Setumo Stone | May 20, 2025
Following the historic Black Business Indava, Black Business Unity (BBU) has stepped up efforts to turn collective solutions into practical proposals aimed at fundamentally transforming the South African economy.
The Johannesburg-based organization has published a series of major post-Indava developments and engagements, highlighting what is called the “urgency of economic justice and structural inclusion.”
The BBU has made a formal submission to Stella Ndabeni-Abraham Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni-Abraham, and proposed launching a social franchise for the People's Shop.
“This initiative is set up to empower 1,000 township spaza shops and 20 black-owned supermarkets in the early stages,” the BBU said.
With millions already protected by inventory, the organization says the model “needs R150 million in infrastructure and operational support to transform the township supply chain, create thousands of jobs and promote local ownership of essential product distributions.”
The BBU has submitted detailed information on the National Transformation Fund to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and Minister Parkstau. The submission highlights the importance of a “community-driven, transparently managed, impact-focused fund.”
The organization suggests that funding be prioritized for high-growth black businesses. and the township's industrial zone and scalable cooperatives that effectively tackle unemployment and inequality.
Proposals for Johannesburg
He also submitted a strategic proposal to the city of Johannesburg for the project. It proposes creating a township distribution hub and innovation market.
“The facility is designed to serve as a logistics, wholesale and innovation anchor for informal traders, township retailers and local producers.
The BBU said it has launched a formal discussion with Arcelor Mittal South Africa. Through this, it aims to “explor the pathways to revive the domestic steel industry and build a community-based value chain.”
The dialogue states, “We aim to ensure that township-based black industrialists and young-owned businesses are integrated into the future of steel production, infrastructure supply and national manufacturing strategies.”
The BBU has issued an open letter to the Minister of Minerals and Petroleum Resources of Gwede Mantashe. It advocates for urgent reforms. And this is the move to “unlock the potential wealth in our community.” The group “seeks townships and rural communities (to gain legal access to mine dumps) and also seeks the right to apply for a community mining license.”
The letter highlights what the BBU describes as an exclusive practice that prevents black communities from benefiting from nearby resources.
That request includes a fast tracked community-friendly licensing regime. This and technical and financial support for cooperative mining ventures. and include community-owned mining initiatives in value chains and beneficiary programs.
“This intervention is central to the industrialization and comprehensive ownership goals outlined in Black Business Indava.”
The organization invited all government departments, industry leaders and community organizations. We also invited a wider range of people to stand with us in this movement to regain, rebuild and rekindle the economic power of Black people, from supply chains to iron, township retail to mineral rights.
“Disclaimer – the views and opinions expressed in this article are the views of the author and are not necessarily those of the Bee Room.”
