NMBBC

The Eyes and Ears initiative has been launched in Nelson Mandela Bay as a collaborative effort to enhance safety and security in the region.

This initiative involves key stakeholders such as the South African Police Service (SAPS), Agri Eastern Cape, Business Against Crime South Africa (BACSA), and the Private Security Industry (PSI), who are leveraging their expertise and resources to create a coordinated response to crime through shared resources and information.

“The strategic involvement of the right stakeholders to develop a common understanding of the highest impact on safety and security issues affecting business and the city, is what has led to the establishment of this initiative in Nelson Mandela Bay. The formulation of a collective approach to finding practical and sustainable solutions through sharing resources to take collective action, is the key to unlocking an enabling environment which promotes sustainable economic development,” says Alfie Jay, the Lead for the Chamber’s Safety and Security Task Team

The initiative is an official joint crime fighting initiative between these key stakeholders. The Private Security Industry formally cooperates with the SAPS by relaying information directly to the District Operational Command Centre (DOCC) and in some instances, receiving such relevant information directly from it. This information sharing will also feed into the Provincial Operations Command Centre (POCC) located in Zwelitsha and assist in the fight against crime at a provincial level.

Its objectives are to enhance the situational awareness of the SAPS by using the Private Security Industry’s (PSI) geographical deployment footprint for the sharing of information, to enhance operational response to crime hotspot areas, violent crimes, TRIO crimes (hijackings, house robberies and business robberies) and with specific emphasis on crimes which are heavily dependent on situational information and a shared concern for both the SAPS and the PSI, including allowing for the PSI to assist each other (and SAPS) where needed in a non-commercial and non-competitive capacity.

Jay further elaborates that through various discussions and research, the team discovered that although the initiative has been active, it has only been operational at a provincial level in the Eastern Cape.

“However, the high volume of information trafficked into the system is too overwhelming for both the SAPS as well as the PSI in the Metro to effectively track, collaborate and action on information which is only pertinent to the city,” says Jay.

He says that the collaboration between the Chamber’s Safety and Security Task Team, BACSA, the SAPS, the PSI and Agri Eastern Cape, has led to the establishment of the Eyes and Ears District Steering Committee, which will serve as a joint crime fighting entity that has the responsibility to oversee effective coordination and sharing of information between the District Operational Command Centre, and the Private Security Industry with a strong focus on Nelson Mandela Bay.  

“The PSI’s proximity to incidents, crime scenes, or crime hotspots, provide for responsive situational information that will inform and enable the SAPS to appropriately and rapidly respond to such incidents and track suspicious persons, vehicles – and the monitoring of routes and diversion tactics by suspects and perpetrators of crime,” he says.

“Being able to exclusively network participating camera feeds from various PSI’s and other institutions in Nelson Mandela Bay into one set of control room monitors, will enable improved solutions to monitoring, tracking, and collaboration, the purpose of which is to apprehend suspects, make arrests, and reduce crime in Nelson Mandela Bay.”   

Agri Eastern Cape Operations Manager Jason Kümm says while Agri EC serves its members mostly in the rural sections of the Eastern Cape, the organisation “has come on board to assist the Nelson Mandela Bay District in establishing the operational centre and as an impartial party to guide the steering committee and role players in establishing the best practices for a proactive and effective outcome.”

Agri EC will assist in coordinating information and resources available in the Eyes and Ears project through its 24/7 coordination centre located in the Bay.

Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner Major General Vuyisile Ncata says the Metro being the province’s hotspot for hijackings, vehicle theft, business and house robberies, will benefit from the implementation of the Eyes and Ears project.

According to Ncata, the recovery rate of hijacked or stolen motor vehicles is currently between 90-98%.

“The initiative will strengthen our efforts to prevent and react whenever the crimes are committed as our reaction will be quicker than before. The more successes the SAPS achieves, will serve as a deterrent to other criminal elements. This collaboration will further strengthen existing partnerships between all law enforcement agencies, both from the state and private industry,” says Ncata.

By pooling resources and enhancing information sharing, the initiative aims to improve the effectiveness of crime prevention and response, ultimately contributing to sustainable economic development in the region.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber’s is pleased to announce that its Trade and Investment Desk, the action arm to help unlock the potential of the metro as The Bay of Opportunity, has secured the support of Rand Merchant Bank (RMB).

