ADVANCING Social Transformation is what Madiba believed in, and as Bayer, its our duty to follow in his steps to uphold those values, remarked Heike Prinz, Member of the Board of Management, at Bayer AG.
She was speaking to this reporter at the Social Immersion Day gala dinner at Saxon Hotel on Wednesday evening.
Prinz is in the country from Germany, accompanied by fellow professors and well learned friends from Bayer, to celebrate Mandela Day July 18, on Saturday, globally.
The company brought together government representatives, community leaders, development partners, educators, healthcare professionals and employees, to honour Madiba’s under the theme, “Advancing Social Transformation: Connecting Mandela’s Legacy to Today’s Imperatives – Jobs, Equity and Sustainable Development”.
“Mandela’s legacy reminds us that lasting progress is built through partnership, inclusion and a shared commitment to creating opportunities for others,” she addressed guests.
“Across Africa, we see extraordinary potential in young people and communities, and we believe business has an important role to play in helping unlock that potential.
Through our Social Transformation Strategy, Bayer is investing in the systems that matter most – health, education and skills development – because these are the foundations of resilient communities, future talent pipelines and sustainable economic growth. Today’s engagement is a powerful example of how governments, civil society and the private sector can work together to create meaningful and lasting impact.”
During the day, the delegation visited the Blair Atholl Primary Farm School, in Diepsloot, to demonstrate how collaboration can help address some of South Africa’s most pressing social and economic challenges.
According to Prinz, they were also received warmly by nurses- a good gesture that shows the difference they’re making in their own community- Ubuntu- togetherness, thanks to the Mobile Health Clinic Foundation, Penreach Baylabs to explore practical solutions to some of the interconnected challenges facing communities today.
“As a former health practitioner myself, what made me jump out of my bed everyday, was to make a difference in my community, that’s a lesson that Madiba stood for and for me, its still resonates in me until this day,” she remarked, also noting the issue of climate change is very contentious one in that disadvantaged communities will be the hardest hit.
“Our clarion call is for private sector to come on board, and provide help where it is needed, because after-all climate change affect us all, period.”
During dinner, a multi-stakeholder panel discussion examined opportunities to address systemic barriers to healthcare access, improve youth access to health information and create stronger pathways to employment and economic participation.
The dialogue reinforced the importance of moving beyond fragmented interventions towards coordinated, scalable solutions that deliver sustainable impact at community level.
Ours is to make a difference to people’s lives and also support farmers throughout the world, continued Prinz.
On the thorny issue of ‘scrapping’ of the BBBEE that continues to make headlines, the Commissioner of Black Economic Empowerment, Tshediso Matona said it won’t happen, because of one simple reason: blacks were disadvantaged during Apartheid, resulting in creation of poverty.
“Those who are calling for the scrapping of this important instrument are themselves benefiting; and now feel Blacks who are in majority in this country should not. It cannot be,” he said.
He continued:” This policy is meant to empower Blacks who were marginalized in the past. It’s called state of transformation-a country in transition.”
“We come from laws that deliberately discarded other races, and when we implement policies that everyone must partake in the economic participation it becomes a problem, that cannot be allowed,” he said.
Ownerships, assets, enterprises, skills development are part of the scorecard in SA and will not change, he warned.
Matona also made a classical example of Exxaro- a black owned mining giant in the country, as one of successful BBBEE companies.
“Mining development has to happen in rural areas and townships, as part of empowering blacks and youths, who are in majority. That is called social transformation. Madiba will be happy with that outcome.”
Talk of farmers, the Potatoes SA (will be hosting a two-day Transformation congress this month 22 and 23 at Indaba Hotel, Fourways) and Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa, were amongst organisations in attendance.
Image supplied (Heike Prinz, Member of the Board of Management at Bayer AG, recorded conducting interview with Sydney Morweng- News Ed at SLM, during Social Immersion gala dinner at Saxon Hotel.)
