That said, we all know that building a successful economy cannot be a job for the government alone. All stakeholders, particularly companies and civil society, must actively contribute to the course by catalysing, and giving structure to, strategic conversations about unlocking South Africa’s future economic growth. Together, we must clear the path for businesses to thrive, invest and grow.
We have seen such progress with our energy system, restored to stability, while wind and solar are attracting significant inward investment. Logistics is the next nut to crack and, again, it is good to see the train leaving the station. These central systems of the economy form the backbone for confidence and credibility for investors.
It is in the interests of every business in South Africa to roll up its sleeves, get involved and help bring to reality the country we all want. After all, no business can prosper if the country is not on an upward trajectory — and vice versa.
Anglo-American’s roots run deep in South Africa, where it has nurtured partnerships over many decades with government, civil society, and labour. This is in our DNA. While we, too, evolve and transition towards a simpler and more agile global portfolio designed to deliver sustained growth, our commitment to South Africa and its success is as real as ever.
We can leverage the value that comes from hard-earned trust as a company that has been part of the fabric of South Africa for more than a century — to deliver enduring benefits in education, livelihoods, health and the wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of people. I am so proud that we have been involved in co-creating solutions to some of the country’s most intractable challenges such as energy, crime and corruption, logistics and infrastructure.
Initiatives such as the B4SA — an alliance of business leaders working with the government and other social partners to step up, lead and help create and deliver sustainable solutions for South Africa — is a show of commitment, cultivated in a relationship of trust between government and business over time. It offers a platform for the president and cabinet ministers to have regular and direct engagements with business and wider society to tackle shared challenges, where there is frank discussion and genuine collaboration.
Having participated in the numerous business engagements facilitated by President Cyril Ramaphosa, I often reflect that our success is intertwined with the success of the country. The two go hand in hand.