Midcham Newsletters, Author at Business Directory

It’s Back! MCCI’s famous mine map in A0 wall format!

It’s Back! MCCI’s famous mine map in A0 wall format!

To demystify the coal industry in the Highveld of Mpumalanga, the Middelburg Chamber has published a map of mines within a 200 km radius of Middelburg.

According to GlobalData, South Africa is the world’s seventh largest coal producer in 2022, with production up 12% from 2021. In the five years to 2021, South African production has declined at a CAGR of 3.05% and is expected to increase at a CAGR of 0.74% between 2022 and 2026. GlobalData uses proprietary data and analysis to paint a complete picture of this market in its Global Coal Mining to 2026 report.

South Africa’s coal exports increased by 11% in 2022 compared to 2021, with the largest share exported to India. South Africa’s coal exports are expected to grow at a CAGR of 0.67% between 2022 and 2026.

7 of the 10 largest operating coal mines are located in Mpumalanga and 6 of South Africa’s 10 largest coal mines under development are also located in Mpumalanga.

There are only place for 12 available advertisement spots. We have already received more than half of the sponsorships. Secure your place before it’s too late. Sponsor a medium-sized ad for R5 500 excl. VAT until the end of October and you will receive 5 printed A0 printed maps. The 3 landscape ads cost R6 466,09 per ad (only three available)

Facts about the map:

Annual publication since 2010
Format A0 – large – printed on both sides
Front – Map, table of contents and the sponsor advertisements
Listing of all mines, Eskom power stations and industry within a 200 km radius
GPS coordinates

iii. Contact information

Space for the sponsor ads
Back – map in full grey scale format, edge to edge to optimise the map size for easy reference.

Why should you support this initiative?

– Use it to showcase your business

– Use it to draw attention to your businesses or supply points

– Use it as an eye-catcher in your office or boardroom

– Use it as marketing material for your company

– Use it for public relations

MCCI has published this map of mines within 200 km of Middelburg to demystify the coal industry in the Highveld of Mpumalanga. Your support is highly appreciated. Contact Mmabatho Phathakge today for more information on

013 243 2253 or info@middelburginfo.com.

Blood, Sweat and Spectacles

Blood, Sweat and Spectacles

It was a hotly contested Amazing Race Saturday. 28th of October 2023 was a memorable day; the country was on tender hooks, because of the Rugby World Cup final that evening. Nevertheless, ten teams started their day competing in the Amazing Race 2023 Middelburg. They gave it their all, some their blood, some their tears and the deciding factor was spectacles.

At the start of the race, everyone was dressed to the nines, or rather in their rugby shirts, t-shirts or as branded teams. The energy was palpable and one or two team members looked like they were waiting in the starting blocks for the whistle.

The MCCI marshals held the envelopes ready and then Zelda blew the whistle for the race to start. Fortunately, no animals or small children were harmed in the race for the first clue. The teams scattered like rabbits to their vehicles, to be the first at clue number 1.

What fun it is to marshal this event. Some people could park like champions; others could not even read GPS coordinates to save their lives, and anyone who saw the teams at BUCO, no, that was the race, not crazies in the store. Brimis, your clue was perplexing and many stood in front of your gate looking around like zombies ready to attack. Water and fire were the challenges at Vivo Bingo and the region’s tourism stops.

Two teams were neck and neck to the end, and If Erica van Zyl and her team of JJ Engineering had not lost her glasses in the challenge at Alveston Manor, Nico Denner and his Gemecs team would not have won for the Amazing Race for the third time.

Everyone who took part, from the little ones to the more experience team members, everybody had fun. See you in September 2024 for our next Amazing Race.

MCCIs Employee of the Month for October

MCCIs Employee of the Month for October

It is with pleasure that MCCI introduce the employee nominated by Middelburg Observer newspaper as the Member Employee of the Month.

Congratulations to Ms Fay Cooke as MCCIs Employee of the month for October 2023.

After starting as a part-time proofreader at the Observer in 2016, Fay soon became an integral part of the day-to-day operations. She trained herself to become a qualified, professional proofreader and sub editor. She was promptly hired as a full-time employee at the newspaper.

Cooke not only helps maintain the Observer’s high standards of quality, but has also taken on some important administrative duties. When load shedding became part of our daily routine, Fay volunteered to learn how to operate the generator. She also ensured that the computer network and servers remain up and running to ease the burden and time loss on her colleagues. Her work ethic and hard work are highly commendable. Fay is truly a worthy candidate for Employee of the Month.

Keep an eye out for our November employee of the month.

To nominate a staff member, members can reach out to Anna-Marth Ott or Christo Stemmet at 013 243 2253 or enquiries@middelburginfo.com.

Municipal Energy Scenarios

Municipal Energy Scenarios

The National Treasury and various institutions have so far held three workshops to discuss a plausible energy future for South Africa.

