Business Leadership

ABOUT US

VISION & MISSION

#BusinessBelieves in South Africa. Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) is the organisation through which we not only express this belief but take action to create a more prosperous and inclusive South Africa.

We are an independent association whose members include the leaders of some of South Africa’s biggest and most well-known organisations. Through this forum, South Africa’s business leaders engage key players in South African society, including civil society and labour, to exchange ideas in our national interest, and to create effective dialogue with government and other stakeholders.

As an organisation we are focussing on three core activities, which combined with our contract with South Africa, will help to facilitate a better and inclusive South Africa in the future.

• Advancing a modern, inclusive and growing economy;
• Upholding the Constitution and protecting the integrity of the state; and
• Demonstrating that business is a national asset, and is central in addressing poverty, unemployment, economic injustice, workplace transformation and racism.

Our focus areas:

• Inclusive growth
• Protecting and strengthening core institutions
• Business as a national asset

#BusinessBelieves that when business succeeds, South Africa succeeds. Therefore our primary purpose is to help build a strong business environment.

We will do this by harnessing the resources and capabilities of business in partnership with government and civil society to deliver economic growth, transformation and inclusion so that we can create a South Africa of increasing prosperity for all. #BusinessBelieves the solution for South Africa’s success is job creation, transformation and economic growth. To support our nation’s achievement of this goal, business commits to a contract with South Africa.

We will do all we can to:

Create jobs by growing the economy

Between 1993 and 2015, South Africa’s private sector created 2.65 million jobs (Source: World Bank). Our aim is to create even more jobs.

Encourage and empower senior black leadership

Ultimately, the best way to close the opportunity gap is to invest in more businesses owned, run by and employing black South Africans. We pledge to grow a new generation of black business leaders and entrepreneurs.

Invest in South Africans

South Africa can only meet the challenges of the future with a highly-skilled workforce. We will train South African managers and workers for the challenges ahead.

Invest in communities

Business owes it to South Africans to do more to ensure the communities in which it operates thrive and prosper.

Support small businesses

They should be the lifeblood of our economy but too often they struggle. It is our duty to help them succeed by financing new businesses, training and mentoring entrepreneurs for success.

Condemn and root out corruption

Corruption and state capture are the cancers that are eating away at our society. They must be rooted out, crushed and punished where we find them in the public or private sector.

DEFINING BUSINESS LEADERSHIP

#BusinessBelieves that it is a catalyst for South Africa’s inclusive growth, transformation, and development of a strong society. We recognise that we have both rights and responsibilities.

South Africa is strong when business is strong. A South Africa that is good for business is one which attracts investment; where markets function effectively; and political, social and economic conditions create stability and certainty. This provides a platform for businesses both small and big to thrive, be they privately-owned, state-owned or foreign-owned firms. All have their role to play in building a South Africa that creates prosperity for all by delivering jobs and inclusive growth.

Corruption is the cancer that eats away at this country, BLSA expects the highest ethical standards of its members to not only comply with the laws of the country, but also to root out corruption and demand higher standards in both the public or private sector.

BLSA is also committed to transformation within the business sector and supporting black-owned and managed supplier businesses. BLSA embraces the BBBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment) scorecard in a way that gives weight to substance over form and that acknowledges the role of business as a positive force for society. We pledge to grow a new generation of black business leaders and entrepreneurs.

Our policy advocacy is aimed at allowing entrepreneurs to thrive, and to reduce the risks of doing business in SA. BLSA is actively looking outward to form principled alliances with members of civil society to advance the constitution and ensure the integrity of state institutions. We will continuously engage in policy formulation on a broad range of topics.

On 25 November 2005, the South Africa Foundation changed its name and brand to BLSA. The Foundation, founded in 1959, has a rich history of contributing and showing the commitment of business to South Africa.

BEYOND ADVOCACY FUND

BLSA and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have partnered to establish the Beyond Advocacy Fund. The fund will support the efforts of business to make a more coherent and systemic contribution to national development objectives, as espoused in the National Development Plan, which aims to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030. It will provide a vehicle for more effective collaboration with social partners, towards engendering a climate of increased trust.

