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Thread: NEASA - Black economic empowerment: A South African dilemma

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    Diamond Member Justloadit's Avatar
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    NEASA - Black economic empowerment: A South African dilemma

    A statement made by NEASA today - www.neasa.c.za

    Quote Originally Posted by NEASA
    BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
    A SOUTH AFRICAN DILEMMA

    'You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity' Adrian Rogers.

    In this newsletter:-
    • Our history
    • A business reality
    • Anglo American, Eskom and coal
    • The current BEE approach in a nutshell
    • Does being concerned about the current BEE approach amount to racism?
    • Where to from here?
    • Wisdom, more wisdom and guts
    • Let's make South Africa work

    Dear Employer

    OUR HISTORY

    One of the most challenging and controversial issues facing South Africa, if not the most important one, is the issue of transformation. The question now, however, is how to deal with the legacy of the injustices of our past and how to take South Africa forward. We cannot deny the past; it happened, it was wrong; but it is the manner in which we will address this that will determine the outcome.

    I don't think that there is a single person who does not understand that, somehow, we need to do something which will bring about a more inclusive economy and society. However, if we do it haphazardly, those who were the most prejudiced in the past, will be the ones who will be the most prejudiced in the future.

    'If well handled, affirmative action will help bind the nation together and produce benefits for everyone. If badly managed, we will simply redistribute resentment, damage the economy, and destroy social peace' - ANC, 1994.

    However, since this was said in 1994, the ANC's approach towards transformation has changed dramatically. Their current approach is now taking South Africa to where they, in 1994, did not want us to end up.

    In 1994, the ANC also emphasised that they would ensure that the state did not become 'an instrument of racially based extortion and patronage in which friends were favoured, opponents disadvantaged and bribes accepted'. That's exactly where we find ourselves today and it is causing a huge amount of resentment and uncertainty, which in turn will reflect negatively on growth and development, and consequently job creation, probably South Africa's primary challenge.

    A BUSINESS REALITY

    During the recent Mining Indaba (according to biznews), an investor said the following regarding potential investment in mining in South Africa:-
    • we have demanding clients, so we are not here to subsidise things;
    • we are not here for goodwill or for guilt;
    • we are here to make money for our investors, and they have very tight criteria.

    This sentiment applies to every area of business. If it does not make business sense, it simply will not attract investment. Being forced into it, without regard for the application of healthy business principles, will eventually lead to the complete destruction of business.

    ANGLO AMERICAN, ESKOM AND COAL

    Earlier this month Anglo American announced that it is withdrawing its supply of coal to Eskom because of government's requirements that 'blacks' (saying it so bluntly sounds so wrong - so sad that we just can't get away from this race issue) must own at least 55 percent of a supplier.

    According to Fin24, the CEO of Anglo, in making this announcement, indicated that Anglo will not supply any financing or other support to increase the BEE shareholding: "It will have to happen purely on a commercial basis".

    This approach is not unique to Anglo. This is how business thinks and operate. There's simply no other way.

    THE CURRENT BEE APPROACH IN A NUTSHELL

    According to the ANC, South Africa now finds itself in the 'second phase in the transition to a national democratic society', in a 'seamless transition', with no end in sight.

    Although this may sound like a very noble idea, and although the ANC says that it wants to 'de-racialise ownership and control of wealth and income', the effect of this policy is exactly the opposite. The end result, which they envisage, will be the specific racialisation (not de-racialisation) of every element of society: state, civil society, education, media and business; everything must eventually reflect the composition of the population - a complete and utterly racially structured society.

    The current demands will become more and more severe; the goalposts will continuously be shifted until this objective is achieved. In the case of a business (for example) the demand of the National Democratic Revolution (which is ANC policy) will not be satisfied until each and every element of your business - ownership and the race of your staff component - reflects the composition of the population.

    DOES BEING CONCERNED ABOUT THE CURRENT BEE APPROACH AMOUNT TO RACISM?

    How can it amount to racism? Business, or at least a particular segment of business, is severely concerned about this, simply because this approach to 'transformation' will attempt to force business into making decisions which are completely irreconcilable with sustainable business principles. It has nothing to do with race; it's about making decisions, in the interest of business, without interference.

    Being concerned in this regard is not based on the slightest suggestion that any particular part of our population is less qualified or capable than any other group; because it is simply not the case. South Africa needs all of its people, each and every one of them.

    Is it wrong to insist on building your business on a common vision (not for the purposes of racial transformation - which can never be the motive of business), shared values (since 'a house divided in itself will fall'), a particular work and business culture and the appointment of staff on the basis of unique suitability and merit? Can anyone build a successful enterprise on anything other than this? Does insistence on this amount to racism? Off course not!

    Thousands of reasonable and responsible businesses stand ready to make a contribution towards the building of a new and prosperous society. They cannot do that, however, if the organisations they lead are weakened by unwise decisions, not based on sound business principles. Being concerned about this does not make a business owner a racist.

    WHERE TO FROM HERE?

    How business owners/entrepreneurs approach this issue will determine whether, a few years from now, these businesses will still exist.

    Investment in all staff, the development of their skills and talents, regardless of race and gender, must always be a business priority. This is imperative if a business wants to be successful. Uplifting people and communities in which a business operates and in which its staff lives, to the extent that it is possible, is a wise commercial decision; a fantastic investment. This approach and attitude, however, is a thing of the heart, taking place within the context of the availability of resources; it cannot be enforced through legislation.

    WISDOM, MORE WISDOM AND GUTS

    The direction business now takes in respect of this very important issue, will be a road of no return. Business will have to calculate the cost, understand the consequences and do what is right, because those who make the wrong decisions won't be around for too long.

    If a decision in this regard is based on fear or short term gain, owners will soon lose motivation for doing business and making sacrifices; the price for doing business will become too high. Once that happens business will enter a downward spiral, something very few businesses survive.

    When that happens nobody will be better off: not the owner, not anybody in his/her employ, not the communities in which they or their employees live. If that happens on a large scale, which will be the case if these policies are pursued, South Africa will be worse off and we will be heading for an economic and social disaster, something which is already underway because of our inability to create jobs.

    LET'S MAKE SOUTH AFRICA WORK

    We all do things from a particular cultural, educational and historic perspective. We all need a complete new understanding of the world we live in and of each other. None of us knows it all, has it all. We need to understand better. We need to understand more. We all need 'new hearts', and ALL of us, EACH one of us with everything we have to offer, is needed if we want South Africa to work.

    Lets put up our hands and commit fully to a prosperous South Africa.

    Kind Regards
    Gerhard Papenfus
    Victor - Knowledge is a blessing or a curse, your current circumstances make you decide!
    Solar pumping, Solar Geyser & Solar Security lighting solutions - www.microsolve.co.za

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    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
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    Still doesn't say exactly what the next step is to solving the BEE regulatory environment problem.

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