The most apt description for Gideon du Plessis’ excellent piece is, ‘must read’. The quagmire of variables that dictate South Africa’s unionised labour force is complex. It is the very reality of competing forces, with hidden agendas and politicised motives that has created a dangerous environment where unions have ended up holding the South African economy … Read more
By Alec Hogg Benjamin Mophatlane, who celebrated his 41st birthday exactly a month ago, has passed away. He suffered a heart attack. Our heartfelt condolences go to his wife Abbie, twin brother Isaac and the rest of the Mophatlane family. Ben was one of the good guys. The really good guys. He was a deep … Read more
Flying into Mumbai Airport was not the kind of experience you’d easily forget. It was a stark reminder that despite its ambition, India remains a Third World country. Even though baggage handlers were everywhere, luggage took ages to offload. And while you have an inkling, nothing quite prepared one for the teeming crowds and humid, … Read more
By Alec Hogg In 1998, when the late Imperial Holdings CEO Bill Lynch used R15m of the group’s money to establish the Ukhamba Trust, he was probably following his own credo of “Just do it.” Fifteen years on, the magic has happened. By any measure, Ukhamba is one of the most successful Black Economic Empowerment schemes. … Read more
In most walks of life, optimism is good. Not so in business, where “good news” filters can be terminal. Those at the top need factual information, warts and all. Without it, executives put themselves at risk every time they open their mouths in public.