed specifically at the youth market. share guidance and expertise.
15 September 24 2023 - SUNDAY TIMES

Sunday Times
Surveys

#nocap
GenZ! You are our favourite too.

KE A LEBOHA
DANKIE
NGIYABONGA
ENKOSI
NGIYABONGA
KE A LEBOGA
16 September 24 2023 - SUNDAY TIMES

Sunday Times
Surveys
SEE YOUTH DIFFERENTLY

By MASEGO SEEMELA
Local influencers have made him susceptible to cancel culture,
MacG issued a statement earlier last year that
dustry, she continues to be at the forefront of
philanthropy and humanitarian contributions

H MacG’s
aving officially been inducted into he and his team would undergo diversity with the UN. She also recently received im-
the English dictionary in 2019, the training to better understand the LGBTQ+ pressive reviews for her portrayal of Queen
term “influencer” has become one community. Nandi on Mzansi Magic’s Shaka iLembe and
of the most powerful marketing “Out of this experience, we have been able for successfully executing her role as the exec-

got the
methods of our generation. to learn and educate ourselves about social is- utive producer of the 12-part series that nar-
In recent years we have witnessed the rise sues and to know where we must draw the rates the making of the iconic African king,
of influencers, who’ve built up the power to line from what is expressed as a joke and King Shaka Zulu.
affect people’s purchasing decisions, change when a ‘joke’ infringes upon someone else’s Mbatha has also been a long-standing face

magic
political views and shift societal norms with freedom,” read the statement. for Neutrogena since 2015.
their authority, knowledge and position on From a problematic podcaster As Mbatha continues to carve her
the social media landscape. who is aiming to mend his ways, path in the acting industry, third-
While influencer marketing is a form of to an actress known to many as placed Ferguson, on the other
social media marketing which involves en- South Africa’s TV darling who hand, is fêted as one of the trail-
dorsements and product placement, it’s pub- sharp tongue, which has landed him in can do no wrong, Mbatha is our blazers who has remained relevant
lic figures who have captured the imagina- trouble more times than you can count. second Coolest Local Online In- for close to three decades.
tion of the country’s youth in this year’s In his early days in the entertainment in- fluencer. The veteran actress and business-
GenNext Awards. Podcaster MacG, actress dustry in 2010, MacG was suspended from The 33-year-old star from woman is best known for her role
and philanthropist Nomzamo Mbatha, veter- YFM for making homophobic comments. In KwaMashu, KwaZulu-Natal, MacGyver Mukwevho as Karabo Moroka on the hit soapie
an actress and businesswoman Connie Fer- 2021, he landed in hot water again for making first began her acting career in Generations. In 2010, after playing
guson, Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi and transphobic jokes about US reality-TV star 2013 with her portrayal of Thandeka Ndlovu the lead role for 16 years, the 53-year-old an-
multi-hyphenate media personality Boity Caitlyn Jenner. on the Mzansi Magic telenovela, Isibaya. nounced her departure from the beloved local
Thulo were voted the top five Coolest Local He and his co-presenter, Sol Phenduka, She then made a dramatic exit from telen- series “to pursue other career options”.
Online Influencers. also poked fun at South African actor and me- ovela in 2020 as she set her eyes on Holly- She then proved she had the makings of a
Since the beginning of his career as a ra- dia personality Siv Ngesi after he revealed his wood, where she was cast as Mirmbe in Eddie media mogul, when she and her late husband,
dio broadcaster, founder of Podcast and Chill drag queen persona Sivanna. This led to spon- Murphy’s Coming 2 America. As the nation Shona Ferguson, founded production com-
and this year’s winner, MacGyver Mukwevho, sors pulling the plug on the podcast, saying praised her for her influence on the global pany Ferguson Films, which saw the birth of
has dabbled in controversy. they distance themselves from “harmful com- sphere, the accountant and human rights act- hit shows such as Rockville and The Queen.
The 35-year-old music producer, affec- mentary against the LGBTQ+ community and ivist in 2021 made the cast of Assassins, The mother of two uses her influence as a fa-
tionately known as MacG, found fame inter- humanity at large”. where she starred alongside award-winning miliar television face to sell her body
viewing the cream of South Africa’s enter- While he is known for consistently apolo- actor Bruce Willis. products, which have been a huge hit with
tainment figures and is known for his razor- gising for his “distasteful” comments, which Marking 10 years in the entertainment in- local consumers.