Projects funded by the Beyond Advocacy Fund therefore aim to comply with as many of the following criteria as possible:

• Have the potential to demonstrate constructive partnerships between business, government and other social partners;
• Target systemic change, through initiatives that sustainably impact jobs, growth, youth employment, education/skills, gender, disability, effective public management and/or infrastructure;
• Be pragmatic and feasible in design, so that it is possible at the outset to define in some detail the practical steps that, if taken, will result in success;
• Generate the support for implementation and success amongst social partners; and
• Result in a clear plan for implementation, including a mechanism for sustainable funding of the initiative and identification of an institution (or institutions) that can be tasked with delivery.

The fund is already in operation and will run to April 2018. Eight projects are currently being supported, including.

New Social Covenant:

This initiative emanates from the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda on Values. The New Social Covenant aims to create global and local partnerships between the private sector, government and civil society that are based on three core values:

• Respect for human dignity.
• Stewardship of the planet.
• Commitment to the common good.

The Beyond Advocacy Fund supports the South African component of the project, which aims to foster collaboration between five to 10 corporates, to design and implement company-specific interventions to demonstrate how these values can be embedded within existing company operations, and supported by partnerships between government and civil society. Barclays and the University of Stellenbosch are key partners in the implementation of this initiative.

Providing Support to the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT):

NECT is a joint initiative of government, trade unions and the private sector to collaboratively improve education in seven districts in SA. The Beyond Advocacy Fund support assists NECT to extend training to district officials and change agents in the learning programmes that are focused on foundation phase numeracy and literacy. Support includes the production of teacher materials and in-school support to teachers by change agents.

Support of a range of critical research interventions that are focused on facilitating the addressing of energy and water infrastructure challenges that are being faced by the country. The research outputs will help guide further engagements with stakeholders towards enhancing the future structure and functioning of these sectors.

SERVICES

OUR CONTRACT WITH SOUTH AFRICA

#BusinessBelieves in South Africa

We love this country – which is blessed with natural beauty, abundant resources and talented people.

We believe in South Africa’s future. We share the values set out in its constitution. And we say humbly: we want to play our part in ensuring that South Africa works for everyone.

That’s why on 23 August, 2017, Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) signed a contract with South Africa, to commit to playing our part in creating a South Africa of increasing prosperity for all by harnessing the resources and capabilities of business in partnership with government and civil society to deliver economic growth, transformation and inclusion.

Undoubtedly there will be challenges along the road to delivering this, not least cleaning our own house of the corruption that has plagued this country – but within this contract and Integrity Pledge we are clear that is the past and we will no longer accept these practices.

We cannot, however, do this alone. To fulfil this contract, the government must also step up. It must commit to create the conditions necessary for our great country to succeed, the economy to grow and for the South Africa of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’s dream – where everyone prospers - will become a reality.

OUR CONTRACT WITH SOUTH AFRICA

We will do all we can to:

Create jobs by growing the economy

Between 1993 and 2015, South Africa’s private sector created 2.65 million jobs. Our aim is to create even more jobs.

Encourage and empower senior black leadership

Ultimately, the best way to close the opportunity gap is to invest in more businesses owned, run by, and employing black South Africans. We pledge to grow a new generation of black business leaders and entrepreneurs.

Invest in South Africans

South Africa can only meet the challenges of the future with a highly-skilled workforce. We will train South African managers and workers for the challenges ahead.

Invest in communities

Business owes it to South Africans to do more to ensure the communities in which they operate thrive and prosper.

Support small businesses

They should be the lifeblood of our economy but too often they struggle. It is our duty to help them succeed by financing new businesses, and training and mentoring entrepreneurs for success.

Condemn and root out corruption

Corruption and state capture are the cancers that are eating away at our society. They must be rooted out, crushed and punished where we find them in the public or private sector.

#BusinessBelieves government must also commit to create the conditions necessary for it to succeed, so the economy can grow. Too many bad decisions have got in the way of that.

BLSA calls on all political parties and civil society to:

• Work with businesses to make inclusive economic growth the number one priority. Because when the economy is strong, South Africa is strong.
• End the scandals of corruption in the public and private sector that have blighted this society.