The aim of these workshops is to develop energy scenarios for municipal energy decisions. South African metropolitan municipalities, the Presidential Climate Commission, the South African Local Government Association, the Public Affairs Research Institute, the National Treasury Cities Support Programme and other partners will support the process.

During the workshop, one of the key issues highlighted was whether government can generate growth through efficient spending. It is important that municipalities be able to improve the use of grants from government funds, or can municipalities change their electricity tariffs to address inefficiencies? Do municipalities rely on surcharges to generate revenue from municipal services?

Some measures required by municipalities and the government are to find solutions for future energy security by introducing cost-reflective tariff structures. Treasury has to fund municipalities more efficiently and municipalities need to develop a better understanding of the costs of providing basic electricity services.

There seems to be some disconnect between non-governmental organisations and consultants on how income is generated and, in certain circumstances, how municipal revenue streams work. The continued installation of solar by companies, the decline in paying customers and the amount of electricity purchased is a cause for concern. And on the other hand, there have been calls to increase subsidies for low-income households.

The economy and business’ demands for affordable, reliable baseload to strengthen our manufacturing and industry are seen as hindering the implementation of green energy initiatives. It is important that the government strengthen the coherence between energy supply, industrial policy and job security. MCCI believes that we need to strengthen the local voice of business. Members interested in attending the next meeting with Anna-Marth Ott, please email ceo@middelburginfo.com.

Business Pledge new Jobs

Mr Moeketsi Mpotu, President of the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), and Steve Tshwete, Mayor of the Municipality, Cllr Masilela, met on Friday 22 September 2023 with a strong delegation from the mining, manufacturing, ICT, higher education, medical, and retail sectors strongly supporting the Steve Tshwete Municipality (STLM) delegation and delivering their message. This meeting was many years overdue and initiated the debate on the future of Steve Tshwete Municipality.

Mpotu introduced the debate by saying, “If we do nothing, we will end up remembering the golden days instead of embracing the future with focus and optimism.” He challenged business representatives to talk about what they need from STLM to create the thousand new jobs we need to boost our town’s economy.

Mr Chris Swartz of Twizza opened the debate, saying that if the town can bring the water quality back to what it used to be, they could create several hundred new jobs. He said that 60% of the country’s economic activity is within a 300 km radius and the city offers many opportunities for businesses and our economy to grow. The future water security not only for industry but also for our community is vital, and he urges STLM to secure the water from the mining sector.

Mr Sizwe Siyila of Samancor said that Middelburg Ferrochrome will be 60 years in Middelburg next year and plans to stay in the town for many more years. He assured the community of Samancor’ s support, but for our town to grow, we need a reliable electricity.

Mr Junior van Niekerk of Nashua said that the favourable environment in Middelburg has helped the company to expand to Ermelo and the Lowveld. He also said that they want to invest in a battery factory in town. An easy accessible investment support package will attract even more business to the area.

Mr Mike Tammadge of Middelburg Mall said that Middelburg Mall is one of the best malls in the company’s portfolio. However, he urged the municipality to work with other stakeholders to reduce crime in our town.

Mr Mondli Kl Kgalema, the chairperson of STLM LED, said the LED Forum is aware of community structures that threaten established businesses and the mining sector in particular. He urged all parties to use the STLM portal so that the community can access opportunities without the interference of vested interests.

Cllr Masilela, the Mayor of STLM, replied that he was encouraged by the commitment of the companies to create jobs. He summarized the SCADA system and said that the faster the system is up and running, the faster Middelburg will have less load shedding. The municipality acknowledged the comments on bureaucratic hurdles and delays in approving building plans. STLM will collaborate with MCCI and the business community to eliminate these obstacles.

Other members expressed their support for the town and the community they work and live in by contributing their input and pledging their support. The conclusion of the debate was that a fully functional municipality is necessary for the business community to ensure timely delivery of services and maintenance of infrastructure. Businesses will prosper and flourish with such a municipality. The breakfast was the first of many and members interested in attending the next event should contact Anna-Marth Ott at ceo@middelburginfo.com.

National Media Houses visited our town.

The Information Officer of the Middelburg Tourism Information Centre, Mmabatho Phathakge, accompanied a delegation from multiple media houses and the Mpumalanga Parks and Tourism Agency on a tour to promote the town’s tourism attractions. The Steve Tshwete Municipality hosted the tour.

The media tour is part of the municipality’s investment drive to promote expose the various tourism attractions to enable the growth of the tourism sector. The tour lasted two days, as there was a lot to do and see in the area.

The tour started at the construction site of the new Radisson Hotel, which will be completed next year. The hotel will have 151 rooms, a restaurant, and a conference facility. The second stop was at the Middelburg Dam, where our tour guide Ben Mokoena explained the history of the dam and how it was built. They then drove to Middelburg Station, where we met Johan Janse van Rensburg gave them interesting information and anecdotes about the station and his plans for it. A visit to the historical landmark Botshabelo to highlight the potential and the visitors saw the beautiful view of the Loskop Dam. Last but not least the Ubetyan-O-Africa.

