Recognition Awards 2017 Message from the Congress of Business and Economics he Congress of Business and Economics Recognition Awards were initiated to Trecognise excellence in service to the community in a wide range of areas. This year’s awards are in commemoration of the incredible role played by one of the heroes of our struggle. the late Ahmed Kathrada, popularly known to us all as Uncle Kathy, who continued championing the cause of non-racialism and towards the latter part of his life took it upon himself to register his disappointment with the leadership of the party that he so passionately Yusuf Moosajee, Jay Pema, supported. Secretary-General President We are reminded of the foreword that Uncle Kathy wrote in our awards brochure last year when he thanked Judge Kriegler, the main speaker at the banquet, for his continued work in defence of the Constitution: “Alas, when national duty calls, old soldiers must do all they can to speak truth to power.” This year’s awards have been titled ‘Ahmed Kathrada Excellence in Leadership’ in Uncle Kathy’s honour. Our 10 awardees for this evening are indeed worthy recipients of this prestigious award. This year we have also created an additional category known as the ‘Innovators Award’. We created this award to give smart, innovative South African individuals and businesses a platform for recognition and celebration. This year’s worthy recipients are creating waves with their prowess in using technology for the benefit of all fellow citizens. In the process, they are not only creating much-needed job opportunities and foreign business interest in South Africa, but are also improving the health and lifestyles of their compatriots. We trust that you will enjoy the evening with us and that you are all as proud of the recipients as we at the CBE are in making the awards. 2 Message from Shan Balton Executive Director, Ahmed Kathrada Foundation et me at the outset thank the CBE for joining the list of were able to succeed. organisations that have deemed it important to honour Most importantly for LAhmd Kathrada, a few months after his death. many, leadership must be accompanied with He and his generation of struggle activists left us with a powerful the highest levels of understanding of the core characteristics of good leadership. integrity. In this regard First among those would have been leadership that did not even Uncle Kathy ranks recognise itself as carrying that title. Uncle Kathy never saw himself amongst the best. as part of the leadership during the trials of 1952, 1956 and 1964. Integrity coupled with On Robben Island he referred to Mandela and Sisulu as the leaders. humility and selflessness During the latter years of his life he would preface his response to were the hallmarks of many questions by asserting that he did not occupy any position his leadership package. of leadership but was simply an ordinary card-carrying member of his local ANC branch. The more textbook stuff of being able to lead people to attain a particular vision and to take ownership of that vision was what he Service without the expectation of reward or headlines was did as part of a collective. another key leadership attribute of Kathrada. He spurned offers of positions on boards of companies because he believed he did Uncle Kathy would have argued with the CBE about calling the not have the aptitude for corporate life. He never expected to awards Ahmed Kathrada Excellence in Leadership Awards. He be made a Minister in the Mandela Government and when it would have reminded this audience that if there was one area transpired that it was on the cards he tried his level best to get the where he did not provide any leadership or activism, was in the decision reversed. Were it not for the new government having to business arena. He would go on to remind you that his family accommodate the IFP in the security cluster, South Africa would forbade him from working in the family business because they have had Kathrada as the reluctant first Minister of Correctional feared he would give things away for free. He would however Services. have been proud of the honour and would have made the point of dedicating this to the many who shaped his life and the many Leadership does not always have to be from the front – Uncle who did not live to see the dawn of freedom. Kathy’s leadership was often provided from behind the scenes. Whether it was the Congress of the People, the 1956 Women’s The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation is grateful to the CBE for March or even the formation of MK or the functioning of the honouring Uncle Kathy in this way and know that the CBE will underground Communist Party, he played a pivotal role providing work with it in ensuring that Uncle Kathy’s legacy will live on for all the behind the scenes leadership to ensure that those in front generations to come. 3 CBE VISION AND MISSION OUR HISTORY Initially called the TIC Business and Economics Group, the Congress of Business and Economics (CBE) was formed by the Transvaal Indian