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Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) is an independent association whose members include the leaders of some of South Africa’s biggest and most well-known businesses.
Through BLSA, South Africa’s business leaders engage key players in South African society, including government, civil society and labour, to exchange ideas in our national interest and to create effective dialogue.
By so doing, we contribute to building strong communities underpinned by job creation through sustained economic growth.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
BLSA CEO’s Weekly Newsletter -We cannot afford reform complacency
The BLSA Reform Tracker’s quarterly update shows real progress in Home Affairs and public services – but concerning reversals on electricity and logistics, the two reforms most critical to growth. With load-shedding behind us, the risk is that pressure for electricity reform eases. It must not. Wheeling protocols are delayed, the wholesale electricity market is stalled, and the establishment of the independent system operator is being delayed, despite it being clear government policy. On logistics, port concessioning is advancing, Durban Gateway has reached financial close, unlocking R11bn in investment, but the unbundling of the rail infrastructure manager from Transnet is going backwards. Progress is happening where government drives it. The SOEs must follow. Unbundling the grid and the rail network is the essential precondition for the investment South Africa needs. The BLSA Reform Tracker released its quarterly update last week, and I find the picture it paints genuinely worrying. There are areas of real progress – but on the two reforms that matter most for growth, electricity and logistics, momentum is slipping. With load-shedding behind us and the ports performing better than at the height of the crisis, I fear we are falling into the trap of “good enough.” For […]
23/07/2026
MEDIA STATEMENT – Completion index falls for first time as problems emerge with energy sector reforms
Johannesburg, 23 July 2026 – The fourth BLSA Reform Tracker Quarterly Review, covering April to June 2026, shows South Africa’s overall reform completion index fell to 71.5 from 71.7 in… continue reading
30/06/2026
PRESENTATION – Addressing the Crisis in Johannesburg – Data and Analysis
On 25 June BLSA hosted a Council Meeting where Lael Bethlehem, a partner at Genesis Analytics and former Director… continue reading
04/06/2026
BLSA AND BUSA JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT – South Africa’s Business Leaders Affirm the Rule of Law and Call for Calm and Co-Created African Solutions Amidst Migration and Immigration Challenges
JOHANNESBURG 5 June 2026 – Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) and Business Leaders South Africa (BLSA) note with concern the… continue reading
03/06/2026
MEDIA STATEMENT – A call to rebuild Johannesburg: Business sets out its commitment to act
Johannesburg, South Africa, 4 June 2026 – Business is deeply committed to South Africa and believes strongly in its long-term… continue reading
