Midcham Newsletters, Author at Business Directory

Thieves and criminals cripple our businesses

Thieves and criminals cripple our businesses
You can call theft corruption, but it is still theft. When will the thieves be removed from our society?

I was recently at an event where thieves were helping themselves. It was unbearable to watch them greedily helping themselves. I was paying people for a service, and it was as if I had given them permission to take what they wanted. When you work in an environment where theft is tolerated, you cannot work at your best. Seeing people just enriching themselves as if it was their right made me first exhausted and then angry.

As a manager, you have to be very vigilant because when the culture of dishonesty becomes entrenched, your business and your emotional well-being suffer. Perhaps this happens in the various government institutions? The honest people just gave up.

It is disrespectful to humanity to suggest that poverty is a licence to steal. No, you steal from your own initiative and avarice. Without accountability, these activities will go unchecked. You can either impose strict regulations that make managing your business a challenge, or suffer the consequences. What will be the threshold that drags your business and the country over the edge?

MCCI urges all its members to weed out and eliminate the criminals in your environment.

Middelburg must take its future into its own hands.

Middelburg must take its future into its own hands.
The executive team of the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce deliberated on how they can use the advantages of the locality to the benefit of the town and its businesses. With the constant load shedding, it was crucial to take charge of the electricity supply in our town.

The Executive and Jan Oberholzer, Eskom’s group chief operating officer, spoke about the issue on 5 April 2023 and MCCI invited the members to participate in the conversation. Following the meeting, we formed a sub-committee to continue the process. The committee will initiate various processes to move forward.

The technical committee will create a plan to start the project. AM Ott can provide you with more information if you are a person or business wanting to join the proposed consortium, cooperative, or other structure that will be established; ceo@middelburginfo.com.

No! Solar energy is not Free

No! Solar energy is not Free
At the Presidential Climate Change Commission meeting held at the CSIR on Friday,14 April 2023. The point of view of the meeting was that solar energy is free and we need to trust the government that the equitable energy transition will be fair (JET).

Many respected officials and ministers opened the event, but the most honest discussion came from a young student, Otsile Nkadimeng, who said that the current generation has gambled away their future. Unfortunately, he is not wrong. What will the future look like for the new job seekers after the current Eskom Loadshedding programme?

First, it is important to note that the conversion of solar energy into electrons/electricity is not free. It is very expensive to convert solar energy into such an amount that you can optimally run a house or, more importantly, a business. The type of solar panels, battery storage, inverters, electrician costs, environmental regulations, etc. can cost hundreds of thousands of rands.

A story is told that one company had allocated R1 million to run its business on solar energy, but the cost has now risen to R3 million and is growing. If you make the wrong purchase and set it up incorrectly, you’ll have to start from scratch and your hard-earned cash will have gone to waste.

During the strategy meeting at the Nkangala District Council in March 2023, a CSIR representative stated that the district and the Mpumalanga region will suffer a tremendous loss of employment because of the government’s JET programme. Many consultants talk about retraining the soon to be unemployed. I wonder what skills we will need when economic activity declines significantly.

Solar energy is not free and, because of the current power shortages, our current jobs are in danger. Our country and our region need cheap, reliable base load to stabilise our manufacturing sector for economic growth.

Battling with your ED or SD Spent?

Battling with your ED or SD Spent?
The Mpumalanga Enterprise Development Organisation offers a stress-free solution for businesses wanting to achieve their BBBEE values. You do not need to employ somebody or set up a department to deal with these requirements.

MEDO has been successfully assisting businesses with enterprise, socio-economic and supplier development for over ten years, taking the pressure off you to ensure a successful project.

MEDO has been helping businesses with their BBBEE spend for over a decade. And is currently hosting an exciting business development training programme. MEDO is training community businesses in the diverse skills they need and we expand and support our local businesses.

MEDO was established to manage these projects for our town and province. MEDO encourages our members and businesses to contact A Ott for more details on our BBBEE programmes.

Employee of the Month

Often you have a staff member you would like to mention in particular.

The Middelburg Chamber offers a new service to its members: mentioning the employee of the month. We publish the person’s photo, a brief description of their achievements and then also post it on our social media for the month.

