Partnering for growth on the North Coast

The Ilembe Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise iLembe have officially joined forces with the similar goal of boosting Ilembe’s battling economy.

Ilembe Chamber president Andrew Horton and Enterprise iLembe CEO Nathi Nkomzwayo recently signed a memorandum of understanding pledging their co-operation and support to enhance the economic well-being of the district.

Also read: North Coast residents demand answers on service delivery

Horton said he saw Ilembe as a three-legged pot standing on the following industries: tourism, agriculture and manufacturing. Unfortunately all three legs are rather wobbly.

“We are making a plea to government to intervene in the serious problems facing the district. The sugar industry is under major strain caused by imports and the sugar tax predominantly.

“On the manufacturing side, the unrest in Isithebe has cost businesses R100 million a day, while construction sites are being brought to a standstill by the mafia group who are under the impression that if their people are not employed, no one should be employed,” said Horton.

Besides tackling these issues, Nkomzwayo said they shared a synergy in local business development and needed to grow employment opportunities.

“It is not just about upskilling people and giving them the tools to be employable, but also to make sure they can be placed in a work space.

“We have to create access to the marketplace to help SMME’s grow and develop. If I am a small business man with a bakkie offering a plumbing service but no one knows about me, I am not going to be successful,” said Nkomzwayo.

“We need to take the young, unemployed people off the streets and appeal to businesses to help us with mentorship, training and internship positions to give these people a gap into the workplace.”

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