Komatipoort Business Chamber

Chamber History & Impact

Philosophical Premises

The key to effective and progressive development of business and tourism within Nkomazi lies in a close working relationship among businesses and organisations within the private sector, and Government.

This message, given by KLCBT’s Oupa Philane during the combined Malelane Business Chamber and NECCTA (previous chamber converted into the present KBC) meeting on 25 April 2019, in Malalane, already confirmed the strategy committed to by Nkomazi organized business.

No commercial business organization can stand alone.

Every enterprise has a responsibility to assist in shaping its surrounds to suit the best interests of the community it serves. This includes the mandate and responsibility to engage with Local Government to ensure that the latter fulfils its responsibility to facilitate a sustainable business environment.
The most effective way in which to contribute to the development of our region and Komatipoort, other than getting out here and starting a new business right now, is to become a member of the KBC. Membership allows credible engagement with Local Government, and the opportunity to capitalise on existing relationships.

KLCBT is the de facto Lowveld business chamber binding together the various local business organisations in the Enhlanzeni district. It has the ear of Government at every level. In order to further align with proven expertise and resources, KBC during 2018 formally affiliated to KLCBT.

 

OVERVIEW—SINCE 1998

1998

Neccta opens in Malalane & Komatipoort

Neccta dates back to 1998 when the Engelbrecht attorneys opened offices in Malalane and Komatipoort. Fresh from having founded the Nelspruit Youth Chamber of Commerce and after having been management member of the Nelspruit Sakekamer during the amalgamation  efforts of AHI, SACOB and Nafcoc in Nelspruit, the need for a forum in Komatipoort was obvious. The purpose and objectives of a chamber that then had existed but which fell flat, were rejuvenated, with a clear objective of addressing future business matters. Duncan and Ross McEwan (Komati River Chalets), Annemarie and Johnty Pretorius (Acasia Lodge) and Sue Steel (Trees Too) were part of initial management and very strong drivers of the tourism leg, and instrumental to bringing about reputable hospitality practices and a culture of  hospitality in Komatipoort. The twinning of tourism and business in the small town was inseparable, and intertwined.

1999

The voice of the town

When John and Caroline O’Reilly joined the business leg of the chamber in 1999, and served the community interest uninterruptedly since then, Neccta became the regarded organized trade and tourism voice of the town.

2000

Addressing a growing crisis

A growing crisis till the year 2000 in Komatipoort, in lieu of the dynamic growth of the town, was  adequate water provision. Linked to water provision was the need for a proper functioning sewerage system. Neccta insisted that the sewer spillage in the town, mostly at the railway station, should receive attention and offered Municipality private sector  support to address that and similar crisis.

2006

Launch of Steinaeckers’s Horesman

The influence of Neccta reached further than infrastructure.  The launching of the historic biography of Steinaeckers’s Horsemen has been done at the local showgrounds. The late Jan Louw’s ox wagons, local horsemen, and trumpets sounded off the launch in 2006. The author flew from Australia, to leave also his footprint on Komatipoort soil.

2009 - 2013

Neccta improves town’s infrastructure

By 2009 the crisis manifested in electricity brown outs and sewer spillages, and water shortages. The letter from NECCTA to the municipality dated 15 September 2011, to the office of the acting MM then, also personally handed by hand to the then HOD Technical Department, was in all aspects complete on what action municipality had to take, and accentuated the urgency. When even after those letters, no action followed again, NECCTA founded the Nkomazi Rate Payers Association, and the failure of municipal performance enjoyed publication in national and local newspapers. When, notwithstanding the clear letters, no action followed from Municipality, during September 2013, the mentioned Rate Payers Association formally prepared to petition to the Courts and tribunals for relief, initiated proposals that tax payers in  Komatipoort should withhold at least two months of taxes to appropriate this fund to themselves attend to the critical matters. Shortly before an intended letter to the Ombudsman disclosing the disregards, the Municipality took action. The present Municipal Manager Daniel Ngwenya, initiated the overdue meeting between ESCOM, the management committee of the Nkomazi Municipality, and the management of Neccta. The bulk upgrade of Eskom supply from Escom to Komatipoort, followed.

