Unity seemed to be the word on everyone’s lips during this weekend’s annual conference of the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce (Nafcoc), but from behind the scenes dissenting voices could still be heard.
”I think what we can say, without a doubt, Nafcoc is back, together,” newly elected Nafcoc president Patrice Motsepe declared at the end of the conference at Sun City on Sunday.
An estimated 1 800 delegates attended, stretching the limits of conference venues.
”The problems that disunited this organisation are over now, in my view,” Motsepe later told reporters. Nafcoc has been riddled with problems since last year after some of its members — including ousted president Simon Mathysen and sacked chief executive officer Sabelo Macingwane — went ahead with the signing of a merger agreement with the SA Chamber of Business (Sacob) without the full mandate of the organisation. The Mathysen faction approached the Pretoria High Court last week in an effort to prevent the conference from going ahead. An eventual out-of-court settlement saw them participating.
However, the Sunday Times quoted Mathysen as saying he rejected the election of the new Nafcoc leadership and would challenge that in court.
His lawyer, John Ngcebetsha, said he would only know on Monday what his group would do about the outcome of the conference.
”I know there has been a lot of unhappiness,” he said, adding there were disagreements in the court settlement, especially on the issue of who had the right to vote.
”There was never consensus about that.”
The conference resolutions state that to protect the restored unity within Nafcoc, the federal council should devise measures to prevent the formation of illegal structures and groupings under the Nafcoc banner. ”Any structure that did not exist by 28 April 2001 shall not be acknowledged without a formal acknowledgement by resolution of the federal council.”
That was the issue the Mathysen group disapproved. Macingwane — whose contract was not renewed when it lapsed recently ? said that as far as he was concerned, he was still the chief executive of Nafcoc because Mathysen and his group considered him as such. ”If you ask them, they will tell you. And I would agree with that,” he said.
The conference’s resolutions are testimony of a will to maintain a united Nafcoc. Noting the disunity and the need to rebuild the chamber, delegates undertook to restore it to its rightful place and integrity.
”All Nafcoc structures (should) conduct elections and comply with all aspects of corporate governance.” Nafcoc’s divisions were also due to allegations of financial irregularities relating, among others, to donor funds.
Motsepe announced that the establishment of a Nafcoc corporate governance committee was on the cards. ”To ensure the adherence to best practice… is crucial, it’s non-negotiable…
”Donors must be absolutely satisfied that we are adhering to best practice.”
Some of the country’s most prominent business people had already agreed to serve on a Nafcoc advisory council, he said.
Calling on members to help restore Nafcoc to its former glory, he pointed out that the chamber had not done well in the past in creating real, tangible business opportunities.
An empowerment agent would be employed to look at business opportunities in which members could participate.
”We must be able to say by the end of next year that because of our initiatives, new business is taking place.”
Matsepe said: ”The most important thing is that the process of unifying Nafcoc and restoring its image, integrity and credibility is underway.”
On Saturday night President Thabo Mbeki witnessed the signing of Nafcoc’s partnership agreements with Matsepe’s counterparts from Sacob, the Foundation for African Business and Consumer Services (Fabcos) and the Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut (AHI).
These are aimed at paving the way for longer term co-operation. Tom Boya, deputy chairman of Nafcoc’s national unity committee, said that for Mbeki and the chamber’s founder Doctor Sam Motsuenyane to have graced the occasion was the greatest thing to have happened to the organisation.
”I think that was a very good omen which says divisions within the organisation are a thing of the past. Anyone who wants to split the organisation now does not belong to Nafcoc.
”We are eight years into democracy and now the next eight years must concentrate on the economic emancipation of our people. The future is bright.” – Sapa