Networking forum for black industrialists

The forum is a non-racial, thought leadership organisation with the main purpose of influencing socio-economic transformation in South Africa, in pursuit of socio-economic justice, fairness and equity. Guests and members were invited to attend and listen to speakers, Lionel October, the director general of the Department of Trade and Industry in South Africa, and the forum’s deputy president, Koko Khumalo.

October unpacked the government’s 100 black industrialists’ programme and spoke about the importance of adopting industrialisation in the country. “For us to prosper, we need to be an industrialised nation,” he said.

Khumalo said for the nation to move on as a country, everyone needed to contribute to the transformation of the economy. October added that it was necessary for South Africa to diversify the economy. “We must create new lines of business and create our own industries,” he explained.

Khumalo went on to discuss the fundamentals of radical economic transformation. “We need to stop talking and start doing,” she added.

The forum’s chairperson, Tshepo Marumule echoed Khumalso’s sentiments and said, “The time for talking is over. Corporate South Africa is still in the hands of those who don’t want us to prosper and we need to change this.”

A robust debate continued in which guests and members engaged the speakers on their respective discussions and views. Some were concerned about government’s decision to focus on industrialisation while the mining sector of the country was still shaky. Others raised issues of administrators who were given the task to evaluate business plans, yet have no business experience, and how that could possibly hamper progress in trying to grow the number of black businesses in the country.

Details: www.bmfonline.co.za

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