 More importantly, this lead to a  relationship of trust, vis a vis municipality,  confirmed again after 2013. The relationship of cooperation yielded results since then. The first was the bulk electricity upgrade. The chamber realized that the power supply to the town was enough, yet inconsistent. The chamber requested balancing of the power supply to the town. This received positive reaction from municipality, and it was well attended to.

Already in 2010 Neccta was asked by the then Marloth Park leadership and Ngwenya Lodge owners, to assist and to attempt to influence the tarring of the road from Marloth Park to the Crocodile Bridge. The reasoning was that Marloth has limited retail scope, and easing traffic to Komatipoort and Kruger will lead to increased business and the attractiveness of Marloth to visitors. A task team was formed and Engelbrecht, Hennie Harmse (Marloth Park – EMSAF) and Willie Britz (manager Ngwenya Lodge) paid visit to the office of the Deputy Director of the Department of Roads and Transport and negotiated/pleaded the tarring to enjoy preference. The consequence of this interaction was the tarring which ranked about 40th on the list of roads due, moved to priority 1. This included the tarring of the road from the N4 to Gate 2. The benefit of this achievement for the whole of Nkomazi is obvious.

Neccta has since 2012 requested the closure and  relocation of the refuse site. That has been granted. The unacceptable refuse site in very close proximity to the formal low cost housing scheme as well as to Cromati School always was a matter of great  concern to the forum, and the closure and rehabilitation ended  an inhumane situation.

Neccta added support by also petitioning to the  relevant authorities to have the low water bridge into  Crocodile Bridge elevated.

Neccta since 2012, also requested every time that the IDP is considered, a proper trading facility for the informal traders and a proper taxi site, within the business area, where the trading and taxi drop off and collection activities are most frequent. This request enjoyed the favorable attention of  Municipality, after the present municipal manager,  together with the chamber, explored the whole town and knocked on several doors for friendly acquisition of improved land – to this end. The outcome was that municipality itself identified a preferred area belonging to Public Works National, and entered into exchange discussions for the availability of these stands and thereafter appropriate upgrading. 

2015

Limiting the ongoing water crisis

The water crisis was not yet resolved. Komatipoort received power from the Sonofé line (Suiddorp and farms) as well as from a bulk link into the main town grid. The water pumps were linked to the main supply link only. The implication was that should the power of the main line fail the town will not have available water. Again several letters left the chamber to the municipal manager. After a NECCTA community meeting attended by most of the residents, held at the   Kambaku Golf course, on February 2015,  (to which event NECCTA also invited all the then acting  administrative and  political leaders, improvement followed. 16 February 2015, under the signature of the Municipal Manager, the Municipality committed itself to provide a switch over power feed from the main town supply and Suiddorp supply to the Komati  river pump station, to working motors and pumps, main and back up, replacement of the pipes feeding from the sourcing to the water treatment plant, and again from there to the reservoir, with larger pipes, since the existing pipes were too small and no longer adequate. Municipality further committed to increased capacity of pumps and motors also at the water treatment plant as well as the raising of weirs in the Komati river catchment area. Most of these were executed.

Since 2016

KBC continues in the footsteps of neccta

Neccta has since 2016 pursued the development and public disclosure of the SEZ development, arranged public meetings and invited Komatipoort businesses to attend these information sessions. Since 2018 the IDP meetings are more specific, liaison is warranted, and the consequence of the long established relationship resulted in guaranteed exchange of municipal-town expressions. By 2022 at least three specific SEZ public meetings were hosted and well attended. 

The strong relationship the KBC (previously) Neccta has built with the grass root and first and second levels of municipal deployment speaks from these results. What the chamber has never left behind is to appreciate the local deployment of municipal staff. These men more than once have appropriated, when necessary, their own equipment from their private homes in Naas, when the provision from the central management could not or did not provide what is necessary for them to execute their mandates.

The cleanup of the town-initiative, resulting in a successful joint effort of private sector with Nkomazi  municipality, removing refuse from all over the town, well initiated by Schalk Koedyk, was a  success. In a week refuse deposited at unacceptable locations in the town could be properly cleaned up.

