Entrepreneurs need space to thrive

Greg Mills, in Why is Africa Poor, references South Korea, which had the same GDP as Zambia in 1968, yet today markets its products worldwide. Martyn Davies (On My Mind, December 13) writes of the opportunities hidden in a crisis, and how the Asian Tigers lifted their economies after the Asian financial crisis of 1997. He points out that in 1992 Nigeria and China had an average per capita income of $317. But in a little over 20 years China has become the second-biggest economy in the world. The difference in both examples lies in knowledge, creative thinking, putting in place a course of action and, importantly, following through with it. Governments should take heed: education is the key, and entrepreneurs need opportunity and capital. The likes of Strive Masiyiwa of Econet in Zimbabwe and our home-grown Herman Mashaba and Patrice Motsepe are natural entrepreneurs.

SA needs to lengthen the leash and give free rein to those with the know-how to create the space for enterprising individuals to thrive.