Freight demand has outpaced the financing built to serve it By Darren Steenkamp, Transport Sector Head Capital intensity is a defining characteristic of the transport sector. When operators secure new contracts or encounter growth opportunities, the investment required in trucks, trailers and working capital can exceed the capacity of any

Why working capital, not demand, is holding back South African businesses By Ricco Strydom, Head of Working Capital Solutions & Commercial Property Finance For many businesses, growth depends less on winning new orders and more on funding inventory and managing cash flow while supplier terms shift underneath them. Over the

The ownership trap: Why South African manufacturers are embracing off-balance sheet growth By Chantell Hanekom, Manufacturing Sector Head In the face of global supply chain pressures, and intense competition from imports, South African manufacturers are in a constant battle to modernise. Data from Stats SA consistently highlights the sector’s struggle

Working Capital: The Lifeblood of Daily Business Operations By Mike Brandon, Managing Director at Merchant West Working Capital Solutions Working capital is the financial fuel every business needs to operate effectively on a daily basis. It provides the necessary liquidity to purchase inputs, maintain inventory, manufacture goods or deliver services,

Windows 10 Support Ends October 2025: How South African Schools Can Upgrade Affordably By Shane van der Merwe, IT Sector Head, Merchant West South African schools have relied on Windows 10 for years, powering everything from computer labs to admin offices. But come October 14, 2025, Microsoft will end support