Tag: middelburg

The World Revolves Around Good Relations.

The World Revolves Around Good Relations

Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) President Que Naidoo and Steve Tshwete Municipality (STLM) Executive member Gerrit van der Merwe and Anna-Marth Ott met with Mayor Masilela and members of the mayoral committee on 30 March 2022.

During the meeting, chaired by Mayor Masilela, many issues were discussed and clarified; Mayor Masilela and his committee committed to finding a constructive way forward. As we have learned over the last six months, we cannot work in isolation. And the longer we do not talk to each other, the more problems escalate. Many of these issues could have been resolved with a phone call. It is good to confirm that the channels of communication are opening up after the meeting with the mayoral committee.

MCCI would like to thank STLM for addressing the various issues we brought to the attention of the Municipality in our October 2021 letter. Working together, we can repair the damage that has been done recently and grow our town and economy again.

Members should keep an eye open for the Integrated Development Plan Technical meeting. At this meeting, you will be able to ensure that STLM’s future infrastructure plans will fit in with your business’ needs and expansion plans.

Middelburg Chamber Premier Business Golf Day

Middelburg Chamber Premier Business Golf Day
The Middelburg Chamber will be hosting its annual Premier Business Golf Day on 13 May 2022 at the Middelburg Country Club.

This event has been held for many years and has a permanent place in the diary of local business people. Businesses have the opportunity to participate through sponsorship and play to meet other businesses.

The event is a very popular networking event in May and we are starting to attract T sponsors. There are still 4-ball spaces available. Come and enjoy this annual Premier Business Golf Day. For more information please contact Valerie Pienaar Valerie 082 417 8088 or businesslink@middelburginfo.com.

We want our town back

We want our town back
It is the responsibility of every municipality to create an enabling environment for business. How many jobs and businesses will be displaced if municipal services are not accessible to the public and businesses? Is a job in the municipality more important than a job in the industrial area?

President Cyril Ramaphosa said in his SONA speech that the role of businesses is essential to the country. Still, if we cannot register the vehicles sold, several businesses are affected. If we cannot complete the sale of a house, many businesses are affected. If there is a water shortage … and the story goes on. The business community depends on our municipal services to run optimally and without prejudice and malice. The management of Steve Tshwete Municipality must act quickly and solve the problems in their various departments.

In November 2021, MCCI offered its support in mediation to find a positive outcome to the strike that did not harm the community at large. As a collective, we have a lot of experience dealing with strikes and know how best to succeed. An example of this is the recent NUMSA strike in October 2021; thousands of workers were unhappy, many companies were affected, but there was a solution in the end. We expect nothing less from our local government. If we do not find a final solution soon, the unhappy working environment will not be solved. Those that have a role to play, the politicians, the management, SALGA and CoCGTA, must end the strike immediately.

There is a worrying wave of crime directed against our businesses and business premises. Vandalism and sabotage seem acceptable behaviour; where is SAPS, where is the discipline required to stop this? What do those involved think will happen if we continue down this disastrous path?

We want our town back. We want the town that won Masekane; we want the cleanest town in Mpumalanga, the one with the lowest crime rate and steady economic growth. We want the town where we talked to each other, regardless of political affiliation, history, or other identities that seemed essential to certain people. We want our town back.

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.

Amazing Race says thank you

Amazing Race says thank you

The second Middelburg Amazing Race, organised by the Middelburg Info Centre, took place last Saturday, 16 October 2021. The teams of 4 had a lot of fun. They started at the newly refurbished Middelburg train station and took on challenges to get clues to each destination.

Participants did everything from solving puzzles, tyre races, a maze, grave watching and archery, paddling a boat, and even writing a test about coffee!

The winning team, Quembu Miners, received R10 000, dr Kobus Family R7500 and Suicide Squad R5 000. Middelburg Care Village received a donation of R5000 and Dr Kobus kindly donated his winnings to Feral Care Friends.

Many thanks to the following sponsors who made the day possible: Thos Begbie, Underground Support Solutions, Middelburg Observer, Xpress Newspaper, 3@1 and Mpumalanga Rail Company.

We would also like to thank the places that hosted the challenges this year: MRC, OH Frewin Museum, Daily Coffee, Middelburg Parkrun, Oregon Place Guest House, Middelburg Heritage Committee, Gables Guest House, Middelburg Info, Middelburg Care Village, Retiefs Optometrist, Battlefields, 3@1 and Hermansdal Landgoed. You made the day great fun for all.

