MOSSEL BAY NEWS - At the fourth Annual General Meeting of the Mossel Bay Business Chamber, outgoing Chairman Pierre Venter handed the editor of the Mossel Bay Advertiser, Miss Suzette Herrer, the newspaper's certificate of Gold Membership.

The prestigious meeting, co-hosted by the Advertiser, took place at the Garden Route Casino's Bravo Lounge on Tuesday, 19 March and was well-attended by business leaders from across town.

In his Chairman's Report, Mr Venter indicated that the main objective of the Chamber has always been to provide opportunities for local businesses and other organisations to work in partnership to increase Mossel Bay's prosperity.

Mossel Bay First
"The Chamber's mission remains: 'Mossel Bay First'! It remains our focus to ensure that the Mossel Bay Business Chamber is regarded by all as a relevant force in the local economy.

"From humble beginnings in September 2009, the Chamber has increased in relevance, with major role players in town taking note of us. The Mossel Bay Town Council is finally beginning to realise that the Business Chamber cannot be ignored, that we represent a very important sector of their rate payers.

"PetroSA, as well as the National Ports Authority are anxious for our co-operation and are involving us in many of their decision making processes about future developments.

"Although membership is now approaching the 150 mark, we need to be much stronger if we really want to be the driving force behind a new, dynamic Mossel Bay," Venter added.

He expressed the need for more businesses to join the Chamber in order for it to provide better and more efficient service.

Service excellence
"Service excellence remains the heart of every successful business. The Chamber will ensure local government is kept abreast of issues facing business.
"We were able to work with the town council and at provincial and national level. Although we did not always see eye to eye on various issues, the relationship remained courteous.

"We took issue with Council on matters such as the increase in electricity rates and, I believe, for the first time Council realised that they ultimately have to answer to ratepayers.

"Louis Fourie Road remains a headache, the Point development, Dias Festival and other festivals, the annual budget and tax matters, and a variety of other matters were regularly on the agenda in meetings with Mayco.

"With specific reference to Council, there remain matters of concern. Although we are still fortunate to have a well-run municipality, there are currently too many side issues and I am not only referring to political issues.

"Operating caravan parks and organising festivals are not part of a council's core function and too much time, money and energy are being spent on it. We would like to see pro-active planning on critical issues such as informal settlements, business incentives, and future planning.

"Council and the municipality should become leaner. The outrageous bonuses for people who are just doing the jobs they are getting paid for, is simply not on. All businesses in Mossel Bay had to cut back, why not the Council?"
Proudly Mossel Bay

"The Chamber has a role as watchdog. Keeping trade local is a core part of the Chamber's business. We will continuously lobby business, industry and the public to employ local people and support local businesses. We will be the watchdog to ensure local employees and businesses are on par on service and product delivery. We cannot demand or expect preferential treatment if we don't deliver preferential type service.

"Let's keep it Proudly Mossel Bay and promote the Buy Local campaign.

"The appointment of a full-time Public Relations Officer, Ohna Rossouw, has given the Chamber a new dimension. To meet the challenges of the future and convert challenges into opportunities, we must become people of quality."
The committee elected for 2013/2014 is: Hennie Burger; Rene Bongers; Werner Kock; Paul Kruger; Russel Mamabolo; Nico Marais; Petru Terblanche (Council); Deon Terblance; Marika Thomatos; Johan van Rensburg; Albert Wiffen; Johan Nel; Eddie Jenkerson; Cornelius Blom and Steve Volschenk.

Photos: Elaine van der Toorn, Sean Snyman, Tersia Marais and Michelle Coetzee.


The Mossel Bay Advertiser's marketing team, Heidi Olivier, Shirley Coetzee (Manager) and Lindie Joubert, photographed at the Mossel Bay Business Chamber's event at the Garden Route Casino's Bravo Lounge.


New Business Chamber members Curro Private School was represented by rector Dave Mugglestone and Linda Willemse.


Mossel Bay Advertiser journalists Cornelle Carstens (left) and Nickey le Roux had the fortunate task of handing out free advertising space to three lucky business owners who attended the Business Chamber AGM.