Africa Business Communities

[Interview] Abraham Johan Meintjes, Social Entreprenuer, South Africa

Abraham Johan Meintjes is leader of El-Shaddai Projects, an entrepreneural and Christian enterprise with objectives of improving agricultural developments in Southern Africa.

His interview with Africa Business Communities:

Would you please introduce El-Shaddai?

El-Shaddai Projects is a co-operative of entrepreneurial and Christian Missionary endeavours, which aim to help empower grassroots Africa towards a bottom-upwards thrust by means of a local, contextual and sustainable economic re-design. Primary to my socio-economic development objective is agriculture in Southern-Africa which must be encouraged and facilitated to develop on all possible levels, along with a responsible Pan-African rural development program. In order to achieve this, the church, individuals, governments and commerce in and beyond Africa need to be invited to accept accountability and stewardship responsibility for Africa.

In which industries does El-Shaddai Projects operate and who are your clients?

People at ground level in Africa are my primary clients. My purpose is to help close the wide-spectrum gap where or men in big suits had never to date reached ground zero with positive impact in Southern-Africa. My preferred environments are the promotion of opportunities in agriculture and alternative energy, and encouraging the man or woman on the ground to be and make a difference.

What are the USP’s of your enterprise?

Going where no road exists. (David Livingstone 200 years plus.)

Turning showmanship into stewardship for the sake of ground level Southern-Africa.

Farm Security = Food Security!

Why did you start El-Shaddai?

Exposure outside of South Africa since 1981, into all SADC countries and beyond, seemed to indicate to me that despite many good impressions in higher circles, organizations, governments, NGOs, latent colonialism, the church and institutions, much and many remained untouched or discouraged in Africa.

I am compelled to try to find ways of engaging in empowering and enthusing activities that leave better results for more people as far as my scope and networks or social media allows.

Partnering with such as www.frontline.org.za had been fruitful.

What did you do before setting up El-Shaddai Projects?

I spent 23 years in the marine environment (Navy and Harbour Services), and then some time in small business, banking and insurance before turning to try and give shape to a vision of “more for ground level Southern-Africa”.

My training to date includes some church leadership and missions qualifications.

How would you analyze the South African economy today?

In general it might be concluded that the South African multi-cultural society is still immature, and struggles to focus upon development objectives instead of each other across the many mutli-cultural divides. Leadership on all terrains in South-Africa seems to lack the perspective to lead effectively in the current national and international times of change and challenge.

Socio-economic development still face serious obstacles in the New South-Africa, while destroying things that did work well up to now or “re-distributing wealth”, gains us nothing.

Where progress and prosperity lacks, solutions must be wrought anew and in addition.

What can you say about the targets, plans and ambitions of El-Shaddai Projects for 2015?

Social enterprise and voluntary development initiatives are subject to many influences, nuances and requires wide participation. Yet the opportunities to encourage ground level Africa to rise and meet top down initiatives and investment interest are now more than ever, - if Africa governments are serious to provide the stability and prudent facilitation for economic development.

Do you believe Social Media and the Internet to be a plus to the business environment, as it applies to your country?

To South Africa, Social Media and the Internet are huge plus factors, well enough established despite a muted or manipulated media. To rural Southern-Africa there is, however, still much to be designed and promoted in the line of applicable, useful, affordable and contextual communications options.

What expectations do you have for South Africas economy in 2015?

South Africa had not been under such international pressure to reform since sanctions and the old style Apartheid as now under the new style of Apartheid and subsequent economic decline. It must be urgently hoped that not too much more confused economic implosion will pre-empt a more holistic and a more sensible socio-economic and socio-political upswing.

Which African countries will perform best in 2015?

Rwanda – as my visit there in September 2014 indicated a good national stewardship and development focus.

Kenya – as an old stalwart in Africa, with a reputation to uphold.

South Africa – to save itself from further self-inflicted embarrassment, corruption exposure and unaffordable decline, nationally and internationally.

www.elshaddai.givengain.org                                                                          

www.linkedin.com/in/sadcentrepreneur

www.twitter.com/johnnycongo

 

Africa Business Communities is conducting a series of interviews with CEOs and high-end professionals in Africa. Are you interested in an interview? Please send an e-mail to Andrea Ayemoba: andrea@africabusinesscommunities.com 

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