The Ethical Leadership's Official Newsletter

Abstract

been growing since the black-led government of Nelson Mandela and now Thabo Mbeki. Much of the leadership has been in the form of strengthening democracy and development in the region through mediation efforts and initiatives such as the African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad). Riding on this wave has been the growing influence of South Africa’s economic expansion into the rest of Africa. The question is: Are South Africa’s businesses the answer to Africa’s underdevelopment? Secondly, do South African companies bring a better way of doing business than, for example, China and other European investors? South African Reserve Bank figures indicate that the country’s investment into the continent grew from R8 billion in 1996 to R26 billion in 2001. Business Map shows that South African companies invested an average of $455-million a year in Southern Africa between 1994 and 2003. Some of the investors mentioned include Shoprite Checkers, Nando’s, Steers, Engen, Woolworths and Game (- Judi Hudson, Quoted from Special Report: South Africa in Africa: July 2007) (Sifiso Mbuyisa 2007).