The Desk, which will officially be launched next month, will undertake vital work in the areas of investor marketing, the facilitation of investor partnership linkages and the provision of key information and support to potential and existing investors.

Commenting on the partnership with RMB, Chamber chief executive officer Denise van Huyssteen says the partnership heralds a new chapter in Nelson Mandela Bay’s economic trajectory, marked by concerted efforts by a united business sector to get the metro on the national and international map as an investment destination.

“It is set to enhance the Trade and Investment Desk’s ability to drive significant catalytic economic activities that will contribute to growth in Nelson Mandela Bay. We kick-started our proactive efforts to promote the Metro as the Bay of Opportunity at our Nelson Mandela Bay Manufacturing Showcase event which took place recently (07 June),” says Van Huyssteen.

The Bay of Opportunity is focused on unlocking the potential of the Metro as a two-port city with a strong manufacturing base and highly skilled people. The Trade and Investment Desk will work in tandem with the province, the Municipality and other entities that support investors to ensure that a proactive approach is adopted to investor marketing, especially with a business-to-business focus. Ultimately, our aim is to help build investor confidence so that much needed jobs can be retained and created in the Bay. The Desk will also link directly to our Local Economy Reinvention Think Tank, which will be proactively identifying and driving business opportunities, particularly in the manufacturing sector.

The official launch of the Trade and Investment Desk is scheduled for the 10 th of July, with the Chamber currently in the process of recruiting a dedicated resource to operationalise it. This Trade and Invest Desk will collaborate closely with key partners, including the Eastern Cape Development Corporation, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, and the Coega Development Corporation.

“Importantly, the emphasis on collaboration rather than duplication ensures alignment with existing efforts while streamlining investor engagement processes,” says Van Huyssteen.

RMB’s Corporate and Investment Banking Sector Head Banking Division Pieter Nienaber says “We are incredibly supportive of the work done by the Chamber in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro and RMB is thrilled to partner with the Chamber on the launch of its Trade and Investment Desk. We look forward to working with the Chamber to encourage new investment into the Bay of Opportunity.”

“We are excited that RMB will be partnering with us to bring our Trade and Investment Desk to life Furthermore, we value their interest and confidence in the Bay as an untapped and high potential investment destination,” emphasises Van Huyssteen.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber joins the rest of South Africa in commemorating National Youth Day, to recognise the contribution that young people have made to freedom in South Africa. This year, both the National Youth Day and Youth Month are being celebrated under the theme: “Accelerating youth economic emancipation for a sustainable future”. To help combat youth unemployment and foster economic growth, the Chamber has partnered with KPI Solutions to implement the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme in Nelson Mandela Bay.

“Youth unemployment levels are unacceptably high and is a critical challenge in South Africa, including metros like Nelson Mandela Bay. Recognising the urgency to empower the youth and bridge the employment gap, the Chamber has pursued a targeted approach through the YES programme to facilitate a hands-on learning and skills development by placing them in diverse industries to gain invaluable work experience and exposure to different career paths,” says Denise van Huyssteen, Chamber chief executive officer. 

Through the YES programme, the parties have facilitated the placement of unemployed youth in various Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that participate on the various Chamber Entrepreneurship service interventions, underscoring the transformative power of providing opportunities for the youth while capacitating MSMEs in a win-win strategy.

Between 2022 and 2024, we successfully placed 62 interns with 27 MSMEs across the Metro. The Chamber’s objective is to capacitate MSMEs while tackling the challenge of increasing unemployment in Nelson Mandela Bay which is currently at 32.4% in the first quarter of 2024, according to the Latest Quarterly Labour Force Results.

The Chamber’s research indicates that MSMEs are still not playing their envisaged role of creating adequate employment opportunities and remain stagnant as they are faced with various challenges relating to operational inefficiencies, as well as access to training, funding and resources. It further reveals that 40% of the MSMEs have a sole employee – the business owner, while the largest proportion (69%) employ between 1-5 employees.

The Chamber is further working with the Nelson Mandela University’s Student Entrepreneurship unit and Rosebank College to harness and support efforts designed to increase student entrepreneurial intentions, and supporting existing studentprenuers. The Chamber does this by matching students with MSMEs for shadowing, while availing MSMEs registered with the Entrepreneurship Desk for targeted sessions. 