https://qrco.de/be31q3

Scan to find
out more

YOUTH
BEHAVIOUR
REPORT

The report aims to answer one question:

We all know that you don’t just become CEO, add “Dr” to your title, or fly a plane.
HOW CAN BUSINESSES AND BRANDS DRIVE BUSINESS It takes many small steps to get there. Standard Bank’s 10% movement is a plug
to help young South Africans build their dream 10% at a time. This movement aims
IMPACT BY UNDERSTANDING THE YOUTH? to help young individuals develop the right mindset and skills to achieve their dreams.

In this report, Yellowwood explores this question and provides a growth

strategy direction for businesses to drive impact with this audience based MyMo
on understanding category dynamics and behaviour patterns.
For just R5.95 per month, the Standard Bank MyMo Account is loaded with benefits.

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We visited The goal is not to just We reached a when you sign up now for a Standard Bank certificate upon completion which will allow you
Mobile SIM*. to claim recognition of prior learning in digital
98 schools. hear what young people representative sample
literacy at any institution of higher learning.
say, but to understand of over 7 100 *
This applies to customers 18 years and older.
what they really believe, young people across PLUGGEDIN
feel, and do. different ages.
PLUGGEDIN is a career success platform
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*Terms and conditions apply. Standard Bank is an authorised financial services and registered credit provider (NCRCP15). The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited (Reg. No. 1962/000738/06).
SUNDAY TIMES - September 24 2023 17

Su
DRIVE BRAND IMPACT
rveys Sunday Times

Reports by MASEGO SEEMELA

Local radio personalities Radio and TV personality
and businesswoman

D Still a hit with

espite the fast-paced world we live Thando Thabethe.
in, radio has remained a popular
medium of entertainment for the
youth of today, with broadcasters

