Business forum widens its net

Attended by members and guests, the forum passed several resolutions on the day. “This has effectively placed the organisation on a developmental trajectory that will see major engagement by business with stakeholders at national, regional and more particularly, local level,” said chairman, Mark van Wyk.

The most sweeping constitutional change was the geographic area that the forum now covers, namely the South Durban Basin and surrounding communities, including Mobeni, Southgate through to the Umkomaas River.

Established in 2007, the PBF has morphed from the Prospecton Business Watch to its current structure after some 17 years serving business in the Prospecton area.

“We would not have achieved this without the participation of representatives of member companies volunteering their time and skill. A sincere thank you to all past committee members and participants. The support of Toyota (meeting venues and administrative staff), Cataler (meeting venues), Sapref (meeting venues), Motorvia (meeting venues and offices) and Federal Mogul (meeting venues) has been invaluable. We are also grateful to other member companies such as SAB for similar offers of support.

These 17 years of experience will be deployed into ensuring our new operations and executive committee drive strategies for effective business representation and business-related issue resolution across the entire SDB.”

The expansion of the forum’s area of operation has been prompted by constant requests for membership by companies outside of the Prospecton area, the imminent establishment of the dug-out port and the uniqueness of issues relating to business in the SDB such as environmental, climate change, legislative changes, local economic development and the socio-economic realities of the surrounding feeder communities to business and industry.

“The forum is best positioned in terms of its longstanding relationships with national, provincial and local government, state-owned enterprises, as well as international, national and local business organisations to ensure member companies are kept abreast of latest developments as well as address matters of concern to members,” said Mark.

“The South Durban area is our area of focus. As business gets to grips with major infrastructural development and economic opportunities, the forum will work to ensure business in the south plays a meaningful role in projects and they are exposed to all opportunities, fully understanding the implications and economic opportunities of these projects like the dug-out port on their operations.”