Global South Africans

By John Battersby

Twenty-five years ago, the crowds that gathered in Trafalgar Square to protest and demonstrate against apartheid South Africa played a major role in galvanising international opinion against apartheid and hastening its downfall. Yesterday, South Africans gathered in their thousands in orderly queues to have their say in the future of the democratic South Africa in the same place that the demonstrators once stood. Read the rest of this entry »

In an important address at Chatham House in London on January 23, Michael Spicer, CEO of Business Leadership South Africa, International Marketing Council trustee  and former executive vice president of Anglo American plc, gave a candid of assessment of the state of play in South Africa on the eve of elections. Here is the full text:

In giving a pre-election 2009 report on the country I will try to give a clear eyed assessment of the country’s politics and economics from the perspective of a business leader which neither underestimates the challenges and reasons for concern, of which there are many, nor ignores the country’s strengths and achievements which continue to baffle the pessimists.   Read the rest of this entry »

Ian Goldin, director of the 21st Century School at Oxford, spoke at GSA launch in London last month. Here are his speaking notes:

The South African Diaspora played a major role in overcoming apartheid and sustaining the anti-apartheid struggle, as well as providing support to the ANC and others in exile.  The return of South Africans and the engagement with ideas from around the world has greatly strengthened the constitution as well as policy in a wide range of areas. The return and engagement of global South African’s ideas, skills and capital was a vital part of the ‘miracle’ of transformation. Read the rest of this entry »

“Once a South African, always a South African,” Moeketsi Mosola, Acting CEO of the International Marketing Council, told guests at a dinner to launch the GSA initiative in London organised by IMC’s UK country manager John Battersby and hosted by the SA High Commission. Here is SABC’s report:

For stills of the event, Read the rest of this entry »

If you consider yourself a daughter or son of KwaZulu-Natal, and you want to be part of the province’s success story, you’re invited to a reunion at the Harvard Club in New York on October 2.

The reunion is part of the KZN Ebandla initiative launched by the province’s premier, S’bu Ndebele, to enlist successful KZN “alumni” in support of of the region’s economic development.

Ebandla parallels what the GSA project is attempting on a national scale, so we naturally think it is a terrific idea and strongly urge our members to attend the New York event, which follows successful gatherings in Johannesburg, Cape Town and, most recently, London. Even if you can’t attend, please spread the word to anyone who might be interested.

You can learn more about Ebandla here. Contact Andrzej Kiepiela (SA Cell: +27 82 653 2522) or Kim Foxon (+27 82 603 9319).

GSA David Donenberg is Kendall College’s Chief Operating Officer. The College is a premier culinary arts, hospitality management, business and education facility situated in the heart of vibrant, entrepreneurial Chicago.

GSA members, and potential members are invited to our Chicago event, co-hosted with Homecoming Revolution to be held on April 24 at 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Brookhaven Wine Room at Kendall College.

GSA will join with Homecoming Revolution — www.homecomingrevolution.co.za on their upcoming Canada/North America trip to host several events in Chicago, New York and Washington, DC.

Homecoming Revolution tries to encourage South Africans living abroad to return home and provides support for their return. GSA recognises that some South Africans have made the US their home and will not be returning. We aim to encourage goodwill toward the country by facilitating the provision of your assistance to South Africans at home.

The objectives of the two organisations have synergy. We have thus decided to host events at which we meet you, talk to you, hear from you, exhange ideas etc. Details of event dates, times and venue will follow by invitation and on this website soon.