Germiston Business Forum (GBF) aims to create employment while ironing out issues affecting businesses in the greater Germiston.

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The forum is a platform for raising and driving pressing issues that impact the local businesses and economy.

A committee has been set up to represent the concerns of the members of the forum and help focus their actions.

Comprising diverse local business owners and residents, the committee aims to bring businesses and residents together, improving the local economy and ensuring the return of those who left the area.

Heidi Searle, the forum chairperson, said the unfortunate truth is that Germiston was once one of the major financial centres of Ekurhuleni.

“It is now plagued by ongoing issues such as safety and crime, failing infrastructure, cable theft and vandalism,” said Searle.

“The forum has been long overdue and will enable businesses to work with the City of Ekurhuleni in resolving issues.

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This way, city officials will have the support they need, while they will also be held accountable,” said Searle.

Among the features of the forum is the streetnews app, developed by a resident Thinus van Rooyen.

“This app will assist and facilitate the support local initiative,” she said.

“The region’s unemployment rate must be addressed to allow individuals to contribute to the area’s economy in the same way businesses already do.

“The ’employ me’ option will be a key feature of the Germiston business forum app.

“The goal of this initiative is to bridge the gap between local businesses and jobless individuals in our community by promoting local employment opportunities,” said Searle.

“We urge all local businesses to join and participate in the forum.

“We will also invite ward and PR councillors as volunteers to assist the initiative, with any data they might have about unemployed persons in their wards,” she said.

For more information about the app, portfolios of committee members or how to join the forum, contact Searle at 076 271 3590 or Juanita Horn at 076 020 0812.