PRESIDENT’S NOTE

REDIRECTING THE COURSE OF TRANSFORMATION

Our people deserve better leaders, better opportunities, and better lives, writes Andile Nomlala, BMF president

The Black Management Forum (BMF) has stood the test of time and has surpassed 45 years of existence. Today marks the stepping in of a new era, one where the organisation seeks to redirect the course of transformation in South Africa. e BMF has recently come out of its triennial elective AGM in Durban and the members have given us the privilege of, once again, leading the organisation to greater heights. We are proud of the work we have achieved to date in raising pertinent issues that a ect black professionals, society and the economy. e new board, under our leadership, will seek to strengthen our advocacy e orts and ensure that our organisation meets our members’ needs. e BMF remains relevant today because the cause of our forefathers has not been achieved as yet. is publication stands as our voice to the public, in our own way, for our own.

African Leader is the pulse of the BMF, without which the role of holding our thoughts in check will be relegated. is edition comes at a time when the country needs not only ideas, but also better, stronger and dedicated leadership. We believe the BMF has the intellectual arsenal and capabilities to lead South Africa beyond a post-COVID-19 society. One of our major challenges is the ongoing endemic corruption and questionable governance in our political system. e work of the Zondo Commission has revealed the gross mismanagement of our country and the lack of respect for the citizenry. Our people deserve better leaders, better opportunities, and better lives. similar role as a watchdog for board and executive appointments, and it can be the go-to source to help businesses nd the best leadership talent.

BMF, without which the role of holding our thoughts in check will be relegated. is edition comes at a time when the country needs not only ideas, but also better, stronger and dedicated leadership. We believe the BMF has the intellectual Africa beyond a post-COVID-19 society. One of our major challenges is the ongoing endemic corruption and questionable governance in our political system. e revealed the gross mismanagement of

e private sector continues to move at a slow pace in transforming the economy. e role of economic power cannot be overemphasised, especially considering the Zondo Commission Reports. e World Economic Forum names ve threats to our economy: prolonged economic stagnation, employment and livelihood crisis, state collapse, failure of public infrastructure, and proliferation of illicit economic activity. ese threats have the potential to collapse the country in a short space of time, especially if the state collapses rst. e state needs capable leaders who place the country’s interests rst. One way to assist the state to function optimally is for organisations like the BMF to champion a Professionals Panel. We have called for the establishment of this panel for a few years, but the concept has been in the BMF circles for more than 15 years. is panel can safeguard governance in the political system by channelling talented leaders into the right positions across the state. In the private sector, this same panel can play a

Andile Nomlala

PROBLEM-SOLVERS

e BMF is no longer looking at a narrow agenda of transformation in corporate South Africa alone; it now has a greater responsibility – looking at transformation in the broader South African context. We must move forward with a critical mass of capable, skilled, well-equipped, well-grounded, and ethical leaders, rather than drown in politically driven cadre deployment. e BMF’s bigger vision is to become the problem-solvers, and it is critical for us to forge partnerships with like-minded organisations and institutions.

Black people must be at the forefront of the economic rejuvenation. And, our government needs to implement decisive policies and create the regulatory and legislative framework that will ensure that the rebirth of our economy is in the hands of enterprising black entrepreneurs. e of enterprising black entrepreneurs. e economy needs to grow, and an enabling economy needs to grow, and an enabling environment for business to thrive must environment for business to thrive must be harnessed. be harnessed. e BMF’s next 45 years must e BMF’s next 45 years must focus on driving more meaningful focus on driving more meaningful transformation, and ensuring a critical transformation, and ensuring a critical mass of black presence in all respects mass of black presence in all respects and spheres of economic power. e and spheres of economic power. e BMF must be committed to making BMF must be committed to making transformation a system within the transformation a system within the country, not merely a project. country, not merely a project.

For many decades, transformation has For many decades, transformation has been poorly positioned, and now been poorly positioned, and now we have the great task of repositioning we have the great task of repositioning it in a post-COVID-19 society. e it in a post-COVID-19 society. e

BMF voice lives and will continue to BMF voice lives and will continue to reverberate far into the future. reverberate far into the future.