Some might call this an opinion piece, but I call it an articulation of a new paradigm that Africa is an epicenter and gateway for global trade. It will be interesting to see what some of you think after reading it.  And for some of you, I will be stating the obvious.

After the G20 meetings in Toronto in June, it was very clear that the nations were seeing a new era of a multipolar world.  Fareed Zakaria, host of CNN's GPS and author of "The Post-American World," applied the concept of a multipolar world to politics, or nation states.  In essence, the world agenda will no longer be dominated by one or a few nations.  Political power will be dispersed more broadly.

In a report by Accenture called, "The Rise of the Multipolar World," it says that global economic power will no longer reside with the United States, Europe, and Japan.  It will disperse as, "developing economies contribute an ever-increasing share of the world's output, trade and investment."  In fact, it is expected that developing countries will account for 2/3 of global trade in 2050, according to "The World Order in 2050" by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Department Brief Description

17 September 2011, Strategic Session

The purpose of the Department of International Relations in the Global Business Roundtable is to ensure the visibility, the functioning and the presence of GBR and GFF in all continents, in all countries, in all provinces, in all regions/counties, and all localities of the world.

The work of the Department will happen in three phases. The first phase which is the current phase will take about 3 years and the focus will be on Launching and ensuring the presence of the two entities in all continents. The second phase, which is the phase from 3 years to the 10^th year, will be focusing on building sustainable structures in continents and countries and consolidating these structures and their functioning. The last phase which is a continuous phase will deal with coordinating major projects in different focus areas and institutions of society that GBR and GFFC will be focusing in: Education; Economy; Culture; Heritage etc. It should be noted however that there will be overlaps when it comes to the implementation of these phases. Possibilities of the implementation phase 3 in the next 3 years and phase 2 in the next 3 years cannot be ruled out as God’s ways are not our ways.

Announcements

You are all invited to register in the Global Business Roundtable network to access Invitations, Newsletters and Presentations and to chat to friends and Colleagues through Facebook and Twitter. To register please go to www.globalbusinessroundtable.com. 

The Roundtable for Super Kids is looking for 4 facilitators to help facilitate the Children’s Session once a Month. Those interested please call Mrs Nonkululeko Madalane at 079 962 1700.

SAMSA CEO POWER TALK SESSION

This is a direct POWER TALK SESSION to Matric Pupils that is exclusive to Commander Tsietsi Mokhele in giving motivational talk to Vaal Matric pupils. This process will see these pupils being converged at the state of the art conference facility in Vanderbijlpark and addressed by Commander Tsietsi Mokhele. The POWER TALK is aimed at introducing opportunities in maritime but also proves the point that anything is possible from the CEO of a progressive national parastatal who hails from Bophelong in the Vaal.This POWER TALK SESSION will be held at Quest Conference Centre on the first week of January 2012. This event should include catering for 250 students from 52 Vaal-based high and secondary schools.

The cost to this exercise amounts to: R 84 500.00

We are currently talking to Sedibeng District Municipality and Emfuleni Local Municipality to partner with us on this process. Partnerships from North West University and Vaal University of Technology have already been secured.

Sudden Death Of Patrick Origin Mahlase Shocks Global Business Roundtable

Today, Friday 27^th January 2012 was a sad day as the GBR Soweto Roundtable woke up to the shocking news of thesudden death of one of our dedicated members, Patrick Origin Mahlase. He collapsed during early hours, around 04:00am, according to his wife, and that was it!

Born on 5^th March 1947, Patrick worked for the Northgate Pick N Pay outlet as a Merchandiser. Never to miss an entrepreneurial opportunity, our Patrick provided transport to his fellow workers to and from work. According to his daughter, Noxolo Mutwa, this service was highly appreciated his colleagues as it provided stability and safety for them.

Post retirement, both he and his wife, Nomakhuze Theodora Mahlase, a retired Educator, worked hard to establish their current business of supplying meat to households and hiring out catering equipment.

