In weathering the prevailing economic storm, leaders will be measured by the creativity of their responses, Business Trust cochairperson Dave Brink asserts, adding that South Africa’s social partners need to work together on mitigation strategies.

“As some countries are enticed into protectionism and companies are driven to reduce 
employment and cut social programmes, South African social partners have agreed to work together to limit the impact of the crisis on the poor,” Brink said at the organisation’s 
results presentation in Johannesburg, last 
week.

He added that the country needed to continue to work to encourage growth by build-
ing skills and infrastructure to sustain the growth.

“As the global crisis deepens and demands grow for more determined action to address South Africa’s challenges, it will become 
increasingly clear that an effective response requires greater cooperation among partners in the public and private sectors.

“We need to develop key sectors and entre-
preneurs, and streamline government delivery and efficiencies. Through the Business Trust, shared experiences are being built that bode well for our ability to face the future 
together,” said Brink.

In the year under review, income increased to R136-million, from R100-million, in 2007. Earnings from cash investments rose from R17-million, to R21-million, and the level of funds paid to projects increased from R94-million, in 2007, to R160-million, in 2008.

Cash funds available for projects rose from R231-million, to R268-million, while 
retained income at the end of the year dropped from R198-million, in 2007, to R194-million, last year.

He noted that the Business Trust had seen several important partnership ventures bring a business perspective to the challenge of 
poverty alleviation. These included:

• the Ukulungisa Project Preparation Fund, established at the request of the President’s Big Business Working Group, with the potential to release some R800-million for infrastructure development during its pilot phase;

the Shared Growth Challenge Fund, 
designed to facilitate commercial trans-
actions that have an impact on the lives of the poor, with more than R30-million available for project funding;

• a social investment mapping tool intended to show the extent of social investment in South Africa and to provide a mechanism through which these social investments can be directed 
more systematically to improve the lives of the poor;

• the provision of one-million work opportunities by government’s Expanded Public Works Programme, a year ahead of schedule; and

• some R1,1-billion invested in the business process outsourcing (BPO) programme in the past year, which will result in the creation 
of more than 15 000 direct jobs and 47 000 indirect ones.

Last week, Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa told an economic cluster briefing that government had committed R439- million to BPO, to be disbursed between now and 2012.

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