Tag: community

Amazing Race Middelburg postponed until 15 October 2022

Amazing Race Middelburg postponed until 15 October 2022
There is good news for all those who wanted to take part in this treasure hunt adventure on 24 September but already had plans! Due to the many other activities taking place in town and the many requests received, the organizers have decided to postpone the event until Saturday, 15 October 2022. The closing date for registrations is 30 September. Manual registrations will be accepted at the Middelburg Outreach Festival at the Rustique Boutique Hotel on 24 September, so look out for our stall!

On the day of the race, teams of 4 will race around town in their own vehicle solving clues that will take them from location to location where they must complete mental and/or physical challenges until you reach the finish line! You will put your skills and knowledge of the town to the test – with a little help from Google if necessary. We will take you to various points ranging from local shops to tourist attractions and historically significant sites.

There are great cash prizes to be won!

All you need to do is complete the entry form and pay the entry fee of R700 per team before the closing date of 30 September. If you enter two teams, you will receive a discount of R600per team.
The competition is open to businesses as well as private groups and families. The number of participants is limited, so do not delay! Registration forms are available at the Middelburg Information Centre office, 292 Walter Sisulu Street or by emailing marketing@middelburginfo.com. Online registrations can be made via the Facebook page @amazeraceMid or WhatsApp 0849832819 to receive the registration link.

We are appealing to businesses to get involved as sponsors. Contact Elsabe or Mmabatho on 013 2432253.

GALAXY BINGO supports tennis in Witbank

GALAXY BINGO supports tennis in Witbank

Galaxy Bingo is one of South Africa’s leading and innovative gaming groups, with an impressive portfolio of 23 Bingo sites conveniently located across six provinces. Their hospitality portfolio comprises of 6 Galaxy Grills and 2 Galaxy Bistros, where you can enjoy delicious and tempting meals. Galaxy Bingo has a passion for sports development and nurturing young talent.

Because of this passion, Galaxy Bingo Emalahleni has sponsored 32 Witbank High School children (16 boys and 16 girls) with tennis coaching every Monday and Wednesday at their school courts. The children have also received new tennis rackets, tennis balls and T-shirts. The tennis programme aims to develop young talent and provide children with the opportunity to play in the tennis league in the 3rd quarter. A tennis league is an annual event.

The kids will also receive coaching life skills from the KPM Academy of Sport and life skills.

KPM has been an NPO based at the Middelburg Country Club for 11 years, giving children an opportunity to play, learn and score through sports. KPM Sports Academy helps children improve their mental skills, keeping them healthy, learn sportsmanship and ethics as well as life skills.

KPM has various initiatives to develop children playing sports in wheelchairs, specifically wheelchair tennis, which has recently been on TV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSfRILUcRCc. Many South African children still struggle with basic needs, and sadly, this lack hampers their dreams and leaves them with no option but to resort to crime.

There is hope as NPOs give children opportunities of becoming better people. Kids News’ Didi Mookeletsi caught up with youngsters at the KPM Mentorship Centre in Avalon, Middelburg. For more news, visit sabcnews.com and #SABCNews on all Social Media platforms.

Great networking event with Twizza Business Breakfast

Great networking event with Twizza Business Breakfast
The business world connects and networks with a buzz. The Twizza Breakfast Buzz was a great success. Members of the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) enjoyed meeting and networking with other business people at the Twizza plant. The days of isolation and social distancing are over, and personal and business contacts are made at the monthly Business Buzz events. Christ Swartz and the Twizza team showed how the company started and how it has developed into the company it is today.

The next Business Buzz will be held on 18 August 2022 and will be hosted by Isuzu. Invitations will be sent out in the first week of August. RSVP as soon as possible.  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

Middelburg hosts its own JET for Business

Middelburg hosts its own JET for Business
The Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) is hosting a Just Energy Transition Congress, Just for Business, on 28 September 2022 at the Steve Tshwete Banquet Hall.

Since the Just Energy Transition (JET) concept was introduced, numerous studies have been conducted to discover how JET will affect communities. Much of the academic research focused on the skills and education levels in the Highveld region of Mpumalanga. In the meantime, the business community has started to investigate the impact JET will have on their future and how they can ensure the success and sustainability of their businesses. Many companies are already involved in green energy and have developed business products and solutions.

MCCI invites all businesses to our JET for Business Congress. We need to talk to each other about what we need and what products and solutions are available. If you have a great product or solution, please contact me to find out how your business can participate at ceo@middelburginfo.com or 013 243 2253.

MCCI met with Indonesian Representatives

MCCI met with Indonesian Representatives
The President of the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Que Naidoo, and several business people met with the Indonesian Charge d’Affaires and economic advisors on 26 April 2022 to discuss possible business opportunities between our town and Indonesia on 26 April 2022.

Indonesia is a developed country with high income and low unemployment rate. The low unemployment rate is due to the country’s entrepreneurship policy, which removes many bureaucratic requirements that can hinder the success of a start-up business. Some of the areas where they want to do business with us are beverages, batik exports and fashion.

South African tourist visas for Indonesia are free and relatively easy to obtain. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about Indonesian visas for South Africa. South African visa regulations, introduced many years ago, are still a problem and it can take up to two months for Indonesians to get a visa.

Members were excited about the joint investment opportunities and future trade relations.

Business opportunities with the Danes

Business opportunities with the Danes

President Que Naidoo and Vice President Vusi Seroka met with Peter Hydorn, Adviser International Business and Leo Crisp, Senior: Trade Investment Advisors of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on 23 March 2022. MCCI presented Middelburg as a possible investment opportunity. Two main points of investment interest in the Steve Tshwete region were discussed at the meeting.

