Chamber’s 97th AGM
The Eastern Gauteng Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EGCCI) held its 97th annual general meeting on Wednesday night at Riverside Country Estate in Grootvaly.
The EGCCI’s president, Gavin Roberts presented the annual report.
Roberts stated that in the previous year, the chamber had lost eight members, but gained nine.
“The Business Linkage Centre (BLC) facilitates the link between corporate businesses and small to medium enterprises (SMEs), by providing the corporate sponsors with leverage to attain legislative requirements,” said Roberts.
Roberts continued by saying that the success of the BLC relies on the positive interaction between the companies that have a vested interest in making a difference to the emerging SMEs and in the development of the local economy.
In terms of finances, Roberts stated that the EGCCI still relies on fundraising events to cover expenses.
“Without these fundraising events, the chamber cannot survive,” he said.
Roberts then encouraged members to support all of the fundraising events that are held by the chamber.
He said that one of the EGCCI’s main functions is to liaise between business and the Ekurhuleni Municipality.
“There have been a number of discussions with the municipality throughout the year, some have been successful and others were not so successful,” said Roberts.
According to Roberts, the Ekurhuleni Business Association (EBA) is still functioning and meets on a monthly basis to address issues pertaining to maintenance of infrastructure.
Roberts also said that the Business Watch office and control room in the Springs CBD has been re-opened.
New members were elected onto the executive committee for the coming year, they are, for the industrial committee, Sanjay Mathapersadh of Sappi Paper and Paper Packaging Enstra Mill, Richard Kumalo of PFG Building Glass, Maans Swart of Mpact, Bongi Ngqulunga of Western Platinum and Jo Fourie of Element Six.
And for the commercial committee, Andries Joubert of Medicross, Bob Gillies of Diesel Electric (Industrial), and Mike du Toit of Forest Products.
It was stated that the two vacancies on the commercial commitee will be filled at the 2015 AGM.
Awards for long-standing chamber membership were awarded to Auto Alpina Springs for 30 years.
The 40 years membership awards went to Vivian Regina SA, John Kartsounis for Central Liquors and Philip de Jager from De Jager Kruger Van Blerk.
The 50 years membership awards went to Meyrick Levitas for Bob Levitas Insurance Brokers and Humphrey Sithebe of Element Six.
The formal proceedings came to a close with Gavin Roberts bidding farewell to longtime chamber member Darryl Deetlefs, on behalf of the EGCCI.
