The "South African political risk issue is starting to diminish, although I am not saying it is gone". This 2004 comment by then Anglo American CEO Tony Trahar prompted a tirade from then president Thabo Mbeki. At the weekend Anglo’s current CEO, Mark Cutifani, was one of 81 CEOs who signed a pledge that said a great deal more than his predecessor did. There was much that was motherhood and apple pie about the pledge — in support of the Constitution, democracy and inclusive growth and against corruption, injustice and inequity — but it is still hugely significant because an unprecedented number were willing to put their heads above the parapets and be named, with their companies, which include almost of SA’s top enterprises. For many of those CEOs, it was a huge step to sign such a document. It is significant, too, because it brought together such a broad church of business organisations, including Business Leadership SA and Business Unity SA but also, surprisingly, the Black Busine...
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