Date: 11/03/2004
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
Title: S Ndebele: Signing of Big Business Commitment Statement
SPEECH BY THE KWAZULU-NATAL MINISTER OF TRANSPORT, MR S'BU NDEBELE, AT THE SIGNING OF THE COMMITMENT STATEMENT BY BIG BUSINESS IN DURBAN, 11 March 2004
Programme Director
Distinguished guests
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all stakeholders present here today for their commitment to black economic empowerment (BEE). I understand each one of you present here today has sacrificed time, money and many other resources in an effort to see BEE succeed in Durban.
I want to warn you, however, that your commitment to economic justice will not be appreciated by those who are still singing the hymn of apartheid economics. They will try to bring the music of discord into the harmony that exists among us. I want to state it clearly that BEE refers to the empowerment of all those who have been disadvantaged by apartheid. Black here refers to Indians, Africans and coloureds. We are all "black enough" and the nation that some South Africans are "not black enough" is not only a lie but an attempt to divide those who have been marginalized under apartheid. It can be very tempting to believe this notion especially if it is always repeated with disgusting familiarity by those that seek to sow the seeds of confusion. To legitimise the continuation of the old order, a term has even been coined to label BEE as "reverse racism", a practice similar to a male chauvinist referring to gender equity as reverse sexism. That would be totally unacceptable.
We have to appreciate the fact that there are certain historical observations whose truthfulness matches the strength of a mathematical axiom. One of these is that political liberation without economic emancipation is meaningless. For us in South Africa economic emancipation is a synonym of BEE. However, South Africa is not the only country that has trodden the difficult path of redressing historical imbalances. America, India, Malaysia, Namibia and many other countries were once faced with similar challenges.
The South African reality dictates that we adopt BEE as a programme. Decades ago the Government of India adopted a similar approach and termed it "positive discrimination". In the United States this programme became known as affirmative action. Within the broader business context we in South Africa have termed this programme BEE. In congratulating all of you present here today I want to say that you are doing the right thing.
As the MEC for Transport in this province, I was also tasked with developing people, economy and the infrastructure of the province all of which are integral to African Renaissance of which I am the Chairperson in this province. I think from this one appreciates the significance of synergy when it comes to BEE. One also appreciates the significance of economic clusters in government as well as the principle of public private partnerships. This basically means that BEE never occurs in an isolated island and that therefore the private sector but is part of intersecting relationships between government and the broader civil society.
My presence here today emphasizes the working relationship between government and the private sector. Government is neither the master nor the slave of the private sector but a partner married in our goal to create peoples contract to create jobs in this beautiful country of ours.
The BEE signing ceremony comes at a time when Durban is celebrating her diverse heritage and the status of being the world's premier tourism destination.
The history of Durban dates back to the reign of King Shaka where he built his residence known as KwaKhangel'amankengane. It is also here in Durban where King Shaka ka-Senzangakhona first met the white man.
Here in Durban the World AIDS Conference was held in the year 2000. The World Conference Against Racism was also held in Durban and it is also in Durban that the World Roads Congress (PIARC) was held last year 2003.
All these activities are further complemented by Durban's good management practices that have earned this city the status as the best-run city in Africa. To keep this momentum, therefore it became imperative that the public sector and the private sector join hands to form what has become known as the Durban Growth Coalition. I think it is necessary to mention what the Durban Growth Coalition is all about. The Key focus areas of the Durban Growth Coalition are as follows:
* BEE and affirmative action
* Major projects
* Communication
* Social responsibility.
As the Durban Growth Coalition we believe Durban's success as a global player will be become possible through the enhancement of, inter alia, BEE.
Having outlined some of the activities of the Durban Growth Coalition, I think it is necessary at this stage to state that ever since Durban became a UniCity, there has been a renewed interest from both local and foreign investors to invest in Durban. There are currently more applications for twinning with Durban than any other city in Africa. All these developments are good news for BEE since it cannot happen without a strong local economy.
