South Africa’s government is stepping up its support for some of the country’s biggest companies to help them hunt for business in Africa and protect them against extortion.

Naledi Pandor, the foreign minister, and state officials met with business executives this week to discuss how South Africa could present itself as “a unified force” when operating on the continent, and ensure companies take full advantage of the available opportunities, said Clayson Monyela, a spokesman for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

A platform has been created for South African companies that are active on the continent to share experiences and ideas with their peers, he said.

The initiative comes as companies including Vodacom Group Ltd. and MTN Group Ltd., Africa’s biggest mobile-phone companies, deal with disputes in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon respectively.

South African corporates have also faced challenges in countries such as Nigeria and Ghana, and the government bemoaned the lack of uniform rules and guidelines in Africa pertaining to operating procedures and dispute resolution.


“When certain governments are running out of funds, they target South African companies, or at least it appears that way,” Monyela said in a phone interview.

“In some of the countries they operate in, someone will wake up and say you owe us money and there is no rationale for that. In other instances, they are slapped with taxes they know nothing about. Literally it is extortion.”

Vodacom is currently embroiled in a tax dispute in the Congo, where the authorities at one point sealed off its offices and confiscated some of its executives’ passports.

MTN is meanwhile trying to regain control over funds in Cameroon, after the government froze its bank accounts and sought to transfer the money into a third-party account.

The move stems from a disagreement between a local businessman and a South African bank that’s unrelated to the mobile company’s operations.

The South African government plans to elevate its firms’ concerns to the African Union and ask that the continental body adopt protocols on how companies and investors on the continent should be treated, and discuss how to address difficulties in repatriating funds from some markets, according to Monyela.

Issues pertaining to specific industries such as telecommunications, energy and infrastructure will be addressed by working groups that is expected to result in executives collaborating with high level government officials, he said.

But cant protect other Africans from Xenophobia? I only blame the ball-less govt that allow certain things happen.

Les:
But cant protect other Africans from Xenophobia? I only blame the ball-less govt that allow certain things happen.

I'd you have nothing to say sometimes shut up. You kids should stay in romance section and let adults comment on issues

Let them leave if they feel extorted

wiseone28:
Let them leave if they feel extorted

I also believe they should. Look at their leader Nigeria - it's still struggling to attract a suitable international supermarket chain after Shoprite dropped it. SA is doing Africa a favour.

TMKsouth:


I also believe they should. Look at their leader Nigeria - it's still struggling to attract a suitable international supermarket chain after Shoprite dropped it. SA is doing Africa a favour.

Keep the favour in SA... don't extend it.

You can only beg and plead.

That is all.

Unperturbedpota:


I'd you have nothing to say sometimes shut up. You kids should stay in romance section and let adults comment on issues

Rule 2

Seun mynd44 Dominique Lalasticlala mynd44 nlfpmod dominique Obinoscopy

TMKsouth:


I also believe they should. Look at their leader Nigeria - it's still struggling to attract a suitable international supermarket chain after Shoprite dropped it. SA is doing Africa a favour.

How bout you take your favor and shove it up your disgusting ass. 🤷‍♂️

Unperturbedpota:


I'd you have nothing to say sometimes shut up. You kids should stay in romance section and let adults comment on issues

guess you are a Mandela person, that explains the emotional tantrum. I wish ur heart peace and healing.

NinjaMetahuman:
How bout you take your favor and shove it up your disgusting ass. 🤷‍♂️

Mine is a pampered SA bum. Yours squats over polluted gutters and gets wiped with surrounding trash.