Special Hearings — Business Hearings — 1997-11-11

SACCOB SPEAKER: Chairperson, the culture was that the organisation stood for change.  Mention the 1979 meeting with PW Botha, I wasn't there, but I know many people who were, and I recall at that time, him pointing at business men and saying,
"You keep out of politics, you keep to business.  We don't want to hear from you"
and that was a consistent theme, as Mr Roshalt mentioned, and as we found in our delegations to government.  Now, practically speaking, you know, what practically, other than constructive engagement, can a business organisation, such as a Chamber of Commerce, actually do?  Do we toyi-toyi out in the streets?  Do we withhold tax, which is the ultimate weapon.  There is no business organisation that would recommend, because it is not a cohesive body.  You'd never get a mandate, given the divergent business' that make up such an organisation, to take such a radical step.  So, the culture and hopefully that is something that is being conveyed in this document and through this very important process was to improve the environment, obviously for business, as a business organisation.  But business has numerous stakeholders and it's not only the shareholders.  Obviously at the end of the day, if the business succeeds or fails, those are the ones who lose their money.  But the stake holders comprise the workers in the organisation, the suppliers, the environment, the education process, health, training, security and all the elements which we hold dear; both in the business and in a personal sense.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much.  I should now call on the president of SACCOB to (unclear).

MR KOZA: (Speaks Xhosa).  What about the future?
 Firstly the future, is not an extension of the past.  And I think we as South Africans must come to terms with that.  Our future, cannot be defined by our past.  And we acknowledge the role and objectives of the TRC in trying to help South Africa deal with the past as opposed to burying the past.  And in order to do that, chairperson, it might require that we dirty our hands, but give the future a shape we desire, as opposed to colliding with that future.
 We've now had the opportunity of an important exchange of views on issues raised.  A commission has also asked SACCOB to address the question of the future, and I would like to conclude with a few comments.
 Consistent with the views expressed today and the views of SACCOB's predecessors, SACCOB believes that economic growth and job creation are still the keys to a prosperous and stable future.  From this point of departure, SACCOB will engage the government of the day constructively.  That is all SACCOB can do.  As has happened in the past, business' engaged with government, even with the democratic government, we will continue to engage with the government and try and shape the policies which will support a human rights culture in it's economic dimension.  To a large extent, this  is what the governments growth, employment and re-distribution strategy gear, (unclear) to do.
 The one major lesson learned from the apartheid experience, is that in any society, there must be a proper balance between social justice and economic growth.  We ignore this balance at our own collective peril.  Global competitiveness and a human rights culture, must be mutually re-inforcing in ways which maintain that balance.  The work of the TRC has been invaluable in assisting to confront and deal with South Africa's apartheid history.  But we cannot continue to be held hostage to the past.  Tremendous economic and social challenges face South Africa in meeting the aspirations of our people at all levels as we enter the twenty first century of globalisation and modernisation.  To succeed, we require that SACCOB, as an important component of civil society, helps to promote sustainable growth and development.  We, must also prevent a recurrent of past injustices.  There are grounds for confidence.  But not complacency about the future.  To successfully meet these challenges, we also require a business sector which draws its resources from the total population with the emphasis on investment in human capital.  An organisation like SACCOB
As an expanding economy, in which the benefits of growth can be fairly and equitably shared.  SACCOB will continue to urge its membership to uphold policies and practices which will promote stability and economic progress.  Chairperson and members of the commission, we thank you for this opportunity.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very very much for the lucid presentation and we thank you for your openness in the question and answers session and appreciate your final statement, Mr President.  I suggest that we return, at a quarter past two, which gives us a forty five minute lunch and that ought to be, I think sufficient.  Thank you very much for agreeing.

CHAIRPERSON: A representative of Old Mutual, you're ahead of the syllabus.  Thank you very much.

DR BORAINE: Welcome and I apologise that you had to wait such a long time, but I'm sure you have learnt from those who have gone before you.  I wonder if you would introduce yourself and you colleague please.

GERHARD VAN NIEKERK: Thank you, chairperson.  My name is Gerhard van Niekerk, I'm managing director of Old Mutual and I've got a colleague her, Mr Peter Dickson who will be assisting me throughout the presentation.

DR BORAINE: I take it then that both of you will have to take the oath?

GERHARD VAN NIEKERK: I think probably only me.

DR BORAINE: Only you, okay, if he'll slip your notes

GERHARD VAN NIEKERK: He'll slip my notes, I'll

DR BORAINE: Will you stand please.  Dr Boraine administers oath.

GERHARD VAN NIEKERK: Mr Van Niekerk swears oath.

DR BORAINE: Thank you very much, Mr Van Niekerk..

MS MKHIZE: I would like to add a word of welcome, and please go ahead, talk to your submission.