A high-profile list of local and global change-makers will take part in a series of debates and discussions focusing on topics such as how to mobilise business in South Africa to take part in the fight against corruption and whose responsibility it is to create a safe space for whistle-blowers.
Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan and National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi will join Dr Achieng Ojwang of the United Nations Global Compact, Business Leadership SA’s CEO Bonang Mohale and a number of other local and foreign luminaries to discuss how business can support President Cyril Ramaphosa as he tackles the scourge of corruption.
Welcoming the deepening of Daily Maverick’s watchdog role in the business world, Steven Nathan, 10X founder and CEO, said: “Daily Maverick has done great work bringing corruption and dishonesty in the political sphere to the public’s attention, giving the authorities no choice but to start acting against perpetrators.”
Nathan said corruption within government and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) had been very well covered, but “what people forget is that it takes two to tango, that there are two sides to corruption”.
He noted that government and SOEs didn’t do business with themselves, but rather with the business sector. This implied that the business sector was complicit in corruption and had benefited from it.
Nathan said business leaders should hold themselves to the same high standards they demanded from government.
“Quite frankly, many in the business sector have failed in this regard, which has allowed the government and SOEs to be dishonest and to benefit from corruption,” he said.
“This is the reason the Daily Maverick’s Business Against Corruption initiative is so important.”
Nathan commended Daily Maverick for its role in exposing state capture, adding that he looked forward to the results of the microscope being turned on South African businesses.
“We will all be served by more honesty and accountability in all sphere of business, particularly in the retirement savings industry. It is so important that we restore trust and accountability so that South Africans can get saving and start earning a decent share of the rewards so that they can retire with dignity and not be a burden on their children or the state.”
10X’s Business Development Manager, Mabetha Cedrick Pila, will join one of the panels on the day. Attendees will also have the opportunity to join the discussion about what businesses can do to put an end to the looting. The debates will be followed by a networking cocktail session.
Other confirmed panellists include: Kris Dobie, Head: Organizational Ethics, The Ethics Institute; Christy Hunter, CEO: Empanda; Busisiwe Mavuso, COO of BLSA; David Lewis, Executive Director of Corruption Watch; Advocate Andy Mothibi, Head: Special Investigations Unit; Peter Goss, Forensic Investigator and Auditor.
The list of moderators looks like a Who’s Who of South African journalists and corruption-busters: Tim Cohen, Marianne Thamm, Richard Poplak, Ferial Haffejee and Stephen Grootes.
Attendance at the event is largely by invitation. However, there is limited tickets available to purchase from Quicket https://www.quicket.co.za/events/70764-business-against-corruption/#/
