It’s time to speak, it’s time to act

Students from the University of Cape Town protest against proposed fee increases in Rondebosch on October 20, 2015. Picture: Nic Bothma

Students from the University of Cape Town protest against proposed fee increases in Rondebosch on October 20, 2015. Picture: Nic Bothma

Published Oct 26, 2015

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The #FeesMustFall and #NationalShutdown juggernaut that stormed Parliament last week and attracted worldwide attention, is a response from students to ineffectual governance – and rightfully so.

A month into his appointment as Minister of Higher Education in 2009, Blade Nzimande said it was “imperative that poor students should not be denied the opportunity to quality higher education”. And now, six years later the #FeesMustFall protests have given the minister a bloody nose for having reneged on his promises. Frustrated and angry, university students across the country have resorted to revolt to get the government’s attention – and they have. While they may not have stuck to protocol or the law in doing so, at least they’ve shown gumption and resolve.

Regrettably, the same can’t be said about our business leaders. Safely cocooned from the student protests, in his medium-term budget policy statement, Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene reiterated what South Africans already know: growth is considerably lower in our economy than we projected in February; a new growth path is needed if we are to unleash development potential; the International Monetary Fund also projects a decline in growth next year.

The low ebb of our gross domestic product growth is further faltering and approaching 1 percent with the spectre of recession looming. Each quarter we post new lows in business and consumer confidence with the voice of pessimism growing louder and the finger of blame growing longer. Consequently, like the students, South African businesses are also at the end of their tether. And yet what have they done about it?

IQ Business recently undertook a desktop research project of Sharenet’s Market Capital Top40 companies. And notwithstanding their financial results, it was alarming that since fourth quarter of last year, the leaders of these companies have commented, on average, only twice in the media – and very few of these are actually about taking a stance on contemporary issues. This is indicative of the reticence that has infiltrated the business fraternity, much to the peril of our economic growth. Are business leaders just focused on the challenges they face in their enterprises or are they actively keeping a low profile, not wanting to been seen to step out of line?

President Jacob Zuma could not have been more candid in his remarks earlier this month at the ANC’s Progressive Business Forum gala dinner, ahead of the National General Council. The international and local guests in attendance were told brazenly: “I always say to business people that if you invest in the ANC, you are wise. If you don’t invest in the ANC, your business is in danger. The TG (ANC Treasurer General) is a nice and a handsome young man. When he knocks, open the doors. If he says we need something, he will ask one thing only. If he says support the ANC, just write a blank cheque with the instruction that it should be six digits.”

So business leaders can be assured that raising their heads above the parapet leaves them with Hobson’s Choice: either expect the knock on the door from the “handsome young man” – or lose out on the potential opportunities in the gift of the state.

I’m certainly not advocating that business leaders invade the Union Buildings or bulldoze through the Nkandla gates. But what I am suggesting is for us to show some of the courage the students have shown. The old adage goes: “Business has never met a government it doesn’t like”.

I don’t like this government’s track record on doing what it says it will. I think it’s time for us to make our voices heard. I think it’s time – and I hope the students will forgive my bastardisation – to end our #NationalShutUp.

Rather than another demonstration or march, we need a common goal – one that unites business and government. The goal is to activate growth in our economy, much in the same way that we did after the first democratic elections in 1994.

The recessionary cycle in 1992/93 was reversed by positive business and consumer sentiment and iconic leadership in the ruling party. Economic growth creates the jobs we need, the funding to support our tertiary education and even the opportunity for the ruling party to advance. Without growth, the future for South Africa is bleak.

* Adam Craker is the chief executive of IQbusiness, the leading independent management consulting firm in South Africa.

** The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Independent Media.

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