INTEGRITY PLEDGE

#CrushCorruption

Business Integrity Pledge

• We shall actively combat corrupt practices wherever we encounter them
• We shall not act anti-competitively
• We shall have zero tolerance for corruption in our midst
• We shall protect whistleblowers and provide information

Preamble

Corruption is eroding our Constitution, threatening our Sovereignty, and undermining inclusive growth and our economic development. The perpetrators, whether public officials or private parties, almost always require business counterparts. Therefore, among the broader business, are some of the facilitators of these activities. Business complicity in corruption, whether witting or unwitting, betrays public trust in us, and undermines democratic values.

We will not tolerate this. As business, we are determined to play our part in preventing and defeating corruption, to reaffirm honesty, respect for the rule of law, accountability, transparency and putting South Africa first. To achieve this, we shall act with courage, integrity and consistency.

I, the undersigned, hereby bind myself, my company and its officers to the following:-

We shall actively combat corrupt practices wherever we encounter them. We shall actively and timeously report to all relevant authorities all individuals and entities on whose part there is reasonable suspicion of corruption. We shall similarly report all attempts and invitations to engage in corruption. We shall have no engagement with associated parties, including facilitators, introducers, sub-contractors or other closely connected persons whose reward is incommensurate with legitimate value provided.

We shall not act anti-competitively. We shall not engage in collusion, market division or customer allocation with our competitors. We shall not engage in collusive or fraudulent tendering or contracting of any kind. We shall cooperate fully with the authorities in any such investigations.

We shall have zero tolerance for corruption in our own midst. We shall neither offer, nor accept, bribes, inducements or facilitations of any kind. We shall abide by the letter and spirit of the law and regulations in all jurisdictions in which we operate.

We shall protect whistleblowers and provide information. Whistleblowers, also from within our midst, will be protected. We shall on a voluntary and timely basis provide all information required by the authorities to combat corruption. Where there is reasonable evidence of corruption, we shall engage independent investigators and act on their recommendations. We shall be honest in our dealings with the media and the public.

We shall take all steps necessary to give effect to this pledge.

PROTECTING & STRENGTHENING CORE INSTITUTIONS

Business Believes in the importance of strong, autonomous and effective institutions, which has been demonstrated in recent months, and is true for the key institutions of economic management and of constitutional governance.

Business Leadership South Africa has increased its engagements with, and support for, civil society around shared principles.

In BUSA and BLSA’s recent submission to the SACP imbizo we stated:

Business stands for a South Africa where:

• The Constitution is the foundation of our society, polity and economy; a society where the Constitution is respected, our state and Chapter 9 institutions are independent from external influence, and the rule of law is respected and prevails.
• The state is strong and capable. This requires a stronger appreciation for our institutions and an emphasis on the importance of their strength as well as ensuring accountability.
• Acknowledgment that an inclusive economy can only be built on the foundation of a thriving business sector.
• We are not party political.
• We are patriots and are ready and willing to play our role in building the progressive vision for the country envisaged in the Constitution.
• We can only achieve South Africa’s potential if the state, business, labour, and civil society work hand-in-hand.
• The Future of South Africa’s “Six-Pack for Eliminating State Capture and Building State Integrity” (endorsed by the BLSA)

#1 State capture must be rooted out and its perpetrators brought to justice

• An urgent, independently constituted judicial commission of inquiry should investigate the issues raised by the Public Protector.
• Special, clean, investigative and prosecuting teams with credible leadership should be constituted immediately to pursue all state capture cases without fear or favour.
• Al spheres of the public sector should be decisively rid of corrupt activity. Implicated persons should be dismissed and prosecuted.
• Anti-corruption efforts are a social responsibility in which civil society, political parties and companies should have a legally enforceable duty to positively combat corruption.

#2 The nuclear programme must be halted

• A moratorium should be called on all activities related to procurement of nuclear energy for at least two years.
• An objective and independent assessment of the country’s energy needs should be completed within that period with no artificial limitations on specific energy sources.
• Transparent, fair and fully compliant processes should be followed in all energy procurement.

#3 The credibility, independence and capability of the criminal justice system must be restored

• Competent professionals of integrity should be appointed to lead the SAPS, Hawks, NPA and the intelligence services. These services should act fairly, in the national interest and entirely without political interference.
• Political influence in the Judicial Services Commission should be removed to secure the independence and quality of the judiciary.
• Rule of law must be established immediately.

