Press Statements

The BMF congratulates the appointments of Themba Mkhwanazi and July Ndlovu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE

Johannesburg, South Africa – 28 July 2016

The Black Management Forum (BMF) which is at the forefront of transformation in Corporate South Africa is delighted with the appointments of Themba Mkhwanazi and July Ndlovu to the positions of Kumba Iron Ore CEO and CEO of Anglo America's coal business in South Africa respectively . "We are very thrilled and excited about these appointments. It is very gratifying to us to see that there are still companies who regard transformation as a business imperative and continue to make concerted and deliberate efforts in ensuring that the transformation gains they have achieved as a company are not reversed", says BMF President, Mr. Mncane Mthunzi.

The appointments of Mkhwanazi and Ndlovu go a long way in dispelling the lack of black skills myth that Corporate South Africa continues to use as an excuse for not appointing black executives in these critical positions. "Anglo American has demonstrated their seriousness about succession planning and respect for black talent and leadership. These appointments inspire all of us as black professionals that we have a future in these companies and that our talents can achieve these greater heights", Mthunzi added.

This is far from the arrogant phenomena we have been witnessing lately from Corporate South Africa where black CEOs have been replaced by white CEOs by our own South African companies led by our own and black Chairmans. It is very worrying that our own homegrown companies built on the blood, sweat and strength of our own black people are not at the forefront of driving the transformation agenda and are being surpassed by companies of international origin. 

The Black Management Forum extends its well wishes to Mr Mkhwanazi and Mr Ndlovu and pledges its unwavering support to them and their businesses.

The Black Management Forum stands for the development and empowerment of managerial leadership primarily amongst black people within organisations and the creation of managerial structures and processes, which reflect the demographics, and values of the wider society.

The BMF celebrates the appointment of Isaac Mophatlane as CEO of the newly integrated Telkom Business Connexion

PRESS RELEASE (for immediate release)
27 June 2016

THE BLACK MANAGEMENT FORUM (BMF) CELEBRATES THE APPOINTMENT OF ISAAC MOPHATLANE AS CEO OF THE NEWLY INTEGRATED TELKOM BUSINESS CONNEXION

The Black Management Forum (BMF) which is at the forefront of transformation in Corporate South Africa is thrilled with the appointment of one of their staunch members for many years, Mr. Isaac Mophatlane, as head of the newly integrated TELKOM Business Connexion. 

“Mr. Mophatlane’s appointment to head the newly integrated TELKOM Business Connexion comes as no surprise to us as the BMF. Isaac (and his late brother Benjamin) have been BMF members for many years. Through the years we have had the honour of having worked closely with them and experienced firsthand their unquestionable competence, aptitude and expertise. TELKOM has appointed a true transformation agent and an empowerment activist which he recently displayed when he appointed the first black African female CFO, Ms. Refilwe Nkabinde, in Business Connexion on 01 February 2016. We have no doubt that he will continue driving this agenda within TELKOM Business Connexion” said Mr. Mthunzi the President of the BMF. 

The Black Management Forum wishes Mr. Mophatlane well and pledges its unwavering support to him and TELKOM Business Connexion. “TELKOM could not have chosen a better leader to head their newly integrated business and this appointment goes a long way in demystifying the “lack of skills” myth that companies keep using as an excuse so they can continue perpetuating their anti-transformation stance through appointing whites into CEO positions,” Mr. Mthunzi concluded.  

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BMF disappointed at the appointment of Rob Shuter As Group CEO and President of the MTN Group (MTN)

PRESS RELEASE

22 JUNE 2016

THE BLACK MANAGEMENT FORUM (BMF) DISAPPOINTED AT THE APPOINTMENT OF ROB SHUTER AS GROUP CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE MTN GROUP (MTN)

The Black Management Forum (BMF) today said that it views the decision by MTN Group (MTN) to appoint Rob Shuter as CEO and President of the company as a serious blow to transformation. The BMF notes that this appointment by MTN contributes to the steady decline in the number of black South Africans at the leadership helm in companies.

“The BMF’s position is informed by the clear reversal of black representation in Top JSE listed companies. There is a general unwillingness for transformation at top management level which has resulted in the decline in the number of black South African CEOs” said BMF President Mncane Mthunzi. 

“MTN may put forward reasons it argues to be valid for the appointment of its new CEO, however, the company would undoubtedly agree that it has squandered a good opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to transformation. Prior to this appointment, MTN had demonstrated exemplary leadership by successively having black CEOs”, Mthunzi added. 

MTN is a proud export of South Africa across the African continent and beyond; hence its appointments are of high importance. The BMF holds the view that MTN’s failure to appoint a black CEO signals that transformation is not a business imperative, which is disappointing. 

It is disheartening to note that these decisions are made by the Board of Directors with the majority of black people and under black chairmanship. The lack of thoughtfulness in dealing with matters of succession in these companies is appalling. 

“The BMF will also engage with the Public Investment Corporation and other shareholders of reference on their expected role and moral obligation for the appointment of black CEOs and Executives in general. These companies are owned by the public and yet they don’t reflect the demographics of our society”, Mthunzi concluded.

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BMF Submission on the IDC B-BBEE Facilitator Status

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BMF Calls for Employment Equity Tribunal

Johannesburg, South Africa – 26th April 2016 – The Black Management Forum (BMF) is calling for tougher measures to be enforced in the form of fines and penalties for companies that continuously fail to comply with the Employment Equity Act. “Corporate South Africa has done as it pleases and without consequences for disregarding the Employment Equity Act. This is disrespect for the rule of law.” said the BMF President Mr. Mncane Mthunzi.

It is totally unacceptable that the statistics for top management levels of Corporate South Africa are still sitting at these high numbers for White people. The economically active population (EAP) representation vs. the workforce in Top Management for Africans are 77.4% vs. whites who are only 9.9% yet, the workforce at Top Management for Africans is 14.3% and Whites are 68.9%. An even more worrying phenomena presented by the CEE report as released yesterday is that the Skills Development funding allocation is seemingly largely spent on the same overrepresented White male grouping. 41.7% of the Skills Development funding has benefited White Males on top management and ONLY 16.7% towards African males at the same level. The picture is no different for women at the same level depicting a 13.4% skills development funding towards White females vs. 10.7% for Africans.

The industry charter councils are not helping in making progress and it is about time they are disbanded as they are not adding value in the transformation landscape. “The charter councils are not helping as they have their executive and senior management levels at 60% targets for blacks when the EAP is 90%.” said Mthunzi. It is clear that the lack of transformation within companies is due to lack of willingness to transform by Corporate South Africa as the report reveals that there are 41.2% Professionally qualified Africans vs. 38% for Whites and yet these statistics do not find expression in the recruitment and promotion patterns of companies. The report reveals that promotion opportunities still favour Whites at 55.2% vs. 22.2% for Africans and same for recruitment opportunities which reflect 52.1% for Whites vs. 27.6% for Africans. 

“We are stagnant, particularly when it comes to top or executive leadership positions. There are a number of gatekeepers within corporate SA that are not aligned to the national project of a non-racial, non-sexist democratic country. They don’t understand the rationale and the bigger picture of what needs to be done to achieve the much needed socio-economic transformation for a more progressive South Africa. I hope these figures are a wake-up call to the legislators, whose policymakers are ineffective in driving change.

It is about time that they come in and give some strategic intervention,” said Mthunzi.

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For more information contact:

Kelebogile Machaka
(083) 725 6547
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