The 123rd annual Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) banquet was a night to remember, with the hall at Rustique Boutique Hotel transformed into a pirate ship.

Guests fully embraced the theme, dressing as pirates, including keynote speaker Mishael Mashele, president of the South African Institution of Mechanical Engineering (SAIMechE) and co-founder of Paradigm Shift Holdings.

Trust expertise to build lasting prosperity

In his keynote, Mashele highlighted the importance of leadership, technical knowledge, and community support. “Communities thrive when they identify, trust and empower those with expertise,” he said, comparing egalitarian pirate ships – which made decisions collectively but left no lasting legacy – to merchant vessels led by skilled navigators, which built trade routes and commercial empires.

He also cited historical and modern examples, including the 17th-century Swedish warship Vasa, which sank after political authority ignored engineering advice, and countries such as China, Germany, and Singapore, where technical expertise drives rapid economic growth.

Mashele shared his own journey from a student supported by a community development fund to leading his own engineering company. “An empowered engineer is an empowered community,” he said, urging businesses to reintroduce structured Engineer-in-Training programmes and mentorship opportunities to develop the next generation of engineers.

“The future of Middelburg, Mpumalanga, and South Africa is not written in stone. It is being engineered by the decisions we make today,” he concluded.

Middelburg’s economy: More than statistics

In his speech, MCCI president Gerrit van der Merwe celebrated Middelburg’s economic significance. He reminded guests that while official statistics suggest the town contributes only 8% to South Africa’s GDP, those who live and work here know the figure is far higher. “We produce the energy for this country, the fuel for the economy, and the metals that build the infrastructure,” he said.

Van der Merwe highlighted the town’s vibrancy. Entrepreneurs are building businesses, families are settling here, and industries are growing despite increasing costs, regulations, and strained infrastructure.

He noted that business leaders must act as a bridge between past and future generations, carrying the responsibility to build Middelburg’s economy and opportunities.

“The generation before us built the foundations we inherit. Now the responsibility sits with us,” he said. “Someday, the next generation will stand here, and it will be their turn.”

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Middelburg’s top business minds turned the Middelburg Chamber’s 123rd banquet into a pirate ship, but the message was serious: Trust expertise, build the future and grow the economy. “The future is being engineered by the decisions we make today.” MiddelburgObserver, MiddelburgMCCI, Middelburg, BusinessLeaders, Mpumalanga, SouthAfrica, BusinessGrowth, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Networking, FutureFocused, Engineering, Community, MCCIBanquet, PirateThem,e LocalBusiness

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Historical parallels and the pirate theme

Drawing on the evening’s pirate theme, van der Merwe connected Middelburg to its European namesake in the Netherlands, which played a key role in early trade and commerce. “This theme reminds us of the chamber’s deep historical roots,” he said. “Just as trade cities of the past shaped commerce, we too must create value locally, even if recognition happens elsewhere.”

• Van der Merwe also introduced the 2026 EXCO members. They are: Angela Smith, Bongani Bongo, Chris Swartz, Christo de Ridder, Clinton Neyt, Eleanor Petersen, George Tacoulas, Gideon Visser, Johannes Welgemoed, Jonathan Charles, Lesley Orton, Mahudu Sekgwele, Marni Eksteen, Masha Mahlangu, Neil van Niekerk, Nkululeko Kituzwayo, Riaan van Coller, Ronnald Gradidge, Sam Pretorius, Stephan Venter, Sterna van der Merwe, Thabang Mtsweni, Thapelo Mngomezulu, Theunis van Wyk, and Yaseen Latif.