Call of the times is for lobby groups to rise above narrow self-interests

ON THE last Sunday of 2016, the Sunday Times reported a move by the Guptas to “buy” into the Black Business Council (BBC).

The seemingly “unofficial” proposal was reportedly made by that hypocritical proponent of “black interests”, read, “self-interest”, Jimmy Manyi, who remains a strong advocate of the Guptas.

The proposal apparently included an initial donation of R5-million and another annual donation of R1-million should the BBC allow the Guptas into their powerful lobby group.

What is exciting is that, even though the proposal was seemingly “unofficial”, it seems the BBC has no interest in aligning itself with the Guptas, contrary to sentiments expressed by Manyi.

George Sebulela, secretary-general of the BBC, reportedly said the Guptas “have got issues with the government, and [also] how they have dealt with their issues business wise, it will not be for the BBC to find itself entangled with them.

“They’ve got a right to belong wherever, but given the polluted sky, they must cleanse themselves.”

This is the same BBC which not so long ago sounded a call to support President Jacob Zuma in spite of the State of Capture Report, business people like AngloGold Ashanti chairman Sipho Pityana and much of South Africa increasingly voicing their disapproval of Zuma’s leadership.

However, it would be excellent if the black lobby group is starting to see the light.

Maybe it would be even better for it to realise that it has a captured Gupta advocate right within its ranks, in the person of Jimmy Manyi, their head of policy, no less.

What the Guptas have come to represent in South Africa is an element within society which has to be resisted at all costs.

This is an element which seeks to commercialise, if not corrupt, every relationship, association or interaction which keeps society a functioning whole.

The real danger of this is that it diminishes the meaning, the relevance and pivotal importance of the relationships which keep society healthy.

If we suddenly assumed that money should exchange hands for every human interaction, commercial or not, within society, would we not in fact be signing the death warrant of society itself?

If all of a sudden we agreed that money should allow those who have it to do as they wish, circumventing protocols, both ethical and legal, would we not be agreeing to the end of society as we know it?

For the BBC maybe even more of an issue is the very reason for its existence.

While it is easy, at least for some, to appreciate the reason for a specifically “black” lobby group, it remains a concern that it is still a necessity to have a racially defined lobby group in eh . . . 2017.

However, with our history and all, it is understandable.

What would be great, brilliant or genius though, would be for a group like the BBC to start taking the higher moral ground and start talking about a unified South Africa in spite of their background as a racially defined lobby group and the racially segregated history of South Africa.

Evidently this moral high ground has been abandoned by the ruling party in favour of self-interest.

This has created an atmosphere where interest groups thrive, where each lobby group passionately vies for its own interests or the interests of its members.

However, often in the midst of this flurry of self-interest, no one is left to look out for that which makes it possible for society to function at all – a conducive atmosphere for co-existence.

When such naked self-interest is left to flourish unhindered, conflict is always the foreseeable end result.

So while it is admirable for the BBC to at least indicate its unwillingness to be “captured”, increasingly it is becoming important for this group and many other lobby groups to rise above their initial objectives.

The call of the times is to realise that, ultimately, your interests are my interests.