Business Leadership South Africa Chief Executive Officer Busi Mavuso has called on companies to look beyond their bottom lines in an effort to mend South Africa’s social fractures.
“If I take stock and look at where South Africa is at the moment as I try to address the topic of responsible business in a fractured society and how we rebuild trust and drive change, I believe there are three key fractures that South Africa needs to address for us to be able to change our trajectory. The first one is the political fracture. The second one is the societal fracture and the last one is the geopolitical fracture.”
Mavuso delivered the opening keynote address at the Trialogue Business in Society Conference 2025.
The red-letter social impact event was held at The Galleria in Sandton, Johannesburg, on 13 and 14 May under the theme ‘Driving Impact, Inspiring Change’.
Mavuso’s address was titled ‘Responsible business in a fractured society – The role of corporate South Africa in rebuilding trust and driving change’.
She singled out societal fracture as posing the greatest risk.
“Now for me this one is a very this is the biggest risk. Politics is important, but I really think that this is the biggest risk that we face as a country.”
Mavuso’s powerful message was clear: business must step beyond its traditional lane because the stakes were simply too high.
She called on the company, civil society and government representatives in the audience to address social issues such as unemployment, poverty and inequality.
“If there is one big fracture that we need to address, that is the greatest fracture that South Africa needs to address.
“The business of business can’t just be business—not in a political economy like South Africa,” she declared. “When the politics fail, the economy fails. And when the economy fails, business fails. We are inextricably tied to the fate of this country.”
Youth unemployment
Mavuso posited that the biggest risk to business was youth unemployment.
“So yes, energy is an issue. Yes, water in an issue. Yes, transport and logistics is a problem. But the biggest risk to your business is that two out of three young people are unemployed.”
Youth unemployment hovers at an astounding 45%. And while South Africa is hailed as a youthful nation full of potential, that potential remains tragically untapped.
She said Africa’s projected population growth, coupled with its youthful age profile, was a strength and an asset.
“But let’s agree, and let’s accept, that it is a strength and our young people are an asset only if they can be cultivated. As things stand, they are not an asset. They are a burden. I’m talking about societal fracture and I’m saying that the biggest risk that we have as a country is that two out of three young people are unemployed,” Mavuso noted.
The impact of a poverty explosion
Mavuso didn’t mince words. She stressed that the July 2021 unrest was not a rule-of-law crisis but “a poverty explosion problem.” Those who looted weren’t criminals—they were hungry. “It was people who are not currently participating in the economic mainstream.”
In her eyes, this societal divide would not resolve itself, and companies and decision-makers could not let the country’s deep inequality persist.
“There is absolutely no way that it is going to be sustainable for Alexandra [residents] to continue to look at the opulence of Sandton from the windows of their shacks. At some point we should know that their poverty, their helplessness, their hopelessness, their hunger is going to drive them out of their shacks. They are going to cross that M1 bridge and render Sandton ungovernable.”
Purpose-led business as a national imperative
Yet, despite the gravity of her diagnosis, Mavuso’s message was profoundly hopeful. Her speech was a call to arms for business leaders to embrace a more expansive role – one grounded in purpose, not just profit.
“Business needs no one’s permission, especially not governments, to intervene on issues of national interest. We have got a vested interest in this country. We understand that our fortunes as business are tied to those of governments. If government fails, the country fails. And if the country fails, business fails. So, we therefore have a responsibility of ensuring that we get involved to fix the issues of national interest,” she exclaimed.
Mavuso pointed to the progress already made through public-private partnerships in energy and logistics as proof that when business steps up, transformation follows.
“The business-government partnership that you have at the moment that is currently addressing the issues of energy, transport and logistics, and crime and corruption has done such a brilliant job.” she noted proudly.
Skills, not stipends
Mavuso pointed to a hard but hopeful solution based on quality education, skills development and economic inclusion.
“We need to find a way to create opportunities for our people to participate in the economic mainstream… The easiest way to do that, honestly, is by giving them skills.”
Social grants are a temporary salve, not a solution. “What is a 25-year-old supposed to do with R350? And they are going to be earning R350 until when?”
On the failure of education, she didn’t hold back: “You don’t do these kids any favours to say that they can pass matric at 30%. If you pass at 30%, it means you don’t know 70% of the stuff.”
“You are not much of an asset if you don’t know 70% of the stuff. How am I supposed to win as a company? How am I supposed to win as an economy?”
To Mavuso, education is the ultimate equaliser. “It was a great game changer for me, and I know it was a great game changer for so many of you.”
A call to business
Despite the challenges, Mavuso remains optimistic – if business answers the call. She envisions a South Africa where young people are not standing on the sidelines, watching others participate in the economy, but are themselves empowered contributors.
South Africa stands at a crossroads, and business must choose its role. “If we are going to win, we need to put our best foot forward.”
