Good evening, brothers and sisters, young leaders, and esteemed guests. It is a profound honour to join you today through this virtual platform, hosted by the Wesley Guild SA, a movement that embodies hope, faith, and action for our youth. Thank you for inviting me to speak on a topic that resonates deeply with my journey and my vision for South Africa’s future.
The theme of this Dialogue Series – “Called to Lead: Youth, Country and Conscience in a Time of Change” – could not be timelier. We live in a moment of great challenges but also immense opportunity. Our country, our communities, and, especially, our youth, stand at crossroads. How we choose to lead, how we choose to act, will shape the South Africa we leave for future generations.
My journey from hustler out of the boot of my car to the Johannesburg City Hall, many years later, has been one of entrepreneurship in pursuit of economic liberation from my humble, poor, beginnings. I was raised in a Child-Headed by my sisters, the eldest being only 13 years my senior. I had lost my father at the tiny age of two, and my mother had to leave my sisters and I to look after each other, working away in Johannesburg as a domestic worker. We would be lucky to see her once a month.
But, my grandfather took over the responsibility of being my father and my guide until his passing in 1978. My grandfather played a crucial role in shaping me to be the man I am today:
- He instilled in me a sense of self-reliance.
- He taught me to always be a proud black man, never to doubt myself no matter the circumstances.
- Never to compromise on hard work
- Always take a long-term view on my decisions and actions
- The taught me the importance of a stable life and family
Today, I come to you not just as a former mayor of Johannesburg, once a great African city, but someone who started as a hustler – a young man with a dream, a small business, and a fierce determination to succeed despite all the odds that were stuck against me. Entrepreneurship was my path to economic liberation. It offered me dignity, independence, and a platform to create jobs and opportunities for others.
For many South Africans, entrepreneurship is more than a career choice – it is a lifeline. It is a way to break free from the shackles of unemployment and poverty. But entrepreneurship should not just be about making money; it should be about creating value, uplifting communities, and building a future where we are not dependent on broken systems but empowered by our own ingenuity.
To the young people with us here today, I say: embrace entrepreneurship as a tool for economic freedom. Learn the skills, take the calculated risks, and never underestimate the power of your own ideas.
You should never forget that the foundation for true change is ethics in leadership and governance. What I mean by that is that entrepreneurship on its own is not enough. We must also demand and embody ethics in leadership and governance whenever we occupy positions of influence in our communities. We all know it – at least we should – South Africa’s broken system is often marked by corruption, inefficiency, and lack of accountability. This erodes trust and stifles progress. Ethics is the compass that guides leaders to serve with integrity, transparency, accountability and humility. It is the difference between leadership for personal gain and leadership for public good. I stand for the latter.
As young leaders and entrepreneurs, you must hold yourselves and those around you to the highest ethical standards. Remember, leadership is not about title or positions; it is about responsibility. It is about putting the needs of the people above your own interests. It is only when we lead with ethics that we can restore faith in our institutions and inspire others to follow.
I believe that to develop youth resilience through self-employment, we must be prepared to build the future on our own terms. This means that in a country like ours, where traditional employment opportunities are scarce, youth self-employment is crucial. But it requires resilience – the ability to persevere through setbacks, to innovate in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and to keep moving forward when the system seems to work against you. Giving up should never be an option.
Resilience is born from a strong sense of purpose and community. Wesley Guild SA’s commitment to holistic youth development – through spiritual growth, community action, and leadership – is exactly what our youth need in 2025 and beyond. Faith and values give us strength; community gives us support; leadership development gives us the tools to succeed.
To the young people listening, I urge you to cultivate resilience. Surround yourselves with mentors and strong individuals like yourself, build networks, and never lose sight of your vision. Your journey will not always be easy, but it will be worth it. I know that it will.
Finally, I want to speak about the importance of working outside traditional party politics. As many of you might already be aware, our political landscape is often polarized and fraught with division. Many young people feel disillusioned or excluded from existing structures. But leadership and change do not have to come only from within political parties. Civil society, entrepreneurship, community activism, and faith-based movements like Wesley Guild SA are powerful platforms for influence and transformation.
I therefore encourage you to engage with your communities, to lead by example, and to hold all leaders accountable – regardless of party affiliation. True leadership transcends politics; it is about service, justice, and compassion.
In conclusion, I call upon each one of you to lead with faith, justice, and compassion in your respective areas of influence.
Let me leave you with this: Each one of you is called to lead – not just in your businesses or communities, but in your conscience. Let faith guide you, let justice inspire you, and let compassion move you to always act for good.
South Africa’s future depends on a new generation of leaders who are entrepreneurial, ethical, resilient, and courageous enough to challenge the status quo and to never repeat the mistakes – even crimes – that have let us to where we find ourselves today, often because of greed.
May the Wesley Guild SA succeed in nurturing you, the leaders of tomorrow. I am honored to stand with you in this mission.
I sincerely believe that together, we can transform our broken system, not one that works for some, but one that works for all – a system where every young South African, irrespective of background, can thrive. Please do not stop the work you’re doing and do not ever give up, no matter what the odds may seem like!
