2nd Annual Ethics Conference - Speakers

Theo Botha is a shareholder activist and relentless advocate of good corporate governance.

His interest in companies is usually piqued by news articles; he then looks for annual reports and may request minutes or other documentation. Often there are hurdles, particularly if he is not a shareholder, but he is never fazed. He claims there is no particular method to select which companies he targets. Considered a controversial figure by many, Botha is a familiar face at annual general meetings where he asks probing questions and ensures that the real issues are placed on record.

He obtained a B Compt Honours degree at Unisa while doing his articles at PricewaterhouseCoopers. But in 1987 his father passed away and he returned to the family farm in Bronkhorstspruit. For seven years he farmed cattle, dairy and maize, but left in 1994 and became a property broker in Johannesburg. In 2002 he made a small investment in a life assurance company -- the Sage Group -- and soon had his first taste of shareholder activism.

When looking at issues of corporate governance, Botha also notes whether companies adhere to King III -- the third non-legislative King code of governance principles. Although he hopes to add to the debate of good corporate governance, it is not the ultimate message. "There needs to be a balance between the adherence to King II or III and the drive for profit."

Mr Theo Botha
B Compt Honours
Shareholder activist

Patrick Craven, COSATU's National Spokesperson, has been working for the federation since May 2000, when he was appointed as editor of their magazine, The Shopsteward and other publications. He was also working closely with the National Spokespersons, in writing press statements and giving interviews to the media. One three occasions, he was acting National Spokesperson, in one case for a whole year.

He was promoted to the post of National Spokesperson in 2006 and has been in overall control of all the federation's relations with the media - writing and editing statements, arranging and chairing press conferences, doing TV and radio interviews and arranging interviews with the national office bearers, keeping the media informed of COSATU's activities and policies, ensuring media coverage of major COSATU events.

He has also been involved in other aspect of COSATU's communications strategy, including liaising with the Labour-Community Radio Project and representing COSATU on the Board of the Workers' World Media Productions and in the Save our SABC Coalition .

Prof Jonathan Jansen is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State (since 2009) and a former Dean of Education at the University of Pretoria (2001-2007). He is a former high school Biology teacher who received his undergraduate education at UWC (BSc), his teaching credentials at UNISA (HED, BEd) and his postgraduate education in the USA (MS, Cornell; PhD, Stanford).

His most recent books are Knowledge in the Blood (2009, Stanford University Press), which was selected by the Library Journal in the USA for the list of Best Books of 2009, and he has co-authored Diversity High: Class, Color, Character and Culture in a South African High School (2008, University Press of America). He holds Honorary Doctorates in Education awarded by the University of Edinburgh (UK) and Cleveland State University (USA).

He is the current President of the South African Institute of Race Relations, and recently Elected Fellow of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the Academy of Science for the Developing World (TWAS).

Prof Jonathan Jansen
Vice-Chancellor: University of the Free State

Prof Richard Levin holds a PhD in Political Theory and Institutions, a BA Honours in Development Studies; and is a graduate of the Senior Executive Programme from Harvard/University of the Witwatersrand. He is an accomplished scholar and an extraordinary professor at the University of Pretoria and a visiting professor at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Prof Levin was Director-General of the Economic Development Department (EDD), which was established in May 2009. He led the department in the implementation of the New Growth Path released by the department and approved by Cabinet in October 2010.

Prior to that, Prof Levin was the Director-General of the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA). He has contributed greatly to innovations in Public Service reforms both in literature and practice during his six year tenure as Director-General of the DPSA and in his Deputy Director-General role in Office of the Public Service Commission (2000-2004). Prof Levin also headed the Chief Directorate of Land Reform Coordination and Implementation support within the Department of Land Affairs, now Rural Development and Land Reform.

Ms Futhi Mtoba is Chairman of Deloitte Africa Board and President of Business Unity South Africa. She is also the past President of the Association for the Advancement of Black Accountants of Southern Africa (ABASA). Other board positions she holds includeare Chairperson of the National Anti-Corruption Forum (NACF) and Trustee on the Board of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

Ms Mtoba has won numerous awards including Nedbank and Business Women’s Association Businesswomen of the Year in 2004 and African Women Chartered Accountants (AWCA) Women of Substance Award in 2011. In 2006, she was recognised as one of 50 of South Africa’s Most Influential Women by the International Women’s Forum and Financial Mail. Last year, she was one of the three final nominees for 2011 CNBC All Africa Business Leaders Awards; for the category Africa Business Woman of the Year.

Ms Futhi Mtoba
President: BUSA

Eusebius McKaiser is a political and social analyst at the Wits Centre for Ethics. He is also a top international debate coach, MC and public speaker, having been both former National South African Debate Champion and the 2011 World Masters Debate Champion.

He is a weekly contributor to the New York Times. His political analysis and social comment have appeared widely in print: Business Day (where he was a columnist, and contributing editor), Mail and Guardian, Sunday Times, Sunday Independent, City Press, Newsweek International, BBC Focus on Africa, The New Republic, Financial Mail, Destiny Man, and other platforms.

Eusebius also has extensive broadcast experience. He hosted a weekly politics and morality talk show on Talk Radio 702, and presented Interface on SABC3.

Eusebius studied law and philosophy at Rhodes University and Oxford University. He also lectures in ethics, logic and argumentation.

