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Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) is an independent association whose members include the leaders of some of South Africa’s biggest and most well-known businesses.
Through BLSA, South Africa’s business leaders engage key players in South African society, including government, civil society and labour, to exchange ideas in our national interest and to create effective dialogue.
By so doing, we contribute to building strong communities underpinned by job creation through sustained economic growth.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
BLSA CEO’s Weekly Newsletter – Brazil deal exposes SA’s missing trade strategy
The partnership announcement was led by DIRCO, not DTIC, which suggests it is politics rather than economics that leads South Africa runs a R22bn trade deficit with Brazil and free trade would likely worsen it SA’s free trade agreements portfolio is thin, with no agreements in place with many regions from the Middle East to East Asia. Business stands ready to partner with government on a coherent trade strategy Last week’s announcement that South Africa had reaffirmed its strategic partnership with Brazil, with ambitions to deepen economic ties, was presented as a diplomatic win. But the fact that it was led by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), rather than the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), told you something important: this was a political conversation, not an economic one. That matters. South Africa needs a serious trade strategy – one built on analysis of where we can actually compete, not on the optics of summits. Brazil is a case study in why getting this wrong might be costly. I have written before about the importance of diversifying our trading relationships, particularly since US tariffs policy dramatically increased uncertainty for our economy. International trade is important in […]
23/07/2026
MEDIA STATEMENT – Completion index falls for first time as problems emerge with energy sector reforms
Johannesburg, 23 July 2026 – The fourth BLSA Reform Tracker Quarterly Review, covering April to June 2026, shows South Africa’s overall reform completion index fell to 71.5 from 71.7 in… continue reading
30/06/2026
PRESENTATION – Addressing the Crisis in Johannesburg – Data and Analysis
On 25 June BLSA hosted a Council Meeting where Lael Bethlehem, a partner at Genesis Analytics and former Director… continue reading
04/06/2026
BLSA AND BUSA JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT – South Africa’s Business Leaders Affirm the Rule of Law and Call for Calm and Co-Created African Solutions Amidst Migration and Immigration Challenges
JOHANNESBURG 5 June 2026 – Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) and Business Leaders South Africa (BLSA) note with concern the… continue reading
03/06/2026
MEDIA STATEMENT – A call to rebuild Johannesburg: Business sets out its commitment to act
Johannesburg, South Africa, 4 June 2026 – Business is deeply committed to South Africa and believes strongly in its long-term… continue reading