The media tourists left Middelburg eager and well informed about our beautiful town. Do you want to hear about some stories of the places you drive by daily? To book our various town, historical and ghost tour packages you can contact the Middelburg Information Centre on 013 243 2253.

MCCI’s Women in Business Celebration 2023

Every year, the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry celebrates women in business. We salute both the business owners and the women who work in various businesses and make sure that our economy gets going.

The motto of 2023 on 15 September 2023 was “Be your Best”. MCCI not only had two great ladies speaking to our members but also the beautiful music of the Mpumalanga Band of the South African Police Service. Throughout the day, our two flamboyant speakers Anne-Marie Smith and Sharlotte Tsotetsi-Mpotu motivated women to be their best, whatever their situation, to choose, live and find out what they want to be happy, as well as their families and colleagues.

One hundred and seventy women gathered at Ukhamba Industrial Park to celebrate the Mbhokodo’s of business. The morning began with uplifting music from the SAPS Provincial Band, and the women sang and danced along. MCCI would like to thank Ukhamba Industrial Park, Thulasizwe décor, catering & sewing, Nashua Mpumalanga, Thos Begbie & co, Columbus Stainless, Alveston Manor, and Spa, Think sol, MAC Cosmetics, Twizza, FNB, PWC, NST Verification, Matsimela, SAPS Provincial band, Environ, Spalicious, The Daily Café, Brimis Engineering, Mpumamanzi, GUS, Tyrelubbe, Nkangala TVET College, Middelburg Observer.

A special thank you to Christo de Ridder who was our MC for the day and Johannes Welgemoed from Daily Coffee and Hendry Swanepoel from Alveston Manor, our organizing committee. And to our two speakers Sharlotte Tsotetsi–Mpotu and Anne-Marie Smith – may you be richly blessed. In addition, to the beautiful, sophisticated women who attended the event……. YOU ROCK.

Accredited Tour Guides and Tours

Accredited Tour Guides and Tours

Since the founding of the Middelburg Information Centre, it has been a dream of ours to offer interesting guided tours. Middelburg has such a rich history and meet some of our interesting citizens who entertain visitors with our history and stories.

KasiVibe Township Tour – Mhluzi is a great place to learn about different cultures and enjoy traditional foods. As a tourist, you will experience how the locals live. We will visit ten interesting places that will make your tour unforgettable. Middelburg has a rich history and numerous attractions to visit.

Industry Tour – Middleburg’s economy is linked to our diversified industry and commercial agricultural sectors. During the industry tour, you will witness the legacy of companies that have shaped our city for generations.

The Middelburg Information Centre offers four accredited tours and you can book your tour at the office with Mmabatho Phathakge at info@middelburginfo.com.

TVET Nkangala – Middelburg Campus – Business Buzz

TVET Nkangala – Middelburg Campus – Business Buzz

The Business Buzz held at the Middelburg Campus of Nkangala TVET on 24 August 2023 was very informative and members could see the training workshops and the various equipment used to train students.

The Principal of the Middelburg Campus, Catin Maimela, proudly announced that the campus had been accredited to conduct vocational examinations. Members could see with their own eyes how the students were trained.

The next business networking event will be a Business Buzz at the new Regis Offices, hosted by Nungu Properties on 21 September 2023. Invitations will be sent out in the first week of September.

For more information or to host a Business Buzz, please contact Mmabatho or Christo at the MCCI office on 013 243 2253 or email info@middelburginfo.com.

BRICS any value for Middelburg?

BRICS any value for Middelburg?

Several members, notably Anna-Marth Ott, attended various BRICS meetings. Ott attended an ABSA breakfast with the Confederation of Indian Industry delegation for the 2023 BRICS Summit.

Various members of the delegation already have businesses in South Africa and are interested in possible joint ventures and investments in the Steve Tshwete Municipality. The 2023 MCCI Business Guide circulated by Ott was well-received with great enthusiasm.

Some of the valuable information available at the Chamber is the DIRCO (Department of Industrial Relations and Cooperation) Quarterly Magazine UBUNTU, which ran a BRICS Special titled BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism, BRICS and the World Order: A Beginners Guide (Note this is until 2019), XV BRICS Summit Johannesburg II Declaration, South African Reserve Bank (SARB) BRICS Joint Ministers of Finance and Central Bank Governors Statement under the South African Presidency, The Journal of BRICS Studies is envisioned as an open-access, peer-reviewed non-disciplinary academic journal focused on the critical and inter-sectoral study of subjects related to the BRICS, the agency of emerging powers and South-South cooperation.

Members interested in some contacts Ott made or the information regarding all the documents that are available, please contact Anna-Marth Ott at ceo@middelburginfo.com.