today’s youth
such as Dineo Ranaka, Thando Thabethe,
MoFlava and Skhumba Hlophe selected as
some of the fan-favourite local radio personal-
ities at the 2023 GenNext Awards.
Radio has adapted to the times. From chan-
ging technology and consumer trends to a animated family, known as The Ranakas, Staying relevant in the ra-
more intimate connection with the listener, where viewers were given a front-row seat in- dio industry may seem hard
radio has been quick to evolve. The medium
has fast become more accessible through
to the fascinating family dynamic made up of
seven very different personalities.
for some, but third-placed
Moeti Tsiki, affectionately
You don’t
laptops, computers, phones and even smart “What this profession has taught me known as MoFlava, has have to be well
speakers, making it more appealing to the
younger generation. It has also become an en-
throughout the years is the importance of re-
search, reading and listening, which has been
managed to keep his name
in high rotation for more
versed in
gaging platform for listeners on a more per- key in my growth as a broadcaster,” says the than a decade despite the everything, but
sonal level with the incorporation of social
media.
Soweto-born broadcaster on her two-decade
career.
ever-changing radio
landscape.
be in the know
Since embarking on her radio career “I am a very stubborn person and per- Earlier this year, of what’s
in 2008 at UJFM before moving to
Joburg’s popular youth radio
haps it is through my stubborn
nature that I’m still standing tall
South Africans wit-
nessed the Soweto- happening. Stay
station YFM in 2011, Thabethe today. I believe in myself whole- born radio host hang true to yourself
has become a household heartedly. No matter how dark up his microphone
name in the entertainment the day may be, I know the at the national Thando Thabethe
industry in the past 15 suffering is just for a little broadcasting sta-
years. And she’s clearly a while. I think that is what tion Metro FM after 12 years to embark on a intentional about taking up space considering
huge hit with the country’s keeps me going.” new journey at Joburg’s freshest station, 947. the various things I did as a broadcaster,”
youth, winning the coveted Ranaka has been juggling “The key thing that I do is try to keep my Mdoda reflects.
number one spot in this life as an actor, singer and mo- private life away from the public domain. By “In this journey, I have inspired people but
year’s GenNext Coolest Local tivational speaker while still no means do I have a perfect life nor would I my biggest pride is being able to maintain my
Radio Personality category. pursuing a career on radio consider myself to have a clean image, I just day ones despite the numerous mediums I
At just 33, Thabethe, (which is on pause at the make sure people know me for my craft,” says use, be they television, radio, print or social
who participated in theatre Second-placed Dineo Ranaka. moment after her dismissal Tsiki. “It’s really important for one to respect media. It’s wonderful to have been able to
productions during her from Kaya 959 in June) and his or her private space and not use it as a exist through all the highs and lows in this
teenage years before scoring her first TV role being an advocate for mental health, a mis- tool to generate interest from the public. I industry.”
when she was just 14 years old, is also one of sion she holds dear to her heart. realised earlier on in my career that I don’t Having earned a name for herself as a “ra-
South Africa’s best-known actresses. Roles on “Society mistreats, judges and unnecessar- need to do that. dio giant” in the past two decades, Mdoda,
big productions such as Netflix’s How to Ruin ily misunderstands people with mental health “I believe in consistency and to do what who is a few months from her 40th, still be-
Christmas, Reyka, Housekeepers, Love Lives issues. As a person who lives with mental works as often as possible. It’s always import- lieves she has more to learn about the enter-
Here, Blood Psalms and many more have kept health conditions, I try to use my platform ant to always do your best all the time and to tainment industry as she steps into her inter-
her personal brand top of mind when it comes wisely and become a vessel of good hope for have the willingness to learn from old and national filmmaking journey.
to local audiences. those walking the same journey,” she says. new broadcasters in the industry. The main “Ending off the The Masked Singer SA is a
She’s also a formidable businesswoman, “At the moment I am still getting my pod- thing is respecting the craft of radio and the true reflection of manifestation and the real-
known for her underwear and shapewear line, cast Dineo on Sex ’ n Stuff off the ground. power this medium has.” isation of what you can do when one’s vision
Thabooty’s. But it’s her years working in radio Once that’s settled, I plan to show up for For more than a decade, TV and radio per- teams up with another person’s vision to
where the appreciation for her audience has people who are abused professionally and sonality Anele Mdoda has been an inspiration achieve the ultimate goal,” she says.
been firmly cemented. personally as well as spiritually. I’m going to to the youth. She has redefined what it means “I don’t know how I feed my resilient spirit
“Being a radio broadcaster has taught me to be a mental health advocate for a long time.” to “take up space” and not only dominate the ... I usually take my knocks, stand up and keep
always value the audience. It’s the relation- radio sphere but the television and film in- fighting to achieve the goal.
ships I’ve made with my listeners who started dustry — even at an international level. “I always say that a bad thing only happens
this journey with me, the ones who have Earlier this year, Mdoda elated the country to you for one day but if you still feel the same
moved with me from other stations to now when she announced her company along way the following day, that’s your choice to
947, that I truly treasure,” says Thabethe. with her partners Paul Buys and Frankie du stay in that moment where that bad thing
She shared her gratitude for her day ones. Toit were bringing South Africa’s very first happened. We should just allow ourselves to
“We laugh, cry and most of all support each season of the TV series The Masked Singer. let go of bad things to allow good things to
other, they have helped me be the media per- “When I started my career in radio, I was flow through.”
sonality I am today.
“I could never say I love being an actress
over being a radio broadcaster, or vice versa. I
am a storyteller and I get to do both with act-
Trevor Noah still the most-loved celeb
ing and being on radio. They both bring me joy

