The compact between CEOs of large South African companies and government departments to tackle the country's severe energy, crime and logistics challenges is the beginning of a journey and solving the country's challenges will require huge investments into projects with multi-year lifecycles, business organisation Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busi Mavuso said in her latest weekly newsletter on June 12.

"An important new vehicle for business cooperation with government [has begun] its journey. At a [recent] meeting at the Union Buildings, organised business, together with several CEOs of major South African businesses, met with President Cyril Ramaphosa and several Ministers to discuss an urgent plan to address the most pressing priorities we face as a country."

The initiative is not about new policies, but about urgently implementing long agreed policy in key areas and then investing to kickstart economic growth and rebuild confidence. Each workstream now has had two CEOs appointed to drive the business contribution to the partnership, Mavuso pointed out.

"This is the beginning of a journey that government and business will walk together. The issues South Africa must deal with are deep and will require serious commitment from both sides. It must be focused on action and not political expediency," she emphasised.

The President welcomed the initiative and has committed government to working with business to deliver.

"I am glad the President shares our view that this must be a long-term partnership," she highlighted.

Government has lined up the appropriate public sector bodies for each stream. The National Energy Crisis Committee (Necom), National Logistics Crisis Committee and Joint Initiative to Fight Crime and Corruption will be the main vehicles for public sector engagement.

The committees will draw on officials from different government departments, Operation Vulindlela and, in the crime workstream, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure.

Each workstream will be assisted by organised business structures. The Energy Council of South Africa will support energy, Business Unity South Africa (Busa) and the Public Private Growth Initiative will back logistics while BLSA subsidiary Business Against Crime will back the crime and corruption stream.

The partnership is being overseen by Business for South Africa, which is the implementation arm of Busa that was key in mobilising partnerships for the fight against Covid-19.

"Anglo American South Africa chairperson Nolitha Fakude and Sasol CEO Fleetwood Grobbelar will focus on energy. Former Exxaro CEO Mxolisi Mgojo and Toyota South Africa CEO Andrew Kirby will drive the logistics effort. Crime and corruption will be led by Sibanye CEO Neal Froneman and Remgro CEO Jannie Durand.

"These are CEOs with a great deal of experience and insight into the effects of electricity shortages and logistics disruptions, as well as the impact of crime and corruption. They also bring decades of experience in leading complex organisations and ensuring delivery, and again demonstrate the deep pool of capacity that business can draw on to support government on our most urgent national priorities," highlighted Mavuso.

The initiative will take resources, many of which business has already been contributing. For example, BLSA played a key role in supporting the Resource Mobilisation Fund to raise R100-million to aid Necom to bring in the skills and resources it needs to tackle key issues in our electricity crisis.

Similarly, resources will be pulled together to support the logistics and crime workstreams.

"The [June 6] meeting was practical and focused on getting things done. As during Covid-19, the initiative will benefit enormously from the time, freely provided, of top business leaders to drive delivery," Mavuso said.

"BLSA will play a key part as a member of the steering committee for the project, and in our other operations that are relevant to different workstreams. The three workstreams all fit clearly in our strategy to create a conducive environment for business to thrive and deliver inclusive economic growth."