INTERVIEW
Advocating for a just economic society The Provincial Secretary of the Black Management Forum Mpumalanga, Mawela Ndlamlenze, explains how a transformation master plan has been created.
Mawela Ndlamlenze
Please outline the main objectives of the Black Management Forum. The forum is committed to advocate for a just economic society for the collective advancement of primarily black people in the social and economic mainstream including: • to train and develop primarily black professionals to be effective business and management leaders • to ensure appropriate recruitment and advancement of black people into business organisations to achieve an equitable dispensation • to link public, private and academic institutions into an effective network to support interdisciplinary communications, management innovation and professional development among black people • to encourage professionals to play an active role in the broader South African community by participating in community outreach. What is your current focus? BMF Mpumalanga is focusing on corporate social investment by companies in local communities; business skills development through relationships with private organisations and state organs; mentorship; creating dialogue platforms through events that cover pertinent social issues; and canvassing for employment for our members, especially in senior positions within the private sector.
BIOGRAPHY Mawela Ndlamlenze is from Ermelo and has a qualification within the Internal Audit profession. He works in the Risk Management Section of the Govan Mbeki Municipality where he also serves on the Audit Committee and the Risk Management Committee. Having served various non-profit organisations, Mawela has various business initiatives under his company Wishful Dreams Investment.
What are some of the challenges facing business in Mpumalanga? The challenges our members face are access to market, access to funding, government legislation not being favourable to SMMEs and private policy that is structured in a way to disempower SMMEs. What are some of your most recent achievements? The recent achievement for BMF Mpumalanga is the facilitation between the BMF, civil society, labour unions and government in the development of the transformation master plan which seeks to outline key deliverables for transformation. How is the relationship between the BMF and civil society, labour unions and government? We are reviving and strengthening all these relationships, including the alignment with other black professional bodies.
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MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2018/19