Page 2 - KZN Business Sense - Vol.6 No.1

CHAMBER COMMENT ON SONA

Comment by the president of the Durban hold a significant position in South will provide relief to businesses, Cyril Ramaphosa, Minister of
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Africa’s economy, playing a leading especially those that are dependent Trade and Industry, Ebrahim Patel,
Nigel Ward, on the President’s 2020 State of role in several crucial sectors such on energy for their operations. The
the Nation Address and other cabinet ministers, in
as utilities (electricity and water), business community anxiously which organised business expressed
he Durban Chamber of transport (air, rail, freight, and awaits government’s timeline their frustration regarding the KWAZULU-NATAL BUSINESS
Commerce and Industry pipelines) and telecommunications for the implementation of the inefficiencies, ineffectiveness and CHAMBERS COUNCIL :
Twelcomes the opportunity However, despite being vital to promised initiatives and plans, congestion at Durban’s Port which Chairperson: Judith Nzimande
to comment on His Excellency, our national socio-economic including proposals on how are costing KwaZulu-Natal billions
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, agenda, South Africa’s SOEs are in organised business can support the of rand in revenue. We are pleased Secretariat: Lihle Msweli
President of the Republic of South a state of financial and operational government to action these plans. that the President has committed to T: +27 (0)35 797 1807
Africa’s 2020 State of the Nation collapse, suffering from chronic South African Airways undertake a “fundamental overhaul M: +27 (0)83 571 0486
Address. mismanagement, plagued by on- of the Durban port – the third- Address: ZCBF Community Park,
going corruption and characterised The Durban Chamber is deeply largest container terminal in the
Disruptive start to SONA by a complete lack of adherence concerned about the financial Southern Hemisphere – to reduce Gate 5, Business Community
Building 1st Floor, Guldengracht
South Africa is facing severe to effective governance and health of SAA, and by the fact that delays and costs”. The Durban Street, Richards Bay, KwaZulu-
the President did not announce
socio-economic challenges and compliance frameworks. This is any concrete action plans related Chamber has been having robust
constrained growth. Strong and severely impacting the country’s to the beleaguered national carrier. engagements with Transnet to find Natal, South Africa
decisive leadership is required economy and investment profile The eThekwini and KwaZulu- solutions that ensure that we have a Email: LMsweli@kbcc.co.za
to set a tone that will help to as well as negatively affecting our Natal business community’s fully functional Port of Durban. Website: www.kznchamber.co.za
reverse this trend. The disruptive country’s growth and development primary concern is the recent
start to the State of the Nation, prospects. Our failing SOEs are the announcement by SAA that it will However, as representatives of acknowledges the President’s
given the context, significance leading cause of the constrained be decommissioning all national organised business, the Durban efforts to tackle the issue of
and stature of the address, could growth that South Africa has routes except Johannesburg to Chamber wants to know the corruption and for introducing
negatively impact business and experienced over the past five Cape Town. The cancellation of actual implementation strategies performance management
investor confidence and sentiment years. The government needs to domestic flights to Durban will and timetables for government’s principles, processes and
regarding South Africa and our end the repeated bailouts of SOEs have severe and direct operational plans and initiatives. In order to procedures into government.
economy. As organised business, and government guarantees that impact on businesses across create a more stable and conducive However, what is missing, in
we are appealing to the government are a drain on the economy and numerous industry sectors. It environment for inclusive and the case of corruption and state
and our elected representatives to society as a whole, with taxpayers will also negatively impact the sustainable economic growth and
be mindful of this, as the country (organised business and ordinary economic growth and development development, investors, organised capture, is clarity on the remedial
needs to bolster business and citizens) bearing the brunt of the of the province as a whole. KZN business and stakeholders require action and punitive consequences.
investor confidence and sentiment. effects. has a thriving tourism sector, details and specifics. As the adage So far, despite the abundance
of evidence, no-one has been
In his address, President Eskom and this decision will negatively goes, the “devil is in the details”, charged, tried and compelled
Ramaphosa touched on many impact our entire tourism value and all stakeholders need to to face the consequences of
promising and inspirational plans The Durban Chamber believes chain leading to loss of revenue and understand their roles as well as corruption. Corruption and state
and initiatives aimed at addressing there is an urgent need to reform job losses. The Durban Chamber the priorities, deadlines and tasks capture are a serious economic
many of South Africa’s socio- and diversify South Africa’s energy believes that this decision needs to involved. No real information was crime in South Africa that
economic challenges, focusing on sector. We are pleased by President be reviewed as a matter of urgency communicated about recovery significantly exacerbates our
youth development and addressing Ramaphosa’s announcement that and that the government needs plans and actions for other failing socio-economic challenges. Until
climate change as well as land government will action crucial to communicate a clear plan with SOEs such as Transnet, Passenger the criminals involved in state
reform. The Durban Chamber will legislation that will enable the timelines about the next steps for Rail Agency of South Africa, South capture and corruption suffer
focus on the main talking points development of additional grid SAA. A public-private partnership African Broadcasting Corporation,
for organised business; namely, capacity from renewable energy may be the most viable route to Denel, PetroSA and South African severe consequences for their acts
state-owned enterprises and and that municipalities in good rescuing the ailing airline. Post Office. of economic sabotage, then there
corruption. financial standing will be allowed will be no real change in the status
to procure their own power from Transnet and the Port of Durban Corruption and Non- quo. 
State-Owned Enterprises independent power producers. The In 2019, the Durban Chamber had Performance
State-owned enterprises (SOEs) Durban Chamber believes that this an interactive session with President The Durban Chamber www.durbanchamber.co.za

GRADUATES

NETWORKING EVENING

he Minara Chamber of contact the Minara Chamber
Commerce Graduates should they need support and
Tnetworking evening was guidance and were invited to
recently held in partnership participate in the activities of the
with Standard Bank Kingsmead. Minara Youth wing to network
The event offered new graduates and build their careers. 
a platform to network and to
gain advice on planning their www.minara.org.za
new journey. Each attendee was
presented with a certificate of
attendance by Minara Chamber
President Mr Solly Suleman
who wished every graduate
all the best in their future. All L- R: Lumka Mgilane, Vanessa Govender, Solly Suleman, Zain Mitha, Hameed Mr Solly Suleman presented certificates
graduates were encouraged to Noormahomed, and Muhammad Suleman of attendance to each graduate.

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