The Cursed Region of Eastern Cape: How One Industry Will Be Its own Downfall
Deep within the industrial heart of Eastern Cape lies a ticking time bomb that will eventually rip apart the very fabric of the province’s manufacturing industry. No, we’re not referring to the ANC’s latest graft scandal or the perpetual collapse of the East London highway. We’re talking about the sheer stupidity of resisting change.
From the incompetent business leaders to the inadequate technology vendors, the stage is set for a tragicomedy that will echo through the generations. When will the executives of East Cape finally get it together and start competing with other regions of South Africa?!
A lack of comprehensive networks and general awareness of business opportunities has kept many factories in the dark about Eastern Cape’s actual strengths
The recent manufacturers’ round table hosted by TechCentral and Sage offered a stunning display of ostrichism, as entrepreneurs and owners continued to clutch their vintage ERP systems to their collective bosom while the whole industry goes into free-fall.
"A comprehensive network would have us all eating each other like cannibalistic raccoons by now," whined Gerald, owner of a major manufacturing plant.
Bizarrely enough, our discussion on these challenges veered into talks about why talent is ‘mysteriously’ defecting en masse from East Cape – as if
The departure of top talents is any surprise. Did anyone here actually expect business leaders would be more like Elon Musk, pioneering breakthroughs?! Ha! Expecting to attract talent here is roughly equivalent to dreaming of Santa Claus visiting once a fortnight. Sorry, lads.
Back to technology, or not.
