Open letter to Middelburg
The economy is not an isolated entity that generates money at will. We need certain things to function.
An Open Letter to:
Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry Members, the Steve Tshwete Community, Politicians and the Steve Tshwete Municipality
MCCI offers our assistance to STLM and strikers to Mediate a solution
The Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) executive members held their monthly meeting on 11 November 2021. At this meeting, the members discussed the various factors in the world that affect local businesses. It was unanimously decided to write an open letter to the Steve Tshwete community to find a way to secure the future and prosperity of our town.
MCCI and its members offer our mediation services to the leadership of the Steve Tswhete Municipality and the strikers, as we are an objective and apolitical organisation. MCCI urges the various parties involved in the unrest to mediate to ensure that our town has a future.
The people of Middelburg have always worked together, regardless of our political views. We depend on each other to ensure the well-being of our town. The Middelburg Forum has been the foundation of our town’s success since 1994, and MCCI urges everyone to get back to the negotiating table so that we can return to a balanced relationship.
Our town has four pillars that secure the future of our city: the businesses in the city, the community, the elected politicians and the STLM employees. What has happened in the city with the disrupted council services puts our businesses and jobs at risk.
Business needs well-maintained road infrastructure, reliable telecommunications, electricity, water and security, and a quick turnaround of other municipal services rendered. Granted, other factors also affect the success of a business, but if we do not have access to the services mentioned above, we cannot operate at our total capacity, which affects profits and, consequently, jobs. It is a vicious circle that can be stopped.
MCCI has supported the municipality’s local economic development programme since its inception. With special thanks to Columbus Stainless Steel (Pty) Ltd, our members have supported and assisted STLM on several levels. The company has helped with the pumps at Middelburg Dam, its engineers helped when the Golfsig substation was destroyed in a fire, and recently its firefighters put out the fire in town.
The economy is not an isolated entity that generates money at will. We need certain things to function, and we urge the local government to accept our offer of mediation. If we can get our city fully functioning again, it would be a great Christmas present for the entire town.
Que Naidoo
President on behalf of MCCI’s Members and Executive
