Category: 09 2017 Newsletter

The recent drought, water restrictions, and interrupted water supply of late have highlighted the need for water supply security.  For the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce & Industry, water security is one of the most fundamental cornerstones of our town’s prosperity.  There is not a business that does not need water to operate optimally; this includes office parks, hairdressers, and manufacturers.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) published an Integrated Water Resource Plan (IWRP)for 2010.  The report said that South Africa has enough water to stay in business and that there is no looming disaster and no cause for panic.  However, some steps must be taken to avoid the severe and otherwise imminent risk of shortages in many areas. DWS said that significant investment in water conservation and water demand has to happen at a national level, as well as investment in groundwater exploration and use.  Concerted input into managing water quality, and especially acid mine drainage and the pollution of rivers through under-performing wastewater treatment works were also priority areas.

Collieries have grown to such an extent in our area that they are generating more water than mines need for their operations.  Excess water (Groundwater ingress), the poor quality of the water and the lack of assimilative capacity in the Olifants River to accept discharges of mine water, has led to the implementation of water treatment facilities. The Olifants Reconciliation Strategy proposed that acid mine water has to be desalinated before decanting into the river system.

The reports also mentioned that there should be a coordinated plan between Middelburg and Witbank. It was noted with disappointment that the desalinated water from South32 would not be pumped into the Middelburg system as they have only done a business case and the South32 management has not approved such an agreement.

The IWRP also stated that: “The water requirements of Steve Tshwete LM will exceed the 50-year yield of the Middelburg dam by 2012”.  We cannot afford to only rely on rainwater to ensure our town’s prosperity.

The Middelburg Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Chamber) would like to thank all members for their support of our very successful Women’s Day event.

The support by members strengthened and highlighted the importance of the role the Chamber plays in the local economy.  The participation of our members made the banquet a memorable occasion.

We wish to thank the following sponsors who contributed to the event: Main Sponsor was Twizza. Other sponsors were Olifants River Lodge, La-di-da, Get It Magazine,Middelburg Observer, Engen Kanonkop, Pressed in Time, Deep blue Spa, Columbus, Perfect 10,Tsuku Transport & Tours, Alveston Manor Guest House, Revlon, Perfect water, Vaal Privè, Business Linkage Centre, Discovery and Virgin Active Middelburg  , who also contributed generously to make the occasion a dazzling success.

We look forward to your continuous and valued support.

 

When corporate companies look for local businesses where will their first point of contact be? Yes, it is the local Chamber of Commerce.

On the 15^th of September 2017, there was an information day with the company that has been awarded the tender to build a new Middelburg Provincial hospital (Enza Construction).  The hospital will be situated next to the Middelburg Mall. The company held the information day together with the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality to meet local businesses.

Enza Construction had earlier visited the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce & Industry to find out about the procurement database. The database has more than 1300 local businesses with more than 850 being black-owned companies. Businesses around Steve Tshwete are encouraged to get their businesses listed on the database as it is their first point of contact with corporate companies. The database serves as a form of marketing for local small businesses and registration comes at no cost to businesses that want to get listed on it.

Do not miss the opportunity to add your business to the procurement database.  Visit the Business Linkage Centre today or contact 013 243 2253 for more information.  The dependable face for local procurement and business information.

 

Politicians and economists alike said that something has to be done to create more jobs and the answer is to build and develop entrepreneurs. This has been the rhetoric for many years, but with very little success.

Job Summits were hosted, and many strategies proposed over the years to find solutions for the unemployment problem.  However, it seems as if they are missing some fundamentals to change the situation. At such a summit in Johannesburg on Thursday, 21 September 2017 the issue was again highlighted.  After all these years there seems to be a gridlock when creating new or even maintaining work opportunities.  Various reasons, such as economic conditions and lack of skills were tabled, but after several discussions, it became evident that vested interest was the main culprit.

Large city-based corporates seem to be visionless in the areas where they operate or where they offer their services to other big corporates. Only a select few have access to the inner circle, and the further business moves from the communities, the silos in which they operate becomes entrenched. Many times corporate companies wave the funds they have available for development in front of people, but if you drill down on how the funds are spent, you will find that either limited beneficiaries or worse, no money was disbursed locally, but spent in Gauteng and held up as a great success.  Leaving the locals high and dry.

Together with corporate members, the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce has shown that it is possible to create an enabling environment that creates jobs and entrepreneurs.  Unstoppable momentum can be produced when corporate members, experts, and people willing to put their hand up for the opportunities. Contact Valerie Pienaar at MCCI’s Business Linkage Centre to access the opportunities or find the solution for your organisation’s job creation plan.

