Category: 01 2017 Newsletter

MCCI’s first Business Buzz for 2017 was hosted by Street Eyes Organisation.  The owner presented their initiative to reduce crime on our street by organising and registering car guards.  The car guards would provide information to the authorities about criminal activities in their area.  Read more about Street Eyes on their website: www.streeteyesorg.com or Contact Les Cass at 074 861 8188.

The event was attended by approximately 80 individuals from different business sectors in Middelburg.  The next business buzz will be hosted by Solly’s GM on 23 February 2017. For more information call Manus on 013 243 2253 or email marketing@middelburginfo.com

Tourism businesses operating in the Steve Tshwete Municipal area need to ask themselves how important is it to develop this sector our town’s economy.  It has been proven with previous projects that when businesses collaborate towards a focussed outcome, all benefit.

Participation and commitment from all that form part of the industry such as guest houses, lodges, and tourist attractions are needed to grow our tourism sector.  The moment a participant or member only focus on, ” What is in it for me?” viable projects are doomed to failure.

A robust and active Local Tourism and Regional Tourism coordinates the provincial information through tourism offices and encourages tourists to visit destinations and experiences.  It is also easier to manage certain operational issues such as brown tourism signs and target marketing, events promotion to promote the area.

For more information regarding affiliation with your Local Tourism Organisation, you can contact the Information Centre on 013 243 2253 or email us on reservations@middelburginfo.com

We want to register all the businesses withing the Middelburg, and surrounding areas on the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s (MCCI) Local Procurement Database (LPD). To date, we have added and verified businesses’ information.

The LPD is an Enterprise Development initiative that aims to give easy access to local suppliers, their products, and services at no cost.  We developed an online platform through our website that connects corporate companies with the provider of goods and services in the greater Middelburg area.  The database design is user-friendly, and it allows corporate companies to search for vendors who meet their specific internal procurement policy criteria required by the department of Trade and Industry’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment policy.

MCCI is committed to promoting local procurement and small business development.  The LPD is another exciting way to promote your business.  For more information, please contact the Middelburg Chamber: 013 243 2253, register online by visiting our website www.middelburginfo.com

The Mpumalanga Enterprise Development Organisation has subsidised R250.00 for small businesses that want to be affiliated with the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Start-up companies can now pay as little as R250.00 for an annual membership; this offer is valid for limited time only.  Being a member of the Chamber of Commerce will oopen the door to many contacts that can help your business grow through the power of referrals and networking.

Many Benefits available: Networking and Events, Education and Training, Referrals of Business, Member rewards, Advertising Opportunities.

From one of our members: ” the working relationship has seen us move from being a regular small business to a level where we are able to penetrate different markets within the mining sector, private and public sector which has enhanced our growth and skills in terms of project management.  Through their initiatives, our company was able to maintain sustainability and increase human resources, which had a significant impact in our view in community development and empowerment.”

BLC members that want to take part in the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) workshops can contact Maphakiso Maesela on    or email. businesslink@middelburginfo.com

The Middelburg Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) will be hosting their 114th Annual General Meeting and urges our members to nominate candidates to be elected for 2017/18.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on 9 March 2017, at 18:00 at Riverside Estate, Middelburg.  Members are requested to ensure that they confirm attendance by 7 March 2017.  Alternatively, should you not be able to attend the AGM, please complete a proxy form and return it to the office by 1 March 2017.

Amendments to MCCI’s constitution will be submitted for approval.

Your attendance is vital to ensure the election of a relevant Executive Committee to represent the business community of Middelburg.

The notice, Nomination and Proxy Forms have already been mailed and e-mailed to members.

Please contact Stephanie 013 243 2253 or secretary@middelburginfo.com for more information

The Department of Mineral Resources plays a vital role in our region’s economic prosperity.  the manner of and quality of decisions made by the DMR has a direct impact on our economy, and it was with concern, but not with surprise that we noted the judgement of the Gauteng division of the High Court of South Africa.

In short, the judgement exposed DMR as “an irrational institution with a high degree of incompetence that obstructs the mining investment it is meant to facilitate, lacks energy in resolving issues, allows appeal processes to drag on for years and supplies a case for its own substitution.”  This was part of 63-page judgement between Aquila Steel South Africa and six respondents, which include the Minister of Mineral Resources, DMR management, and the triple-state-owned Pan African Mineral Development Company.

MCCI urges the various role players withing the DMR to also have our town’s interest at heart when dealing with the many issues that have a direct impact on our area’s road infrastructure and access to water.  We have experienced the failure of the DMR to resolve issues speedily.  MCCI trusts that the DMR will make a concerted effort to change the manner in which they operate.

Anybody interested in the full judgement is welcome to contact Stephanie at 013 243 2253 or secretary@middelburginfo.com

The President of Middelburg Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI), Adv. Xulu and several MCCI members attended a breakfast hosted by Steve Tshwete’s (STLM) Mayor Mike Masina on Tuesday, 24 January 2017.

Xulu said, “In line with our continued commitment to the STLM’s economy and the communities we do business in, MCCI submitted the following for perusal and acceptance at the STLM Lekgotla held on this week.

1. Formal establishment of the Joint Working Program between the offices of Chamber President and the executive branch of STLM, this will ensure business’ input remains current;
2. Public Private Partnerships and better cooperation between the various government departments on infrastructure development;
3. Utilise industry skills to unlock stability in the provision of water and energy, waiting for the next meeting with STLM in this regard;
4. Revitalisation and crime prevention in the CBD.
5. A coordinated approach that efficiently meets business; skills requirements, such as the continuation of the joint Career Expo project;
6. Review and update of the economic strategy done previously”

MCCI’s President requested that STLM officials measure and report to ensure our town’s economy grows more than the current 2.7%. Proper planning will ensure STLM meet all service and financial requirements needed for the projected doubling of our town by 2030.