H
so I love them both.” e has been making people laugh Trevor
Thabethe’s message to young aspiring ra- with his rib-tickling comedy for Noah
dio broadcasters is to remain focused and nev- more than two decades and still, once
er get tired of learning. the spotlight keeps shining on again
“You don’t have to be well versed in The award-winning comedian and author Trevor takes the
everything but be in the know about what’s Noah. top spot
happening around you. Stay true to yourself — key thing When politics and the economy are grim, as the
radio broadcasting already has its Thando
Thabethe, it doesn’t need a copy and paste of
that I do Noah manages to make light of it all in the
most hilarious way possible.
GenNext
Coolest
me or any other radio personality. You must is try to The 39-year-old has been the pride and Local
show the world what it’s missing and you’ll
never go wrong.”
keep my joy of South Africa in recent years and once
again takes the top spot as the GenNext
Celebrity.
Picture:
Ranaka, 39, is another interesting radio private Coolest Local Celebrity. WireImage
personality who has also garnered a reputable
name for herself in the radio industry.
life away He successfully hosted The Daily Show,
an award-winning satirical news show cov-
for Vanity
Fair
She has lived most of her life in the public from the ering the day’s top US and global news, for
eye. In 2012, she was the executive producer of
her docu-reality series, Dineo’s Diary: The
public seven years. After resigning as host, he is
back in his home country with his Trevor Centre this weekend, before making his way
Making of a Mogul, which showed a glimpse domain Noah Live In South Africa tour, which kicked to the SunBet Arena in Pretoria for five
of how she balances motherhood, family and off last week at the GrandWest Casino in shows next week.
her career, while taking viewers through the Moeti Tsiki, Cape Town, with comedian Schalk Bezuid- This year marks Noah’s 21st anniversary
highs and lows of her life as she pursues her affectionately enhout as the opening act. in the entertainment industry, and his spe-
dream of becoming a business mogul. known as He is set to continue the Durban leg of his cial brand of humour is still a crowd puller,
In 2017, the multi-hyphenate broadcaster MoFlava tour at the Durban International Convention especially with GenZs.
gave her series a spin-off with her delightfully
18 September 24 2023 - SUNDAY TIMES

Sunday Times
Surveys
SEE YOUTH DIFFERENTLY

Reports by LYNETTE DICEY

Petrol stations grade 10 to 12 learners for more than 37 years.
Engen’s sanitary towel programme de-

F A place to
uel stations are no longer merely ne- livered 14,000 sanitary towels to female
cessary pit stops to refuel vehicles but learners at 25 schools across South Africa in
have become destinations in their 2022; a barista training programme helped
own right. This shift has been driven young, unemployed south Durban residents;

shop, eat
by the need to diversify their offerings to pro- and a training programme supported people
tect their businesses from volatile fuel prices. with disabilities to pass their driver’s licence
Fuel retailers have converted their fore- and enter the job market.
court stores from non-branded shops to part- As fuel retailers capitalise on the one-stop

