Page 40 - Thetha Issue 6

FINANCE

Mary Bomela

Back on African soil, there are alumni periods in history. However, with
such as Mary Bomela who offer a adversity comes opportunity,”
rational yet upbeat perspective. says Bomela.
Bomela is CEO of the “Many new businesses have
Mineworkers Investment Company emerged from people working
(MIC) and is armed with several remotely, there has been an
degrees, starting with her BCom increase in online shopping and
from the then University of Port entertainment as people have
Elizabeth in 1995. changed their lifestyles and
maintained the changes post “We as MIC are now funding
‘With adversity comes lockdown. young black innovative businesses
opportunity’ “Recognising the need to to help them scale up and there
“The world, including South Africa, is promote small businesses, there is a are many more similar initiatives in
recovering from one of the harshest lot of money being made available. the market.”

Sandile Phillip

Chartered accountant Sandile Phillip
is regional head for FNB Business,
and graduated from Mandela public sector is needed to reignite
University in 2005. He also sees the economy.
the world opening up again post- “This requires effort from
COVID-19, despite unique challenges business, society and government
faced by South Africa, and the – local, provincial and national
Eastern Cape in particular. – and I’m encouraged to see
more collaboration as shown by
Collaboration is key recent work done via Gift of the
“The water crisis that we are faced Givers, Nelson Mandela Metro
with in Nelson Mandela Bay and and the Nelson Mandela Bay
the surrounding areas provides and perhaps water desalination Business Chamber.
new economic opportunities for plants with alternative renewable “The financial services sector,
innovative businesses to provide energy mix to power these projects, and FNB in particular, has developed
alternative solutions,” he says. and consequently job opportunities innovative funding solutions to
“For example, sustainable for the citizens.” fuel this important reigniting of
water harvesting, borehole drilling, Overall, Phillip believes more the economy.”
infrastructure maintenance projects collaboration from private and

Nadia Mannell

More turbulence ahead going to be turbulent for a while,”
Nadia Mannell, co-founder warns Mannell.
and general partner of The Mandela BA Media,
Seed South Capital, is also chief Communication and Culture graduate
strategy officer and board member sees “What does the financial
for Women in Tech®, an international future hold post-pandemic?” as a trustless system, transparency,
non-profit organisation on a mission loaded question. automated contracts, and greater
to close the gender gap and to help “My spliced answer would be that security.
women embrace technology. the future of financial innovation is in “With two billion people in the world
“Technology innovation is born blockchain technology, diversity and making up the unbanked population,
from necessity, and it’s clear that the inclusion. and South Africa on the top 20 list,
financial sector needs an overhaul. “The ultimate goal for blockchain achieving access to digital identity
With the change, comes disruption is free transfer of values, faster and and financial service inclusion is key
before the new beginnings, and it’s cheaper transactions, a decentralised to a country’s future growth.”

40 | Thetha Edition 6 | 2022