Simon Segal
Leslie Boyd, new chairman of Business South Africa (BSA), is used to the trenches of business politics. It was he who played no small part in the merger between the then Association of Commerce (Assocom) and the Federated Chamber of Industries (FCI) to form the South African Chamber of Business (Sacob).
Boyd, also deputy chairman of Anglo American, would like to see this go further. “Unity among the four general business bodies — Sacob, Afrikanse Handelsinstituut and black business groups the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce (Nafcoc) and the Foundation for African Business and Consumer Services (Fabcos) — is the ideal. But divisions are deep-rooted in differences over language, race and culture. It is also a question of holding on to empires.”
As an umbrella body of 18 business organisations — boycotting Nafcoc is the notable exception — the BSA is obviously a forum where such unity can be enhanced.
Can there be such a thing as a singe business voice? The BSA itself and its predecessor the South African Employers Consultative Committee on Labour Affairs (Saccola) often found it more difficult to clear its mandate among members than negotiate its mandate with government and labour. Boyd is impressed at the present cohesiveness of the business lobby.
“It is remarkably unified at the moment. Witness our unity over labour legislation, in particular the issue of centralised
He ascribes this to government’s shift to the left. “In most parts of the world, business is to the right of government. In South Africa this was not the case under the previous government. Now, a more left-leaning Government of National Unity has united business except for Nafcoc, which is closer to the African National Congress. Hopefully, we can work with Nafcoc and achieve de facto unity, if not de juro unity.”
Has business lost its influence under this new government? “Not really. But we must compete more with labour. Business has been consistent: it can operate anywhere as long as policies are known and there is certainty.”
Boyd has other priorities for the BSA. “As business’ voice in the National Economic, Development and labour Council our immediate efforts will be on influencing competition legislation and developing a social accord. Our overall priority is to ensure sound economic policies based on free-market
He is encouraged that government “has done nothing wrong” in its economic policies so far. “The problem is that government has not been quick enough to improve the investment climate in South Africa. There is very little foreign investment in bricks and mortar.”
As for the BSA, its executive committee changed in October. A distinction is now made between the multi- and uni-sectoral member bodies. The new executive comprises the chairman, a vice chairman and four members elected by the multi-sectoral members.
A new three-person finance committee reports to the executive. It is responsible for managing and administering the BSA budget which is funded from membership fees. The BSA employs only five full-time officials. Boyd does not anticipate an expansion. “Members have their own secretariats and structures.”
BSA’s five standing committees remain — social policy, economic policy, development, housing and education and training.