I am greatly honoured to stand before you today to deliver our Presidents Report for 2024.
I want to open with a quote by Emeritus Archbishop Despond Tutu: – “We are a rainbow nation, and we must celebrate our diversity.”
I’d like to end off tonight with some of my own thoughts on this quote, but for now please allow me to provide a brief report on the success of our year for 2024.
The 122nd Annual General Meeting took place this afternoon. Included in this the members discussed and approved the audited 2024 financial statements.
I will announce the new executive members at the end of the evening.
MCCI submit an annual report to the Department of Social Welfare each year, and we received approval for the report from 2023. This re-affirms the good standing of our chamber and the sterling work done by our CEO and her dedicated team!
Please allow me to share with you a few highlights from last year. It’s a testament to the MCCI that all our events and networking functions were oversubscribed.
The Energy and Investment Conference was fully reserved and with the partnership between MCCI, ABSA and Columbus, we managed to ensure an innovative conference format, one which is being copied by other event organisers. This was a very successful business-to-business event. To this end, I am also happy to announce that the energy conference will take place again later this year and ABSA will remain as the main sponsor. I urge and encourage everyone here to support this wonderful initiative by the chamber.
The 2024 Golf Day had 40 teams and most of the T-boxes sponsorships were snapped up. This year the Golf Day was fully booked as of the middle of February. I then challenge businesses to book their tees times for 2026. Walala wasala.
Women’s Day celebrations were an exceptional event where our ladies were all acknowledged and crowned for a day. The chamber is led by a capable and hugely competent female CEO, who continues to enjoy the support from organised business. A huge thank you to Anna-Matt Ott.
The best way to launch a product or introduce your sales team to the business community is with our popular business buzzes. It’s a unique opportunity for local businesses and those further afield to gain access to Mpumalanga. One of these is Eastvaal Ford, a repeat customer who uses us as part of their launch for any of their new cars.
This banquet is another of those events that we had to turn people away, we could not fit any more into the venue. As much as we would have liked to.
We also did small cosmetic but strategic improvements to operations within the chamber, we have established Portfolio Committees to streamline the handling of issues affecting the various organised business. We expect to see good results from these changes.
Some of our current Portfolio Committees already in place include:
Finance run by Rudolph Potgieter and his team at MRP. Thank you for your financial oversight. We know that this is a vital part of our continued credibility.
SCADA/Electricity Supply – The STLM’s Electricity Supply is of the utmost importance to the MCCI members and we are planning further investments. The Electricity Portfolio is led by Jacques Prinsloo, from Salaria. Thank you Jacques for the achievements
Property – Members have met, and this issue is still ongoing. Thank you Gerrit. We appreciate your efforts.
We have tried to engage the municipality constructively and positively as organised business, but my sense is that we remain soft targets. Some of our members had their rates increased by 300-400%, a blow that many businesses cannot handle. We must continue to engage the municipality on this very sensitive matter.
Energy and Investment – MCCI hosted Bernd Oellermann from NCPC, an expert in Eco-Industrial Zone developments, and this has the potential to turn into a great investment drive and job creation project.
Tourism – The Olifants to Loskop Tourism Route, is MCCI’s official local tourism organisation. For 2025, MCCI is developing the route and maintaining and improving the safety of tourist attractions to support the ongoing business of its tourism members.
MCCI and some of our members hosted the National Petroleum and Minerals Portfolio Committee. A night that almost went into the morning. I must thank the chamber CEO and her team for their support and long hours particularly. I must also thank the business that sponsored logistics and stayed on until 2am to host the portfolio committee members. We are grateful for this support.
Our industrial tours are very popular and continue to assist and support the tourism information office as a popular product offering. Thank you to Columbus and OH Frewin for supporting this initiative.
The Local Procurement Database is one of only such databases run by a chamber and not by a corporate company. We have appointed two contractors to confirm the details of the companies on the LPD. This project is ongoing and we’re looking forward to seeing the outcomes.
MCCI is nearly paperless, members can book MCCI’s services and events online, and we have also added a payment feature with your booking. Embracing 4IR.
MCCI’s other partner, the Mpumalanga Economic Development Organisation, has again successfully supported both start-ups and youth businesses. Many of these received equipment and products to grow their businesses.
We have distilled the MCCI’s services so that members know what their membership is paying for and the value we are able to offer here. Please check in with the secretariat for more information.
Before I close, I want to leave the business community of Steve Tshwete with some thought that I think we must consider or rethink altogether:
- Inclusive Growth / Inclusive Transformation vs BBBEE
We need to get started debating the future we want as a business community and a region.
I want to suggest that we agree that there is a need for transformation to happen and take place, if that is the case, then we might differ on how to achieve such an end.
I think we can also all agree that if we could achieve the desired end state without causing divisions – that is the path that we should pursue.
So then, at which stage should we stop race classification? My thoughts are that even if we defined the parameters for which one needs to qualify as a beneficiary of Inclusive Growth or Inclusive Transformation, would such a programme would still reach over 90% black people?
We must be open, honest and kind when we engage.
2. Words Matter
If they serve no purpose, we must reject them if we are to build the rainbow nation that Mr Nelson Mandela envisioned and encouraged us to strive for.
Once again, most of us agree that if someone uses words that cause harm and add no value to society in any way, we should do away with that and store such song or words in some archives.
On this, I think we must challenge the singing of ‘kill the boer’. As I look to the black people in the room, can we ask ourselves does the singing of this slogan or song add value to nation building? My answer is non-whatsoever, it may be something to think about.
Then why sing it at all?
I think we have better songs and better messaging as a nation. I must confess, I don’t support Orania as a concept and also don’t support the singing of ‘Kill the boer or kiss the boer”. We must stand firm and reject the divisive nature of some of leaders.
- Lastly, I must remind everyone here what a rainbow is
Colorful Phenomenon
A rainbow is a beautiful natural phenomenon that occurs when sunlight passes through water droplets in the air, creating a spectrum of colours.
It has great Symbolism
The rainbow has also become a symbol of:
– Hope: Representing promise and better times to come.
– Diversity: Celebrating the diversity of human experience and culture.
– Inclusion: Embracing all individuals, regardless of their background or identity.
In our South African Context
In South Africa, the term “Rainbow Nation” was coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu to describe the country’s diverse population and the aspirations for a unified, post-apartheid society.
It’s important to remember that – we are all in the battle daily – and we naturally seek to have the potential for good.
I believe that the MCCI can drive that while remaining true to the MCCI message:
Striving to unite the majority of business. We aim to influence our commercial and industrial environment by encouraging members to active commitment, innovation and professional service to protect and advance business in Middelburg.” (I found this on the MCCI website)
Thank you