Latest News
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 – Local government’s day of reckoning has arrived
National Treasury’s withholding of equitable share transfers from 69 municipalities follows more than a decade of ignored auditor-general warnings on municipal deterioration and increasing irregular expenditure Johannesburg’s financial situation is particularly alarming: if it fails, the consequences ripple through the entire economy, and it has only 12 days of cash cover against a required 32 Poor and rural communities carry the heaviest cost of municipal failure Support can’t be in perpetuity – something had to give and now accountability must become the priority. We have finally come to the brink of widespread municipal collapse. National Treasury’s decision to withhold the July equitable share transfer from 69 municipalities follows auditor-general reports going back more than 10 years, where irregular expenditure (a strong indicator of corruption) increased year after year, with no effective measures taken to stop the rot. Municipal collapse – now hitting three of South Africa’s eight metros, including Johannesburg, Mangaung and Nelson Mandela Bay – directly reflects a failure of leadership and accountability. Local government politicians, unfortunately, have largely proven themselves to be a serious part of the problem rather than making any sort of progress in finding solutions. At the time of the 2021 municipal elections, I […]
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 of Economic Development, City of Johannesburg, unpacked the state of… 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
29/05/2026
NEW APPOINTMENT – BLSA welcomes its new Deputy Chairperson
BLSA is pleased to announce that the Board has formally appointed Mpumi Madisa, Group CEO of Bidvest, as its Deputy… continue reading