Van Huyssteen says spearheading efforts dedicated to attracting and retaining investment, next month the Chamber will be launching a Trade and Investment Desk, with the core objectives and focus areas encompassing investment destination marketing under the theme of Bay of Opportunity; economic research and data availability, inward and outbound buyer delegations, international trade exhibitions, and Business-to-Business linkages. These efforts are driven to have a direct and indirect impact on local employment creation opportunities.

As part of efforts to retain and create manufacturing industry opportunities, the Chamber recently launched its Local Economy Reinvention Think Tank, which will run targeted workstreams to take viable ideas into viability studies, and ultimately the most feasible will be implemented.

Van Huyssteen highlights that “Key to this endeavour is the commitment of organised business to collaborate with key stakeholders in identifying opportunities aimed at retaining and creating investment and jobs in the Metro.”

These efforts, along with their Chamber interventions, are aimed at repositioning the local economy, fostering a competitive environment, and ultimately ensuring a sustainable future for the youth and the broader community of Nelson Mandela Bay.

SPAR Eastern Cape divisional managing director Siyolo Dick has been elected as President of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber.

Dick pledged to lead the drive to unlock and connect Nelson Mandela Bay’s advantages that position the metro as Africa’s Bay of Opportunity with potential to be a diverse manufacturing and exports hub for the African continent.

He succeeds civil engineer Loyiso Dotwana, chair of the NAKO Group, who handed over the reins at a Board meeting last night. Dotwana, who has served the allowed term as President, moves into the Immediate Past President role to ensure continuity of the Chamber’s strategic direction.

Dick, 46, said that the Business Chamber was a key player in providing the metro’s diverse businesses with “a collective voice at the table” to influence positive change and promote the best interests of business, as generators of investment and employment.

“It is a privilege to be trusted to lead organised business in a pivotal time of change and challenges, as well as opportunities.

“Nelson Mandela Bay has strong advantages in two ports, a strategic geo-location and the nodes of intermodal logistics connectivity, albeit in need of improvement. We have a strong base in manufacturing and advanced technology, backed up with a skilled labour pool and capabilities in research and innovation support.

“We are a metro of manageable size and have a fantastic natural environment for tourism and leisure, conservation and leveraging into a green economy.

“The opportunities and advantages are in front of us, and I am looking forward to playing a role in unleashing the potential of this metro and its people,” he said.

NMB Business Chamber chief executive Denise van Huyssteen said she looked forward to working with Dick to unlock the potential of the Bay of Opportunity in order to retain and attract investment and employment.

She paid tribute to Dotwana, who has served on the Board since 2017 and led the organisation on a reinvention path of business activism and a progressive approach to offering solutions and taking positive action to improve the enabling environment for business.

“Loyiso has focused strongly on ensuring that the Chamber is relevant to business in the issues that we pursue, in the results delivered, and in the services that we provide to our members.

“He is an excellent facilitator of collaboration and a sharp strategist who has been instrumental in the reinvention of the Business Chamber as a relevant and active voice of business. We are fortunate that he will still be contributing his strategic thinking and active involvement to the Chamber,” Van Huyssteen said.

Dick was a Deputy President of the Chamber before his election to the President’s seat.

He chairs the Perseverance Business Association, a Chamber-supported initiative that has united businesses in the area to tackle basic service delivery problems hampering business and manufacturing operations. Their successful interventions include protecting the local substation against vandalism and theft, and moving the municipality to address issues such as potholes and non-operating streetlights.

Van Huyssteen said that the Perseverance businesses’ collective efforts were a trailblazing initiative leading to other businesses in the metro following suit and the formation of 11 geographic business clusters to date.

“Siyolo exemplifies the unique commitment of NMB businesses to rolling up their sleeves and offering solutions and resources to make a meaningful difference rather than the old approach of just complaining from the sidelines.

“I am looking forward to working with him to strengthen the Chamber’s membership base and collaborative partnerships both locally and nationally,” she said.

KwaNobuhle-born and raised, Dick holds a BTech in Human Resources and an MBA degree from Nelson Mandela University. He was the youngest-ever appointment to a divisional executive position in SPAR Eastern Cape and has led award-winning teams in the company.

He served as SPAR Eastern Cape Divisional Human Resources Executive, Divisional Information Technology Executive and Divisional Distribution Executive before being appointed to his current position as Managing Director of SPAR Eastern Cape in 2022.