and relax
ner with major supermarket chains such as shopping market, Sasol recently announced
Woolworths, Pick n Pay and Spar, allowing strategic partnerships with Seattle Coffee
them to offer customers a wider range of Company and Krispy Kreme to its forecourt
products and lower prices, while benefiting convenience centres. In 2022, it launched the
from retail loyalty programmes. Sasol Rewards Loyalty Programme, allowing
Engen is once again voted Coolest are designed around both their Coolest Petrol Station. Picture: Supplied customers to earn 30 points per litre of fuel,
Petrol Station by a significant margin driving needs and retail de- which can be redeemed against fuel or in-
over second-placed Sasol and third- mands, all of which must sim- weekly shopping trips at busy supermarkets store purchases at Sasol convenience centres.
placed BP. Shell and Caltex place plify their lives,” he says. in favour of buying groceries at smaller stores BP has a long-standing partnership with
fourth and fifth respectively. “This includes conveni- closer to home. “The second is ‘click and col- Pick n Pay, which has grown to more than 176
As the energy landscape continues ence stores offering a variety lect’, referring to online food ordering for franchise 24-hour Pick n Pay Express stores
to evolve, fuel stations have shifted of products and services, home delivery and the rise of out-of-home on BP forecourts across the country. The Ex-
their focus to increasing the share of from made-to-order consumption. press stores were originally opened to satisfy
income derived from nonfuel retail- Godfrey Vilakazi takeaways and sit-down res- “The third is ‘frictionless customer experi- an immediate top-up shop or quick meal
ing, says Godfrey Vilakazi, chief mar- taurants to fresh healthy gro- ence’, which includes an easily accessible solution, but have expanded their product
keting officer at Engen. ceries, household goods, banking and parcel site, good value, attentive service and the abil- ranges to meet customers’ ever-changing
In Engen’s case this has meant upgrading pick-up services. ity to pay in a variety of ways such as by card, shopping habits.
its capabilities to offer best-in-class, modern Three trends, driven by lifestyle choices smartphone, smartwatch or via an app.” BP has also partnered with Discovery. Cus-
retail standards to provide a space for con- and technological developments, are likely to In 2020, Engen introduced 1app, offering tomers are rewarded with Discovery miles
venience and relaxation while delivering shape the future of fuel station retailing, says motorists a safe and contactless way to pay when they swipe their Discovery credit card,
high-quality products and services. Vilakazi. without cash or cards. The app automatically and Discovery Insure members can earn up to
“Consumers expect modern fuel stations “The first is ‘fresh and frequent’, which registers points with loyalty partners, Clicks 50% cash back on their fuel spend.
to provide a diverse selection of services that refers to consumers cutting down on big ClubCard and FNB eBucks. It even allows cus- A brand to watch next year will be Caltex,
tomers to send funds to friends and family. which is rebranding more than 850 service
The youth have long been a priority for the stations to Astron Energy, with the aim of be-
company, he says. Over the past three years, coming the largest fuel brand in the country.
Engen has invested more than R35m in Part of the rebrand is a new rewards pro-
learnerships and bursaries. Its flagship cor- gramme, which includes earning Standard
porate social responsibility programme is the Bank UCount rewards points. FreshStop and
Engen Maths and Science School programme, Seattle will continue to be offered at Astron
which has provided supplementary classes to Energy forecourts.

Loyalty & rewards

S
hoprite’s Xtra Savings loyalty pro-

Celebrating 13 Years
gramme takes the top spot in the 2023

Youth market
GenNext survey, followed by Pick n
Pay Smart Shopper, Checkers Xtra
of Transforming Spaces, Savings, Clicks ClubCard and Capitec Live

still sceptical
Better.
People and the Economy South Africa’s loyalty market has matured
in recent years, with loyalty programmes on

Through Mobility offer across multiple sectors, including retail.

More than 70% of economically active South
Africans use loyalty programmes, on average
about value
using 9.2 programmes each, according to the
SA Loyalty Landscape Report for 2022 by have the means to spend more yet.”
Truth & BrandMapp. Shoprite’s Xtra Savings loyalty programme
But one of the biggest takeouts of the re- seems to be doing something right when it
port is that customers under the age of 25 are comes to the youth market with its clear vic-
significantly less likely to use loyalty pro- tory as the Coolest Loyalty Programme.
grammes compared to older customers, and Shoprite was founded with the aim of
those who do use fewer programmes. providing the lowest prices and the best value.
The extent to which loyalty programmes The group recently reported sales growth of
influence behaviour also differs by age, with 15.6% in its year-end results. And its Xtra Sav-
younger consumers more likely to be influ- ings loyalty programme saved customers
enced by where they shop, the products they more than R13.5bn in the past year.
buy, where they bank and the places they eat. Second-placed Pick n Pay’s Smart Shopper
“In the under-25 age category, 46% of re- is one of the most used rewards programmes
spondents said they don’t use any loyalty pro- in South Africa and has clearly hit the mark
grammes,” says Brandon de Kock, director of with young consumers.
storytelling at WhyFive, the company re- Earlier this year, Pick n Pay humorously hit
sponsible for the BrandMapp research. back at a TikTok content creator after she
“There’s no particular reason they don’t — it’s mocked men for using a Smart Shopper card.
probably just that they are young and haven’t The retailer cheekily responded by saying:
worked out yet what a loyalty programme “Imagine your boyfriend not being smart, not
means and how they can benefit from it.” having a Smart Shopper card and paying full
Younger consumers said they don’t spend price. How embarrassing.”
enough to earn decent rewards (15%), they’re Nice one, Pick n Pay.
just not interested (15%), loyalty programmes “As far as non-retail brands are concerned,
are too hard to understand (10%), they don’t it’s Capitec’s Live Better loyalty programme
like the way they spam members (10%), it’s that has caught the imagination of the youth
LIKE A BOSS too hard to redeem points or rewards (5%), market, which is not surprising as Capitec is
they’re not worth the effort (5%) and they also their primary banking brand of choice,”
want too much personal information (3%). says De Kock.
Our research reveals that younger con- This is borne out by the results of the Gen-
sumers haven’t worked out exactly what role Next survey, as Capitec came fifth in the
loyalty programmes can play in their lives. Coolest Loyalty Programme category. Capitec
The only thing they know is that they will just can’t seem to go wrong when it comes to
earn more if they spend more, but most don’t South Africa’s youth.
SUNDAY TIMES - September 24 2023 19

