Black Business Council expectations from the SONA: Call for action and decisiveness from government

8 February 2023

As H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the State of the Nation Address for 2023, the Black Business Council (BBC) expects the focus to be on practical, demonstrable and concrete implementable solutions to spearhead economic reconstruction, recovery, renewal and growth.

Some of the expectations from the BBC include, but not limited to:

- As 2023 marks 20 years of the Broad-Based Black Empowerment Act, the BBC urges the President to take stock of the last 20 years, focus on and elevate implementable and visible Socio-Economic Transformation actions that will completely change the patterns of economic ownership and practically reduce market concentration, create sustainable jobs, reduce inequality, unemployment and poverty.

The President should also devise a clear plan (with defined timeframes) that will specify how the excluded majority will be brought into the mainstream economy.

With the country experiencing the unprecedented and ravaging load-shedding, the President should announce measures (scientifically proven and technically practical) to end load shedding and the energy crises.

The BBC also advises the President to announce a National State of Disaster on the Energy crises with clear

timeframes, governance protocols and limitations as well as participation of black business and professionals in the process. If we can't stop loadshedding in the next few months, our economy is likely to collapse.

- In supporting visible access to finance support to Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) owned by blacks, women, youth and people living with disabilities, the BBC calls for an establishment a National Fund by pulling all Enterprise Development funds into one fund similar to the Solidarity Fund. This should also include the recapitalisation of the National Empowerment Fund (NEF).

- Fast-tracking of the Public Procurement Bill with clear timelines on when the act is going to be enacted. The bill should unambiguously set aside procurement opportunities for black and women-owned entities and professionals, in order to bring them into the mainstream economy.

- Revive localisation and manufacturing sectors by indicating clear programmes for re-industrialisation.

- Deal decisively with corruption and reduce the unacceptably high levels of crime.

The BBC remains committed to working with government and other social partners to find solutions for the challenges faced by our country.

Issued by BBC, 9 February 2023