In Japan, the Japanese run the economy, so in Africa, why aren’t the Africans running the economy? Minister of Science and Technology Mosibudi Mangena asked on Thursday.
He was addressing delegates and corporate representatives at the 40th annual Black Management Forum at the Sandton Convention Centre.
He said in South Africa, white people made up about 10% of the population but controlled most of the economy.
”They control 70% of the land, 98% of the banking, all manufacturing, all tourism, 63 % of platinum reserves and many gold reserves,” Mangena said.
”We are going backwards as black South Africans, even though we occupy 90 % of the population.”
Mangena explained that there wasn’t the same passion for economic freedom as there was for political freedom.
”We need economic consciousness and to mobilise one another’s spirit. We need economic leadership for ownership and control and we must work at owning our own intellectual property,” he told delegates.
He said South Africa’s black people needed to produce their own original goods but, most importantly, Mangena said black South Africans needed economic solidarity.
”We need black economic solidarity so that we can support each other. Black people don’t have solidarity like the white people do. We don’t even need black economic empowerment (BEE) if we have solidarity,” he said.
Mark Lamberti, chairperson of Massmart Holdings and co-chairperson of the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa, also addressed the forum.
Lamberti said the economic difficulties in the country were not due to racism but were about the skills shortage.
”We have a serious skills shortage problem in the country and this can be seen at school level.”
He said the number of pupils sitting for higher-grade mathematics papers had decreased considerably over the years because they had not been pushed to study more comprehensive and qualitative subjects.
He said even the results for the 2005 maths higher grade papers showed that many were failing subjects required for business management and top careers.
Lamberti said pass rates in maths, science and accountancy were ”way below” the required level.
There was also a shortage of black chartered accountants in South Africa because not enough black pupils were encouraged to study more difficult subjects like accountancy.
Lamberti said pupils needed to be encouraged to study subjects that would mould them into top business and intellectual figures in the country — which would improve the skills shortage.
”It won’t take a month. It will take a long time but it will benefit all,” he said. — Sapa