“You can live from the soil. You can educate your children, provide for them, and have a home. All because of the soil. The soil changes everything,” saystimber farmer Rejoice Shoziwho took over the family timber growing business when her mother passed away in 2015. Shozi is one of 3,600 small timber growers who has gained from the practical support of a corporate forestry programme.

This is one of several success stories of transformation and socio-economic development in the forestry sector shared at the 15^th anniversary event of Forest Sector Charter Council (FSCC) in Sandton on 9 October.

The greater forestry and product sectors contribute around R39 billion to the South African economy and provides employment to around 150,000 people.

The FSCC established upon the signing the Forest Sector Code and oversees the implementation thereof across the six sub-sectors: timber growers, contractors, fibre (pulp and paper), sawmilling, pole and charcoal producers.

FSCC chairperson Nelly Ndlovu commented that transformation in the sector has not been an event or series of tasks. “It has not been a finite destination but a journey, lengthy, and at times difficult – a process of real change.”

Delivering the keynote address, Bernice Swarts, Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, said, “I believe that the forestry sector has developed resilience and has often course-corrected to achieve its various milestones, not least of which being the upliftment of employees, communities, and the many stakeholders it engages.

“Because of its national reach, it plays a key role in tackling our country’s triple burden of unemployment, poverty, and inequality, especially in rural areas where opportunities are scarce.”

An engaging panel discussion, chaired by Talk Radio 702 presenter Gugu Mhlungu, reviewed the milestones and considered solutions needed for more inclusive growth, sustainable practices, and enhanced community development.

Buhle Msweli (chairperson of Forestry South Africa and a small-scale timber grower), Jane Molony (executive director of Paper Manufacturers Association), Pumeza Nodada (DFFE deputy director-general: forestry management), and Sandile Ngcobo (Mondi South Africa’s public affairs and transformation director) each shared their thoughts on transformation and empowerment, linking to their own stories. 

Grassroots upliftment supports livelihoods

A series of videos were shared during the event. Forestry contractor Zinhle Mbuyazi explained that she took over the family business from her father, drawing inspiration from his passion for forestry. Despite working in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Mbuyazi has thrived and now encourages young women not to give up. “If you have your brain and your heart, you will succeed,” she said.

Another example was Komasi Woodwork Project in the rural community of Weza, KwaZulu-Natal is supported by a local sawmill. Through this initiative, local residents learn essential woodwork and carpentry skills that serve to refurbish desks for underprivileged schools, where students often have to share desks or, in some cases, sit on the floor.

The She is Forestry initiative, championed by FSCC and Forestry South Africa, women in the forestry industry – business owners to graduates and scientists – share their own stories of struggle and victory with girls in rural schools, thereby expanding their horizons of young girls and inspiring them to rise above their circumstance, overcoming self-doubt, peer pressure, and even teenage pregnancy.

Advancing Economic Inclusion

haring the sector’s progress, FSCC executive director Khosi Mavimbela explained that in 2009, the South African forestry industry, along with associated product sub-sectors, committed to improving its Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) track record. “The sector, comprising several forestry landowners and producers of sawn timber, pulp and paper, and charcoal, has sought to include black South Africans through meaningful economic participation,” she said.

Mavimbela noted that while there has been fluctuation and inconsistency of reporting over the past years, there has been a significant rise of across the three categories of enterprises: Medium and Large Enterprises (MLEs), Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSEs) and Exempt Micro Enterprises (EMEs).

Reporting MLEs grew from 3 in the 2009/2010 period to 35 in 2023/2024. In 2009/2010, some 5 QSEs reported on the transformation numbers while the number of reporting EMEs grew from 19 to 100.

Scorecard progress

Since 2009, the number of reporting entities across the enterprise size categories increased from 27 to 191.

The sector has made notable progress across the five B-BBEE scorecard elements between the 2009/2010 and 2023/2024 reporting periods. Some companies have met their targets, but when considering the sector’s overall performance, we have only exceeded the target in one of the five elements. However, it is important to recognise both the successes of the top performers and the areas where improvement is still needed across the broader industry.

1. Ownership increased: from 11.6 to 18
2. Management control: 9.6 to 10.1 (when combined with Employment Equity)
3. Skills development: 7.95 t o14
4. Enterprise and supplier development (preferential procurement): 28.5 to 39
5. Socio-economic development has exceeded the target score of 5 by 2 points since 2009.

MLEs moved up from Level 5 in 2009/2010 to Level 3 in the more recent reporting period. QSEs progressed from Level 3 to Level 2 while EMEs moved up from Level 4 to Level 2.