Prof Wiseman Nkuhlu is the Chancellor of the University of Pretoria and Chairman of Rothschild (SA). He is a director of AngloGold Ashanti Ltd, Datatec Limited, Rothschild SA and Ethics Institute of South Africa. He is Chairman of the Audit and Corporate Governance Committee of AngloGold Ashanti and member of the Audit and Risk Committee of Datatec Ltd.

Prof Nkuhlu served as President of the International Organisation of Employers in Geneva from May 2008 to June 2011.

He served as Economic Advisor of the President of the Republic of South Africa, T M Mbeki and as Chief Executive of the Secretariat of New Partnership for Africa’s Development NEPAD from October 2000 to July 2005. He played a major role in the elaboration of NEPAD policy framework and in promoting the programme both in Africa and internationally.

Prof Nkuhlu studied at the Universities of Fort Hare, Cape Town and New York University and completed a B Com, CTA and MBA.

In recognition of his contribution to education, business and development, Professor Nkuhlu has received a number of awards, including Honorary Doctorates from the Universities of the Free State, Stellenbosch, Cape Town, Pretoria, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Witwatersrand and University of Fort Hare. He was also awarded the President of Convocation Medal by the University of Cape Town in June 2004. The medal is awarded to graduates of UCT for outstanding community service.

He received the Grand Counselor of the Baobab National Award from the President of the Republic of South Africa for his excellent contributions to the African Renaissance through his role in the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) in April 2008.

Prof Wiseman Nkuhlu
Chancellor of the University of Pretoria
Chairman of Rothschild (SA)

Sipho Pityana is the founder and chairperson of Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution ("CASAC") - a recently established body to promote, protect and progress the values of the S.A Constitution.

He holds positions on a number of corporate boards including Executive Chairperson: Izingwe Holdings (Pty) Ltd, Non-Executive Director: Anglo Gold Ashanti, Non-Executive Director: Scaw Metals SA, Independent Non-Executive Director: African Oxygen Limited (AFROX)(JSE) and Independent Non-Executive Chairman: Munich Reinsurance of Africa Limited.

Mr Pityana is a member of Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA), Millennium Labour Council (MLC) and NEPAD Business Group Steering Committee.

He was previously the Director General: Department of Labour (Responsible for Unemployment Insurance Fund and Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Disease Fund – COIDA) and the Director General: Department of Foreign Affairs as well as Chairperson: United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development (JOWSCO) and Governor of Technical Committee of the United Nations World Conference Against Racism.

He holds a Master of Science (London) and a Bachelors of Arts (Honours) (Essex) degree as well as an Honorary DTech from Vaal University of Technology.

Mr Sipho Pityana
Master of Science and Bachelors of Arts (Honours)
Founder and chairperson of Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC)

Freek Robinson has been a television reporter, producer and presenter for more than 30 years specializing in in-depth political, economic and social affairs. In January 2010 he became the anchor of the new talk show on KykNet, Robinson Regstreeks (Robinson Live). Since July he has been the main anchor of the Afrikaans eNuus on Kyknet. Previously he presented the television current affairs programme Focus on SABC2. Until July he was also the host of a daily radio talk show “Praat Saam” on the station RSG.

He has produced and presented several documentaries on economic and political issues in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, China, India, Europe, the USA, Australia and Africa. His last permanent position at the SABC was: Senior manager, stakeholder management

Mr Robinson has a MPhil in Journalism from the the University of Stellenbosch, an Honours Degree in Literature from the University of Pretoria, a Diploma in Senior Management from the University of Stellenbosch Business School, a Diploma as a Trained Trainer in Television presentation from the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association, a Certificate in television presentation skills from the Thompson Foundation (UK) and a Certificate in Economic Literacy from the University of the Witwatersrand.

He has received many accolades during his career including Best Presenter at the SABC TV News Awards in2006, th Sanlam TV/Radio Journalist of the Year for presenting and producing a documentary on the economies of South East Asia in 1997 and the ATKV award for television and radio presentation in 1999, 2008, 2009 and 2010. He has received the Star Tonight awards twice for Executive Producing actuality programmes and he has twice been short-listed for the Niemann fellowship.

In 1994, he chaired the Mandela/De Klerk debate which was broadcast to 800 million people across the globe.

Mr Freek Robinson
TV Personality

Prof Deon Rossouw studied at Stellenbosch University. He started teaching Philosophy in 1986 at Rand Afrikaans University in Johannesburg where he later became Professor and Head of the Philosophy department. He served on the Executive Committee of the Rand Afrikaans University. In 2004, he moved to the University of Pretoria where he was appointed as Head of the Philosophy Department and Director of the Centre for Business and Professional Ethics. During 2008 to 2009, he spent a year as Program Executive for Business Ethics at the Globethics.net Foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland. Currently he is the CEO of the Ethics Institute of South Africa and Extraordinary Professor in Philosophy at the University of Pretoria.

Prof Rossouw specialises in the field of Business Ethics and the Ethics of Corporate Governance. His articles have been published in leading international journals. He was the Founding President of the Business Ethics Network of Africa (BEN-Africa) and also served as President of the International Society of Business, Economics and Ethics (ISBEE). He also served as a member of the Research Team for the Second King Report on Corporate Governance and is a member of the Sustainability Committee of the Third King Report on Corporate Governance for South Africa.

Prof. GJ (Deon) Rossouw
CEO: Ethics Institute of South Africa
Extraordinary Professor: University of Pretoria