Umbilo Business Forum hosts year-end meeting

UMBILO Business Forum (UBF) held its year-end meeting recently, where a round-up of the year’s progress was discussed.

At the meeting, Mark Slaughter, a seasoned business leader with multiple interests, shared his personal key lessons in business over the past 20 years, highlighting the model and formula he has tried and tested in his journey of personal and business success. He encouraged all members present to work as a collective while appreciating and celebrating each other’s individual strengths. “It is important to maximise and utilise available resources and make them accessible to each member’s sphere of influence,” he said.

He also touched on the significance of collaboration among all levels and sectors within our culturally diverse communities and society at large.

Mike Pienaar, a member of the forum, presented a report on the current state of affairs in the Williams Road precinct.

“Leading up to the local general elections and soon after, the volume of criminal activities re-surged and numerous incidents have been reported to the Umbilo SAPS but are yet to be investigated and resolved. With the crime combating initiatives yet to be embarked on by the UBF and private security companies in the area as well as the involvement of South Durban Basin, I have high hopes that these criminal elements will be dealt with accordingly,” he said.

Chairman, Tony Blaunfeldt, addressed the subject of crime stats for the area and urged members to report all incidents to police. He also expressed his full support and confidence in the Umbilo SAPS team.

UBF member Kelvin Caldwell reported on the progress of the Congella Park renewal project. He has taken it upon himself, through his company, to be responsible for the skilled labour tasks in the upliftment initiative, namely a full renovation of the park’s ablution facilities, landscaping and terracing of the organic food garden and erecting temporary shelter for the 12 homeless individuals identified as dwellers of the park.

Trevor White reported on the progress of the project he is overseeing under the Umbilo Social Development Organisation, the 33 Davenport Avenue initiative.

“The project has been on hold because of non-commitment from the city to add this on the municipality’s social development and community upliftment projects priority list. I am encouraged by the UBF’s partnership with South Durban Basin and hope that this relationship will assist in putting the project back on track,” he said.

Thabile Khumalo from the South Durban Basin introduced herself and her organisation and briefly gave an overview of the work done thus far in the Umbilo area. She mentioned her organisation’s anticipation to work in partnership with the UBF going forward in uplifting the Umbilo precinct