Tag: MCCI

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.

118th AGM and election of the new Chamber 2022 Executive

118th AGM and election of the new Chamber 2022 Executive

The Middelburg Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) will hold it’s 118th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and is calling on our members to nominate candidates for the 2022/23 election.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on 10 March 2022, at 17:00, at Alveston Manor, 21 Hexrivier Street, Middelburg. Members are requested to confirm their attendance by 9 March 2022. If you are unable to attend the AGM, please complete a proxy form and return it to the office by 7 March 2017.

Your attendance is essential 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 emailed to members. Please contact Mmabatho on 013 243 2253 or info@middelburginfo.com for more information

There is no Just in Just Transition.

There is no Just in Just Transition.
On Tuesday, 30 November 2021, TIPS held a public debate on the key priorities and challenges for a Just Transition in the Emalahleni and Steve Tshwete areas. A statement was made and supported by many that there is no “Just” in the government’s Just Transition programme (JET) for citizens affected.

The JET Programme has been discussed for many years, first at the national level, then at the district level and more recently at the local level. Many consultants have been active in the area, collecting data, and some have even implemented programmes. Although it is still early, it seems that communities, from municipal officials to labour union representatives, are unhappy about what JET might mean for their future.

What projects have been approved, who is funding these projects, and the key outcomes that each project aims to achieve. The community has participated in many projects, skills training, entrepreneurship training and so on, but if there is no prospect of earning, the skills become obsolete. We do not want to be seen as charity recipients who have to be given a dummy to keep us quiet.

MCCI urges all stakeholders to create sustainable projects that provide secure jobs for participants. What market do they want to create with the new technology, or is the project only viable with continued financial support? There should be an open database of available information to prevent collusion, and the plans need to be available on the ground. How many of the recently launched projects have been successful?

The consultants and academics and the companies outside the Highveld region of Mpumalanga see us as needing help, even though they make their millions from local business opportunities. MCCI believes that the skills and talent are there, and we have a vested interest in making JET sustainable and successful. May the ghosts in the ghost town that “they” predict remain in their imagination. MCCI is continually committed to sustainable programmes to support and grow our economy. If you are interested in more information, please contact Mmabatho at info@middelburginfo.com

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 EXXARO AND SERITI RESOURCES JOIN FORCES WITH ESKOM IN REALISING A JUST ENERGY TRANSITION TO A LOW CARBON FUTURE IN SOUTH AFRICA

 EXXARO AND SERITI RESOURCES JOIN FORCES WITH ESKOM IN REALISING A JUST ENERGY TRANSITION TO A LOW CARBON FUTURE IN SOUTH AFRICA

Johannesburg, 25 October 2021: Eskom, Exxaro and Seriti Resources have announced the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that spells out their intention to pursue, co-operatively and individually, the development of renewable energy projects to lower carbon footprint at their operations. In doing so, the parties aim to create employment and re-skilling opportunities for communities living and working at and around their operations and to take a step towards a just transition to a low carbon future in South Africa.

Exxaro and Seriti are the largest coal suppliers to Eskom, contributing around 80% of Eskom’s coal supply per year. By implementing renewable energy solutions at their Eskom-tied operations and at related Eskom sites, Seriti and Exxaro aim to achieve both carbon reduction and cost savings in the generation and use of electricity at these mines. This is symbiotic with Eskom’s mandate to provide electricity in an efficient and sustainable manner, which includes decarbonising its supply chain.

The first phase of the envisaged project pipeline will see the construction of a number of solar photovoltaic facilities both on-mine and at Eskom sites. These may be behind-the-meter solutions (that is, off-grid) or wheeled solutions, or combinations of the two. The companies have committed to begin the projects as soon as possible, subject to regulatory approvals. Further projects envisaged may include energy storage and possibly wind energy facilities.

Under the MOU, Seriti envisages achieving a reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 350,000 tonnes per annum, more than half of its current emissions of 700,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent through the consumption of coal-fired electricity generation. In respect of Exxaro – the company envisages achieving a reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 130,000 tonnes per annum at its Matla coal mine, which represents a saving of 70% of the greenhouse gasses with Matla at full production.

André de Ruyter, CEO of Eskom said: “Eskom continues to explore means to lower the cost of coal supplied to its power stations, and this investment allows it to advantage of the low

cost of photovoltaic power This is one of the many initiatives Eskom has embarked on to achieve a NetZero status by 2050.”

