The economic landscape of South Africa will be reshaped profoundly within the next decade. We will see dramatic gains in domestic prosperity – and a nation propelled into the global economy in new ways. From its traditional reliance on metallurgical commodities to a newfound wealth in intellectual property and other areas, South Africa is poised to become a global powerhouse in all Information Communication Technology (ICT) arenas.

It is now our challenge – and our privilege – to bridge a long-standing chasm between what was and what should be. That gap is the imbalance in the distribution of wealth, power and opportunity that is the legacy of apartheid. The legislative, economic and cultural systems that served the previous regime are the same forces that hinder prosperity in the new democracy. It is imperative that men and women of all races – African, Coloured, Indians, White – be empowered to achieve their full potential. Only then can South Africa reach its full potential.

Learning from and enhancing global best practises, South Africa has gained unique lessons to define the best path forward for the ICT industry and to ensure that economic gains directly and fairly benefit this country and its people – not just a few people and a few landslide contracts, but long term, broad-based and sustainable economic advantage. The key to this transformation rests with sincere industry endorsement of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE). SAS South Africa is fully committed to BEE and, as a subsidiary of a large multinational corporation, can provide unique sources of value to South Africa, in alignment with the goals of BEE.

SAS South Africa invests heavily into: Social responsibility; Skills development; Enterprise development; Affirmative procurement; Employment equity, management; and Equity ownership.