At its first Board meeting following the Chamber’s Annual General Meeting on 6 June, the Board also welcomed newly-elected members Nomfundo Faltein, Andre Keet, Thuto Maepa and Siya Mthembu.

Kelvin Naidoo of Auto-X continues as Deputy President, and lead for the Chamber’s key forward-looking Local Economy Reinvention Think Tank, while BDO Partner Siya Mthembu takes over from Gugu Nxiweni of the Improvate Group as Treasurer.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber has conferred special recognition to outgoing Board Members for their outstanding service to the Chamber.

Dr Andrew Muir

Globally recognised conservationist Dr Andrew Muir, who chairs the Nelson Mandela Bay Climate Coalition and is also the CEO of the Wilderness Foundation Africa, was awarded for his role as President and Immediate Past President.

Dr Muir played an active role in leading the Chamber during Covid-19 with regards to supporting hospitals with increased bed capacity, the storage and distribution of medical supplies and securing of much-needed protective gear and other key medical supplies.

In 2021, Dr Muir led a study to assess how climate change will impact Nelson Mandela Bay. The study provides an outlook from 2021-2040 and highlights the impact that extreme storm surges, rising sea levels and temperature increases will have on the Metro.

He is also leading a team of local Bay experts under the auspices of the Wilderness Foundation Africa who have been tasked, to not only assess the best science and data on the Metro as it relates to climate change, but to engage as wide a range of stakeholders across the Metro to develop the Climate Change Resilience Development Strategy Framework (CRDS) which serves as a crucial "toolbox" to guide local stakeholders and development initiatives towards climate resilience. The framework not only aims to prepare the metro for climate-related threats but also seeks to identify pathways for positive development.

Gugu Nxiweni

A qualified chartered accountant and executive chairman of Improvate Group, Gugu Nxiweni’s financial expertise and leadership as Treasurer have played a crucial role in maintaining the Chamber's fiscal integrity, ensuring that it continues to operate effectively and responsibly. His track record in both the public and private sectors speaks to his professionalism and commitment to excellence. During his tenure, he has contributed to the Chamber’s achievement in attaining unqualified audit opinions.

Nxiweni ensured that the Chamber’s sound financial management and control prevailed at all times. His contribution to the Chamber’s Finance Committee has been immense given his experience as a qualified auditor, risk management practitioner and businessman. Additionally he played an important role in the Chamber’s Human Resources REMCO committee.

Other recognitions included the Chamber President Loyiso Dotwana and outgoing Board Members Dr Sibongile Muthwa and Mike Neubert for outstanding service and loyal service, respectively.

Dotwana is who is currently the NAKO Group and NAKO ILISO Board Chairman, and before this, he was the executive director responsible for business development at NAKO Group and NAKO ILISO since November 2000. He is Chairman of Blackwood Power, a renewable energy business, as well as a founder and director of the listed mining company Afrimat Limited and an independent non-executive director of Hyprop Investments Ltd.

In this role as President, he is responsible for leading the Chamber Board in determining its strategic direction, to drive for economic growth and an enabling environment for Nelson Mandela Bay. He has lead the charge in bringing relevance to the Chamber and its members through a re-energised, agile and action-orientated strategy.

Though his tenure comes to an end soon, he will not be lost to the Chamber as he will step into the Immediate Past President role where he will continue providing leadership expertise as part of the Board.

Dr Muthwa is Nelson Mandela University’s current Vice-Chancellor and has worked in both development and public sector institutions, as well as in academia. She will be stepping down as a board member after serving a seven-year tenure which saw her contributing in advancing the Chamber’s mission and vision.

Neubert, a qualified chartered accountant and current Managing Director for Momentum Health, also serves in the Chamber’s Beachfront Cluster Manco. Both Muthwa and Neubert have been recognised for the invaluable contribution to the Chamber.

Commenting during the ceremony, Chamber chief executive Denise van Huyssteen said the recognitions underscored the important role played by business leaders who serve as volunteer in helping to drive the Chamber’s vision of strengthening its position as a leading catalyst for Nelson Mandela Bay to retain and attract investment.

“Too often, talks and plans just lead to more talks and more planning, with little action and implementation. However, we are privileged as to have the caliber of the leadership we have with business leaders who have selflessly dedicated their time and resources in helping to achieve the ease of doing business in the Metro. Their out-of-the-box and action orientated thinking has contributed immensely in the success of our interventions to benefit our members and the Metro at large,” says Van Huyssteen.

