Just the other day, I happened upon a rather carelessly worded Tweet that suggested German automotive manufacturer BMW is seriously considering a total withdrawal from the South African business environment due to ongoing labour disruption.

The message, which lacked even a whiff of context, directed interested parties to a well-worded Daily Maverick article that set the scene correctly. BMW was not considering a full-blown exit, leaving its 80 000 vehicle capacity Rosslyn plant in Northern Gauteng curiously abandoned, but had chosen to strong-arm belligerent unions with suggestions that it might curtail local investment into future product lines.