GIBS forum on SME incubators

There has been so much going on in the last week that I have got behind in my posts! Three to write today, beginning with the Gordon Institute of Business Science Forum focusing on small and medium enterprises (SME) incubators.

GIBS is rightly taking the question of SME development very seriously, with the topic drawing a lot of attention particularly in respect of its potential for job creation and reducing the chronic state of unemployment in South Africa. Four of the leading private sector incubators were represented, each practicing a different business model.

Short & Sweet at Katy's Palace Bar

Last night Katy's Palace Bar in Kramerville, northern Johannesburg, hosted the debut appearance of short-film promoter Short & Sweet. Founded by Julia Stephenson, it grew out of her experience in the UK film industry and started life in Cape Town in 2009. With an unmatched view of the Sandton skyline Katy's Palace Bar was the perfect venue. Eight short films ranging in length from five to twenty minutes had the 150-odd guests rubbing our chins and smiling quizzically as we tried to get the film directors' messages. It's a genre that has yet to take off in SA, and only one of the films was from here, but this is a good way to get people interested.

Contrasting images - an election comes and goes

Having been awake for over 24 hours I finally slipped into a delirious sleep this morning at 5:30, at my bed and breakfast in Soweto chosen for its proximity to my operational area during the election. I figured the 40 minute drive home as dawn broke would be one journey too many after the rigours of overseeing 40 voting stations and driving the last party agent home. Now, with the vote tally showing a clear ANC victory nationally, the DA retaining the Western Cape and missing out on the possibility of a coalition in Gauteng, I can reflect on some of the images imprinted on my brain from an election of enormous contrasts.

Calling for freedom anew at Walter Sisulu Square

The final major gathering for the DA was a #WeCanWin concert. at Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown, Soweto. Built some ten years ago to commemorate the Congress of the People (no relation to the political party Cope formed in 2008) who gathered here 1955 to sign the Freedom Charter, it is now a national heritage site and called Freedom Square in official circles. Today, some 7 000 DA supporters brought a new meaning to the word freedom, calling for a release from the bondage of a corrupt, venal and crony ANC at the polls on Wednesday.

The Democratic Alliance's final campaign rally

This morning the DA held its last big rally before Wednesday's election at the Coca Cola Dome in northern Johannesburg. It was a spectacular affair, with all the party heavyweights giving rousing speeches to around 12 000 DA activists. The DA's message is clear: another 5 years of an ANC government will lead to more unemployment, corruption, deteriorating services and economic stagnation. Give the DA the chance in this election to bring good and clean governance, incentives for economic growth and service delivery targeting the poor. To sum it up: Together for Change, Together for Jobs.

Campaigning in Sandton and Alex

Today the Sandton constituency hired a bus to drive around Sandton and Alexandra township canvassing support for the DA. We rendezvoused with Helen ZIlle and Mmusi Maimane who were in Alex for a couple of hours. Here are some pics and a video of the scenes we encountered.

ANC jobbery on display in Sandton

Yesterday's Business Day carried a short but vivid leading article from the Financial Times on South Africa's twenty years of democracy under the headline "SA's dream not yet fulfilled". It contained the sentence "The ANC is a coalition held together by little more than jobbery." Jobbery is not a word we see often in South African writing. The Google definition is "the practice of using a public office or position of trust for one's own gain or advantage". Nothing could demonstrate the truth of this better than last night's ANC manifesto "Endorsement" shindig at the Sandton Convention Centre.