Surve's Urgent Call for Action : A South African Vision for Youth and Economic Renewal
In a world of uncertainty, true leadership is measured by the ability to confront pressing crises. In South Africa, the future of millions of young people depends on bold action and innovative solutions.
Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers
In an age where nations teeter between promise and peril, the true measure of leadership is not in grand speeches but in the ability to confront the crises that define a generation. Nowhere is this more urgent than in South Africa, where the future of millions of young people hinges on bold action, not empty rhetoric.
It is in this context that the recent awarding of the Global Trailblazer Award to South African entrepreneur Dr. Iqbal Survé by the T20/G20 Future of Jobs Summit feels less like a surprise and more like the natural outcome of a life lived with purpose.
The Award, reserved for individuals who have shattered boundaries and sparked global movements, acknowledged Dr Survé's lifetime of work in business innovation, social transformation, and international cooperation. In the words of the citation, it celebrated his 'pioneering spirit, boundary-breaking leadership, and relentless pursuit of excellence' — a fitting tribute to someone whose journey has consistently bridged commerce, conscience, and community.
For decades, South Africa has struggled with one of the world's highest youth unemployment rates, now hovering at over 60%. The crisis extends beyond economics; it threatens the nation's social fabric and future stability. Addressing this challenge has been at the heart of Survé's broader mission, from his days as a medical doctor treating victims of apartheid, to building companies that have created thousands of jobs and sustainable enterprises across Africa.
As a founding member and chairperson of the BRICS Business Council, Survé helped shape the architecture of South-South cooperation, advocating for emerging markets long before it became fashionable. His diplomatic engagements have earned him recognition from several nations, including the International Friendship award from Her Majesty, Queen Letizia of Spain, and fourteen other global awards, and he has been a member of the World Economic Forum since 2007. In these arenas, Survé has championed a future where emerging economies are not mere participants, but architects of a multipolar world order.
During his recent address at the Future of Jobs Summit, Dr Survé didn't mince words about the scale of South Africa's challenges. In a moment that blended satire with sober reflection, he remarked on the conspicuous absence of key South African officials, a nod that underscored deeper concerns about leadership's reluctance to confront uncomfortable truths. True leadership, he argued, lies not in diplomatic courtesies but in the courage to advocate for bold, structural reforms, especially in the face of youth unemployment.
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In his keynote, Dr Survé proposed practical and visionary solutions: creating regional centres of excellence across Africa, each dedicated to building expertise in critical sectors such as technology and energy. 'Let's divide up the continent,' he said, 'not by colonial lines, but by language and capability, and build institutions that serve our future.' It was a call not just to action, but to rethink Africa's place in the world.
The significance of the Trailblazer Award, then, lies not merely in the personal recognition of Dr Survé, but in what it represents — the validation of a worldview rooted in service, resilience, and transformation. At a time when the global order itself is being renegotiated, leaders like Survé offer a reminder that real progress is driven not by those who wait for change but by those who build it.
The world is full of awards, but few are earned through the steady accumulation of deeds that shift the horizon of possibility for others. In that sense, Survé's recognition is less about personal acclaim and more a marker of what leadership, grounded in principle and action, can achieve.
* Adri Senekal de Wet is the Editor-in-Chief of Independent Media.
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