12 financial journalists begin Sanlam Summer School in South Africa

The 2026 Sanlam Summer School for Financial Journalists has opened in South Africa, bringing together 12 journalists from six African countries for a week of training to strengthen financial reporting and improving coverage of the continent's economic development.

The participants represent Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia and South Africa.

The programme is being held from October 25 to 30 at the Pecan Manor Conference and Function Venue in Hartbeespoort, near Johannesburg, under the theme: “Road to the 2027 Special Davos Meeting: Leading Africa's Economic Narratives through Precision Journalism.”

At the opening session, Sanlam Summer School Convener Hopewell Radebe outlined the programme's guidelines, while Mamapongya Motsai of Fraycollege introduced participants to the training programme.

AI trainer Malebo Phage also led an introductory session on artificial intelligence, examining its evolution and highlighting the risks businesses and professionals face when they fail to adapt to digital disruption.

Participants and organisers later visited the Hartbeespoort Aerial Cableway and Hartbeespoort Dam as part of activities marking the opening of the programme.

The Sanlam Summer School targets early-career journalists with no more than three years of experience in business and financial reporting.

Since its establishment in 2003, the initiative has trained more than 550 journalists, with a focus on strengthening public-interest financial journalism across Africa.

The programme forms part of Sanlam's broader support for African media, which also includes sponsorship of the Sanlam Group Financial Journalism Awards.

Beyond formal training sessions, the initiative provides a platform for journalists and professionals from different fields to exchange perspectives on Africa's economic priorities and the role of accurate, evidence-based reporting in shaping public understanding of the continent's development.

The 2026 edition aims to equip participants with the skills and insights needed to report more precisely on economic policy, business trends and Africa's place in the global economy.

–
Citi Business News' Daniel Sackitey writing from Johannesburg, South Africa.

— CitiNewsRoom