Cape Town – One hundred and fifteen CEOs of South Africa’s leading companies have joined forces to support a business-led initiative aimed at helping the government revive the country’s economy and tackle pressing issues in energy, logistics, and security.
The initiative comes in response to challenges like crippling power cuts, declining freight rail capacity, and security threats posed by criminal groups targeting public infrastructure, reports said.
According to Engineering News, Business Unity South Africa (Busa) VP Adrian Gore, who is also Group CEO of Discovery, argued that the pledge was not merely a symbolic gesture, but a “concrete commitment to drive change in key sectors that are essential for our economic recovery”.
“By translating these partnerships into a collective action plan, the transformative power of these actions can extend beyond mere statistics – it can profoundly impact our nation, our communities, and each individual citizen,” Gore said in a statement.
The CEOs have pledged their commitment to building the nation through strategic partnerships and focused actions, with the goal of achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
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The collective value of the listed entities represented by these CEOs exceeds R11 trillion, and they employ over 1.2 million people, News24 reported.
The inspiration for this initiative was drawn from the success of joint government and business working groups established during the Covid-19 pandemic. These groups demonstrated the potential for collaboration and effective action in times of crisis, the report said.
The CEOs involved in the pledge represent a wide range of industries, and their commitment is seen as a concrete step towards driving change and facilitating economic recovery.
The business leaders believe that by translating these partnerships into actionable plans, they can make a profound impact on South Africa, its communities, and every citizen.
“As South African business leaders, we firmly believe in the immense potential of our country. We are committed to building it and have come together to address the current challenges with the aim of achieving sustainable, inclusive economic growth. Through strategic partnerships and focused interventions, we have the power to make a significant and positive impact on our nation, creating hope for all South Africans. We are resolutely committed to being a force for good,” they pledged.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
