As the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NAFCOC) celebrates over six decades of advocating for economic justice and inclusive growth, we are reminded of the unfinished business of transformation in South Africa. Transformation SA is not just a publication, it is a call to action, a platform for bold reflection, and a chronicle of the urgent work still required to build an economy that truly serves all South Africans.
We at NAFCOC welcome the revision of the Employment Equity Act (EEA) as a long-overdue step in addressing South Africa’s deeply entrenched inequalities. For far too long, policy reforms have been piecemeal and incremental, failing to shift the structural levers of economic power in meaningful ways. The amendment to the EEA is a necessary response to the slow pace of workplace transformation and provides long-awaited relief for small businesses by reducing their regulatory burden, allowing them to focus on what they do best, creating jobs.
Let us be clear: opposition to these amendments often comes from those seeking to preserve unearned privilege. In a country where white South Africans still occupy over 60% of top management positions while black Africans, who make up over 80% of the population, remain underrepresented, claims of “reverse discrimination” are not only unfounded but dangerously misleading. Transformation is not a threat to excellence; it is the pursuit of fairness, opportunity, and economic dignity.
Equally significant is the announcement of the R100 billion Transformation Fund. NAFCOC views this initiative as a powerful symbol of renewal a genuine opportunity to reconfigure the economic landscape and place black entrepreneurs at the centre of growth and innovation. While we commend the government’s intentions, we urge that the design and implementation of this fund must be inclusive, transparent, and deliberate in its focus on black-owned businesses and informal SMMEs.
Our concern is that, without specific mechanisms that prioritise access for marginalised entrepreneurs, particularly those in rural and township areas, this fund risks replicating the same exclusions it seeks to undo. NAFCOC is committed to ensuring that the Fund becomes more than just another programme. Through upcoming provincial roadshows and our proposed National Economic Transformation Summit in February 2026, we intend to mobilise our network of local chambers to both support and hold accountable the implementation of this important initiative.
As we approach Youth Month, we must confront an uncomfortable truth: “Youth unemployment in South Africa is a crisis”. With over 45% of young people unable to find work, the long-term social and economic consequences are grave. At NAFCOC, we recognise that youth are not only the future, they are the present. We are investing in programmes that focus on skills development, entrepreneurship, and access to markets for young businesspeople. Transformation is incomplete if our young people are left behind.
NAFCOC stands ready to partner with all stakeholders who are serious about change. We believe transformation must be more than rhetoric, it must be a measurable shift in ownership, participation, and prosperity. As this publication so aptly explores, transformation is not a destination but a journey. And it is a journey we must walk together with courage, clarity, and uncompromising resolve.