Su
DRIVE BRAND IMPACT
rveys Sunday Times

By LYNETTE DICEY
Restaurants

I Spur’s
n the sit-down restaurant category, Spur
Steak Ranches comes out tops for the
second year in a row, with Mugg & Bean
pushing McDonald’s from its second

recipe for
place spot to third. The iconic brand —
which won by a decisive margin — has been in
the business for 56 years.
When the first Spur opened in 1967, it was

success
with a vision to create a new kind of restaur-
ant in which children were not only wel-
comed, but celebrated. Most of all it had a vis-
ion to become the number one restaurant for
families, and one with new rules where
sticky fingers were a positive sign nection and play. I think that is Spur Steak Ranches comes first for a second year running.
and where spills were part of the something customers truly
thrills. value.” ies we operate in.” amplify their voices and change how brands
This proved to be a winning The sit-down restaurant cat- Spur’s loyalty programme has been run- engage with them. This trend will un-
concept and the brand has grown egory is a hotly contested space ning for 11 years and was awarded the best doubtedly continue.”
into a 304-store casual-dining fran- in South Africa, with some fierce loyalty programme in the restaurant category Spur recently announced plans to revamp
chise chain in South Africa, with competition. Customers are at the South African Loyalty Awards in 2022. all its franchise restaurants with a new look
an additional 30 restaurants in the spoilt for choice, agrees Henda. “We’re passionate about rewarding loyal intended to reflect the vibrancy and diversity
rest of Africa. Vuyo Henda However, that robust competit- customers,” says Henda. “We consider them of South African families.
“Spur has become a big part of ive environment ensures family and have created a simple rewards pro- “We want to be part of all those special
the family dining experience in South Africa,” brands continue to innovate and improve gramme that helps them unlock rewards the moments in the lives of our customers: the
says Vuyo Henda, chief marketing officer at their offerings for the benefit of customers. more they visit our restaurants.” celebrations, birthdays, first dates, work
Spur Corp. Many customers have fond child- “Standing out requires consistency in The youth, she says, have a lot to contend events, the match won or lost, the farewells
hood memories of celebrating key milestones terms of providing great-tasting food at great with in terms of social ills and pressures. and everything in-between,” she says.
like birthdays at their favourite Spur and they value in a safe, family-friendly environment; “They have high expectations of brands — Judging by the brand’s winning streak in
want to pass on that experience when they passionate franchisees and staff that strive to they expect authenticity and relevance in the GenNext survey, young South Africans are
start their own families. Spur restaurants are a provide a joyful experience for customers; and terms of brands meeting their needs. Through more than happy to spend many of these spe-
home away from home and a space for con- leading for the greater good in the communit- technology platforms, they have been able to cial moments at their local Spur Steak Ranch.
20 September 24 2023 - SUNDAY TIMES

Sunday Times
Surveys
SEE YOUTH DIFFERENTLY