Page 2 - KZN Business Book Vol.3 No.2

KZN

KwaZulu-Natal
Business Chambers Council
WE NEED TO TAKE NOTICE

you want to support the actions of downgrading. is goal engaged business will support the ruling
Dominic Collett -
Chairman of the the leadership in attempting to the business sector to work in party during this time of renewal
KwaZulu-Natal carry out their mandate but at the nding new ways of reducing through an honest and open
Business Chambers same time make a strong voice unemployment. debate on what is the best for the
Council
against corruption. people of South Africa.
In these times it is important to
Having lived through the never lose sight of the plight of the So in conclusion, I recommend
apartheid era, where the marginalised. It is usually the poor you take pro-active actions to KwaZulu-Natal
Business Chambers Council
nationalist government managed and vulnerable that can be most assist South Africa in reaching the
through propaganda and fear to
goals set in our constitution.
aected by bad governance or
I write this silence the cries for change, that misguided greedy and corrupt e following quotation may KWAZULU-NATAL BUSINESS
CHAMBERS COUNCIL:
article in a
era is still fresh in the minds of the
leadership. Business is committed
week that
best for your activism.
ANC stalwarts call for mass
saw President Zuma re-shue his South African people. So when to reducing unemployment and start your conversation on what is Chairman: Dominic Collett
will be pro-active in implementing
cabinet and emotional calls for demonstration in passionate programmes that lead to a stable
mass demonstration by the public addresses, reminiscent of economy. Business sees the “ere are good men and women Secretariat: Charmaine Nundalall
outgoing nance minister Pravin the struggle meetings held on current political activity as a sign in any community and in all Tel: - | 27 (0)87 350 6747
Gordhan. To say we live in university campuses in the 80s, that a renewal of the values of political parties or persuasions. It is Address: 3rd Floor, The Boulevard,
interesting times is an we need to take notice. Nelson Mandela and the when those men and women get 19 Park Lane, Umhlanga Rocks,
understatement. foundation values that built our together that the builders rather
e interactions between constitution is needed within an than the destroyers triumph. It is 4319, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
It is always a challenge for business CEOs and Pravin approach that all people of South then that our common humanity is Email: Dominic.Collett@rhdhv.com
business to decide what response Gordhan set the foundation of Africa are important. rearmed.” Nelson Mandela Website: www.kznchamber.co.za
to give in a time of changing engaging business in the common
political leadership. On one hand goal of avoiding a nancial As a partner with government,
BUSINESS ETHICS AND THE SOUTH AFRICAN DREAM
S hould one begin with the are fundamental to social
responsibility, which includes
business of ethics or the
business of dreams?
providing people with a living
wage, protecting the environment
e Honourable Minister of and saving scarce resources. He
Police, Nkosinathi Nhleko, said, “Even business is called upon
recently addressed the Durban to care. When we voluntarily enter
Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Power into a social compact, we get
Connection’ on the topic of closer and closer to the realisation
business ethics and the South of that elusive South African
African dream. dream.”

His powerful presentation It is clear that the call for
provided a great deal of insight for business ethics should be
the business sector to reect on. understood as having relevance
Included in the questions directed for all doing business in South
at the audience were: Africa. Of note is that current
business in South Africa takes
• How ethical is it to dream about place within a socio-political
the realisation of a South setting, which has a history of
African dream?’ inequality. It is also important to
• What happens to business when pay attention to both the dierent
we abandon ethics? and collective dreams that people
aspire to achieve.
ese questions have much
relevance in the light of the call for “e idea of an equal and just
radical economic transformation world for all, must surely be one of
in the country by President Jacob the heights of ethical thought and
Zuma in the recent State of the praxis. As Nelson Mandela put it
Nation Speech. Nhleko at the Rivonia Trial, the idea of a
commented, “e call for radical non-racial, non-sexist and
economic transformation is not a democratic society, was an idea for
call for an insurrection or a violent which he was prepared to die,” L - R: Honourable Minister of Police, Nkosinathi Nhleko, Mr Zeph Ndlovu, President of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry
conagration. It calls on all of us said Nhleko. and Claudette Sigamoney, Vice President Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry
to get serious about socio-
economic justice. is quest is a In addition, he said, “e
legitimate and ethical imperative. realisation of a dream of a just and e Honourable Nkosinathi Nhleko is the Minister of Police and a senior
When organised business commits equal society should not, be seen member of Parliament.
to broad-based black economic as the sole responsibility of the A former trade unionist, in 1994 Nhleko was deployed by COSATU to serve
empowerment and radical state. While one acknowledges the
economic transformation, they are contribution to the socio- in South Africa's rst democratic Parliament. A former underground
committing to the realisation of economic stability of our country, MK operative and commander, he was previously the ANC's chief whip in
the real South African dream. It is I nonetheless believe that business Parliament and has chaired several parliamentary portfolio committees
not a favour to black people. It is must and can do more.”
an act of justice and meaningful over the years.
nation-building.” For the full text of his speech please visit Minister Nhleko is passionate about human rights, philosophy, nature
http://www.kznchamber.co.za/
Nhleko says that sound ethics and jazz.

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