Die Suid-Afrikaanse sakegemeeuskap se rol ten opsigte van politieke mobilisering in die aanloop tot 'n nuwe Suid-Afrika, 1980-1992. (Dutch/Flemish)

The erosion of apartheid as political policy, a weakening economy, fear for a revolution and stronger cohesion within the business community caused the white business community to unite across cultural and racial divides to protect their interests. The Rubicon speech of 1985 acted as a trigger for business to embrace a political role. The CBM was established and business started to mobilise openly against apartheid. Black business supported this mobilisation, as they had an interest in a free market economy and a negotiated political settlement. The white business community influenced government to keep political reform on the agenda. This influence was substantial, given the importance of the white business community in stabilising politics. Within the CBM, debate about the economy was shaped around identifying practical problems as to bar the adoption of solutions based on ideology. By adopting a bridge-building and a catalyst role, the CBM prepared business for change. The adopted consensus approach eased communication between economic role players and focused all role players on socio-economic development. Through social involvement and social development, South African business demonstrated the suitability of the free-market system to address the grave economic inequalities of South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Die erodering van apartheid as politieke beleid, 'n verswakkende ekonomie, vrees vir 'n rewolusie en sterker kohesie in die sakeomgewing het die blanke Suid-Afrikaanse sakegemeenskap oor kultuur- en rasgrense heen saamgesnoer ter beskerming van hulle belange. Die Rubicon-toespraak van 1985 het as 'n sneller gedien vir sakelui se aanvaarding van 'n politieke rol, sodat hulle met die stigting van die CBM openlik en gesamentlik teen apartheid gemobiliseer het. Swart sakelui het hierdie mobilisering gesteun, omdat hulle 'n belang in 'n vryemarkekonomie en onderhandelde politieke skikking gehad het. Die blanke sakegemeenskap het die regering beïnvloed om politieke hervorming op die agenda te hou. Omdat politici sakelui nodig gehad het om die politiek te stabiliseer, is hulle invloed versterk. Die CBM het die ekonomiese debat na praktiese probleme gestuur om van ideologiese oplossings weg te skram. Besigheid is vir verandering voorberei en verandering is deur 'n brugbourol en katalisatorrol gefasiliteer. 'n Konsensusbenadering het gesprekvoering tussen ekonomiese rolspelers vergemaklik en die klem op sosio-ekonomiese opheffing geplaas. Met gemeenskapsbetrokkenheid en sosiale opheffing het Suid-Afrikaanse sakelui in die praktyk geïllustreer waarom 'n vryemarkstelsel eerder as sosialistiese tegnieke, die erge ekonomiese ongelykheid in Suid-Afrika kon aanspreek. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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