Van Huyssteen further highlights that “as a business community we have hope in the future – we know that this is the Bay of Opportunity. It starts with all of us believing in the potential and taking action to drive things forward in the right direction.”

The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber has taken a significant step towards further enhancing its capacity and achieving its strategic goals by appointing four new board members at its 14th Annual General Meeting held at the Boardwalk Conference Centre yesterday.

The new board members are Nomfundo Faltein, the Managing Director at Orion Engineered Carbons; Professor Andre Keet, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Engagement and Transformation at Nelson Mandela University; Thuto Maepa, the Group Executive Human Resources at Sovereign Foods; and Siyabonga Mthembu, Partner at BDO South Africa.

Chamber President Loyiso Dotwana says these new appointments are expected to bring fresh perspectives and expertise to the Chamber, aiding in the pursuit of its mission to retain and attract investment and jobs in Nelson Mandela Bay.

“The Chamber is excited about the calibre of the new additions to our board as they come from different sectors and bring diverse expertise in their respective roles. This will go a long way in injecting much-needed energy and agility in the Board as each individual brings unique qualities and fresh eyes.”

More about the new Board Members:

Nomfundo Faltein

Nomfundo Faltein, the Managing Director of Orion Engineered Carbons, has over 20 years’ experience in the automotive industry having worked in all disciplines of Quality Management in manufacturing environments. She joined Orion Engineered Carbons in 2017 as Quality Manager and in 2022, was later promoted to her current leadership role. She holds various qualifications including an MBA from the Nelson Mandela University.

Professor André Keet

Professor André Keet currently holds the Research Chair for Critical Studies in Higher Education Transformation and is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Engagement and Transformation at Nelson Mandela University. He is a former Visiting Professor at the Centre for Race, Education and Decoloniality,

Carnegie School of Education, Leeds Beckett University, UK and the 2018 Marsha Lilien Gladstein Visiting Professor of Human Rights at the University of Connecticut.

He served as Director and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and on the Commission for Gender Equality, before joining the university sector. Since entering the higher education field, Prof Keet has held professorial positions at the universities of Pretoria, Fort Hare and Free State. He has been serving as transformation advisor and practitioner in various capacities in the sector.

His research and post-graduate supervision focus on radical approaches to the study of higher education, such as critical and abolitionist university studies.

Siyabonga Mthembu

Siyabonga Mthembu is currently Partner at BDO SA and is a qualified Chartered Accountant with more than ten years’ experience in the profession. He started his working career at Deloitte in Durban, followed by a number of years in the United Kingdom where he was seconded as a Financial Accountant at Tarmac Holdings. During his time in the UK, he gained experience in the construction and manufacturing sectors.

His experience as a Chief Financial Officer at mining services company Carocept has provided him with experience in financial management and overseeing financials for all areas of the business. Before joining BDO, Siyabonga worked as an Associate Director at Ernst & Young(EY), where he worked on clients such as Moolmans Pty Ltd, Saab South Africa Pty Ltd, Assmang (Pty) Ltd and Siemens South Africa, to name a few.

Siya’s sector experience includes mining, construction and manufacturing.

Thuto Maepa

Thuto Maepa, is currently the Group Executive Human Resources at Sovereign Foods. She previously served in different roles at Royal Swaziland Sugar Corporation, Standard Bank, SA Nkosi and Company and SA Nkosi and Company. Thuto holds an Executive Development Programme from the Graduate School of Business at the University of Cape Town. She has extensive experience in Performance Management, Human Resources, Change Management, Succession Planning, Employee Relations and more.

The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa signifies a significant step towards fostering collaboration and synergy between these two key entities.

By combining their resources and expertise, the parties aim to strengthen the business environment not only within Nelson Mandela Bay but also to share learnings at a national level.

This partnership is particularly notable as it marks the first time these organisations will be working together, emphasising their commitment to building a more robust and sustainable business landscape.

The Chamber already has agreements and strong linkages nationally with leading organisations such as National Association of Automotive and Allied Manufacturers (Naacam), National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa), Automotive Industry Development Centre – EC (AIDC-EC), with the signing of Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) solidifying some of these partnerships. In addition to this, the Chamber has fostered collaborative linkages with key stakeholders such as the Eastern Cape Development Corporation and the Presidential Climate Commission.