In the final analysis, I want to congratulate all signatories in this important.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Transport, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
11 March 2004
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
Title: S Ndebele: Signing of Big Business Commitment Statement
SPEECH BY THE KWAZULU-NATAL MINISTER OF TRANSPORT, MR S'BU NDEBELE, AT THE SIGNING OF THE COMMITMENT STATEMENT BY BIG BUSINESS IN DURBAN, 11 March 2004
Programme Director
Distinguished guests
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all stakeholders present here today for their commitment to black economic empowerment (BEE). I understand each one of you present here today has sacrificed time, money and many other resources in an effort to see BEE succeed in Durban.
I want to warn you, however, that your commitment to economic justice will not be appreciated by those who are still singing the hymn of apartheid economics. They will try to bring the music of discord into the harmony that exists among us. I want to state it clearly that BEE refers to the empowerment of all those who have been disadvantaged by apartheid. Black here refers to Indians, Africans and coloureds. We are all "black enough" and the nation that some South Africans are "not black enough" is not only a lie but an attempt to divide those who have been marginalized under apartheid. It can be very tempting to believe this notion especially if it is always repeated with disgusting familiarity by those that seek to sow the seeds of confusion. To legitimise the continuation of the old order, a term has even been coined to label BEE as "reverse racism", a practice similar to a male chauvinist referring to gender equity as reverse sexism. That would be totally unacceptable.
We have to appreciate the fact that there are certain historical observations whose truthfulness matches the strength of a mathematical axiom. One of these is that political liberation without economic emancipation is meaningless. For us in South Africa economic emancipation is a synonym of BEE. However, South Africa is not the only country that has trodden the difficult path of redressing historical imbalances. America, India, Malaysia, Namibia and many other countries were once faced with similar challenges.
The South African reality dictates that we adopt BEE as a programme. Decades ago the Government of India adopted a similar approach and termed it "positive discrimination". In the United States this programme became known as affirmative action. Within the broader business context we in South Africa have termed this programme BEE. In congratulating all of you present here today I want to say that you are doing the right thing.
As the MEC for Transport in this province, I was also tasked with developing people, economy and the infrastructure of the province all of which are integral to African Renaissance of which I am the Chairperson in this province. I think from this one appreciates the significance of synergy when it comes to BEE. One also appreciates the significance of economic clusters in government as well as the principle of public private partnerships. This basically means that BEE never occurs in an isolated island and that therefore the private sector but is part of intersecting relationships between government and the broader civil society.
My presence here today emphasizes the working relationship between government and the private sector. Government is neither the master nor the slave of the private sector but a partner married in our goal to create peoples contract to create jobs in this beautiful country of ours.
The BEE signing ceremony comes at a time when Durban is celebrating her diverse heritage and the status of being the world's premier tourism destination.
The history of Durban dates back to the reign of King Shaka where he built his residence known as KwaKhangel'amankengane. It is also here in Durban where King Shaka ka-Senzangakhona first met the white man.
Here in Durban the World AIDS Conference was held in the year 2000. The World Conference Against Racism was also held in Durban and it is also in Durban that the World Roads Congress (PIARC) was held last year 2003.
All these activities are further complemented by Durban's good management practices that have earned this city the status as the best-run city in Africa. To keep this momentum, therefore it became imperative that the public sector and the private sector join hands to form what has become known as the Durban Growth Coalition. I think it is necessary to mention what the Durban Growth Coalition is all about. The Key focus areas of the Durban Growth Coalition are as follows:
* BEE and affirmative action
* Major projects
* Communication
* Social responsibility.
As the Durban Growth Coalition we believe Durban's success as a global player will be become possible through the enhancement of, inter alia, BEE.
Having outlined some of the activities of the Durban Growth Coalition, I think it is necessary at this stage to state that ever since Durban became a UniCity, there has been a renewed interest from both local and foreign investors to invest in Durban. There are currently more applications for twinning with Durban than any other city in Africa. All these developments are good news for BEE since it cannot happen without a strong local economy.
In the final analysis, I want to congratulate all signatories in this important.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Transport, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
11 March 2004
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