"If You Don't Ask Properly, You Don't Get": Why the National Business Survey Matters Right Now

Q&A with Cape Chamber CEO John Lawson

Taking 10 minutes to complete a survey might feel routine, but its impact is immediate and practical. Here, John Lawson shares the backstory behind the BER partnership and explains why filling out this survey is the single most important action your business can take this year.

John, you’ve mentioned internally that this survey is arguably the most important initiative the Cape Chamber will roll out this year. Why is this survey so critical right now?

We as business generate and pay the taxes that already pay public sector and institutions, who are supposed to serve South African taxpayers’ best interests. To serve the best interest of business and society, the various public institutions need to know exactly what is most important to business. In every place and in every sector. Needs differ.  Whereas we complain about failures by the public sector, organised business in South Africa has not been mature enough to articulate what is needed most. Till now, a few large firms have access to leaders to lobby directly, but most businesses are not heard because there has not been an efficient mechanism to make their voice heard.

What is the 'backstory' behind this partnership with the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) at Stellenbosch University? How did it come about?

Both the BER and the Chamber pursue good practice and innovation to benefit our community. It is just logical for us to combine our respective strengths to increase impact.

You have an extensive background in economic development and private-sector advocacy. From a practical standpoint, how vital is direct business involvement when it comes to fixing systemic operational bottlenecks?

The people in the public sector that decide how best to invest public funds cannot easily see or understand the realities of business on the ground. Few have ever been in business themselves. Most of the public sector leaders I have worked with honestly seek to do the right things, based on their insight and ability. If business fails to communicate what needs to change to increase their appetite to invest in further growth, ill-informed decision-making results. Wherever business properly informs the public sector and education institutional decision makers, that part of the economy starts to grow faster. Unless in some cases where the relevant public sector leaders are just not pursuing the best interest of citizens. Where this is the case, the survey will identify this.

Can you share an example—either from your work in India or here in South Africa—where organised business raised its voice and successfully drove a meaningful policy or infrastructure intervention?

In India, simple advice regarding market led skills development for the advanced manufacturing sector doubled the throughput of advanced manufacturing toolmakers and technicians from 37000 p.a to 72 000 p.a. at no additional cost.

At RSA national level, the dtic for instance stopped the USA from establishing intellectual property rights over Rooibos tea, which is only made in RSA. Policies, tariffs and so forth are constantly being improved based on the understanding of “improve”.

Recently we lobbied for private sector involvement in power generation, now established. Also for reforms in ports and logistics, the CT port has now improved from a ship turnaround time (STAT) of 103 hours in the 2023/24 financial year to 74 hours in 2025/26, and just 58 hours for the year to date.  The Cape Town port helicopter service from the private sector sped up the solution by almost five years, at a much-reduced cost for TNPA.

At a provincial level, growth can now be accelerated through blended finance, meaning government should consider taking finance for “profitable” investments.

At a precinct level, Phillipi East ESKOM promptly resolved four electricity issues within three weeks. SAPS have responded to cooperate on a hi-tech private sector assisted, integrated crime response system.

CoCT is upgrading Table View beach for sustainability and as a world-class kitesurfing venue with its own clubhouse.

The Chamber has over the past few years had 49 requests for public sector changes accepted and implemented partially or in full by the public sector.

If you do not ask properly, you don’t get. Organised business provides a collective lobbying voice, which individual businesses cannot achieve on their own.

Earlier in your career, you led a team tasked with restructuring the dti (now the dtic). Based on that insider experience, does government actually listen when business speaks—and do you feel public entities are becoming more receptive to rigorous, survey-backed data?

Yes. And when they don’t, they should be fired.

This survey framework is designed for rollout across chambers nationwide. How does gathering standardised data—from Cape Town to eThekwini and Johannesburg—strengthen the collective voice of South African business?

The questions asked are the international good practice questions that determine if economies grow or not. Hence answering good questions is better than everyone asking whatever they think is important. Using a standardised set of questions also allows for comparison across regions. But more importantly, it allows us to educate all involved to understand, nurture and promote the most critical factors in the business environment, for businesses to grow and create jobs.

Members often ask how filling out 'yet another survey' leads to tangible change. If you had to convince a busy business owner in Epping, Paarl, or the City Bowl to give up 10 minutes today, what would you tell them? 

This survey is not academic. It directly generates instructions to relevant stakeholders such as municipalities, or industry sector bodies, what is needed, specifically in different places and in different sectors. A to-do list is provided, which now means business has articulated their need, and the public servants have the opportunity to respond as is needed. If they don’t, there is opportunity to engage and determine why exactly tax creator (business) needs were not addressed.