Chamber CEO Denise van Huyssteen said that these linkages and partnerships further promote the Chamber’s vision of advocating for the Metro’s developmental agenda at a national level. “What also underscores the partnership is the commitment to collaborate in identifying opportunities aimed at retaining and creating investment and jobs and a shared vision of retaining manufacturing locally and on a national level.”

This aligns with the Chamber’s Local Economy Reinvention Think Tank which is focuses on leveraging the Metro’s unique value proposition by positioning it as a Bay of Opportunity to remain competitive in the face of massive disruptive changes which are happening globally and locally.  

“Importantly, the goal is to position the Metro as a diverse manufacturing base on the African continent and the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa provides a solid base in this regard,” says Van Huyssteen.

Based on the latest figures, the Council represents over 9000 member companies in the consumer goods, retail and services sector, which is one of the largest employers in South Africa. It contributes R1 trillion to the R5 trillion of South Africa’s annual GDP, which is roughly 20% of the country’s economic production, and employs 2.5 million people, which is 16% of the national labour force.

“We are also encouraged by the Council's commitment in encouraging its members to participate in Chamber interventions, which are aimed at mobilising businesses to collaborate with stakeholders to find and implement solutions which improve the ease of doing business,” says Van Huyssteen. “This is all centred around utilising our respective strengths and reach to drive action and positive outcomes which serve the best interests of the economy.”

The Chamber has a number of interventions in place that are focused on addressing enabling environment challenges that impact the ease of doing business in the Metro. These are driven through its Task Teams and Geographical clusters where businesses within a particular area come together and identify areas of common interest and address them as a collective, rather than working in silos. “As a business community we have hope in the future – we know that this is the Bay of Opportunity. It starts with all of us believing in the potential and taking action to drive things forward in the right direction,” she says.

Zinhle Tyikwe, CEO of the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa, hailed the partnership as a significant milestone that underpins the association’s focus on identifying opportunities to foster economic growth and social cohesion across the country.

“CGCSA has, through the CGCSA Foundation, committed to working and engaging with municipalities and metros to address such key issues as infrastructure bottlenecks, energy and water security, in order to retain and attract local investment. Through these interventions, our members who have significant operations across metros such as Nelson Mandela Bay will able to trade better, create value and jobs and sustain livelihoods. They can only do so if we forge mutually sustainable public-private partnerships based on a shared vision of inclusive growth which South Africa desperately needs,” says Tyikwe.

Businesses in Neave Industrial Park and Korsten are spearheading a clean-up initiative to enhance the area’s aesthetic value, led by the Neave Korsten Cluster’s Henry Bennett Project. The initiative aims to address service delivery challenges in the Neave Industrial and Korsten areas, specifically focusing on Bennette Street and Henry Ford Road.

The cluster has partnered with MES (Mould Empower Serve), a social development organisation dedicated to providing sustainable solutions to poverty in urban areas like Johannesburg, Cape Town, Nelson Mandela Bay, and Kempton Park. MES runs the GROW programme, which empowers and rehabilitates the homeless by offering food, shelter, social work services, and job opportunities.

Initially started as a trial, the Henry Bennett Project has grown from involving four businesses to nine, with the goal of expanding to other areas within Neave Industrial and Korsten. The MES team has established a structured clean-up and maintenance plan that includes daily and weekly tasks such as verge cleaning, weed spraying, pothole repairs, road marking painting, and bollard replacement.

Project Coordinator for the Henry Bennet Project, James Flanagan, emphasises the project’s potential for expansion and its positive impact on the community. Two permanent employees in Neave Industrial Park, who progressed through the GROW programme, are now employed by CPG Equipment, a local supplier of wheel servicing, brake, lifting, compressor, and air conditioning equipment to fitment centres in South Africa and beyond.

“The project was created on a trial basis in the area and the Cluster’s goal is to eventually replicate it in other areas within North End. Initially, the project started with only four businesses and the number has reached nine and counting. The MES team has established a daily and weekly clean up and maintenance plan focusing on the verges, weed spraying, covering potholes, painting of road markings, removing and replacing bollards,” says Flanagan.

Freek Myburgh, the founder and owner of CPG Equipment, got involved with the programme after learning about MES’s work in the Metro. He highlights the opportunity it provides for individuals to prove their worth, work hard, and transition from the MES programme to independent living, thereby rebuilding their lives.