Mxolisi Mgojo, CEO of Exxaro said: “This is a significant landmark development in South Africa’s energy transition to a low carbon economy for three of South Africa’s largest players in the mining and energy sectors. The investment in decarbonising our mining operations is a systematic and responsible approach to the energy transition without introducing risk to the country’s electricity generation. The collaboration amongst Exxaro, Seriti and Eskom is exemplary of the possibilities achievable through co-operative and constructive relations between business and government in securing livelihoods and a future for South Africa.”

Mike Teke, CEO of Seriti said: “We recognise that climate change and the need to decarbonise our economies is a significant challenge and imperative for South Africa. But, at the same time, we are very conscious that this needs to be done in such a way that does not destroy our industrial base, or the lives of South Africans that rely on our companies for jobs, enterprise and support: this is the very basis of a just transition. As a company, we are fully committed to decarbonisation and a just transition, and in working with our partners – in business, government, labour and communities – in achieving this.”

For further information:

Eskom:

Sikonathi Mantshantsha +27 83 276 0606

E-mail: mediadesk@eskom.co.za

Exxaro:

Mzila Mthenjane +27 83 417 6375

Tsabeng Ntithe +27 76 371 6810

Seriti Resources:

Alan Fine + 27 83 250 0757

Charmane Russell +27 82 372 5816

A Map of Middelburg to plan your deliveries

A Map of Middelburg to plan your deliveries

The staff of the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry have gone to the trouble of checking the streets of Middelburg and Mhluzi and producing a printable map of the area. You can order a copy of the map to fit in any room of your business.

We have updated the street names of recently developed areas and linked the streets to a grid. The map can be supplied in the size you require, in black and white, with your logo or in full colour print. Place your order at the Information Office to receive your personalised wall map of our town.

For more information about the map, contact the Middelburg Information Centre on 013 243 2253 or email admin@middelburginfo.com.

Partnership with NCPC-SA and MCCI to promote competitiveness

Partnership with NCPC-SA and MCCI to promote competitiveness

Members of the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) can now fully benefit from the subsidised services of the National Cleaner Production Centre South Africa (NCPC-SA). At the first meeting on 16 September 2021, energy and water efficiency and the replacement of waste through industrial symbiosis were explained.

MCCI has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the NCPC-SA to jointly help members improve their efficiency and sustainability over the next two years. The NCPC-SA supports the industry through various projects and programmes that promote resource efficiency and clean production methods in industry and selected commercial sectors.

One of the most important offerings in the province is the Mpumalanga Industrial Symbiosis Programme (MISP), which the NCPC-SA operates in collaboration with the Mpumalanga Department of Economic Development and Tourism. MISP is a provincial initiative to create economic opportunities while improving the management of industrial waste.

The programme uses the industrial symbiosis approach, where unused resources from one company are recovered and reused. The approach supports developing a circular economy in Mpumalanga, avoids landfilling waste and creates business opportunities for local entrepreneurs or waste solution providers.

MCCI hosted the NCPC-SA to introduce the NCPC-SA and its services to MCCI members. This national government programme is hosted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and funded mainly by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC).

MCCI plans to hold one workshop per NCPC, as there are many areas where businesses can benefit and find synergies with the services offered. Any member interested in more information can contact Anna-Marth Ott: ceo@middelburginfo.com.

Why does the MCCI help KZN?

Why does the MCCI help KZN?

The Middelburg Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) is a business organisation and our primary purpose is to serve and support our members and our business organisation. Why help the Kwazulu Natal people? MCCI is not a charity organisation.
Not only does MCCI have a network of local businesses that we communicate and work with, but we also network and work with other chambers across the country. In this case with the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business and the Durban Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Recently, we lobbied with them to standardise electricity rates for industries that use municipal electricity.

MCCI will leverage the various networks and chambers such as the franchise network to assist employees and identified beneficiaries in the business environment. Middelburg is part of the road infrastructure and business network that stretches from Durban Harbour to our city. The sooner the business community gets back on its feet and business returns to normal, the sooner we can recover from the economic damage caused by the looting, vandalism and Covid19’s impact on the business sector.

MCCI will use our members’ franchise networks and chamber connections to ensure that all funds are used for what they were intended for and, as always, keep a watchful eye on management. We need to protect jobs in our city so we can continue to help others instead of being helped. Anyone interested in sending food and other supplies to the affected areas can drop them off with us or at the Nashua offices.