As Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), we offer our condolences to the Mandela family during this difficult time.  While we mourn the passing of the world’s icon of democracy and reconciliation, the business community has every reason to celebrate his contribution to the foundation of South Africa’s democracy, positive investment climate and re-introdution of country back into the world stage.

It is difficult to find new words to describe Nelson Mandela’s huge contribution to the stability and progress in SA’s early years of democracy after 1994. In the formative years of our democracy, Madiba’s steadfast focus on nation-building and the development of pragmatic economic policy were crucial in building investor confidence. Very early into South Africa’s democracy, investors were able to put political stability as the least of their worries on their lists of factors important considerations for investment.

His crucial support of the creation of Nedlac remains one of the pillars of democracy we continue to thank Madiba for. Social dialogue was critical in providing the socio-economic dimension of the reconciliation and nation-building to which he was so deeply committed. Already in 1996 he also said in Parliament that SA needed a longer- term shared vision if it was to truly unlock its real economic potential and create a better life for all, a vision which his one-term Presidency unfortunately did not make possible. SA is still struggling to find this shared vision under the aegis of the latest National Development Plan and to rediscover the values that will make it possible. His belief in a South Africa for all who live in it continues to be the country’s endeavors to undo the legacy of apartheid.

Madiba was a proponent of Ubuntu. Ubuntu in business resonated with him. He believed that Ubuntu or humaneness did not weaken business, on the contrary it strengthened it. He once said “Ubuntu cements the relationships upon which teamwork and innovation must rest. It builds trust among employees and teamwork and trust are seen as vital components of world class enterprises today.” As business we uphold those words.

Additionally, he emphasised that South Africa requires disciplined leaders - and that the public needs to celebrate and reaffirm the principle of collective leadership and inclusiveness that he espoused.  Finally, BUSA shares Madiba’s message that poverty and deprivation in our midst demean all of us, particularly as we try to address the triple evils of unemployment, inequality and poverty in the years ahead.

May you rest in peace Madiba.