Thank you, and may God bless you all!
From Hustler to City Hall: Youth Entrepreneurship, Ethics, and Leading for Change In A Broken System
Good evening, brothers and sisters, young leaders, and esteemed guests. It is a profound honour to join you today through this virtual platform, hosted by the Wesley Guild SA, a movement that embodies hope, faith, and action for our youth. Thank you for inviting me to speak on a topic that resonates deeply with my journey and my vision for South Africa’s future.
The theme of this Dialogue Series – “Called to Lead: Youth, Country and Conscience in a Time of Change” – could not be timelier. We live in a moment of great challenges but also immense opportunity. Our country, our communities, and, especially, our youth, stand at crossroads. How we choose to lead, how we choose to act, will shape the South Africa we leave for future generations.
My journey from hustler out of the boot of my car to the Johannesburg City Hall, many years later, has been one of entrepreneurship in pursuit of economic liberation from my humble, poor, beginnings. I was raised in a Child-Headed by my sisters, the eldest being only 13 years my senior. I had lost my father at the tiny age of two, and my mother had to leave my sisters and I to look after each other, working away in Johannesburg as a domestic worker. We would be lucky to see her once a month.
But, my grandfather took over the responsibility of being my father and my guide until his passing in 1978. My grandfather played a crucial role in shaping me to be the man I am today:
Today, I come to you not just as a former mayor of Johannesburg, once a great African city, but someone who started as a hustler – a young man with a dream, a small business, and a fierce determination to succeed despite all the odds that were stuck against me. Entrepreneurship was my path to economic liberation. It offered me dignity, independence, and a platform to create jobs and opportunities for others.
For many South Africans, entrepreneurship is more than a career choice – it is a lifeline. It is a way to break free from the shackles of unemployment and poverty. But entrepreneurship should not just be about making money; it should be about creating value, uplifting communities, and building a future where we are not dependent on broken systems but empowered by our own ingenuity.
To the young people with us here today, I say: embrace entrepreneurship as a tool for economic freedom. Learn the skills, take the calculated risks, and never underestimate the power of your own ideas.
You should never forget that the foundation for true change is ethics in leadership and governance. What I mean by that is that entrepreneurship on its own is not enough. We must also demand and embody ethics in leadership and governance whenever we occupy positions of influence in our communities. We all know it – at least we should – South Africa’s broken system is often marked by corruption, inefficiency, and lack of accountability. This erodes trust and stifles progress. Ethics is the compass that guides leaders to serve with integrity, transparency, accountability and humility. It is the difference between leadership for personal gain and leadership for public good. I stand for the latter.
As young leaders and entrepreneurs, you must hold yourselves and those around you to the highest ethical standards. Remember, leadership is not about title or positions; it is about responsibility. It is about putting the needs of the people above your own interests. It is only when we lead with ethics that we can restore faith in our institutions and inspire others to follow.
I believe that to develop youth resilience through self-employment, we must be prepared to build the future on our own terms. This means that in a country like ours, where traditional employment opportunities are scarce, youth self-employment is crucial. But it requires resilience – the ability to persevere through setbacks, to innovate in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and to keep moving forward when the system seems to work against you. Giving up should never be an option.
Resilience is born from a strong sense of purpose and community. Wesley Guild SA’s commitment to holistic youth development – through spiritual growth, community action, and leadership – is exactly what our youth need in 2025 and beyond. Faith and values give us strength; community gives us support; leadership development gives us the tools to succeed.
To the young people listening, I urge you to cultivate resilience. Surround yourselves with mentors and strong individuals like yourself, build networks, and never lose sight of your vision. Your journey will not always be easy, but it will be worth it. I know that it will.
Finally, I want to speak about the importance of working outside traditional party politics. As many of you might already be aware, our political landscape is often polarized and fraught with division. Many young people feel disillusioned or excluded from existing structures. But leadership and change do not have to come only from within political parties. Civil society, entrepreneurship, community activism, and faith-based movements like Wesley Guild SA are powerful platforms for influence and transformation.
I therefore encourage you to engage with your communities, to lead by example, and to hold all leaders accountable – regardless of party affiliation. True leadership transcends politics; it is about service, justice, and compassion.
In conclusion, I call upon each one of you to lead with faith, justice, and compassion in your respective areas of influence.
Let me leave you with this: Each one of you is called to lead – not just in your businesses or communities, but in your conscience. Let faith guide you, let justice inspire you, and let compassion move you to always act for good.
South Africa’s future depends on a new generation of leaders who are entrepreneurial, ethical, resilient, and courageous enough to challenge the status quo and to never repeat the mistakes – even crimes – that have let us to where we find ourselves today, often because of greed.
May the Wesley Guild SA succeed in nurturing you, the leaders of tomorrow. I am honored to stand with you in this mission.
I sincerely believe that together, we can transform our broken system, not one that works for some, but one that works for all – a system where every young South African, irrespective of background, can thrive. Please do not stop the work you’re doing and do not ever give up, no matter what the odds may seem like!
Thank you, and may God bless you all!