Following a call by government, for people to work as organized formations, businesspeople from around the Thulamela municipality have come together and have formed a structure that will be an umbrella body for businesses in the area.

The Thulamela Chamber of Business and Industry (TCBI) recently launched an interim structure that will lead to the formation of a formal structure early in December 2010.

According to the interim chairperson, Dr John Mudau, who is facilitating as a member of the Black Management Forum, the new organisation was born out of realization that Thulamela Municipality has the potential to become the business hub of the district. He said the number of shopping complexes currently under construction in the area bore testimony to that effect.

Mudau said it had also been noted that the business community was divided and not speaking with one voice. “We have so many business formations in the area, such as Nafcoc, Thulamela Hawkers Association, Thohoyandou Business Forum and many more. This leaves us as not working on the same platform and it impacts negatively on our businesses,” he said.

The TCBI will provide a platform where all these formations will come together and speak in one voice. Membership comes from the active businesspeople around Thulamela Municipality. Currently, a total of 45 members have signed to join the organization and they were only awaiting the forum account to pay the membership fee.

The following are the serving members of the interim executive committee:

Dr John Mudau, Mr Tshianeo Mathidi, Mr N Ligege, Mr Tom Dagada, Mr NL Mani, Mr E Ungulani, Mr M Nemakonde and Mr A Mulaudzi.

The organization will hold its elective dinner on December 10 at the Khoroni Hotel.

All inquiries should be directed to Vhutshilo at 015 960 2300.