PROJECTS

1. THE CONCEPT:

South Africa is dangerously poised on the edge of a slippery slope from which recovery may well be impossible and in desperate need of practical, real-life examples of a workable alternative. Based on Daniel 11:32: ‘but those who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits’, the Carry Out Great Exploits Initiative operates as follows: 

 

a. Based in a town with reliable municipal management it will combine a high potential, high performance business (‘Business Engine’ or Gazelle) with a high impact cause / Non-Profit Organisation and by doing so contribute to the long-term sustainability of the local community; turning it into an attractive lifestyle town as well as tourist destination. 

 

b. High performance business: ‘Gazelles’. Gazelles are medium sized, owner driven and high-growth companies representing only +/- 3% of all companies. They have high potential and generate about 30% more jobs than other companies. Whereas start-ups represent very high risk due to high failure rate and large companies currently either stagnate or downsize, these Gazelles offer very attractive investment opportunities as they seek growth capital allowing them to progress to their next level.

 

c. High-impact social cause / Non-Profit Organisation: There were 280,329 registered non-profit organisations (NPOs) in South Africa in 2023 – most barely surviving. Those that thrive are well differentiated, well managed and therefore well positioned regarding funding – although generating sustainable funding remains a challenge for most. By linking growth funding for a town-based Gazelle company with either an existing local cause / Non-Profit Organisation or creating a new one, we aim to overcome this challenge - to the benefit of the local community in which they are based.

 

d. Combined: An established and successful Gazelle company based in a well-run town gets finance from investors allowing it to expand its operation, whilst at the same time (and as part of the funding arrangement) support / initiate a Non-Proft Organisation that plays a very important part in the local community. 

 

 

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e. Practical example: A logistics hub as Business Engine / Gazelle investment supports a preschool crèche and clinic from which the families of employees from all local businesses can benefit. The logistics hub contributes to the non-profit by means of section A18 Tax deductible donations (up to 10% of income) whilst the non-profit benefits from a stable and reliable source of funding. Both are selected based on their compatibility in terms of shared values. This model demonstrates its benefits in real, measurable terms as it creates / contributes to a sustainable local community. The concept works so well that international and local tourists visit as part of their itinerary, making it a destination town.

 

f. The business sense of this concept lies in the fact that whilst a company contributes to a worthy local cause, its business enjoys a more stable labour force, and both contribute to their surrounding community - a very attractive lifestyle for all their employees. Such a success story inspire others as the pilot gets rolled out to other towns and thereby play a role in changing the economic future of South Africa.

 

 

   2. SELECTION CRITERIA:

 

 

 

 

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  3. ROLE OF THE CARRY OUT GREAT EXPLOITS CO-ORDINATING TEAM:

a. develop and roll out a Pilot Project, 

b. improve and market the concept; 

c. tell the story; and

d. provide strategic, marketing and financial services as well as oversight to both the Gazelle company and the Non-Profit Organisation as required.

 

  4. OUTCOME / DEFFIRENTIATOR:

Pushing back the darkness of current hopelessness through the establishment of: ​

a. an inspiring initiative that measurably demonstrates the impact of the virtuous interaction between high performance business and high impact social causes to the benefit of both - as well as their local communities;

b. a local community that is better positioned in terms of its ability to outwit, outlast and overcome – no matter who the government of the days is; and

c. a model that can be emulated, become a positive movement for change and as such contribute to changing the future of our beautiful and unique country.