#4 Our democratic process must be protected and strengthened

• The independence, integrity and capability of the Independent Electoral Commission and all Chapter 9 institutions should be assured.
• All funding of political parties should be transparent. Political parties should be prohibited from having business interests.
• The critical oversight role of Parliament should be strengthened and public engagement with Parliament improved.
• The media should be protected to enable it to operate freely, independently and without fear of intimidation.

#5 The public sector must serve the people, not politicians

• Party-political deployment throughout the public sector should be eliminated. With due regard for transformation and equity, all senior appointments and removals should be made through a merit-based, objective commission process in which vested interests play no role.
• Legitimate whistleblowing should be encouraged and whistleblowers provided with adequate protection.
• Best-practice and transparent procurement policies should be enforced throughout the state, by the end of 2017.
• Competent professionals of integrity should lead National Treasury, SARS, the Chief Procurement Office, the Accountant General, the Financial Intelligence Centre and the Public Investment Corporation.
• The independence of the SA Reserve Bank must be respected.

#6 State-owned companies must be cleaned up

• Full investigations into corruption and misgovernance at all SOCs must be launched, followed by the removal of those found to be corrupt and their replacement by credible, experienced leaders.
• Government should exercise policy direction over SOCs through explicit, rational policy mandates agreed to by cabinet and overseen by Parliament. All other political interference should be removed.
• SOC boards and executives should be appointed on the principle of representative merit through a commission process. Boards should operate on sound corporate governance principles.

BUSINESS AS A NATIONAL ASSET

#BusinessBelieves a thriving business sector is essential for addressing the country’s challenges. South Africa has no future without strong, successful and growing businesses. BLSA is spearheading efforts to build a national consensus on the importance of businesses in society and the vital contribution they make.

The private sector is crucial to the socio-economic development of any nation. Since 1993, the private sector has created more than 2.65 million jobs, and we pledge to create more. Our role is critical to creating jobs, market growth, community initiatives and investment, to ensure all in society have the opportunity to grow and prosper.

BLSA pledges to work with labour, faith-based organisations, civil society, leaders young and old – in fact, anyone who shares these values – to ensure that the South Africa of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’s dream, where everyone prospers, becomes a reality.

INCLUSIVE GROWTH

#BusinessBelieves South Africa needs a clear path to a modernised, inclusive and growing economy. BLSA is working with other sectors of society to map out this path and to ensure we address poverty, inequality and unemployment.

BLSA constantly strives to ensure growth, equality of opportunity, and genuine transformation. These include the activities of the CEO Initiative, such as the SME Fund, and through our participation in BUSA and with other stakeholders.

Over the next several months, business leaders will be working to build a national consensus around the responsibilities of business and that of other civic actors. It will mean rallying around priority sectors where South Africa can grow, and examining how the country can succeed in a global economy with rapid technological and business change. Job creation will be a key focus, as will maintaining macroeconomic stability, microeconomic efficiency and redistribution in a way that makes sense for South Africa.

#CRUSHCORRUPTION

#BusinessBelieves corruption and state capture are the cancers eating away at our country.

We know business has made mistakes and too often fallen short. We should have been louder in condemning bad practices. Today we are clear: we will not stint in our criticism and action whenever business fails.

But we must highlight the greater problem. We cannot grow our economy in the face of corruption and state capture. Too often government contracts and jobs go to the connected rather than the deserving.

Everyone who cares about this country must cry, “Not in my name!” wherever they see evidence of corruption, whether in the public or private sector.

It must be rooted out, crushed and punished.

BUSINESS GIVING BACK

Business Leadership SA, through its members, is committed to bringing about meaningful transformation in the country by delivering economic, social and environmental benefits for all stakeholders.

Corporate social responsibility programmes range from education, environmental and health, to heritage, sports and skills development. Corporates and multinationals see it as their moral duty to make a difference to previously disadvantaged communities, forging lasting partnerships with beneficiaries, government and NGOs. Enterprise development and staff volunteerism form part of these initiatives, contributing to truly sustainable development.