Keep a lookout for the Employee of the Month in May. If you know someone who should be recognized, please reach out to AM Ott on 013 243 2253 or email ceo@middelburginfo.com.

MCCI gives money to businesses!

MCCI gives money to businesses!

Why does MCCI not give money or business to my company, or the other question is, what does MCCI do for my company?

MCCI is a membership organisation and works with, and on issues that are important to members. If your company is not a member, please do not expect any support or intervention on a business issue. One of MCCI’s key initiatives is to ensure local investment and development.

The money and free training offered by the Mpumalanga Enterprise Development Organisation, MEDO, is a sponsored project for businesses that meet a certain element of the BBEEE Code. The sponsor sets the criteria. There are also no favourites. The rules are simple: 1 Fill in the landing page as requested. 2. Only companies with the correct information can take part. 3. First come, first served. MCCI is the implementing agent for MEDO and ensures that the economic activity takes place in Mpumalanga Province.

MEDO and MCCI have a ten-year successful partnership with 100% successful projects. If you would like more information about MEDO’s projects, please contact Anna-Marth Ott at info@me-do.co.za.

Under Construction: Outdoor Information Board

Under Construction: Outdoor Information Board
The Outdoor Information Board (OIB) next to the entrance door of the Tourist Information Centre is currently being updated.

It is the only map that is reviewed and updated with information from the Town Planning Department. The purpose of the OIB is to have a secure, 24-hour, well-lit map for tourists, couriers, and the community to find their way to a specific address. The map has grid lines and block designations for easy reference.

We are changing the map and there is a great opportunity for your business to show your patronage by placing an ad on the OIB to support this community service through the Tourist Information Centre.

Interested parties can contact Muhammed at 013 243 2253 or at enquiries@middelburginfo.com.

Snap Chat with a Difference

Snap Chat with a Difference
MCCI hosted the first Speed Networking Session for 2023, and judging by the enthusiasm generated by the exchange of information between business people, the event was another success.
The idea of the Speed Networking event is that a person gives a one-minute pitch of their business, service, or product. Then, within five minutes, you exchange information with the person sitting in front of you. After five minutes, you move on and then talk to another person from a different company. After that, you still have the opportunity to talk to the people you missed.
At the end of the hour of snap chatting, you have a lot of contact details or at least one more person knows about your business and what it offers. Save the date for the next speed networking event: 18 May 2023, at the MCCI Auditorium 12:00 – 14:00. Look out for the invitation to be sent out in early May 2023. For more information, contact Mmabatho at 013 243 2253 or at info@middelburginfo.com.

Loadshedding the Last Straw

Loadshedding the Last Straw
The business community in the Highveld region of Mpumalanga has been aware for years of corruption and third-party interference at Eskom that has muddied the economy of Mpumalanga.

Many businesses have been damaged, and many have had to close because of the corrupt activities associated with the two main sectors, coal mining and Eskom, in the province. When Eskom claimed that there was not enough coal to supply Eskom to generate electricity, to awarding complex engineering contracts to an undertaker. Well, whoever awarded that contract was perhaps preparing to bury our economy.

We invite its members to join hands with the organization so that we can put pressure on the various role-players to protect our businesses. MCCI has created MCCI’s Electricity Support Group, +27 78 801 9719, or contact Anna-Marth Ott, at 013 243 2253 or ceo@middelburginfo.com.

120th AGM and election for MCCI 2023 Executive

120^th AGM and election for MCCI 2023 Executive

The Middelburg Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) will hold it’s 120th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and is calling on our members to nominate candidates for the 2023/24 election.

MCCI will hold the 120^th AGM on 9 March 2023 at 17:00, at the Auditorium, Middelburg Information and Chamber Centre, 292 Walter Sisulu Street, Middelburg.

I request members to confirm their attendance by 9 March 2023. If you cannot attend the AGM, please complete a proxy form and return it to the office by 7 March 2023.
Your presence is essential to ensure the election of competent Executive Members to represent the business community of Middelburg.

We have emailed the notice, nomination, proxy forms and minutes to the membership. Please contact Mmabatho on 013 243 2253 or info@middelburginfo.com for more information.