Galxcoc welcomes govt support for rebuilding

Government’s pronounced support for the rebuilding process of township businesses affected by the recent looting spree has been welcomed by Greater Alexandra Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Galxcoc).

But the chamber also demanded to know the full details around the model of assistance and also voiced its concerns about what it called the ‘familiar snail pace’ of government operational processes.

“I wish they could quickly unpack the model of support so that we can all clearly understand it while at the same time speeding up the process of finalising the mechanics of the support and affecting it.

“These destroyed businesses were the sole livelihood of our members and need to be rebuilt like yesterday, to enable them to back the food on the tables of their families,” chamber president Mpho Motsumi told Alex News in an interview.

Turning to the issue of being compliant taxpayers as a prerequisite for support, Motsumi, the co-owner of Alex Mall that is less than five years old, said this was not the time for entertaining compliance.

“You don’t rub salt into a wound nor do you go to an aggrieved family at the time of mourning and say it was your fault that your son died even if they had been careless. Is that the kind of comfort and support the government wants to offer to its aggrieved citizens in the aftermath of the despicable looting spree?” Motsumi asked.

“It’s nice to commit to support the rebuilding process but this must be coupled with the nitty-gritty details around the direction and form of support and how this will function. As it is now, we are all in the dark and the only thing we know is the pronouncement made for support.”

The organisation is the sole business chamber in the township and Motsumi said they have been working tirelessly to ensure their members were compliant to regulations and requirements to be in business.

But unfortunately, Motsumi claimed government had not come to the party. He said one key element the chamber had proposed to the government was to take up residency at the chamber headquarters in Motsweding House. This to ensure that all the government departments and agencies required in the establishment of a business were brought close to the communities under one roof.

“There is nothing as frustrating as being sent from pillar to post when one wants to set up a business, hence we want a one-stop shop to make one’s business compliant and also a one-stop shop for assistance in registering the business and obtaining advice and financing support.”

He pointed out that in other countries such as Austria, one cannot set up a business if that person does not belong to a chamber. “This makes it easy for would-be business people to be organised and ensure compliance at the same time. I would urge for the adoption of such a model.”