Tag: middelburg

MCCI’s Women in Business Celebration 2023

MCCI’s Women in Business Celebration 2023

Every year, the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry celebrates women in business. We salute both the business owners and the women who work in various businesses and make sure that our economy gets going.

The motto of 2023 on 15 September 2023 was “Be your Best”. MCCI not only had two great ladies speaking to our members but also the beautiful music of the Mpumalanga Band of the South African Police Service. Throughout the day, our two flamboyant speakers Anne-Marie Smith and Sharlotte Tsotetsi-Mpotu motivated women to be their best, whatever their situation, to choose, live and find out what they want to be happy, as well as their families and colleagues.

One hundred and seventy women gathered at Ukhamba Industrial Park to celebrate the Mbhokodo’s of business. The morning began with uplifting music from the SAPS Provincial Band, and the women sang and danced along. MCCI would like to thank Ukhamba Industrial Park, Thulasizwe décor, catering & sewing, Nashua Mpumalanga, Thos Begbie & co, Columbus Stainless, Alveston Manor, and Spa, Think sol, MAC Cosmetics, Twizza, FNB, PWC, NST Verification, Matsimela, SAPS Provincial band, Environ, Spalicious, The Daily Café, Brimis Engineering, Mpumamanzi, GUS, Tyrelubbe, Nkangala TVET College, Middelburg Observer.

A special thank you to Christo de Ridder who was our MC for the day and Johannes Welgemoed from Daily Coffee and Hendry Swanepoel from Alveston Manor, our organizing committee. And to our two speakers Sharlotte Tsotetsi–Mpotu and Anne-Marie Smith – may you be richly blessed. In addition, to the beautiful, sophisticated women who attended the event……. YOU ROCK.

Energy SEZ for Middelburg

Energy SEZ for Middelburg

An inaugural meeting was held to discuss and formulate a way forward to implement an Energy Special Economic Zone for Middelburg on Wednesday 23 August 2023.

Mr Mnisi from the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDET) led the discussions on why and how an SEZ will benefit our town.  Representatives from the ESKOM JET office, the Mpumalanga Growth Agency, Mr Mandla Mnguni and other officials from the Steve Tshwete Municipal (STLM), the Mpumalanga Stainless Initiative, the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and various other government organisations discuss the proposal, and were met with confidence.

Mnisi said a special eMalahleni Renewable Energy Development Zone (REDZ) has been declared, comprising Victor Khanye, Ekandustria, Emalahleni, Steve Tshwete, and Emakhazeni municipalities. Benefits of being part of a special economic zone:

  1. 15% corporate tax
  2. Exemption from customs duties and VAT Free for companies in the SEZ
  3. Tax incentives for employment
  4. Accelerated depreciation for buildings

At the meeting on 23 August, a Technical Committee for the STLM SEZ was appointed to fast track the establishment of the zone. Any member interested in more information can contact Anna-Marth Ott for more details: ceo@middelburginfo.com.

Shady NPOs in South Africa

Shady NPOs in South Africa

Are you backing a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) that disregards the Department of Social Development’s (DSD) requirements?

The Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) hosted the Chartered Institute for Business Accountants’ workshop on Thursday, 27 July 2023.  During the presentation by the Department of Social Development, it became known that there are a substantial number of registered NPOs in South Africa and approximately 18 000 of the registered NPOs in Mpumalanga, with less than 7 000 that followed the NPO regulations.  Over 58% of the 256,212 NPOs registered in South Africa since 2002 were non-compliant.

The Auditor General cautioned DSD for non-compliance with the NPO Act. Failure to comply with the requirements weakens the rule of law and international standards and hinders the DSD’s ability to monitor NPOs as stipulated in the amended NPO Act (GLAA). South Africa’s failure to comply with FATF standards has led to greylisting and undermines good governance, transparency, and accountability. The NPO register could pose a risk to national security, as it is possible that DSD  keeps NPOs engaged in terrorist financing on it without oversight, which could enable fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion.

The assets and income of a non-profit company may not be distributed to the incorporators, members, directors, or officers, except as a reasonable compensation for their services.

The DSD will be deregistering the NPO’s that is non-complaint.  Phase 1, 1998 – 2012 will be reviewed from 1 April 2023, the NPOs that never submitted documents, or their submission was incomplete, the next phase will be from 2013 – 2015. Reports may be submitted through nporeports1@dsd.gov.za. For enquiries NPOs may call 012 312 7555. MCCI and MEDO submitt their annual reports via courier at the DSD Pretoria office, as the courier delivery note confirms receipt of the submissions.

