South African Automotive Week
| by Austin Gamble
Two Elephants in the
Room #2
In the November 2014 issue of aBr we covered the first day
of the SAAW conference, held on 14 to 15 October, and we
mentioned how it was dominated by two elephants in the room,
i.e. destructive trade unions, and lack of leadership at government
level, and the absence of these elephants at the conference,
despite having accepted invitations. Now, in this issue, we look
at the second day of the conference, and once again we look at
another two elephants, the South African and Nigerian automotive
manufacturing industries. This time the elephants were physically
in the room, with invites and acceptances followed by good
manners via attendance.
W
hereas the first day of the conference focused on a global
perspective, and South Africa’s scorecard on competitiveness,
productivity and labour wellness, the second day got down to the
business at hand; Africa’s automotive awakening: The race is on! …..is South
Africa ready? And what has set the cat amongst the pigeons is the Nigerian
elephant, which whilst in slumber for the past few decades, has suddenly
awakened with great fanfare.
Africa is Open for Business
S
etting the scene for the second
day was Victor Kgomoeswana,
South African author, TV
commentator and business speaker,
who spoke passionately about his
belief that Africa is open for business,
and is on track to be a competitive and
exciting global business and investment
centre, and on the cusp of fulfilling its
economic potential. Kgomoeswana has
some succinct advice for South African
business.
“Africa must be in South Africa
businesses strategy. It is not a luxury,
not an alternative, it has to be the heart
and soul of business strategy” he says.
Kgomoeswana adds that the root of
the problem is that most South Africans
believe that they are separate to Africa.
His advice is that we need to start with the
heart, then the head, then the behaviour.
He also asks where we go on holiday,
and what newspapers do we read? And
we must stop blaming the Chinese for
colonising Africa – they are doing business
in Africa!
He asks rhetorically, “where do you
stand, or more accurately, do you
appreciate the scale of the opportunity?;
what do you think, are you South African
or African?; and how do you behave, i.e.
do you travel to Africa, do you arrange
conferences in Africa?”
| words in action
22
His further advice is to stop complaining
about potholes – rather find a way to fix
the potholes. And when you do take that
intellectual leap to become African, do not
give Africa a bad name by budgeting for
bribes.
Do clean business, and start partnering
with governments and become a corporate
citizen. Think regional and think hubs,
and be willing to share and collaborate,
and most importantly, lose that superiority
complex!
december 2014 / January 2015