The North-West University (NWU) Business School held a think tank on Monday, 8 July, titled SA’s future economy – is it fit for purpose? Prof Piet Croucamp, political analyst and affiliate of the NWU Business School, served as moderator and the panellists comprised Prof Raymond Parsons, Wandile Sihlobo and Christo van der Rheede.

Van der Rheede has functioned in various CEO positions, including as the CEO of a Naspers-funded trust, the Small Business Institute, Agri SA and the FW de Klerk Foundation. He serves on various boards such as those of the KKNK, the ATKV, Casidra and the AgriSeta, and as adjunct professor at the School of Economic Sciences of the University of the Free State. Sihlobo is the chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) and the author of two books: A Country of Two Agricultures: The Disparities, The Challenges, The Solutions, and Finding Common Ground: Land, Equity and Agriculture. He is a senior lecturer extraordinary at the Department of Agricultural Economics at Stellenbosch University.

Parsons is a professor at the NWU Business School and chairperson of the advisory board of the Business School. He is the author/editor of seven books and has received a number of accolades. In addition to other positions, he is also a former director-general of the SA Chamber of Business (SACOB), and until 2012 he was the deputy CEO of BUSA.

In a wide-ranging discussion, the panel examined the distrust between the private sector and the state, as well as fundamental problems in restoring this trust. Perspectives were given on how to grow South Africa’s economy in the face of poverty, unemployment and the current policy environment. Few topics regarding the country’s present economic climate were left untouched.

The think tank formed part of the MBA winter study school of the NWU Business School, which will conclude on Friday 12 July, and the week’s events include academic lectures, guest lectures, practical sessions and research meetings.