Manyi stays as BMF president

Johannesburg - Labour department director general Jimmy Manyi was re-elected president of the Black Management Forum (BMF) on Wednesday.

This, after another contender for the position, Shell SA's chairman and vice president of sales and marketing Bonang Mohale, withdrew his nomination, the BMF said in a statement.

Mohale was the former deputy president.

The election was conducted during the forum's annual general meeting, held a day before its two-day conference in Midrand, looking at the paradox of leadership in a developmental state.

On its website, the BMF describes itself as a non-racial, thought leadership organisation founded in 1976, mainly to influence South Africa's socio-economic transformation in pursuit of socio-economic justice, fairness and equity.

It says it stands for the development and empowerment of managerial leadership primarily among blacks in organisations and the creation of managerial structures and processes, which reflect the demographics and values of the wider society.

The BMF describes itself as not apolitical, but non-partisan. However, it says it is not neutral on matters of transformation, but is pro-transformation.

The Mail and Guardian reported in September that moves were afoot to remove Manyi as BMF president over his acceptance of the labour position, which was seen to be inconsistent with the forum's non-partisan stance.

He also faced criticism over his endorsement of the ANC in the general election in April.

"Will we have leaders who can criticise government while one of their own is in government? The AGM will have to answer that," forum managing director Gaba Tabane told the newspaper, but added that its articles of association were silent on public service managers holding office in the forum.

BMF Western Cape deputy chairperson Mbulelo Kwali told the newspaper members were concerned that he "might not be independent".

"We're a pressure group in regard to government; we don't want to be seen as a wing of the ruling party."

The BMF said Manyi was a chartered marketer with an economic geology background and had over 20 years' corporate experience in mainly blue chip and multinational companies in key economic sectors.

He has served as the group executive of corporate affairs at Tiger Brands, he chaired the Commission for Employment Equity in July 2005, and represents the BMF at Business Unity South Africa - chairing its standing committee on social policy.

He also chairs the Black Management Forum Investments board and was recently elected president of the Confederation of Black Business Organisations.

- Sapa