Strategic partnerships, alliances and joint ventures are the leading external growth priority, selected by 53% of South African respondents compared with 45% globally. Corporate venturing and minority investments are selected by 40%, double the global result of 20%. Licensing and intellectual-property-led growth is also more prominent locally, at 30% compared with 22% globally. The pattern suggests a pragmatic approach to growth. CEOs are not choosing between building and buying. They are combining internal improvement with partnerships and targeted investments that can provide access to skills, technology, intellectual property and new routes to market.
This flexibility matters in an environment where speed, capital discipline and access to capability must be balanced. Partnerships and minority investments can complement the core business while allowing leaders to test new opportunities without relying only on large-scale acquisitions.
