Gauteng Business 2017/18 is the ninth edition of this highly successful annual journal, that has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the Gauteng province. Special features for 2017/18 include a focus on major new developments in the region’s metros, complemented by detailed overviews of the main economic sectors in South Africa’s most important provincial economy.
INTERVIEW Advancing
INTERVIEW Advancing economic transformation Gauteng Black Management Forum Provincial Chairperson, Langalethu Manqele, outlines the BMF’s goals. Langalethu Manqele, Black Management Forum Gauteng Provincial Chairperson BIOGRAPHY Langalethu Manqele is the Manager in Equities & Equity Derivatives at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), having previously worked for Nedbank CIB Markets as a Senior Manager. Langa chairs the Editorial Committee of the African Leader, a bi-annual publication of the BMF. He is a member of the dti B-BBEE Advisory Council Sub-Committee on the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act. He holds Bachelors Degrees in International Finance and Investments, from CIDA City Campus. What are the main objectives of the Black Management Forum (BMF)? The BMF is a thought leadership and a business lobby organisation focused on the development of managerial leadership and advancement of socio-economic transformation in South Africa. The BMF serves as the leading voice of professionals and executives – primarily black people – in corporate South Africa on matters of workplace transformation. Our focus has evolved over time to encompass economic development and trade policy with a strong focus on the creation of black-owned and managed enterprises. Are there particular focus areas? The BMF in Gauteng is currently tackling three areas. The first one is an Enterprise and Supplier Development through a “Routes to Markets” strategy. At a policy level, we have partnered with the Centre for Competition and Economic Development (CCRED) to review and make recommendations on Competition, Trade and Industrial Policy. The second area is that of Capital Markets; this is our response to the challenge of capital and therefore of B-BBEE Equity Ownership. We are in talks with the JSE and the other newly formed small stock exchange, ZARX. We are negotiating MoUs with both exchanges that will commit them to helping emerging black businesses raise expansion capital and, in the process, create more black-owned and managed listing sponsors and stock-broking firms. The third and final area of focus is Employment Equity. This is targeted at arresting the decline of black executives as reported by the Jack Hammer Report in 2015 and the latest Report of the Commission of Employment Equity. What are some of your most recent achievements? We recently held a successful Policy Conference on the role of industrial, competition and trade policy in the achievement of inclusive growth. The dti and the European Union have endorsed the BMF to receive EUR100 000 funding through the EU-SA Dialogue Facility Fund to conduct research on the Impact of Foreign Direct Investments from the EU in South Africa. GAUTENG BUSINESS 2017/18 76
Making a big difference to a small enterprise PROFILE Training at Work benefited from Standard Bank support. Training at Work is a training and consulting private company established in 2001. In 2006 the company was converted from a closed corporate to a limited private company. The company is 100% woman owned by Patricia Chiloane. Training at Work employs nine full-time administrative staff members with more on a contract basis. The Standard difference Banking advice and support can make a big difference to a small business starting out, as Patricia Chiloane, Managing Director of Training at Work, testifies. “The Small Enterprise team taught me to have a separate business account with the personal account,” she remembers. “I was also advised about the importance of audited financials and management accounts in order to keep business sustainable. Patricia Chiloane, Managing Director of Training at Work. “They even introduced me to the private banking section. I was told if I need anything to support the business, I must not hesitate to contact my business banker.” When times were tough, Patricia was able to continue to build the business even though cash flow was a problem. To this day, Training at Work continues to grow. “We have never said no to business because of a lack of finance,” says Patricia. An overdraft facility allowed the young company instead to take on “any challenge because the bank was there financially”. “The bank went further by providing us with the Business Banking services. Today we make all banking transaction in the comfort of our offices. We don’t have to go and queue for long hours; instead the business banker will come and assist us from our office. “We appreciate the support of our bank and we hope more SMMEs can take the opportunity and use it to grow their small business.” Business offering Training at Work offers Management, Business, Artisanal, and IT Programmes to young people, employees and management. Training programmes help school leavers, employers, employees and the unemployed to better themselves through education and training, so that they can improve their social and/or economic condition. The consulting service is targeted at employers, non-government organisations and governmental bodies. This service includes: companyspecific skills programmes, training workshops and learnerships, custom training material (accredited and non-accredited), training programmes evaluations, impact studies and surveys, and HR consulting and competency audits. Training at Work is accessible throughout the country through mobile training, including in rural areas. Contact information Address: 15 Leonie Street, Cnr Rifle Range, Winchester Hills, Johannesburg Tel: +27 11 433 9318 Email: info@trainingatwork.co.za Website: www.trainingatwork.co.za 77 GAUTENG BUSINESS 2017/18