Congress (TIC) in the late 1980’s as an activist business group. Within a short period of its inception, it was renamed and established as a separate business organisation. Being chaired by a prominent and successful businessperson in the community at the time, the late Mr. Setar Motani, the CBE enjoyed popular support within its constituency, who were organised into local business chapters. Following the advent of democracy in South Africa in 1994 and the transforming business context, in 2006 the CBE ceased operations until December 2012 when former members of the CBE executive re-evaluated its closure. The context of this discussion was the global recession and debate on the National Development Plan, which had been recently released. In a follow-up discussion with former executive members, which was held at the Nana Memorial Hall in Johannesburg in January 2013, a decision was taken to re-establish the organisation. A Steering Committee was formed immediately thereafter which subsequently constituted itself as a Board. Furthermore, the CBE established an office in Johannesburg on 2 April 2013 and on 20 April 2013, a strategic planning workshop of a cross section of 35 business leaders and professionals was held at Sunnyside Hotel addressed by experts in the field. Feedback from a survey conducted at this meeting also unanimously endorsed the re-establishment of the organisation. OUR VISION • To provide a forum for members to contribute to a changing economic climate. • To arrange, organise and host networking seminars, training and research programmes. • Develop a general awareness of all relevant issues, including rendering of necessary advice. • To assist in the building of contacts and interface with other sectors within the economic sphere including business organisations, trade unions and civic associations. • To provide opportunities for economic empowerment. • To lobby for appropriate policies which are enabling and supportive of entrepreneurship in the changing economic environment. • Empowering and developing businesses to contribute to the growth of South Africa. 4 OUR PHILOSOPHY Our Value System: • Fair and equitable business • Environmentally responsible • Socially responsible corporate citizen • Being ethical Our Organizational Approach: • Embrace world class performance standards • Build principled, strategic and sustainable relationships with global partners Members: • To provide a networking platform for businesses to grow and prosper Business • Promote entrepreneurship and business excellence as a vehicle for sustainable socio-economic development Government • Engage government, through a non-partisan relationship, to create an enabling and accountable environment for business to grow and prosper Donors • Build a transparent and accountable partnership with donors The Community • Promote an active citizenry • To cultivate philanthropy and volunteering Employees • Fair, performance-driven, and equitable labour practices Our Services • We will provide member-focused services Our Commitment • We subscribe to the Citizen’s Charter. 5 Keynote Speaker : Bonang Mohale onang Mohale was, until his appointment as at South African Airways. Chief Executive Officer of Business Leadership From 1996, he was the BSouth Africa, vice president upstream and managing director of Otis the chairman of Shell downstream South Africa (Pty) Ltd, the world’s biggest (Pty) Limited with country responsibilities for the and oldest elevator company, oil, chemical, aviation, marine and lubricants global where he spent five years. In businesses. 1997, the company won the Black Management Forum’s Until 2008, he spent six years as the chief executive ‘Progressive Company of the officer of Drake & Scull FM SA (PTY Ltd, an integrated Year’ award. facilities management company owned by the Tsebo Mohale was conferred an honorary professorship in Outsourcing Group, where he was also a member of marketing management by the University of Pretoria, the executive committee. where he serves on their advisory council. He was named 2012 IPM CEO of the Year, SA Facilities Until May 2003, he was Chief Executive: Shared Services Management Association 2007 ‘Personality of the Year’ and Associated Companies of Sanlam; a member of the and the BMF’s 1997 Manager of the Year. executive committee; alternate director of the Sanlam Limited main board; chairman of the board of TASC; He has also received the Presidential Award for his and a director of Innofin; GensecProperty Services and ‘Servanthood in South African Industry & the Economic Fundamo. Empowerment of Previously Disadvantaged Individuals’ in 2001. Until August 2001, he was the Executive Vice President 6 Ahmed Kathrada Excellence in Leadership Award : Cas Coovadia oovadia obtained his B.Com from the Johannesburg Metropolitan University College - Durban in 1971. He Council. Coovadia was Ccompleted the Housing Finance Course with the General Secretary the Wharton Real Estate Centre at the University of of the Civic Association of Johannesburg and led Pennsylvania.