Top academic, business and political leader Prof Jakes Gerwel has expressed concern about so-called window-dressing by many South African companies, in the name of transformation.

He was addressing guests and media representatives at the Limpopo launch of AFRICON'S Black Empowerment Education Trust in Polokwane. Gerwel is chairman of Africon and a director of the Trust.

He alleged that some economic role players, who claimed to be moving towards transformation, were, in fact, guilty of "scams, shams and fronting exercises". Gerwel said increased training and transfers of skills on all levels were essential, if transformation was to become a reality in South Africa. He pointed out that Africon, now recognised as the leading consultancy company in its field in Africa, was moving steadily towards black majority ownership.

He explained that the Black Education Empowerment Trust was committed to the offering of bursaries to emerging young professionals, so that they would be equipped to take their rightful leadership positions in commerce, engineering and other strategic fields.

Gerwel, who was Director-General to President Mandela from 1994 to 1999, is currently the Chancellor Of Rhodes University, and serves on the boards of various banking, mining and media institutions. He also holds nine honorary doctorates from universities in South Africa, Europe and the United States.