"Take away a nation’s heritage and they are more easily persuaded” - Karl Marx

The beauty of having a diverse heritage such as ours, as South Africans, is that it teaches us tolerance, acceptance of those that are different from us, and it fosters social cohesion. In September, we celebrated our 28th Heritage Day since the dawn of democracy, and this was an opportunity to reflect on our rich history.

September also brings with it new beginnings, as is evident by this wonderful warm Spring weather that we have been experiencing of late. The seasons remind us that change is inevitable and the only constant that we can be certain of. As we fast approach the end of the year, we celebrate many milestones and events, beginning with the first Barloworld Siyakhula Supplier Summit in over two years, paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Summit, which was a resounding success, saw attendees being exposed to various masterclasses, networking opportunities and a powerful key-note address. The attendees engaged post the Summit had many complimentary things to say, while also sharing tips on what would enhance future conferences.

This edition, centred around the theme of “The eradication of poverty,” is meant to raise awareness to the global problem of poverty and is commemorated annually on the 17th of October under the banner of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Featured in this edition is Clean City, led by Dalu Cele who is extremely passionate about converting the Johannesburg inner city into a clean place for all to live.

We also have a chat to Maanda Rashaka about the innovate approach regarding sustainability he has chosen to take. Making waves in food security, we had a conversation with Thatohatsi Mothibe from Ingrain about what their contribution is to this crucial task. The spotlight will be thrust on different Mbewu beneficiaries that are making a difference in this area, with a transformative article on how poverty devalues those living under its oppressive end.

As we begin a new fiscal year, we look forward to engaging more robustly with you our reader and will endeavour to do this in a creative, knowledge-laden manner. We look forward to also hearing your constructive thoughts and invite you to write to us at siyakhula@barloworld.com.

Yours truly,

Prudence Gololo Managing Director

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