2025 Annual General Meeting: 12 September 2025

Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, Ms. Judith Nemadzinga-Tshabalala,
Representatives of Organised Business and Organised Labour,  Members of the Business Community, Representatives of Government and State-Owned Entities,
Productivity SA Board members, The Chairperson of the incoming Board, Ms. Zola Baba Tshefu and new board members present today, Executive Management and staff of Productivity SA, All stakeholders, Ladies and gentlemen, Good morning.

It is my honour to welcome you to the Productivity SA 2025 Annual General Meeting. As we gather here today, I am reminded of the timeless words of Marcus Aurelius: “What we do now echoes in eternity.” These words capture the essence of our work—what we build today shapes the destiny of tomorrow.

Our AGM theme, “From Our Roots, We Rise: Strengthening Performance, Partnerships, and Impact,” reflects this truth. It reminds us that the strength of our foundations, our roots, determines how high and resilient we can rise. This month, as our nation celebrates Heritage Month, we are called to honour those roots: the history, sacrifices, and efforts that have brought us here, while ensuring they blossom into a future that is more productive, inclusive, and competitive.

This AGM carries some nostalgia as it marks the final gathering under the stewardship of the current Board, whose term concludes at the end of September. As we prepare to hand over the baton, we do so with deep gratitude for the journey we have travelled together and with confidence that, under the capable leadership of the incoming Board, chaired by Ms. Zola Baba Tshefu, Productivity SA will continue to rise to even greater heights.

Allow me to take us briefly down memory lane. While many may be familiar with Productivity SA, it is important to reflect on our roots to fully appreciate our present and future trajectory. Productivity SA was established in 1969 as a Section 21 company, initially known as the National Productivity Institute (NPI), with a mandate to promote productivity and advise the Presidential Economic Advisory Council. In 2006, NPI was rebranded as Productivity South Africa, and in 2014, it was formally established as a public entity under Section 31 of the Employment Services Act, No. 4 of 2014, as an entity of the Department of Employment and Labour.

For over five decades, this organisation has remained steadfast in its mandate: to drive productivity, stimulate employment growth, and strengthen competitiveness as a cornerstone of South Africa’s socio-economic development. It has drawn strength from its roots, the vision of its founders, the dedication of its people, and the partnerships it has nurtured. From these roots, Productivity SA has risen through innovation, resilience, and a commitment to deliver measurable impact that transforms lives and livelihoods.

The year 2024/25 stands as a clear marker of how our work today can echo into tomorrow. Productivity SA achieved 85% of its Annual Performance Plan targets, an improvement from 77% the previous year. This is more than a number; it represents the expanding influence of Productivity SA in the South African economy, particularly through its work with SMMEs, co-operatives, and entrepreneurs—the backbone of inclusive growth and economic recovery.

Yet the context in which we operate remains challenging. As the Deputy President of South Africa, His Excellency Paul Mashatile, noted at the 30th National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) Summit last week, South Africa continues to grapple with a 33.2% unemployment rate, with women disproportionately affected. At the same time, our global competitiveness ranking has declined, highlighting the urgent need for improvements in efficiency, infrastructure, and innovation.

Here, our programmes, the Business Turnaround and Recovery (BT&R) and Competitiveness Improvement Services (CIS) are making a lasting impact. BT&R saves jobs and provides companies in distress with lifelines to recover. CIS empowers SMMEs and co-operatives, particularly in townships and rural areas, to adopt world-class practices and rise to new levels of competitiveness. These interventions do more than meet targets; they echo in the livelihoods they preserve, the communities they uplift, and the economic resilience they build for future generations.

As this Board completes its tenure, we are mindful of the echoes of our collective labour. Each resolution passed, each partnership forged, and each intervention implemented is a root embedded deep into the soil of South Africa’s economic recovery. These roots will nourish the growth of the new Board as they rise to carry this work forward.

At this moment, I wish to extend a heartfelt word of thanks to my fellow Board members. Over the past years, you have given not only your expertise, but also your time, energy, and, in many cases, personal sacrifice, to guide this organisation through one of the most complex economic periods in our nation’s history. Your commitment has left an indelible mark, and your legacy will live on in the stronger foundations you leave behind.

On behalf of the outgoing Board, I also extend our gratitude to:

  • The staff and leadership of Productivity SA, whose dedication has brought our vision to life
  • The Department of Employment and Labour, under Minister Nomakhosazana Meth, and the dtic, for your unwavering support
  • Our partners across business, labour, and government, who continue to demonstrate that productivity is a mission for all
  • And the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour, whose oversight strengthens accountability and effectiveness.

Today, as we welcome the incoming Board led by Ms. Tshefu, we do so with optimism. They inherit not only responsibilities but also the living roots of this institution—roots nurtured by decades of dedication, resilience, and innovation. As they rise, their work too will echo in eternity.

Let me close where I began—with Marcus Aurelius: “What we do now echoes in eternity.” For Productivity SA, this is more than reflection; it is a call to action. The foundations we lay today, the partnerships we nurture, and the performance we achieve will shape the South African economy for years to come.  As we hand over to the new Board, let us do so with pride in our roots, confidence in our resilience, and unwavering belief in the power of collective action. Together, let us rise higher, strengthen our impact, and leave a legacy that generations will celebrate. I welcome you all to the 2025 Productivity SA AGM.