The Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa (PSASA) Pretoria Chapter delivered an evening of inspiration, insight and professional excellence during its highly anticipated Speaker Factor Competition Regionals on 30 April.
The event, which formed part of the Chapter’s monthly meeting, brought together professional speakers, aspiring presenters, coaches, facilitators and communication enthusiasts for a dynamic programme that celebrated the art of speaking while unpacking the realities of building a successful career on stage.
The regional competition ultimately featured four compelling contestants, each given five minutes to command the stage without the aid of slides or visual distractions, relying solely on the strength of their message, delivery and audience connection.
The Speaker Factor Competition, one of PSASA’s flagship platforms for discovering and nurturing speaking talent, challenged contestants to demonstrate not only eloquence, but also relevance, authenticity and professional stage presence.
Each speaker brought a unique perspective from their field of expertise, making the judging process particularly intense as the panel had to determine which two speakers would advance to the next stage of the competition.
Emerging as one of the evening’s top finalists was Pieter Roos, whose thought-provoking speech titled “Dealing with the Digital Elephant in the Boardroom” addressed a challenge facing many traditional leadership structures in the modern corporate landscape.
Roos’ presentation was specifically crafted for grey-haired board members and executives who are intimidated by technology discussions and uncertain about how to approach digital transformation conversations.
His speech focused on equipping senior decision-makers with practical ways of engaging with technological issues so they can continue to fulfil their governance duties effectively and add value to the organisations they serve.
With humour, relevance and strategic insight, Roos highlighted the growing disconnect between rapidly evolving digital realities and leadership teams that often feel left behind by innovation.
Joining Roos as one of the top two finalists was Nhlanhla Mabuza, who captivated the audience with a timely presentation titled “Mental Fortitude in the Digital Era”.
Mabuza’s speech spoke broadly to every human being who interacts with technology, making the topic universally relatable in an age where digital devices, online engagement and constant connectivity have become unavoidable aspects of everyday life.
Through a deeply reflective and motivational message, Mabuza explored the psychological pressures brought by the digital age and the importance of developing resilience, discipline and mental strength in order to navigate a world increasingly shaped by screens, speed and information overload.
The speech resonated strongly with audience members who identified with the demands of maintaining clarity and balance in a hyperconnected society.
The other competing candidates were, Dithebe Menoe, a reserve candidate, who presented a topic titled: “It starts with you”, intended for young professionals in managerial roles and individuals in overwhelm.
Another candidate, Anthony Peters’s topic, “Breaking free from the shackles of financial slavery” challenged everyone who is a slave in their financial lives to achieve financial liberation.
After a competitive evening of impactful storytelling and persuasive speaking, Pieter Roos and Nhlanhla Mabuza were officially announced as the two finalists who will represent the Pretoria Chapter at the Speaker Factor semi-finals on 9 June 2026.
Unlike the regional round hosted physically in Pretoria, the semi-final stage will be conducted virtually. The online format allows finalists to compete on a broader digital platform against top speakers from other PSASA chapters and Southern Africa.
Their advancement marks another important milestone in their professional speaking journey and positions them among the Association’s promising voices to watch.
Beyond the competition itself, attendees were also treated to an engaging panel discussion themed “The Business Behind the Stage”, which unpacked the realities of becoming a paid professional speaker.
The panel featured respected PSASA leaders including Taryn-Lee Kearney, Deputy President of PSASA and recipient of the Association’s Stef Du Plessis Founders Award, Jacques De Villiers, a former PSASA President, recipient of the Association’s Stef Du Plessis Founders Award, author, strategist and observer, as well as Ian Hatton, a two-time past Virtual Chapter President and Southern African Educators Hall of Fame inductee.
Together, the trio offered candid reflections on the mindsets, skill sets, setbacks and victories involved in building a sustainable speaking business. Their honest and often humorous conversation provided aspiring speakers with both inspiration and practical guidance on what it truly takes to succeed beyond applause.
The evening once again affirmed the PSASA Pretoria Chapter’s commitment to developing speaking talent, fostering professional growth and creating meaningful networking opportunities for communicators across industries.
Speaker Factor contestants shared their appreciation for the growth invitation the competition offers. Reserve semi-finalist Dithebe Menoe commented: “This was an amazing opportunity. Thank you for the PSASA platform to stretch ourselves. We all won on the day, and congratulations to (semi-finalists) Pieter and Nhlanhla. Thank you to the judges for the time and wealth of knowledge. You make the journey relatable and possible. Thank you to our Chapter leadership for encouraging us to push ourselves and to show up for ourselves.”
“This is such an amazing platform for growth and gaining confidence as a speaker,” remarked semi-finalist Nhlanhla Mabuza.
Of the new Eduvos Pretoria Campus venue, Chapter President Kakanyo Pilane earlier remarked: “I am lost for words.” Referring to her own professional background, she quipped: “In Performance Arts language you are our truest *Production and Stage management team.”
With rising speakers showcasing fresh ideas and seasoned professionals sharing hard-earned wisdom, the event served as both a competition and a masterclass in the power of voice, message and influence.
As Pieter Roos and Nhlanhla Mabuza prepare for the virtual semi-finals in June, Thursday night’s regional round proved that the future of professional speaking in Southern Africa remains bright, relevant and deeply impactful.
This article originally appeared in Urban Lens Media and is republished with permission from author Ntsika Tshangela.
Written By:
Ntsika Tshangela Journalist, Content Producer and Master’s Candidate Urban Lens Media https://ntsikawrites.art.blog https://www.instagram.com/urbanlensmedia_
Image credits: Urbanlensmedia/Trott Chaane/PSASA
