Book review- A new era for State-Owned Enterprises: Dr Nimrod Mbele's blueprint for change

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Dr Nimrod Mbele agues that affirmative action take South Africa back in his new book Reimagining State-Owned Enterprises For Africa and Beyond
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In a landscape riddled with governance failures, Reimagined SOEs in Africa and Beyond emerges not from frustration, but from a profound sense of hope.
Author Dr Nimrod Mbele, whose journey from the township of Thokoza profoundly shapes his perspective, presents a powerful diagnostic and blueprint for transforming State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) across Africa.
His inspiration is deeply rooted in a decade of firsthand observation—engaging with boardrooms, public institutions, and media, all while witnessing the persistent governance failures plaguing SOEs.
Yet, this experience didn't lead to despair. Instead, it ignited a conviction that reform is possible if governance is reframed "not as compliance, but as a leadership system rooted in public value."
'South Africa must shift from leader-centric to leadership-centric systems - where performance is not dependent on individual personalities but institutionalised within strong, accountable structures.
'This requires reinforcing board independence, implementing merit-based appointments, instituting clear performance compacts, and establishing a capable and credible State Holding Company to ensure strategic coherence and protect SOEs from political interference,' Mbele said.
This central message, to "go beyond governance" toward institutional integrity, developmental purpose, and democratic accountability, is the driving force behind the book.
'Moreover, strategic SOEs like Eskom, SAA, and Transnet should operate on a commercial basis, with clearly defined mandates.
'Their profits should be reinvested into the national fiscus to support essential social objectives such as education, healthcare and social security.
'Persisting with outdated ideological approaches only entrenches inefficiency and deepens the financial reliance of SOEs on the fiscus, an unsustainable model, especially in a context where the economy has grown at less than 2% over the past decade. Reimagining SOEs is, therefore, not only about governance reform but also about restoring both public trust and institutional capability,' Mbele said.
His Thokoza upbringing, marked by systemic challenges like under-resourced schools and weak service delivery, provides a critical lens.
Mbele witnessed how dysfunctional institutions deepen inequality and erode hope, fueling his belief that reform transcends mere policy or structure.
'My journey from Thokoza, a township shaped by struggle and resilience, to becoming a thought leader in governance profoundly informs my perspective on institutional reform. Growing up amidst systemic challenges - under-resourced schools, weak service delivery, and socio-economic hardships.
'I witnessed firsthand how dysfunctional institutions deepen inequality and erode hope. This lived experience fuels my conviction that reform is not just about policy or structure, but about restoring trust, dignity, and accountability in public institutions. Institutional reform must be people-centered, prioritising transparency, ethical leadership and inclusive participation to break cycles of exclusion,' he said.
For him, it's about "restoring trust, dignity, and accountability in public institutions."
This lived experience, coupled with insights from consulting, academia, and broadcasting, culminates in a strategic agenda for renewal that bridges personal narrative, rigorous research, and public dialogue.
Mbele's advocacy for "governance that is accessible and responsive" underscores his commitment to ensuring institutions serve all citizens, especially those from historically marginalised communities.
This empathetic approach, combined with a demand for technical excellence, forms the bedrock of his vision for sustainable SOE reform.
The book is, at its core, a testament to the author's unwavering conviction that African SOEs can and must be instruments of transformation, not political patronage.
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