MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – The Soutpansberg Chamber of Commerce has called for a Special General Meeting on February 22 to discuss the future role of this organisation.

According to Mrs Jana Smith, chairperson of the association, it has become extremely important that the Chamber of Commerce re-evaluate its role and position in the local community. “We’ve had an extremely busy year and the Chamber was closely involved when several key issues were discussed,” she says. “Unfortunately, we lack the support of many business owners. This kind of apathy cannot be afforded and we need to work actively towards engaging them in our activities.”

According to Mrs Smith, the role of the Chamber of Commerce is now more important than ever. “In the past year, we experienced more incidents where decisions that affect the business community were made without consultation with the local businessmen and –women,” she states. “One example of this is the Council’s decision to continue with the development of the sport grounds. Another is the unilateral implementation of a registration process for local businesses. The Chamber is not against any development; in fact, we welcome any new development, but it must be stuctured to be to the advantage of the existing CBD and business owners. The local municipality has a responsibility towards the existing businesses who pay high rates and taxes and who support the infrastructure,” she says.

Mrs Smith emphasized that businesses must unite in one organised body to address all the challenges. “We’ve had exceptional successes through negotiations and giving input at various forums the past year,” she says. Among the successes highlighted are the involvement with the sector policing programme. The crime rate has dropped dramatically in the past few months and this can be attributed to the involvement of the local community. The Chamber of Commerce worked hard to get its members as well as other members of the community involved and was instrumental in launching a programme whereby the phone numbers and details of the various block and sector leaders were published in the local newspapers. “A fund was also started to assist members of the public who became victims of violent crime and to help track down the perpetrators,” says Mrs Smith.

“One of our biggest achievements is probably the safety measures on the N1. The Chamber, along with other role players, put pressure on the National Roads Agency to look for alternatives such as traffic circles, to protect motorists from runaway trucks and ease the flow of traffic at busy intersections,” she says. The Waterpoort road has also been opened up again for trucks, which reduces the strain on the N1.

During the past year, the local Chamber of Commerce again presented the annual Entrepreneurs Week, during which time between 10 000 and 15 000 young people had the opportunity to listen to experts in the fiels of entrepreneurship. The Chamber members were also very involved with the HIV/Aids programme of the Makhado Municipality.

“Apart from these, the Chamber’s executive committee members attended land claims conferences and investment seminars. The fight over the changing of the town’s name without proper consultation, is also still far from over,” she says.

During the meeting on Tuesday, February 22, members of the Soutpansberg Chamber of Commerce will have to decide what role the organisation must play in future. If it gets the support of the majority of businesses in the region, it will be able to give meaningful input at the various forums where it is represented. “If the business sector chooses a route of apathy, they must accept the consequences and not complain afterwards,” Mrs Smith concludes.

The meeting starts at 18:00 at the local golf club. All business people are welcome, even businesses who have not yet joined the Soutpansberg Chamber of Commerce.