Page 13 - SA Chamber UK - September Newsletter- eBook

Engagement of the Informal Sector

Kelvin Campbell identified issues particularly
around engagement of the informal sector
from which the Masterplan programme
could benefit. Systems thinker Peter Senge
observed that most top-down initiatives fail.
Command-and-control models overlook the
interactive, dynamic nature of ‘on the ground’
initiatives and the continually evolving nature
of localised activity. For every one RDP house,

two hundred shacks are built for example.

Masterplans need to enable; to cut red tape, open up potential, and create the conditions
to flourish; to embrace the intuitive, the interactive, and unpredictable all of which happen
when you start releasing the potential of people, and harness the power of ‘many small

things’. Growth includes learning from failure. It is far easier to learn from many small
failures than from big failures.

South Africa has proved it can industrialise, it needs to do so again, but time is short. We need
to break up the essentially metropolitan structures put in place by Apartheid, which drive up
challenges for transport and infrastructure, and move job creation to where people are. There

are many successes in the current economy – the film industry in the Western Cape from which
70000 jobs are created from one film studio, is an outstanding example of localisation.

Focus on ‘End Goals’

Masterplans focus on ‘end goals’; to enable reaching these, they need to create starter
conditions and embrace ‘radical incrementalism’ at a local level to integrate the local with
the national in change making, to deliver on these goals. Including an ‘Urban acupuncture’
approach, making small injections into local economies to make a difference, and to include

in their ‘end state’ focus on targets and goals, a programme which feeds the starter conditions
for growth too.

Governments need to lead. The ‘policy by social compact’ Masterplan programme is an
enormously encouraging and positive demonstration of the South African government

taking the reins to do so.

The Wealth Creator discussion gave insight into including an approach which embraces
the local, manages in the present, and incorporates rapid and continuous feedback loops,
responsive to the needs of people on the ground, embracing simple purpose and clear
principles to promote intelligent behaviour, would promote their potential to recreate

industrialisation, rebuild investor trust, and deliver wealth for all South Africans.

- By Adrienne Hall, Exco, Chair Wealth Creation Chapter

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SA CHAMBER UK NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2023