Getting a fair share of lucrative government infrastructure tenders is a key focus of the new Eastern Cape Chamber of Business (ECCOB).The 22-member chamber launched in East London late last month.
Mthatha businessman and OR Tambo District Chamber of Business president, Vuyisile Ntlabati, was appointed the first president and Dr Mfanelo Titus from Aliwal North in Joe Gqabi municipality is his deputy. Mthatha businessman Andile Nontso was appointed secretary general and provincial spokesman.
Ntlabati told the Daily Dispatch yesterday the new chamber wanted to give business one unified voice.
He said the OR Tambo District Chamber of Business was able to rope in Small Business Minister Lindiwe Zulu to come to the area, and before that Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa visited.
He said ECCOB would look at supporting and protecting the interests of small businesses in the province.
Most government tenders were still being awarded to outside companies which stunted the growth of local business in the province, he said.
“By empowering locals you help create more local companies which in turn leads to more job opportunities being created.”
Shunning small business in the province was stunting growth, said Ntlabati.
Municipalities had to come up with infrastructure maintenance programmes to stop the rot of existing infrastructure.
“It is killing us that the infrastructure in our areas is not maintained.
“Business needs proper roads, electricity and water to function optimally,” he said.
Once-flourishing towns had turned into an “eye-sore” because of poor local administration and leadership.
Then failure to enforce bylaws had allowed a proliferation of unlicensed businesses.
He said previously businesses were regularly inspected to make sure they adhered to health standards. “You cannot give out a trading licence to someone who does not even have ablution facilities.
“We want to level the playing fields because those do not even pay taxes most of the time.”
Eastern Cape provincial government spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said government had an open-door policy which allowed it to engage with any structure formed within the framework of the country’s constitution. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
New EC business chamber targets tenders
The 22-member chamber launched in East London late last month.
Mthatha businessman and OR Tambo District Chamber of Business president, Vuyisile Ntlabati, was appointed the first president and Dr Mfanelo Titus from Aliwal North in Joe Gqabi municipality is his deputy. Mthatha businessman Andile Nontso was appointed secretary general and provincial spokesman.
Ntlabati told the Daily Dispatch yesterday the new chamber wanted to give business one unified voice.
He said the OR Tambo District Chamber of Business was able to rope in Small Business Minister Lindiwe Zulu to come to the area, and before that Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa visited.
He said ECCOB would look at supporting and protecting the interests of small businesses in the province.
Most government tenders were still being awarded to outside companies which stunted the growth of local business in the province, he said.
“By empowering locals you help create more local companies which in turn leads to more job opportunities being created.”
Shunning small business in the province was stunting growth, said Ntlabati.
Municipalities had to come up with infrastructure maintenance programmes to stop the rot of existing infrastructure.
“It is killing us that the infrastructure in our areas is not maintained.
“Business needs proper roads, electricity and water to function optimally,” he said.
Once-flourishing towns had turned into an “eye-sore” because of poor local administration and leadership.
Then failure to enforce bylaws had allowed a proliferation of unlicensed businesses.
He said previously businesses were regularly inspected to make sure they adhered to health standards. “You cannot give out a trading licence to someone who does not even have ablution facilities.
“We want to level the playing fields because those do not even pay taxes most of the time.”
Eastern Cape provincial government spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said government had an open-door policy which allowed it to engage with any structure formed within the framework of the country’s constitution. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
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