MCCI urges our members and businesses to do your due dilligence when donating to an NPO.

Outdoor Map of Middelburg

Outdoor Map of Middelburg

The Middelburg Tourism Information Centre (MTIC) created the Outdoor Map of Middelburg prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup and has updated the information regularly to ensure that it remains as accurate as possible.

The MTIC has been working diligently to update the Outdoor Town Map with the latest information from the Steve Tshwete’s Town Planning Department. First, we printed the map so that Middleburgers would have a map available when we do not have a mobile phone or data connection. This map is freely accessible in a well-lit and secure environment 24 hours a day and is visited several times a day.

MTIC would like to thank our sponsors: ACDC Express, Brimis Engineering, Columbus Stainless (Pty) Ltd, Mbita Electrical, MCD/Shockwave, Olifants River Lodge, Precision Aluminium, and Thos Begbie. Without your support, MTIC would not have been able to provide this service to the community.

MTIC encourages our community to look at our outdoor map. If you need a printed map, you can pick one up at the MTIC office for a small fee. For more information, you can contact Mmabatho Phathakge at info@middelburginfo.com.

How to turn your business into a tourist attraction

How to turn your business into a tourist attraction

For the first time, the Middelburg Tourism Information Centre is offering training for local site tour guides. Popular areas such as Mbombela, Pretoria, and Cape Town have tour guides who attract many tourists to certain areas.

If you are visiting a place of interest with interesting stories, there is often a site guide who will show you around the premises or area. If you offer this service in your business, your visitors, and tourists, they will stay longer or spend more money in your business. This is a well-known international practise that supports and grows the tourism industry. As a private person, you can also earn an income by offering guided tours.

We do not know when we will offer the training again. The training will be held at MCCI’s auditorium for ten consecutive days starting 10 August 2023. After the exam, the participant will be accredited with NQF Level 2. The full NQF Level 4 tour guide training will be offered next year at an additional cost of R500.

This is an opportunity not to be missed. There are interesting stories and people everywhere and tourism businesses can only benefit if they can also offer a tour guide. Please contact Mmabatho Phatakge on 013 243 2253 or secretary@middelburginfo.com.

DOL visiting local Businesses

DOL visiting local Businesses
Many local businesses have been visited by the Department of Labour (DOL) inspectors recently.A company reaches out to you to inform you of their poster sales for the Basic Conditions of Employment and Occupational Health and Safety Acts. You buy the set because you want to display the poster as prescribed. Then the Department of Labour arrives a few weeks later to examine your personnel documents, a week or so later an inspector from DOL comes and checks the safety conditions in your office.

Employers with less than 20 employees are exempt, according to the OHS Act. Sorry, but you have to follow all the regulations. DOL has doubts about the Certificate of Good Standing issued by the Occupational Commissioner and will, therefore, audit all companies, big or small.

The targeting of small and medium enterprises by DOL might be a coincidence, you decide. DOL’s approach puts more pressure on small businesses. According to DOL, employers are required to keep shop-purchased dish soap in a well-ventilated closet and you are prohibited from providing your staff with chairs without armrests. Comments like these make you ask yourself, “Why am I running my business?

Are there any resources available to help small and medium-sized enterprises? Can DOL award grants to assist all small and medium-sized enterprises in complying with its rules and regulations?

MCCI has always urged its members to comply with any regulations that apply to our businesses. If starting and running a business was made easier, there would be a significant increase in SMME growth and employment.

MCCIs Employee of the Month

MCCIs Employee of the Month

The first MCCI Member Employee of the Month has been announced, and it’s an employee from Brimis.

Congratulations to Ms Nina Nhlapo MCCIs First Employee of the month.

Ms Nina Nhlapo constantly engages and provides help in her work. Her responsibility is to ensure workplace health and safety compliance.  She manages all labour-related affairs professionally. The most recent awards were presented to her, following the latest ISO 9001 audit in our office.

Nina recruits excellent staff and maintaining employee records at all company sites and branches, as well as ensuring a smooth on boarding process. Recruiting temporary and permanent staff, resolving conflicts professionally and positively, conducting workplace investigations, and managing technical procedures.

To nominate a staff member, members can reach out to Anna-Marth Ott or Christo Stemmet at 013 243 2253 or enquiries@middelburginfo.com.

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.

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.