EXPLAINER: How are adverts regulated in South Africa?

Loading player...
GUEST - Gail Schimmel, CEO of the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB)



In this conversation we unpack how advertising is regulated in South Africa and why truth in branding matters.



Gail Schimmel, CEO of the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB), explains the role of the ARB in safeguarding consumer interests, setting industry standards, and ensuring advertisers strike a balance between creative expression and factual accuracy.



We dive into the recent Liqui Fruit case, where the ARB ordered the company to drop its long-standing slogan, “Nothing But Fruit”, after finding it misled consumers about the actual contents of its juices. Gail takes us through how the ARB evaluates consumer complaints, investigates claims, and makes rulings that impact both brands and the public.



From the complexities of regulating creativity to the next steps for Liqui Fruit, this conversation highlights how advertising watchdogs are shaping accountability and why every word in an advert matters.
15 Sep 2025 4PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

Tech & Innovation: The Youth-led Ai Startup Transforming Consumer Insight

South Africa’s youth economy is bursting with innovation — and few stories capture that energy better than that of Kamogelo Selepe. At just 22, she built an AI platform that predicts consumer behaviour. Kamogelo is the CEO and Founder of ArcaneEdge, an AI‑powered marketing technology company operating at the intersection…
16 Jun 12PM 15 min

Careers Corner: Fixing Youth Unemployment by Starting at Age Four

With youth unemployment at 61%, Afrika Tikkun argues that South Africa is intervening far too late. Afrika Tikkun’s Marc Lubner explains why the Cradle‑to‑Career 360° model—from early childhood to job placement—is the missing link in solving the jobs crisis. A powerful conversation on early intervention, soft skills, agripreneurship, and rethinking…
15 Jun 4PM 14 min

Construction Confidence Slumps as Costs Surge

The FNB/BER Building Confidence Index drops to 38 as rising internal costs, Middle East conflict pressures, and project postponements hit the sector hard. FNB Senior Economist Siphamandla Mkhwanazi unpacks the collapse in subcontractor confidence, the reversal in non‑residential activity, and whether early‑pipeline indicators offer any hope for recovery.
15 Jun 4PM 9 min

SA Manufacturing Confidence Climbs Despite Cost Shock

The Q2 Absa Manufacturing Survey shows confidence rising even as business conditions deteriorate sharply. Sachin Chanderdhev, Sector Specialist for Manufacturing at Absa Business Banking. breaks down the paradox: record raw material spikes, shipping disruptions, fuel costs, and the 8.76% electricity tariff increase—and how manufacturers are still managing to adapt, negotiate…
15 Jun 3PM 14 min

Wealth Creation: What SA Women Get Right About Money

The inaugural Franc Wealth Index reveals a surprising truth: South African women outperform men financially — not because they earn more, but because they behave differently. Franc Co-Founder Sebastian Patel unpacks the behavioural edge, the confidence gap, and why consistency beats cleverness every time.
15 Jun 3PM 13 min