A helicopter view of the Johannesburg metropolis
Image: Supplied
By Themba HLOPHE
Recent revelations from the Sunday World concerning the Gauteng Provincial Government’s expenditure on vacant office buildings, with tens of millions of rands paid monthly to private landlords while state owned properties lie derelict across Johannesburg and Tshwane, represent a profound betrayal of public trust. This waste of taxpayer money demands condemnation and accountability.
Yet beneath the surface of this genuine outrage lies a more troubling phenomenon: the selective scrutiny of black owned businesses in the commercial property sector. While all government leases warrant oversight, attention disproportionately falls on black property innovators, leaving the broader picture largely unexamined.
The Disparity: Who Benefits from Government Leases?
Industry estimates suggest that historically advantaged, overwhelmingly white owned firms control eighty to eighty five percent of prime commercial office space in Johannesburg and Tshwane. Most government leases, whether operational or now considered vacant, flow to these established landlords.
Despite this, media attention often focuses on the comparatively smaller portion of space held by black property players. Government leasing expenditure runs into billions annually, largely underpinning the portfolios of historically advantaged landlords. Yet scrutiny of these dominant players is limited, revealing a selective focus that risks distorting public perception.
A Case Study in Unjust Persecution
Consider Seabelo Theledi, a black entrepreneur who has built competitive legitimate businesses in an industry traditionally hostile to new black entrants. Over three decades, Theledi grew his enterprises from small developments to securing major commercial contracts, including government leases. His record demonstrates regulatory compliance, timely project completion, and substantial job creation, all hallmarks of credible leadership.
His success, instead of being celebrated, often becomes a target. During periods of heightened public attention, his name is scrutinized with a ferocity rarely applied to white counterparts. This selective focus risks framing black economic success as inherently suspect and undermines the legitimacy of transformative business initiatives.
The Impact of Selective Scrutiny
Continuous association of black success with controversy discourages investment in black owned enterprises, undermines confidence in their capabilities, and casts a shadow over broader Black Economic Empowerment programs. It creates an unstable market environment where perception, rather than merit, dictates who faces public scrutiny.
Black entrepreneurs already contend with structural disadvantages, including limited access to capital, historical exclusion from networks, and systemic bias. Their success represents a vital demonstration of the potential of genuine empowerment initiatives. Yet when attention disproportionately targets these enterprises, it discourages future investment and jeopardizes economic transformation.
Why Transparency Matters
Accountability for government leasing should apply equally to all beneficiaries. Oversight must focus on facts: rental costs, occupancy rates, safety compliance, and regulatory adherence. Singling out black owned businesses while ignoring larger historically advantaged landlords produces a distorted narrative that undermines fair competition and public confidence. A principled and equitable approach requires a full accounting of all government leases, including ownership details, rental costs, and occupancy levels. Only with transparency can the public assess whether resources are being efficiently and fairly allocated.
A Call for Fair Economic Competition
The integrity and legitimacy of black entrepreneurs striving to build sustainable businesses should not be compromised by selective scrutiny. Their ability to compete and succeed in industries where the playing field remains uneven should be celebrated as an economic imperative. Highlighting individual black owned businesses as problematic while ignoring broader patterns of property ownership risks discouraging innovation, reducing investment, and perpetuating systemic inequities. It is time for the business community, investors, and the public to demand fair and comprehensive oversight of government property leases. Accountability must be applied consistently across all beneficiaries, ensuring no business is unfairly targeted and public funds are properly managed.
Individuals like Seabelo Theledi demonstrate the potential of black entrepreneurship in sectors historically closed to new entrants. Selective scrutiny that disproportionately targets these innovators undermines economic transformation, discourages investment, and distorts public perception.
True oversight is not about targeting success. It is about ensuring transparency, fairness, and the responsible use of public resources. Black owned enterprises that have overcome structural barriers to contribute meaningfully to the economy should be supported and celebrated, not treated as scapegoats.
South Africa’s economic future depends on protecting and encouraging black entrepreneurship. Fair and equitable scrutiny of government leases, free from selective attention or bias, is essential for fostering trust, enabling investment, and creating a truly inclusive and competitive economy.
*Themba Hlophe is an academic, he holds qualifications from the university of the Witwatersrand. He is housed at the Communications University of China.