We are deeply conscious of the paradox of our country and the African Continent. While we are blessed with the best natural resources, South Africa has been rated second on the list of the most economically unequal countries in the world.

We are fortunate though, to have the most extensive policy and legislative framework in place which seeks to not only remove race from ownership, but to also ensure the fundamental transformation of the economy to the benefit of all people.

Sadly and frustratingly, the same attitudes and underlying characteristics that resulted in colonization and apartheid, still seem to permeate the responses of the majority of corporates to those policies and legislation which endeavour to redress the inequalities in our society. Therefore, that which has passed for “Black Economic Empowerment” over the last two decades, has been essentially only the accommodation of an elite group. There has been little which could be labelled “transforming” about the process thus far. Primarily, only some of the leading agents of the existing system changed, leaving intact the entire system itself, a system that generates and perpetuates inequality in our country.

It is within this context that Xwena is driving transformation with the goal of achieving real changes for African entrepreneurs, to establish and support visible, sustainable and profitable businesses.