Tourism Month is celebrated in September every year to encourage South Africans to explore their own country.

South African Tourism in partnership with the National Department of Tourism, Mpumalanga Tourism Parks & Agency commits themselves to promote the #We Do Tourism Campaign by celebrating a whole month of tourism.

This dedicated month will have a series of activities starting from Lectures to ending with a Tourism Expo.

Ministers Public Lecture: 26 September 2017 in Mpumalanga

MEC’s Welcome Dinner: 26 September 2017 in Mpumalanga

2017 World Tourism Day Celebrations: 27 September 2017 in Baberton, Mpumalanga

National Tourism Career Expo: 28-30 September 2017 in the Free State

Contact the Middelburg Tourist Information Centre for more information about how you can benefit from this Tourism Campaign.

The resorts, lodges and nature reserves linked to the N11 offers visitors a wide variety of attractions and accommodations.  This road is the mainstay of our town’s tourism industry.   Should you ever wonder if the N11 is relevant to the tourism sector, the significant drop in tourism visitors during the period of roadworks on the N11 made it obvious.  The inconvenience, delays, and access to facilities swayed our town’s visitors’ decision when planning their holidays.

The infrastructure in a municipal and regional area is the foundation on which tourism development takes place.  Tourism infrastructure includes a large number of services, necessary to meet the needs of tourists and increase satisfaction during their stay at the destination, and the N11 serve as an anchor as it is a main arterial road that links critical economic areas.

The Middelburg Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) established the Tourist Information Centre in partnership with the Steve Tshwete Municipality in 1998.  MCCI identified the importance of having an independent organisation that can collate, and assist visitors with information on our attractions and the various establishments.  Over the years the services changed and developed as the industry grew. However, we always strived to have the latest information available for visitors to the area.

One of the first activities we launched was an audit of the tourism facilities.  The audit not only listed the facilities and attractions on the N11 but also identified possible investment opportunities and gaps in the industry, which in turn facilitated the growth of the business in the early 2000’s.  As an independent organisation, MCCI promoted several projects, exhibitions, and events where the product owners could promote the area and themselves, creating a sustainable and growing tourism sector.

We have been waiting with baited breath for the maintenance work on the N11 to be completed.  The community and tourism region alike have supported and accepted the delays and inconvenience caused as we knew that in the end, we would benefit greatly from this upgraded national road.

Again, the industry will find a joint strategy to ensure economic growth and sustainability. The Local Tourism Organisation will meet in October 2017 to tie up the plan, anybody interested in participating can contact Lizzie van Aarde at 013 243 2253.

Courier IT hosted the monthly networking event on 21 September 2017 at the Middelburg Chamber.   Courier IT is a courier company in the Middelburg suburb with the team such as Ilana Stander the Sales Executive and the Branch Manager Calvin Jon Stander.

The networking event had over 80 people from various businesses attending with the likes of DJ Ossewa who gave the entertainment alive through the evening, the first for the Business Buzz to have a live band playing. The next event will be held at the Middelburg Chamber a Breakfast on the 19 October 2017 hosted by Nedbank. For more information or to host a Buzz send an email to

Marketing@middelburginfo.com.

Middelburg Hospice Association is an autonomous independent organisation that provides palliative care, hospices for the terminally ill and home-care support and services. The organisation also offers free services to cancer patients. They depend on the support of the community and local businesses to offer hope to terminally ill patients and support to those affected by it.

A great initiative was taken by numerous companies to ensure that the association gets well-deserved assistance in creating a professional look for the employees to make it even easier for the staff to continue laying a helping hand to the community.

TÜV SÜD South Africa is one of the companies that assisted the association by contributing branded T-shirts for all the employees.

Stratum Benefits is another company that generously assisted with ensuring that the employees of the association get new and branded Aprons to help them with their fund-raising project of selling pancakes.

Jormid Electrical contributing new reception chairs to complete the professional look of the Middelburg Hospice Association. We would like to thank Esaaks Store for the discount they gave and the free delivery of the chairs to Hospice.

F&K Hlakani Engineering Services assisted Middelburg Hospice by sponsoring the renovation of the premises interior and exterior.

The opening of the newly renovated building was on 03 August 2017.

The Middelburg Chamber of Commerce & Industry together with Middelburg Hospice Association would like to pass on the vote of thanks to everyone who invested in the project and making a difference in the lives of the people by adding hope and showing unity and support in the matters affecting the society.