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Mayor Engages With Perseverance Cluster Businesses

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Today, the Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay Retief Odendaal visited the Perseverance Cluster where he was briefed on the importance of its work and how the Municipality can assist with service delivery challenges in the area.

He was joined by the Deputy Mayor Khusta Jack, MMC for Roads and Transport Kabelo Mogatosi and MMC for Infrastructure and Engineering, Dries van der Westhuizen. Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber CEO Denise van Huyssteen also joined the delegation, including the Cluster Chairperson Siyolo Dick, who presented the Cluster’s strategy to the team.

“The geographic clusters, such as Perseverance, form part of the Chamber’s vision to retain investment and jobs in the Metro. Our number one priority is to drive for an enabling environment in which business can operate,” says van Huyssteen.

“Our primary goal is to enable collaboration between businesses which are located in the same geographic areas, so that together focus can be applied to addressing issues of common interests.  This reduces costs, leverages resources and increases impact as the businesses are operating as a collective, rather than in their individual capacities.  Also, by joining forces, businesses have a stronger and united voice to lobby on strategic issues which impact upon future investment decisions.”

She further points out that the Chamber is driving a resurgence strategy to get the Metro working again and revive the Bay as a whole, as a conducive place to do business. The Chamber has also established other geographic clusters, which currently include Deal Party, Kariega, North End and Struandale.

Ten major companies in the area have a combined R16 billion annual contribution to the City’s GDP and employ 10000 employees.  In total there are 46 businesses operating in the area.

Delivering his presentation to the delegation, Dick says the Cluster’s Strategy is for Perseverance to be a self-sufficient, business friendly cluster maintaining an enabling operating environment that adds value for all stakeholders.

“We’re leveraging the benefits of a multi sectoral business cluster to retain and attract investment, including creating opportunities to drive business sustainability and growth. However, we have a multitude of service delivery related challenges within the cluster and thus, it becomes imperative that we should form a strategic alliance with the Municipality to collectively find effective solutions to these problems,” he says.

Executive Mayor Odendaal commended the Cluster for the effort it has put in addressing some of the key challenges in the area such as the adoption of a substation to safeguard it against vandalism.

“The Perseverance Cluster is very strategic for Nelson Mandela Bay as they contribute significantly to the Metro’s GDP. They invited us today to come and look at some of core infrastructure problems they have been facing over the years and the city is committed to resolving some of these issues as soon as possible and to work with the Cluster and the Chamber to ensure we make business for them as easy as possible,” says Odendaal.

Perseverance Cluster
Perseverance Cluster Chairperson Siyolo Dick, Executive Mayor Retief Odendaal and the CEO of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, Denise van Huyssteen. Photo: Caryn Sheehan

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.