The Johannesburg Attorneys Association (JAA) has taken a proactive approach to equip legal professionals with advanced skills. Through courses like the Judicial Skills Training, hosted in collaboration with the Law Society of South Africa (LSSA), JAA ensures attorneys are prepared for complex litigation and judicial processes. These initiatives focus on practical, real-world challenges, helping members elevate their competence and maintain the highest standards of legal practice. This commitment to continuous learning highlights JAA’s role as a cornerstone of professional development in Johannesburg’s legal sector.
Measures must be implemented to address and reverse the systemic exclusion of Black people, especially Africans. “South Africa needs a radical BMF. The BMF cannot be orthodox or mainstream,” stated Gqubule in a Sowetan article titled BMF Needs to Find Its Voice. Harnessing the Black Management Forum’s (BMF) focused efforts to advance corporate transformation in South Africa is crucial for fostering greater representation and efficiency within the nation’s institutions. The BMF’s advocacy for building a “critical mass” of skilled Black Africans in particular professionals in leadership positions across corporate South Africa and government supports the broader objectives of economic equity and social empowerment.
The Government of National Unity (GNU) has a pivotal opportunity to adopt a transparent, merit-based approach for appointments in state institutions and government departments. Conducting live public interviews for key roles could significantly enhance transparency and public trust, ensuring that the most qualified candidates are chosen through an open process. The core aim of the government’s reform program is to drive efficiency, governance, and accountability within state institutions to support their long-term sustainability and alignment with national development goals. The success of these reforms depends on transparency and the appointment of skilled Black professionals to senior positions across both corporate South Africa and government.
In partnership, the BMF and GNU could create a model of transparency and competence in appointments, setting a new standard for both corporate and government roles in South Africa. This collaboration would support an economic development policy grounded in African meritocracy, addressing the public sector’s skills drain by fostering a more appealing and rewarding work environment. Such an environment would include incentives for skill retention, competitive compensation, a positive workplace culture, and vital training and development for management—ensuring that only the very best are selected for top leadership roles in state institutions and government departments.
A call to action:
The Government of National Unity is urged to provide a detailed plan on how it will strike a balance between fiscal discipline and social investment, specifying the precise measures it intends to implement. Additionally, the public deserves clarity on whether deregulation and corporatization are the sole paths to achieving these goals. If this policy direction was required for government borrowing, the government should also consider if there were alternative financing institutions it could approach that would not compromise the state’s capacity to drive economic development.
