A glittering gala event marked the public announcement of the relaunch of the Soutpansberg Chamber of Commerce and the honouring of businessmen for their valued contribution to the economic sector and community.

Dries Briers of Rubicon Civils was announced as Businessman of the Year. Partner Pieter Leonard received the trophy. Briers stated in an interview the previous week that his partners, including Christo Markram as co-owner, all contributed to the success and quality of their business. Briers was participating in an air race at the time of the gala evening.

The Chairman’s Award went to André Naudé for his outstanding community involvement and it was presented by outgoing Chairman Iain Purdon. The award for Service Provider of the Year went to Zoutpansberg Private Hospital and was presented to Dr Anton Stroebel. Hylke Janse van Rensburg, state attorney, was awarded the trophy for Employer of the Year and Sean van Niekerk of Compro IT was selected as Upcoming Businessman of the Year.

The Enterpreneurs competition showcased young business talent. Rudolph Boshoff, with a business presenting maths classes, and Joanelle Pretorius, with a photographic business, were co-winners in the high school category. They received R2 000 each. The runners up were Catherine van Dyk with her dog food business and Julian Venter with a fish and chips business and they each received R1 000.

In the primary school category the brothers Dylan and Alec Hugo with a honey project and Kaylin Jansen with her exotic ducks business were named as winners and received the two R2 000 cheques. Charlene van Dyk with mini hamsters and Franco Venter with boerewors rolls each received R1 000 as runners up.

New chairman of the chamber André van Niekerk, also known as HAP, announced a complete revamp of the chamber to the guests who were near 200 in number. The Soutpansberg Chamber of Commerce will have the following course of action:

Restructuring through extended activities and prominence

The chamber’s organisation will be restructured and activities be extended by establishing a full-time office with a full-time secretary. A grading system will be introduced whereby registered businesses will prescribe to a basic code of conduct to ensure that the quality of the business which is associated with chamber is of a desired standard.

"This will eliminate fly-by-nights that damage the business climate in town," Van Niekerk said.

Extended portfolios

Sub-committees will be formed to handle portfolios, which will be general business and development, accommodation and safety, labour and legal, taxation and local authority budgeting, member complaints and suggestions, and communication and marketing.

Improved communication

Communication will be improved through quality quarterly newsletters and businesses can advertise in these newsletters. The website will allow for a chat room where general problems can be discussed and advice will be given on experience gained by other members, for example on labour situations and tax problems.

"The Soutpansberg Chamber of Commerce is a structure for collective action by all member businesses in Louis Trichardt, with the main aim to create a viable business environment to benefit all businesses in town, thus playing a very important role in stimulating and sustaining the local economy for the benefit of all," reads the latest report of the chamber.