South Africa, March 12 -- The 2026 theme, "Safe Products, Confident Consumers," highlights a shift in what "safety" actually means. Today, a product is only as good as the privacy of the person using it. In this economy, a data breach isn't just a technical failure; it's a breakdown in the customer experience (CX).

The trust gap by the numbers

According to the Information Regulator, South Africa averaged 284 data breaches a month in late 2025, a 40% increase from the previous year. This isn't just an administrative headache. For the consumer, it feels like a breach of a promise.

"When a customer shares their data, they are performing an act of trust," says Anna Collard, SVP of content strategy and CISO advisor at KnowBe4 Africa. "If th...