Economic Solidarity ?

[McSack]

IN JAPAN, the Japanese run the economy ... in Africa, why aren’t the Africans running the economy? Science and Technology Minister Mosibudi Mangena asked today. He was addressing delegates and corporate representatives at the 40th annual Black Management Forum (BMF) at the Sandton Convention Centre.

Mangena calls for ’black economic solidarity’

First-off Mr Mangena... look around you... Africans are running economies in Africa, ... mostly into the ground

However, let's not split hairs about who are africans and who are not here. We're really only talking about South Africa and the "africans" you are refering to are only those with a certain skin pigmentation

In this context, I think it's actually a pretty good question. Why aren't blacks running the South African economy? Why are things different in Japan?
One needs only to look at part of one of Mangena's comments later on in the article:

He said SA’s black people needed to produce their own original goods

Unfortunately he goes on to qualify that comment with a whole lot of nonsense about black economic solidarity.

The Japanese economy flourished because japanese people worked hard at building their own economy from scratch. Any citizen who wanted to contribute was and is still encouraged to do so.
It wasn't just a case of handing over equity and ownership of already successful businesses at discounted rates to a few well-connected japanese.

 

[Skeptik]

Don't forget the cultural differences. The Japanese have a strong work-ethic, firm loyalty to their employers, and of course the honour system.
This is quite the opposite to local culture.
To see this in action: Try sending a Checkers or P&P worker to go and price something. See them walk hyper-slowly, catch up with news from their chums on the way, and then amble back slowly dragging their fat feet, then approach you with absolutely zero eye contact and explain the situation in pidgen English.
Eisch!

 

[Jonny Two Shoes]

^ yep. Over there a customer is a god. Over here a customer is just an inconvenience

 

[Ady]

Imagine the outrage if we had a White Management Forum (WMF)? Wouldn't that be racist?

 

[LoneGunman]

"IN JAPAN, the Japanese run the economy ... in Africa, why aren’t the Africans running the economy? "

Er, quite simple: because big business in SA did a deal with the ANC - saying "You shut up about nationalizing anything - and we'll apply pressure on the National Party, to enter into talks with you, leading to full elections, and you can take over the country."

(I was actually at Joburg airport when the business group came back from Lusaka, me and my Lefty comrades - and saw the fun and chaos of the rightwingers as they freaked out, screaming 'traitors!!' at the returning businessmen).

But that's the short answer that the ANC hopes no one says. Forumites with long memories, will recall the ANC were planning to nationalize various industries - which would have provided all the money needed to 'fix' this country very fast. Instead...