Business group defends Manyi

Johannesburg – The Black Management Forum has defended its president Jimmy Manyi following his suspension as director general of labour.

Deputy president Thembakazi Mnyaka said on Friday that it was the obligation of all South Africans to explain black economic empowerment (BEE) to foreigners.

"We must understand, we have an obligation as South Africans to make people understand the legislation of your country," said Mnyaka at a BMF corporate gala dinner.

Manyi made headlines when Norway's ambassador to South Africa requested a meeting with Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana to raise concerns about Manyi's conduct during an official meeting.

"There were certain things discussed and the way in which they were  brought up in that meeting, we did not appreciate," ambassador Tor Christian-Hilda told Sapa last Thursday.

Christian-Hilda and two other senior diplomats from the Norwegian mission met Manyi in Pretoria in early March to discuss Norway's co-operation with South Africa's decent work programme through the International Labour Organisation.

He said BEE policies were discussed at the meeting, but declined to elaborate further.

Sake24.com reported that Manyi apparently attempted to promote private business interests at an official meeting.

At the meeting the ambassador wanted to offer the Norwegian government’s help for job creation projects in South Africa, but Manyi was reportedly not interested in these projects. Instead, he wanted to broker deals for private investors.

Manyi has been the centre of controversy since his appointment as DG of labour in August last year and his refusal to step down from his position as the head of the BMF.

On Friday, Mnyaka described her experiences explaining BEE to visiting trade delegates.

"When I am dealing with European economics, the first issue they are moaning (about) is BEE."

Mnyaka said, however, this was not an issue to business people from India and China.

She said those countries did not raise questions and accepted BEE as a fact.

Mdladlana's spokesperson Page Boikanyo confirmed Manyi's suspension, but declined to provide further details, saying the matter was "sub judice".

The DA welcomed the Manyi’s suspension.

DA MP Ian Ollis said the DA had raised concerns over Manyi's dual roles as DG and BMF president because the two represented "potential conflict of interest and would lead to a blurring of the line of his responsibilities".

The DA called on Mdladlana to make public the reasons for the suspension, and to take decisive action to ensure the department was not mired in a drawn-out disciplinary process.

Ollis said the conflicts of interests in Manyi's dual role was evident in an official meeting with diplomats from the Norwegian mission.
   
- Sapa