One issue was the Just Transition opportunities for possible collaboration. Many collaboration opportunities were expressed, but the national government’s involvement was influencing how the opportunities would be rolled out. This was also the author’s experience, who has attended many recent meetings and conferences on this topic. Due to the value of the potential projects, there seems to be an umbrella of protection.

Of greater interest to MCCI members would be Danish companies’ experiences and technologies in energy-efficient equipment and the capabilities of successfully reducing energy consumption. Another area they could offer opportunities to companies is their expertise in robotics.

This is the first of many meetings, and we are working towards investment with Middelburg. Members will be invited for further discussions.

What changes to STLM infrastructure/services are required for your business in the next five years?

What changes to STLM infrastructure/services are required for your business in the next five years?

The Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry has requested the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality (STLM) to meet with businesses regarding input in the new Integrated Development Plan (IDP) for 2022 2027, which is being developed. This is in line with the Municipal Systems Act, Chapter 5, which requires municipalities to develop a new 5-year plan directly linked to the term of office of municipal councillors.

The Municipal Systems Act (2000) requires municipalities to prepare a 5-year Integrated Development Plan (IDP) that integrates planning and implementation and provides a framework for all development activities in the municipal area.

Contributions to the IDP have been sought at recent district committee meetings. Most attendees are local residents and are focused on their immediate needs, such as methods of speed calming on a busy residential street. Any business person who has attended scheduled Ward Committee meetings will have noted that the focus is not on a business-friendly agenda. What are general business needs in the CBD compared to the needs of the various other municipality areas where our businesses operate?

The STLM Local Economic Development Forum will hold the IDP meeting with business stakeholders on 5 April 2022 at 09:00 at the STLM Council Chamber.

We strongly encourage business owners to attend the above meeting to table any infrastructure or service delivery issues affecting your business. Is your business regularly affected by flooding due to inadequate stormwater drainage? Please attend and raise the issue. Or, if your business’ water supply is an issue, this is the best platform to get STLM to take note of business concerns. You know when there are municipal issues affecting your business. Still, if the issues are not included in the STLM’s communication structure, they seem to be off the table.

In light of recent events, the business community needs to pressure STLM officials and councillors to deliver on their promises.

Many business opportunities in Burundi

Many business opportunities in Burundi
A delegation from Burundi led by Ambassador KN Jolobe, HE Ms, met with Que Naidoo, President of MCCI and various members of the Middelburg Chamber Executive.

Burundi has 6% of the world’s rare earth deposits and exports Arabica coffee. They are also looking at possible investments or partnerships with local businesses in tourism, internet connectivity, mining opportunities and agriculture. Burundi has 17 provinces and a different mineral has been found in each province.

The aim of the meeting was to establish contacts with local businesses that can network with Burundian businesses. Today, they have cut the red tape by introducing the ambassador directly to the Chamber of Commerce.

The next step is to organise a networking event between The East African Investment, Trade, Promotion Agency, the Burundi delegation and members to plan and explore the proposed trade delegation to Burundi.

Members are invited to send me their details to secure their invitation to the next Burundi investment event. Contact Anna-Marth Ott at ceo@middelburginfo.com.

The Highveld Mine Map – Insight and Analysis

The Highveld Mine Map – Insight and Analysis

The Middelburg/Emalahleni area is well known for being an industrious mining complex. Not only is the bulk of the country’s coal resource deposited in the western Mpumalanga, but the area is also known for hosting many of Eskom’s Power Stations. This network has resulted in an abundance of local business opportunities positioned to support the mines and power stations with the services and products they require.

The question naturally arises: how can one gain access to this network? Forward-thinking organisations of the region have always been committed to facilitating and fostering productive, synergistic and profitable business relationships amongst themselves.  This spirit of cooperative goodwill has resulted in a rich repository of information geared to stimulate business development and grow the local business landscape through any means possible.

The Mine Map, a product of such collaborations, is aimed at developing networks in the local mining industry. The Decisionsmiths recently contributed critical insights to the map through a revolutionary business intelligence (BI) transformation. No longer will the critical contact information only be available as a printed copy, but we now offer an online version, fully searchable and interactive.

Mining operations can be filtered by commodity, mode of operation, ownership structure or geographic location.

Additional insights become available through superimposing the mine locations onto reference layers, showing mine locations on geological maps, satellite imaging or analysing the state of the roads servicing the operation.

Data analytics has never been more important to your business. The Decisionsmiths specialises in coupling your in-house dataset with the wealth of data available in the world today and adding value to your strategic business decision-making in a cost-effective way.

Thank you to the sponsors of the Highveld Mine Map (alphabetical order):

  • ACDC Express Middelburg
  • Blackwattle Colliery
  • Dobe Brand Engineers
  • Doulos Mining
  • Eco-D Mobile Carwash and cleaning services
  • Highveld Industrial Park
  • Hilti
  • Isambane Mining
  • Liebherr-Africa
  • MEMSA – mining equipment manufacturers of South Africa
  • Mlaki Business Enterprise Transport
  • Nathi Sonke Holdings
  • Phillips Global
  • Powerstar
  • SATS Safety and Training solutions
  • Stallion Towing Services
  • Steinmuller Africa
  • Syndicate Signs
  • The Decisionsmits
  • Umsizi Mining
  • Vista Wa Seroka

2022 Printed mine maps for sale at the Middelburg Info Centre 013 243 2253.

If you want access on the digital platform or marketing exposure, please contact Valerie 082 417 8088