Business Chamber plays vital role in community

This is where business chambers play an integral role to keep trading in the area prosperous and alive.

In Bela-Bela there seems to be a new spirit and enthusiasm amongst the business sector to revive commerce and more business people affiliated with the Belabiz Business Chamber — a satellite branch of the Waterberg Business Chamber in Modimolle.

More members joined Belabiz after the recent community meeting in the Roodepoort-area, which was chaired by Jeedee Cloete, Freedom Front councillor. Cloete stated at the meeting that residents must seek feasible alternatives to change the appearance of the town and conduct business that will benefit the town.

A large part of the private sector is joining forces with local government to resolve service delivery issues. These are the citizens who made a mind shift to rather get their hands dirty and rectify the dilapidated than have an infrastructure that collapses with issues that have to be resolved in ongoing court cases.

Drummond Hammond, chairperson of Belabiz, and Mariska Greyling, Waterberg Business Chamber member for marketing, paid a visit to the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday 8 February.

Their visit was to establish why Middelburg Chamber of Commerce is achieving its goals and setting an example to other towns.
The Middelburg Chamber has enjoyed a reputation as a proper organisation for over 103 years and has currently over 300 members from different sectors of the community.

Even though each sector has its own purpose, they all contribute to a town’s prosperity and the national gross domestic product.

“A business chamber is not known to put up fights with local government, but to rather steer them in a direction that is beneficial to all involved. The Middelburg Chamber’s benefit statement to members includes signature events, connections to policy makers, training, council and task services, relevant communication, marketing opportunities and utilising resources. These are traits that the Waterberg Business Chamber, being affiliated with Sakeliga amongst others, also have in place, said Hammond.

A centralized membership of people from various sectors of the business community and having access to business intelligence and experience does however play a big role to steer a town toward prosperity.

“A chamber is A-political and exists for people who seek advice and opportunities, to network, but who are also willing to contribute to the growth of the community. It is a given and a legal obligation that we need to pay tax, even though the government does not fulfill their responsibility.”

Hammond and Greyling were surprised to find that Middelburg’s tourism information office was located inside the Middelburg Chamber’s office. This concept created a permanent flow of communication between members and the sector for short- and long-term planning.

Hammond said the same centralized principle can be applied in areas such as Bela-Bela. Business people should join and become part of the driving force for change.

“The frustration of poor service delivery in our country should not influence our drive to exceed and improve. Offer assistance rather than demand — especially when it’s about service delivery. Join a chamber and be counted as part of the solution.”

For inquiries about the Waterberg Business Chamber and Belabiz contact Maggie Grobler, Chamber secretary, on 072 633 3958 or 062 943 1858, or by e-mail at info@waterbergsake.co.za(.)