Let’s do it again next year!

The Middelburg Amazing Race is back!

The Middelburg Amazing Race is back! 

How well do you and your friends and colleagues know the town you live in? It’s time to put on your thinking cap to solve the clues and complete a few physical and mental challenges on Saturday, 16 October 2021!

There are great prizes to be won! The winning team will walk away R10 000, and a number of local charities will also benefit! All you need to do is complete the entry form and pay the entry fee of R2300/group before the closing date of 30 September. Teams of four will travel between the different clues in their own vehicle.

The competition is open to both corporate and private groups. The number of participants is limited, so do not delay! Entry forms are available from the Middelburg Information Centre office, 292 Walter Sisulu Street or by emailing marketing@middelburginfo.com.

Businesses who would still like to sponsor or be part of the route can contact Elsabe on 0849832819 or email for more details.

 

Industrialisation in Middelburg?

Industrialisation in Middelburg?

Much has been said about the government’s “Just Transition” strategy.  It has been talked about and studied by endless consultants for years. But what does it mean for Middelburg?

Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter makes a case for using South Africa’s transition to green energy to break the country’s”vicious cycle of deindustrialisation and unemployment”.  It can kickstart a “positive cycle of local demand for local goods to create investment and jobs.” At the
2021 Dr Hendrik Johannes van der Bijl Memorial Lecture, De Ruyter rejected the notion that South Africa abandon manufacturing in favour of commodity exports and services.

JUST ENERGY TRANSITION
Eskom will be implementing a Just Energy Transition strategy (JET) to accelerate the repurposing and repowering of decommissioned power plants, starting with Komati in 2022, which included pursuing a share of the renewable energy allocation included in the Integrated Resource Plan for 2019. Eskom plans to repower the Komati plant by installing solar photovoltaic (PV) generators and a 244 MWh battery energy storage system. Komati is in a great position to become a flagship brand.

The Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry has invited members to a meeting to discuss the JET opportunities for our local companies. If you have not yet received the link to the meeting, contact Anna-Marth Ott at ceo@middelburginfo.com for your link.

Chaos in Middelburg

Chaos in Middelburg

The business community has watched the recent riots and unrest in Middelburg with distress.

The business community has taken some hard knocks in the last five years. The inflated cost of electricity, the COVID19 closures in 2020 and 21, our employees are getting sick due to COVID19, our businesses having to close for a few days, the cost of sanitation and other PPE’s, to top it all off, the cost of raw materials like copper. The disaster of the July riots disrupted our supply lines and exports. Also, the unpopularity of coal in the global arena even led to hundreds of people losing their jobs last week. All these factors affect our economy.

The one advantage we had over our competitors was that Middelburg had a well-functioning city government. We cannot afford any more disruptions to our businesses. We call on the municipality and all stakeholders to solve the problems that agitated the citizens. We want to rebuild our businesses, protect the jobs of the people we employ, and grow our economy.

Middelburg has a reputation for being able to discuss and solve complex problems in the past. We can do it again.

 

A Golf Day Spectacular

A Golf Day Spectacular

On Friday, 7 May, the MCCI hosted our 2021 Golf Day. All had great fun, and the day was a big success. We had a full field with our Tee Box sponsorships and teams that played.

Sports stars were all about as Fanie De Villiers came out to meet and greet the local schools’ cricket teams and entertain the golfers at prize-giving,

Pollen Ndlanya showed up for a fun game of golf with us, and many a golfer came to enjoy the day.

 

MCCI started this event to bring businessmen and women together, to network and market themselves. And this year has shown that it is a definite benefit to join us on this day.

With like-minded individuals sponsoring and joining in on the game, this is a fantastic way to meet new business individuals.

All sponsors get unique social media marketing and exposure to the MCCI Affiliations and the Middelburg Community.

And for the Golfers who just came to enjoy the day, there were numerous prizes to be won! A lucky draw and even a small auction.

From 1st to 10th was recognized with a few other categories: Nearest to the Pin, Longest Drive, and the most accurate drive of the day.

A new tradition was started with Sandra Lawrenson from MCCI doing live Facebook interviews with the Companies that

attended and sponsored—giving more and more value to the Companies and Sponsors involved.

 

A big Thank You to all our sponsors and teams, from CEO Anna Marth Ott and the MCCI Team.

May next year be even better!