BEE: Has a once-well-intentioned policy lost its way?
Between the idea and the reality Between the motion and the act Falls the shadow – T.S. Eliot I have been operating in the BEE industry for well over a decade and have found myself fighting a losing battle against deep cynicism over the last year. It’s hard to tell whether this is simply because […]
2018’s Impact Launchpad Finalists
This year’s session of our Impact Launchpad is well underway at Impact Hub Joburg. 2018’s programme has a focus on the health, wellness and fitness industries and the finalists this year have some exciting and innovative early-stage start-up ideas that they are beginning to take shape. This week’s session participants are covering the Business Model […]
The not so often discussed reason for small business failure – exploitative big business
As another year comes to a close, we have been doing some reflecting on the entrepreneurial ecosystem in South Africa – as we often do. There has been an abundance of reports written on the challenges for entrepreneurs in SA and beyond, and the conclusions many of them come to are certainly things we ourselves […]
Inequality in South Africa: the responsibility of all citizens
Whether you agree with how wages are divided up, with CEOs earning unlimited millions of rands every year and low level workers earning too little to support Maslow’s most basic needs, we surely must be able to acknowledge as a nation that South Africa is in a dire place and that it needs serious help, and fast. […]
Earth’s Got Talent (or does it…?)
Sometimes we South Africans think we experience unique challenges that the rest of the world doesn’t experience. Certainly, we have nuances and challenges which play out a little differently to the rest of the world, but I was reminded yet again after recent trips to international conferences in San Francisco and Washington, how similar the […]
The Entrepreneurial State
Mariana Mazzucato, a Professor of the Economics of Innovation at the University of Sussex puts forward her thoughts on what one of the roles of government should be in capitalist markets. Recognising that market efficiency is theoretical rather than reality, she argues that policymakers should use the tools and resources available to them that are […]
Mandela Day: The Spirit of Ubuntu
Ubuntu: (noun) derivative of Xhosa and Zulu a quality that includes the essential human virtues, compassion, and humanity. On Nelson Mandela Day we remember a man of integrity who inspired Africa to reach for the stars. On days such as today, one can’t help but feel closer to uTata’s ideals of peace, love, and unity. […]
Social Impact Bonds: A solution for South Africa’s Social Issues?
Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) are the latest financial innovation that is gaining a lot of buzz around the world, especially in developmental circles. Despite their name, SIBs function in quite a different way than a traditional bond. At their core, SIBs allow the funding of certain initiatives based on outcomes being achieved – where investors […]
A Real Solution to the Youth Skills Gap: A Simanye Trust Success Story
One of the companies that the Simanye Trust has invested in, SA Back Office, is making waves in the skills and job creation space in SA. It helps companies get R5 B-BBEE recognition for every R1 spent while creating real impact in terms of sustainable skills for unemployed youth and at the same time providing […]
Impact Investing & BEE
Impact Investing is becoming an ever more hot topic globally as well as in South Africa, with more and more focus on both creating impact through investing as well as getting returns from impact. These are elements of the new economy since traditional development impact was mostly driven by non-profits while investing was generally the purview […]