Black+business+joins+succession+debate,+Siyabulela+Qoza,+City+Press

City Press, Johannesburg, 17/03/2007 19:26 - (SA)
=Black business joins succession debate=


 * Siyabulela Qoza**

BLACK business is planning to engage the ANC, other political parties and like-minded organisations on its resolutions on governance and leadership after the next national elections.

“The ideas can be developed into a summit which will discuss the social and economic challenges facing the country and, by extension, the governance and leadership in the next presidential term. We can have proper discussions without shouting at each other,” said Peter Vundla, chairperson of the Black Business Executive Circle (BBEC).

This week, black business, through BBEC, became the latest lobby to enter the debate on who should lead the ANC and the country, and how the country should be governed after the 2009 national elections.

BBEC is a lobby group of senior executives and many of the serial empowerment barons.

ANC spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama said the ANC is open to discussing such matters with any organisation.

The ANC is scheduled to discuss its policies in June and elect a new leader in December.

BBEC resolved that, as responsible corporate citizens, black business leaders have a duty to express themselves soberly and maturely on the succession debate.

Without voicing support for any individual, BBEC resolved to focus on the type of leadership that will ensure the continued relative prosperity of the country.

“Competitive politics is the cornerstone of a maturing democracy and the competitive nature of the succession race is a positive sign for the consolidation of democracy in South Africa,” reads the news release on the resolutions.

BBEC wants a stable transition. They say the presidential candidates must demonstrate a capacity for, and commitment towards, addressing post-2009 socio-economic challenges, such as consolidating macro-economic stability.

Other challenges they deem important are the extension of the reach of recent economic gains to the second economy, overhauling the education system so that economic growth is driven by a sufficient supply of the right skills and entrenching a team-oriented, inclusive leadership style focused on both management and statesmanship qualities.

BBEC did not debate black economic empowerment.

“We assumed that BEE is entrenched as a policy and what is important is the monitoring of the implementation of the legislation and codes of good practice,” said Vundla.

He said some members had expressed frustration at the lack of clarity on the choice of ANC leader.

“Members of the ruling party have an enormous responsibility to the entire country in their election of the ANC president. They should apply careful consideration to the events which are to unfold at the ANC national conference in December 2007,” reads the release.

The implementation of BEE and broader transformation are issues that are topical, as black investors come out second-best to financiers as a result of the funding structures.

Established business still determines the course of empowerment – from chosing its prefered partners, to structuring the deals and how these deals are publicised.

This has left a perception that the deals, driven mainly by white business, are not benefiting many ­black people.

An analyst, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the black business move should be viewed with caution.

“Capitalists are self-interested. They want an environment where they can make maximum profits,” said the analyst.

A participant in the debate said black business needs to identify itself with policies of growth in the context of a globalising world. That may mean getting into bed with white businesses on certain issues.


 * From: http://www.news24.com/City_Press/Finance/0,,186-246_2085305,00.html**

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