A business council that has been set up to represent all business sectors from all the towns of Metsimaholo Local Municipalities convened its maiden meeting at the Multipurpose Sports Centre in the Harry Gwala Section in Zamdela, Sasolburg last week.
The aim of Metsimaholo Black Business Council (MBBC) is to bring under its umbrella different business sectors, uch as Agriculture, Tourism, Health, Retails etc, so that business in Metsimaholo can speak in one voice and face challenges in unison in order to help uplift the business sector in this local municipality.
The MBBC will represent all business sectors in Metsimaholo, including those in the towns of Deneysville and Oranjeville.
Speaking at this meeting, Zamdela businessman Kgoloko Maepa said businesses of many black people are not progressing because there is no unity.
“We want to put an end to be our own enemies. What we should be asking ourselves as black businesses is where do we want to see our businesses in the next 30 years?
“Within this Council we will be business chambers representing all forums and in that way we will be more stronger and there is nothing that our Municipality, Sasol, Seriti, Eskom and others could do without engaging the Business Council” said Maepa.
According to Thamisanqa Gorati the establishment of the Council should happen as a matter of urgency, so that it can have a properly constituted structure. “The MBBC is not a forum for tenders we speak about investments in our three towns in Metsimaholo. We need to organize or co-ordinate Metsimaholo Investment Summit soon after forming the Council, in that summit all will be invited, the Municipality, Government Departments, Private Sectors and all key economic sectors” added Gorati.
Ntumi Moahlodi said there are about 11 sectors that can be part of the Council. “If only we can realize as residents of Metsimaholo that we are sitting on a gold and we can only have it by working together.”
Tladinyane Kgodumo from Metsimaholo Community Advice Office Economic Development Desk said there is already an Economic Development Desk that is aimed at assisting businesses.
“There is so much economic potential in Metsimaholo and when we asked ourselves that why then we suffer, we realise that the main problem is that as residents and businesses we are selfish and not united, so that’s why we decided to form this one big umbrella.
“The next meeting that will pave the way forward will be on the 07 August 2023, this is to allow representatives from all these three towns Sasolburg, Deneysville and Orangeville to be present” said Kgodumo.
