THE 8TH ANNUAL LOT NDLOVU LECTURE An edited version of the address delivered by former president Kgalema Motlanthe during a virtual conference on 6 August 2021.
M
aduke Lot Ndlovu, whom we remember, celebrate, and draw lessons from, was a universal man and a free thinker, skilled in various disciplines. His was a spirit that referred to human beings collectively, a compassionate and humane totality that brought about fundamental solutions to the problems of the day. Entrepreneur, executive, mentor, manager par excellence, humanitarian, and former president of the Black Management Forum, Lot Ndlovu’s devotion to lifelong learning and his understanding of purpose-driven productivity, critical thinking, and introspection, were pathways for his innovative approach to problem-solving. His valuable and outstanding contributions to the organisation brought about a focused confidence and determination to achieve broad and meaningful change. Understanding the influence of the private sector in effecting societal change is a notion that Lot Ndlovu succinctly captured as being at once an individual and collective responsibility. As we remember Lot Ndlovu, we recognise that his contributions open a window to the history and accomplishments of economic transformation in South Africa. This window offers us a viewpoint to commemorate and appreciate the lineage of black citizens and the freedom fighters who struggled for and contributed to the development of economic empowerment within our democracy. We now all enjoy universal suffrage and are building a united, democratic, nonracial, nonsexist and prosperous South Africa that promotes social cohesion, democracy and
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Former South African president Kgalema Motlanthe
human rights, and aims to advance the economic transformation and participation of the people. However, it remains important for us to reflect on the perspective of equal economic participation over the past three decades. And, by assessing our past and its reflection on our present, we also examine our conscience and the efforts we have made or have not made as leaders to foster equitable and inclusive growth in the lives of all people.
Shirley Machaba
OBSTACLES, CRISES AND INJUSTICE Collectively we need to identify the obstacles that continue to restrict the effective and sustainable implementation of inclusive growth and equitable distribution of wealth. The Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection’s recent summit on the Indlulamithi scenarios and economic modelling offers some scientific insight into the lived experience of South Africans to help us
Bongiwe Zwane
AFRICAN LEADER ISSUE 56 | MARCH 2022
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