Our South Africa, Our Future | From Inequality to Equity - Ownership, Control & Market Access

November 14, 2025

The Black Management Forum (BMF) proudly announces its 2025 Policy Conference, set for Friday, 14 November 2025, at the Boardwalk Hotel in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, under the compelling theme “Our South Africa, Our Future | From Inequality to Equity - Ownership, Control & Market Access.” This national gathering will unite business leaders, policymakers, academics, labor representatives, and civil society to tackle South Africa’s persistent inequality crisis and forge a robust roadmap for inclusive economic transformation ahead of the 2026 local elections. South Africa stands at a critical inflection point. A Gini coefficient hovering near 0.63, youth unemployment exceeding 62%, and a Government of National Unity (GNU) facing both legitimacy questions and mounting policy expectations, these are not just statistics, they are fault lines. The BMF believes that the 2026 municipal elections must not become a referendum on failed transformation, but rather a turning point toward accountable governance and shared prosperity. From the heart of the Eastern Cape - where 70% of communities still endure poverty - this year’s Policy Conference will place black economic agency, digital inclusion, and industrialisation at the centre of national dialogue. It will be a convergence of business leaders, policymakers, academics, and civic voices, all summoned to respond to a single imperative: equity now. Programme highlights • Opening plenary — Opening remarks, welcome address and a keynote by national leaders. • Panel 1: The Black Economic Agenda — Measuring impact on poverty, inequality and unemployment, with clear accountability targets and delivery metrics. • Panel 2: The role of enterprise supplier development (ESD) in growing a sustainable and equitable economy — Using ESD to open markets for black-owned MSMEs, drive durable growth and tackle systemic inequities in line with national inclusion goals. • Panel 3: The Oceans Economy — SA’s next industrial frontier — Ports, logistics and maritime skills as engines of equitable industrialisation, with the Eastern Cape as a proof-point. • The Big Debate — Our South Africa, Our Future: Can the GNU deliver equity — ownership, control and market access. • Closing remarks — Synthesis and announcement of five measurable commitments, with public reporting against progress. BMF President Mr. Mpho Motsei asserts: The numbers don’t lie; racial disparities still drive 41% of our income inequality. The Equity Imperative is not rhetorical; it is a national test of the GNU’s will to lead beyond political convenience. This conference demands transformation with deadlines, not promises. It demands commitments, not consensus. Through this conference, the BMF is not simply hosting a policy dialogue, it is shaping a national agenda for equitable economic justice. As South Africa prepares to host the G20 and enters a high-stakes election cycle, the time to unite economic policy with ethical leadership is now. THE END