In the midst of global challenges and uncertainties, as we bid farewell to 2023, the need for a Good Society has never been greater.
Internationally, things are bleak. Some 21 months after Russia invaded Ukraine, the war continues to rage with massive losses on both sides spilling over to dampen economic wellness across the globe. In Gaza there has been some relief around the hostage situation, but the ceasefire is only temporary, and the region continues to teeter on a knife edge of spreading conflict. Right wing candidates are winning elections across the globe, auguring policy changes that serve neither the war- and poverty-displaced diaspora, nor the climate, nor any spirit of progress. We go into the Conference of the Parties (COP 28) with climate change events at record levels, and climate scientists’ alarm bells clanging – yet the conference, cynically, is being held in an oil country, and chaired by a man who has vested interests in oil.
In Africa, the devastating drought that began in 2020 in the Horn of Africa continues, so food insecurity and death continue to stalk the landscapes of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia. In Sudan, women continue to be terrorised by sexual violence, and humanitarian agencies continue to be blocked, as warring armies pull further apart this already beaten nation.
At home, in South Africa, the unifying euphoria of the Amabokke victory of the 2023 Rugby World Cup under the charismatic leadership of Siya Kolise has worn off, to be replaced by the ongoing crisis of SOEs that have failed on every level. We’ve normalised the absence of a working Post Office, dry taps in some parts of the country, and loadshedding – not failures our country should ever have had to deal with – but we are still in shock about Transnet. Its multiple failures are costing the country a reported R96 million every day. The collapse of infrastructure at the Port of Durban is exacerbating this, laying waste to South African ports’ reputation, and undermining the best laid plans of many, as cargo ships hang out at sea unable to dock and offload. And as we prepare this newsletter, we are mourning the deaths of 11 miners who died when a lift at Impala Platinum malfunctioned and dropped 200 metres, injuring a further 75 miners. It’s the worst accident in the mine’s history, and again prompts conversation about the complex moralities of extractive industries such as mining, on which so much of our balance of payments depends.
We have thought this before, and it does not change: now more than ever the world urgently needs those who are committed to the Good Society to stand up, for voices of reason and positive progress to make themselves heard, and for us to strive in whatever ways we can, to turn things around. As South Africa goes into an election year in 2024, accompanied by inevitable and often highly destructive political grandstanding, ALI SA’s values that require Fellows to step up from their own success to become significant change-makers, are highly pertinent.
As an organisation, we are in a good space. In 2023, we were pleased to welcome the respected Saki Macozoma to the chairmanship of ALISA, followed by a new Board, and the soon-to-be announced appointment of a new Executive Director. There is a gratifying energy around the organisation as the new incumbents find their feet, evidenced by the fact that the call for nominations for Class XIV resulted in 92 names being put forward and the final selected 24 candidates will embark on their ALI SA leadership journey in March 2024.
We are grateful for the efforts of all those who so willingly gave their time and headspace to the important tasks of making these key appointments, and of running our subcommittees, and of assessing the nominees for Class XIV.
It’s significant that this comes in the same year that the African Leadership Initiative celebrated the milestone of 20 years of work. Against this history, new beginnings – which draw from a rich seam of work, learning and giving – seem appropriate. What has not changed is our purpose, which is to convene, nurture and inspire a growing network of influential, civic-minded, values-based leaders who are committed to the Good Society.
One of the highlights this year was the long-awaited gathering of ALI Fellows at the Africa Impact Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, in May 2023. It was the first such gathering after a Covid-inspired hiatus of three years and ALI Fellows reunited with much joy with the feeling of a happy family reunion. If you missed it, there’s a great reflection from Karl Gostner here. The next Africa Impact Forum is scheduled to take place in Southern Africa in 2025.
Apart from the graduations of Classes XII and XIII, there have been many other things to celebrate, including the initiatives and successes of some of our Fellows:
- With a joyful future focus, we celebrate with Rejane Woodroffe (Class VII: Dinatla) and the team at Bulungula Incubator the 100% matric pass rate achieved in 2022 – the first full house in the history of the region. It’s all the more remarkable given that the Class of 2022 is only the 2nd graduation class at Bulungula College, and that more than 80% of the learners in it do not have a parent who graduated from high school.
- We also celebrate the hugely successful Africa in the World festival curated by Dele Olojede (Class II: Kilimanjaro), held in Stellenbosch, which brought together some great speakers, and great minds, in a festival celebrating humanity and “Africanness”.
- We look forward to the impact of Sand Technologies, born in 2023 as the brainchild of Fred Swaniker (Class III: Seriti). He describes it as “one of the largest pools of technology talent in the world, on the continent with the most untapped human potential”. The intention is to train 3,5 million Africans in software engineering, data science, cloud computing, cybersecurity, UX design, Salesforce, AR/VR and other technologies over the next decade; and for Sand itself to employ at least 1 million of them.
- Congratulations also to:
- Janade du Plessis (Class VIII: Mahube), managing of Launch Africa Ventures, who was awarded Investor of the Year by Startup Club ZA;
- Ory Okolloh (Class IX: Tariro) who was selected as one of the keynote speakers at the International Monetary Fund’s Annual Meeting in Africa; and
- Doris Tshepe (Class IX: Tariro), of the Competition Commission, for the much-anticipated launch of the Market Inquiry on Media and Digital Platforms.
- Tsakani Maluleke (Class VII: Dinatla), SA’s auditor general for being appointed as the external auditor to UNICEF.
Next year, 2024, is unlikely to be an easy year but we have to remain resilient and hopeful that there will be improvements in the world status quo. However, we feel grateful for the fellowship of our ALI SA colleagues, and this community of value-driven leaders. May the year be a year of growth, good learning and hope for all of us.
