Although we have recently celebrated 25 years of democracy, South Africa faces major social, economic, and political challenges. Inequality and corruption are rife, and governmental bodies often lack the skills to adequately address the major resource shortfalls that inequality and corruption create. As a result, it may fall to South African business to lead the charge when it comes to kick-starting positive change in this country.
Business underpins the economy of any country, and businesses have a vested interest in ensuring that the micro and macro communities in which they operate are peaceful, prosperous, and attractive to investors. Positive change requires strong action across the board, involving businesses large and small. Fortunately, there are many ways in which businesses of any kind or size can get stuck into effecting positive change in South Africa.
Say no to corruption
On a macro level, adopting a strict anti-corruption stance is a major step in creating a culture of positive change that begins within business and moves into all spheres of society influenced by business. Corruption, like fraud, distorts the market, drives up costs, and drives away potential investors. This can have knock-on effects such as business failure, unemployment, poverty, and failing infrastructure, and these in turn increase the risk that investors will opt out, creating a negative feedback cycle that only makes things worse. Strengthening anti-corruption stances and measures creates investor confidence and makes it harder for negative feedback to get a foothold.
Be fair in hiring practices
Inside the business itself, it is important to follow fair labour practices and pursue staff development opportunities. Staff training and education equips people to better contribute to their companies and communities, while fair wages provide communities and municipalities with income to circulate and support local small- and micro-enterprises. When it comes to hiring, it is especially important to follow scrupulously fair application and intake protocols with no favouritism or nepotism. Fair labour practices and hiring practices create a philosophy of fairness and equality within the business world.
Engage with surrounding communities
Communities surrounding your business can also be positively changed by direct engagement between the business and the community. After all, business owners or business staff may live within these very communities, and an uplifted community makes for happier residents. Businesses can engage with communities, community groups or relevant charities in several ways, including sponsorships, scholarships, building and maintenance partnerships, or something as simple as a cash donation.
Get involved
The key to all of these is primarily to get involved, by changing business culture, by engaging with groups in need, and by getting involved in local business-action bodies such as boards of trade. Businesses have influence in their local communities and their industries, and every positive change that businesses make in these two areas goes towards creating positive change on a larger scale.
Join a Chamber of Commerce
By joining a Chamber of Commerce business owners are granted more opportunities to network and collaborate with other businesses in and out of their specific industry. Joining a Chamber of Commerce also allows for business to be positively exposed so that they can be known. This in turn helps a great deal in growing the business so as to bring about positive change in South Africa.
For more information on how your business can effect positive change in South Africa contact Chamberlink.
marketing@chamberlink.co.za. 010 040 8328