1983, 1984, 1993, 2022, 2023, 2063
FROM PROGRESS TO PROGESS TO A BETTER WORLD
HISTORY OF
DBSA PROGESS
1983
PROGRESS HAS A PAST
The DBSA's storyline began in earnest in 1979 and can be divided into the apartheid and post-apartheid periods. In his toespraak at the Carlton Centre Conference on 22 November 1979, PW Botha advised delegates, which included mostly leading white business personalities, that there was a Marxist danger to the order and stability of Southern African independent nations, his so- called constellation of nations.
One of the key interventions proposed was the establishment of a development bank for Southern Africa to provide technical expertise and finance infrastructure.
The DBSA was established in 1983 by its shareholders, the government of South Africa and the Bantustans of Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei.
1984
PROGRESS BEGINS
DBSA commenced operations in February 1984. The bank went on to provide loan and grant financial development interventions worth R40.5 billion between 1983 and 1993.
However, this so-called freedom and welfare was to be attained without causing a large-scale transfer of productive assets to black citizens. In fact, he assured the conference that it was to be attained by ensuring that assets remain in the possession of private interests, and specifically those who possess expertise.
1993
A DECADE OF NOTABLE PROGRESS
Some of the notable projects facilitated during its first decade of existence include
2022
THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE SINCE DEMOCRACY
Today, the DBSA is working on an infrastructure project pipeline worth more than R155 billion across its various divisions.
Among African development finance institutions, the DBSA is rated at the prestigious A-category for the past five years. Similarly, auditors have granted the DBSA unqualified annual audit opinions since its inception.
During the past decade alone the bank, through its infrastructure build process, has built and refurbished 726 schools; completed 404 health facilities and 456 social houses.
The bank has contributed to the remarkable development impact by facilitating the creation of more than 37 000 jobs in 2022, compared with only 300 jobs in 1994 and supporting small black-owned businesses to the tune of R3.2 billion compared with R10.5 million in 1994.
Infrastructure implementation support delivered, Infrastructure Delivered , Infrastructure Catalysed, Total loan distursements
3.3, 15.1, 33.4, 12.8
#f4a81c, #a6a6a6, #d24527, #3f1f20
2023
THE PROGRESS WE ARE MAKING
It is acknowledged that the overall national economic performance from 1994 to 2022 falls short of citizens’ expectations with national GDP averaging 2.4%, unemployment 25%, poverty 51% and inequality 68%.
However, many South African public and private corporations have made contributions to ensure that we stay afloat over these past 29 years. The DBSA is one of them. It is therefore an unfounded myth to say all state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are dysfunctional.
The DBSA is among those that remain resilient and operate in accordance with all relevant prescripts.
2063
to the next 30 years of progress
The mainstay that will keep the DBSA resilient and ensuring impressive performance in the next four decades can be summed up into four critical factors.
- First, the DBSA constantly strives for its corporate values of high performance, integrity, innovation, service orientation and shared vision.
- Second, the DBSA adheres to strong governance that involves staff, the board and the shareholder.
- Third, the bank continuously and carefully plans leadership changes to ensure leadership stability at executive and board levels. The DBSA has, for example, had only seven permanent chief executives in 40 years.
-
Fourth, the bank always shows appreciation to its staff and offers a sound employee value proposition in return.
The DBSA intends to multiply its current performance many fold over the next 40 years.