We at the GBR adored and respected this man. His passion for the organization and readiness to cooperate made it a pleasure to work with him. We spent the rest of today recalling and sharing stories of our last moments with him.

The Future Leaders, a Youth arm of the GBR remember the first day he came to attend a GBR meeting, he got there too early and found the Future Leader’s meeting in progress. Theirs normally start a few hours before the main meeting. Poor Ntate Mahlase chose to attend and sit through the entire young people’s meeting! If this isn’t commitment, I do not know what is!

Pastor Hilda’s story and memory of him is quite heart warming. Ntate Mahlase is the first GBR member to purchase one of the three books to be launched during the upcoming GBR conference and GFCC gala dinner on the 9^th of March 2012. In a moving and emotionally charged moment, Pastor Hilda passed on to his widow, Mama Nomakhuze Theodora Mahlase, that book, which is already autographed by the author! Mama Theodora could not hold back the tears as she received the book, the very last gift her hubby left her!

The GBR Communication’s Department is also reminiscing and reliving the drama that ensued during our last photo shoot two weeks ago.  During the networking session he drew our attention to the fact that due to arriving late he did not take an individual photo. He begged and pleaded so much for us to take his solo picture behind the GBR banner that, although the Photographer was already gone, we had to oblige. We had to set up especially for him and asked Ben Radebe to take the picture. He laughed so much when we teased him that his photo will be a ‘Fong Kong’ as, unlike the others, it was not taken in the photo studio!! He made it in time for the group photo though!!

Ntate Mahlase is seated on the extreme right in the front row, next to Ben.

Ben, we want that picture as it now carries so much value to us!!  

The late Patrick Origin Mahlase is survived by his wife, Nomakhuze, four adult children and eight grand children. This man of God will be missed by his congregation, The Old Apostolic Church in Protea Glen whom he served as a Priest.

He will be laid to his resting place next week, Saturday.

We at GBR have lost a rising star, brother and a friend. We thank God for the privilege to have known him. May his soul rest in peace.

BY MANDISA TITI

Our fellow Soweto GBR member, Patrick Origin Mahlase was laid to rest last Saturday, 4^th February 2012, Mandisa Titi captured the moment.

At a funeral service graced by the honourable Minister of Basic Education, Ms. Angie Motshekga, the Mahlase family and friends, church members and over one thousand community members, Ntate Mahlase was given a send off fit for a deserving soldier of the Lord!

Minister of Basic Education, Ms. Angie Motshekga

His children and grandchildren, hailed him as a visionary leader, friend and confidante. The Old Apostolic Church members clad in snow white attires, looked angelic as they came out in their numbers to fill the beautiful, air-conditioned House of the Lord!

A total of nine choirs performed, belting out some of our Departed’s favourites. Titles like Tiyo Soga’s Lizalis’idinga lakho; Gibson Kente’s I believe, and popular Sizakuwanyathela amadimoni uplifted our spirits in true celebration of a life well lived!

 Nonkululeko Mkhize-Baloyi from Sandton GBR; Soweto GBR’s Ntate Nchabeleng, young Richard and Mama Deborah his best friend came to pay their last respects to one of our own.

You could hear a pin drop on the meticulous carpet, as the Man Of God read from Acts 20:22 and 2 Cor: 5. We were reminded that while we walk this earth we toil endlessly, running the race, until we are called to eternal rest, like our Brother.

May we GBR members take a leaf from the admirable legacy left by Ntate Mahlase, who graduated from a Business University of Life. Our Convener, before leaving to lead a Prayer & Retreat Camp in Bethlehem, made time to fellowship and comfort Mrs. Mahlase and her children at their home:

“ Death challenges and forces us to reflect on our own journey, forcing us to ask ourselves serious and deep questions like, when our time to go comes, where would we be with God, what legacy of faith will we leave behind, how are we running our race? Quoting from Psalm 23:4; Heb 9: 16 he reminded death not to be proud.”- Sipho Mseleku 28 Jan. 2012.

May his soul rest in peace.

The detailed program can be found here. For further information and registration, go to http://www.doingbusinessafrica.eventbrite.com