“I immediately got in touch with the team to see how we can assist. As such, we have two guys who now work for us and this has provided them with an opportunity to prove their worth, to work hard and to not simply give up. This also gives them a chance to move out of the MES programme and become independent as they rebuild their lives,” says Myburgh.

This initiative not only enhances the visual appeal of Neave Industrial Park but also fosters community development and empowerment through sustainable employment and rehabilitation efforts.

The Chamber’s Geographic Cluster Lead Paola Horak also highlighted the importance of the Henry Bennet Project and especially the collaboration with MES as an excellent example of good leaders who take ownership of the problems and collaborate to find solutions by harnessing synergies and taking positive action.

“Replication of this success story across the business clusters is key to resurging Nelson Mandela Bay,” says Horak.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber is hosting the first Kasi Bizconnect event on 16 May 2024 in collaboration with other stakeholders to unlock developmental opportunities for township based businesses in the Metro. 

The event is designed for both formal and informal small businesses operating in various townships across Nelson Mandela Bay.

With government having identified the township economy as one of the potential drivers to spur job creation, social stability and inclusive economic growth in South Africa, the Chamber has partnered with the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC), Standard Bank and Kasi Talks to drive awareness of growth and sustainability interventions available to the sector by providing them with developmental information and opportunities, insights, business growth engagements and networking opportunities. The session will cover access to markets, supplier and enterprise development opportunities, business support services, and funding, among others. Through this engagement, the businesses will get an opportunity to network with each other and create meaningful linkages. 

According to Roger Wilco’s 2023 Township CX Report, the total market value of the township economy is estimated to be R900 billion with approximately 60% of the market considered formal and 40% informal. Around R150 billion in cash is spent at the estimated 150 000 spaza shops every year, which contribute as much as 5.2% to South Africa’s GDP and employ 2.6 million people.

The report further highlights that testimony to its potential, big retailers are seeking to tap into the township economy with big brands emulating the spaza shop model by offering smaller-format stores constructed from shipping containers in a bid to get closer to where its shoppers live.

“The township micro and informal sector, which employs many workers and traders, is often overlooked despite its importance to the economy. For instance, according to Thwala, Masiya and Lubinga (2023) report in the International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, the food business in the informal sector is estimated to be worth R87 billion annually and has been around for 10-20 years. The residential backroom renting sector is worth approximately R30 billion. This is sector is estimated to employ 2.5 million people,” says Denise van Huyssteen, Chambers chief executive. 

She further adds that many of these businesses are born out of economic hardship and referred to as necessity enterprises, are often not compliant with funding requirements and their growth is generally stagnant.

Various factors contribute to this, including regulatory/legal barriers, deficiencies in the physical environment and infrastructure, locational disadvantages, limited links to wider value chains, inappropriate land use management systems, red tape and cumbersome bureaucratic processes, lack of access to finance and limited government support, crime and negative social attitudes, and the tough market environment as a result of intense competition from other small and large businesses.

“Therefore, our intention is to provide support to them in terms of formalising their businesses, developing their skills and to become compliant with funding requirements, and turn their operation from necessity to opportunity based businesses,” says Van Huyssteen.

The Chamber is an inclusive business organisation which represents businesses of various sizes, both formal and informal. “We’re planning to continue creating these interventions and offerings targeting township based businesses because we recognise the importance of creating nurturing networks.”

Kasi Talks founder Siya Mandla says they are extremely excited to be working in collaboration with the Chamber, Standard Bank and ECDC in our pursuit of positioning the Township Economy as the pinnacle of our country’s economic growth.

“We are of the opinion that Townships, as economic zones, have a critical role to play in driving economic growth, job creation and promotion of entrepreneurship. It is in this background that we are hosting our first Kasi BizConnect, where township entrepreneurs are encouraged to come and network with others,” says Mandla.

“We strongly believe that the Township Economy is open for business.”

Jonty Bouw, Standard Bank’s Head of Enterprise Banking in the Eastern Cape says “we are pleased to be working in collaboration with the Chamber, ECDC and Kasi Talks for the first Kasi BizConnect. This platform brings together local entrepreneurs and key stakeholders in constructive dialogue which will unlock opportunities for Township Economic Growth. We look forward to sharing information on our Enterprise Development solutions in addressing some of the key challenges faced by small businesses, which we believe will enable them for growth.”