Flow recently attended the 5th Annual CSI Conference, titled: “Coming of Age: South Africa 20 years on”. The conference was sponsored by one of Flow’s clients, Tshikululu.
The conference, held at the Gordon Institute of Business Science on 2 and 3 April 2014, focused on corporate citizenry and development, and serious social investment within that.
The event was a great opportunity for delegates to reflect on the past and guide us through the direction that the country has taken, and should be taking, on the road to social development.
Speakers included Adam Habib, vice-chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand and prominent political analyst, who focused on the challenge of inequality in South Africa; and executive at Retail Momentum Frank Magwegwe, who spoke about how he went from homeless in Johannesburg to Harvard Business School graduate, with the help of corporate social investment (CSI).
The event also reiterated the importance of the private sector for South Africa’s economy, a point that Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan raised during his budget speech earlier in the year.
The event ended with the next generation of CSI and social economic development leaders – founder of Headboy Industries Ludwick Marishane; chairperson of the African Renaissance Youth Network Xolisa Gaca; and founder of Chapter One Innovation Rorisang Tshabalala – giving their perspectives on a way forward for South Africa.
