REDEFINING SOUTH AFRICA IN OUR OWN IMAGE Monde Ndlovu, head of advocacy and thought leadership, reflects on the BMF’s role in changing the South African landscape
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he BMF is a thought leadership organisation that has played a crucial role in the development of laws to transform the economy, including the Employment Equity and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment acts. The BMF was prompted to move into a thought leadership model because the country was on the brink of impending change and needed thinkers who would influence the levers of power. With the ongoing struggle for political change, the BMF stood in the gap advocating for economic transformation. The work of thought leadership has not changed, but continues to evolve with the leaders of each passing generation. The phrase “redefining South Africa into our image” came from Dr Reuel Khoza, who delivered the address at the BMF strategy session in January. I have since decided to borrow the phrase as I look at the role of the BMF over the next 45 years as it seeks to redefine South Africa. Redefining South African society into an image suggests that the image is firstly what will be good for the society. Secondly, the image becomes the standard of ultimate reflection and emulation. Thirdly, the image is what we all aspire to become and commit to shaping our lives in that direction. Therefore, an image is Dr Reuel Khoza
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Monde Ndlovu
a complete representation of an idea, place, imagination and thought. In the words of Lot Ndlovu, “we have a hope as we sit here, that black people will act differently to white people, and the white people who join us today will act like us”. The image Lot Ndlovu is talking about is the idea of the BMF and how the organisation shapes all people. The BMF image is what South Africa needs today and in the future.
VALUES-DRIVEN IMAGE
Unpacking the layers of society using the iceberg model reveals that the tip is what people see and engage with. The tip is the noticeable behaviour and actions of others, but it does not communicate effectively what lies beneath those behaviours and actions. Some leaders in our country enjoy articulating views that sound correct, yet they move at variance with what they profess, raising a question about values. Naturally, human beings seek to build self-confidence by watching the behaviour
of their leaders and drawing strength from their words and even their inspiring actions. However, this approach to building confidence in society is being challenged daily by the double standards that leaders unashamedly display. Beneath the iceberg is where the real discourse of values and assumptions lies. The BMF has, over the years, emphasised the role of values in shaping organisations and society in general. Values are actively built by progressive leaders who remain rooted in their context. Transformation must begin at a personal level to be internally aligned to the correct values that will build the social fabric of society. The BMF has upheld ubuntu, effectiveness, integrity, creativity, and respect as its organisational values. These values belong to the future yet live in the present. The BMF’s values remain timeless and above reproach in all respects. Members of the BMF are immediately challenged by the values of the organisation and how they fit into the value system. Over the years, the
DID YOU KNOW? The BMF achieved a significant milestone in 2018 with the introduction of transformation as one of the main requirements for listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
The BMF has, over the years, emphasised the role of values in shaping organisations and society in general. Values are actively built by progressive leaders who remain rooted in their context.
AFRICAN LEADER ISSUE 56 | MARCH 2022
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