Business Ethics Series - Never Again: Lessons for Business and Others from their Complicity in State Capture

So, what does business need to do differently now to restore ethical conduct and create a growth economy?

Please join the SA Chamber, GIBS and Lord Hain for a hard hitting, yet enlightening evening discussion on how business and the country can ensure we are never again held to ransom. 

This is the first in a series discussing Business Ethics and how business can offer better leadership.  Events will be held in SA and the UK through 2023.

The focus of this series is on how to avert corruption and do the right thing in business by learning from first-hand experience and being mindful of subtle changes in circumstances, rather than making decisions on the basis of profit alone.

State Capture, and its aftermath, is still having detrimental effects on economic growth. Corruption is endemic and is crippling State-Owned Enterprises, amongst other impacts on the wider economy.

Business must take responsibility and act for the country’s future.

Lessons need to be learned and new business behaviours are needed if we are to avoid the very real risk of a repeat scenario, which would likely have catastrophic consequences.

The South African Chamber, in partnership with GIBS, the University of Pretoria’s acclaimed Business School, and their Dean, Morris Mthombeni, have invited Lord Hain and a panel of speakers to lead an evening of hard-talking about what business can, and must, proactively do to root out corruption and engender ethical business practices.

Watch the replay below:



Times shown are in South African Time (SAST)

Forum Panel

Prof Bonang Mohale, Chair of Business Unity SA, Chancellor of UFS Professor at JBS, Chairman of Bidvest and SBV Services and member of Community of Chairmen in the WEF
Highly respected businessman, who is known as much for his patriotism and his active role in seeking to advance the country’s interests. Author, and in his second book, Behold the Turtle, he discusses ethically pricinpled leadership – the turtle can only progress when it sticks its neck out.

Rabbi Gideon Pogrund, founding director of the GIBS Centre for Business Ethics
The CfBE's purpose is to explore and influence how South African business can respond more ethically to the country’s challenges, facilitating open conversations that build trust and helping to secure a more successful, sustainable future both for the business community and the country.

Lord Peter Hain, former anti-apartheid activist and UK Cabinet Minister
Lord Hain has campaigned against State Capture and corruption in SA, bringing to account many international businesses.  He is a prolific author of 27 books having recently turned his hand to novels, his latest being The Elephant Conspiracy, which has followed The Rhino Conspiracy

Wessel Badenhorst, partner at Hogan Lovells, Johannesburg
Office Manager (Managing Partner) for three years to end December 2022, his practice focusing on commercial and operational challenges in the mining sector, offering a thorough understanding of relevant legislation and sound working knowledge of mining operational practices and principles.

Dr Claudelle von Eck, former CEO of the Institute of Internal Auditors SA and recently appointed Eskom board member
An organisational development and change manager and the former CEO of the Institute of Internal Auditors of SA. Oversight bodies she serves on include the department of international relations and co-operation's audit committee.  She was appointed to the Eskom board in September 2022.

Forum Chair

Sharon Constancon, Chairman of the South African Chamber of Commerce UK
In addition to her Chamber role, Sharon runs her own consultancy, Genius Boards, which delivers Board Evaluations and Board development to address effective Board Dynamics.  She runs Valufin and Constançon Currencies, two foreign exchange risk management companies in the UK and SA.

The evening will begin with networking drinks and further time for conversations will follow the debate.

Booking is essential.