Press Statements

Johannesburg, South Africa; 10 October 2018

The Black Management Forum (the BMF) is hosting its Annual Conference on Thursday, 11 October at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg. The Annual Conference brings together a number of executives, senior managers, government officials and business leaders from all provinces to meet and discuss, under a specific theme, current issues affecting the socio-economic transformation landscape and the further development of South Africa. These issues are critical, pertinent, provocative and require intense interrogation by leaders and managers today. The Conference aims to engage government, civil society and business leaders to finding solutions to these issues.

The 2018 Conference theme is: Ethical Leadership as a Catalyst for Transformation and Inclusive Economic Growth.

The BMF is a product and architect of transformation. However, thematically speaking in the context of the chosen theme, transformation needs to be fast-tracked and accelerated at a higher pace in the country. This high paced palpitation cannot be achieved without leadership; therefore, a certain kind of leadership is needed to usher in the much-needed transformation. With the advent of deep-seated corruption both in the private and public sectors and society in general, this leadership needs to be of a certain quality. Therefore, this leadership that is needed must be ethical in its temperament and construct. Ethical in its thought and application; ethical in its compassion in understanding the intricacies of transformation and sensitive to the realities of institutional racism; ethical in executing justice, fairness and equity. This will lead to shaping a new society whose outcomes will be shared and celebrated as a national pride.

The Conference is bifurcated into five sessions, each with a specific subtheme, that will be interrogated and deliberated on. The subthemes, pertinent to Ethical Leadership as a Catalyst for Transformation and Inclusive Economic Growth are namely: The Impact of Land Expropriation on Economic Growth; The Relevance of the South African Reserve Bank Mandate and its Response to the Socio-Economic Reality; What has been the Impact of Leadership on Corporate and SOCs’ Governance and Corruption?; The Significance of FDIs in Inclusive Economic Growth: The EU Case Study and the BMF Stalwarts’ Corner of Wisdom. Political leaders, business leaders, corporate executives and BMF stalwarts have confirmed to participate as panellists to address, tackle and lead the discussions in formulating solutions to these critical socio-economic issues.

The Gauteng Premier, David Makhura will deliver the opening address. Some of the speakers who will address the Conference are: Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform (The Impact of Land Expropriation on Economic Growth); Economic Freedom Fighters National Chairperson, Adv Dali Mpofu (The Impact of Land Expropriation on Economic Growth); Finance Minister, Tito Mboweni (What has been the Impact of Leadership on Corporates and SOCs’ Governance and Corruption?); Section 27 Executive Director, Mark Heywood (What has been the Impact of Leadership on Corporates and SOCs’ Governance and Corruption?); Economic Advisor to President Ramaphosa, Trudi Makhaya (The Relevance of the South African Reserve Bank Mandate and its Response to the Socio-Economic Reality); Standard Bank South Africa CEO, Lungisa Fuzile (What has been the Impact of Leadership on Corporates and SOCs’ Governance and Corruption?); European Union Ambassador to South Africa, Marcus Cornaro (The Significance of FDIs in Inclusive Economic Growth: The EU Case Study); Founding President of the BMF, Eric Mafuna (The BMF Stalwarts’ Corner of Wisdom).

On Friday, 12 October 2018, the BMF will be electing a new Presidency at the Annual General Meeting.

The BMF will also host its Annual Achievement Awards Dinner on Friday, 12 October 2018 at Gallagher Convention Centre. The Achievement Awards Dinner honours and recognises the BMF’s exceptional achievers and leaders that contribute to the advancement of transformation and managerial leadership development. The Dinner has been a major networking event on the South

African business calendar, bringing together up to 800 high profile guests from both the private and public sectors. The Dinner is also a social gathering that enables the development of a positive economic state.

BMF members and non-members are invited to attend the Conference. For more information, please contact Bonani Mthembu at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Members of the media are invited to attend. For more information, please contact Anele Ndlovu at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About the Black Management Forum

The Black Management Forum (the BMF) has been in existence for 42 years. The BMF is a thought-leadership organisation with the main purpose of influencing socio-economic transformation, in pursuit of socio-economic justice, fairness and equity. The BMF stands for the development and empowerment of managerial leadership and the creation of managerial structure and process that reflect the demographics and values of the wider society.

For more information, please contact:

Anele Ndlovu
Black Management Forum
Head of Marketing & Communications
076 431 2899This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.