South Africa, Jan. 21 -- If we are serious about "steering the future" of work in 2026, we cannot treat wellness as a once-off activity that happens when the calendar runs out. It has to be part of how we run the business in January and July, not only in December.

The data is clear. South African employees are not coping

South Africa was already facing a mental health crisis before the Covid-19 pandemic. Recent updates show that depression affects more than 27% of South Africans, and approximately one in six adults lives with anxiety, depression or substance use challenges. In the workplace, the picture is just as concerning. Local data suggests that around one in three South African employees suffers from burnout.

In 2024, the South A...