To the end of effective communication, and expedient address of infrastructural crisis, the chamber initiated a communication system, a WhatsApp network in Komatipoort, initially 466  participants. This has developed to a comprehensive communication tool that reaches most households in town. This communication system is to a large extent bidirectional.  It is valuable to report infrastructural breakdowns. The municipality is incorporated in the communication. Reporting implies instant attention follows a report. And feedback. These WhatsApp groups are valuable to the chamber to pass information regarding community relevant matters to the community. Most residents and businesses are reached this way.

2018-2019

Synergising the individual efforts of organized business structures in Nkomazi

The value of a single voice in organized business became more and more important. The chamber informally affiliated to the KLBCT. Komatipoort organized business initiated an association of all chambers in Nkomazi. The chamber did so with the support of the LED department of the Nkomazi Local Municipality.  Neccta, Malalane Sakekamer and the Nkomazi Chamber of Business adopted an agreement of association. This association strived to ensure business speaks from one voice where it can, and opportune tender opportunities for Nkomazi residents. The NBA Nkomazi Business Association was incepted. We entertained several Nkomazi relevant matters together. The covid 19 pandemic and all institutional arrangements to all affected parties benefitted most from the initiative.

2020-2022

Covid 19 Support Syndication

The syndication and chamber association formation of 2019 enabled the chambers to consolidate and bind all covid relevant communication. CPF syndication followed naturally since the Malalane chamber and Komatipoort chambers’ leaders were already also part of the Community Police Fora. Organized tourism followed suit.  The rate payers’ associations in Marloth and Ngwenya Lodge legal representative as well as the most essential strategic and communication responsible staff of the Kruger National Park were incorporated in this nodal single communication joint operational centre. Very quick this syndicated nodal leadership reached most residents and leaders in Nkomazi from a single platform. The whole of Nkomazi could very soon after the pandemic started be thoroughly and timely informed of the covid status, regulations, rules and institutional arrangements. This served Nkomazi well. Town and community communication benefitted from the centralized covid 19 communications. It found expression in Komatipoort in communicating these notices and requests via the established town WhatsApp groups of the chamber.

It is during the pandemic that Kruger National Park adopted its Greater Kruger Strategy and Plan. The chamber and all affected interested participants could easily be reached and integrated in the Kruger’s reaching out planning. SPEAR local non-profit and community led conservation organization embodied the Kruger National Park’s dream in the rural Nkomazi – from Komatipoort.

2022 to date

Addressing the traffic congestions on the N4

From November 2019, the KBC intervened and rendered support to relieve the traffic congestions on the N4 at the town entrance and at the border post.  The journey started off with a meeting initially with the now retired Mr Labuschagne of Provincial Traffic Department at Komati River Chalets and recommendations that the Traffic Department and Mpumalanga Disaster Command approach the Dry Port management to permit and accommodate the staging of freight trucks and taxis on the deregistered air strip runway. The 2019 December outcome of this plan yielded the least of congestion of all years till then.  Since then, the number of trucks passing the border increased beyond any expectation and planning by any state department, SANRAL or TRAC. Congestion compounded and harvested criminal activities. Lack of proper management and control and inadequate provision explains the crisis best.
The chamber via the CEO KLCBT the 9th of December 2021 called upon the MEC Vusi Shongwe to intervene and take appropriate measures. Unfortunately, until June 2023 too little was formally done by the State to bring proper relief.  This is irrespective of the meetings the chamber had with Home Affairs, TRAC, traffic engineers and more. The creation of the Border Management Authority by statute became the remedy all awaited, authority so that ranking rules and decisions are better considered. The chamber engaged with Gen Chilembe after his appointment as Deputy Commissioner of the BMA. The meetings resulted in medium term and shorter-term plans, both enjoying implementation attention from May 2023. This includes a staging facility, digitized solutions, and the need for traffic policing 24/7/365 on the N4 – the only road built to carry freight trucks. The chamber is committed to remain involved in all ways possible to ensure relief.

2021 to date

Komatipoort infrastructure upkeep and urban development

The KBC since September 2020 chased the proper main road marking of the town, pothole filling and redoing of particular roads in town, again highlighted the demand of by-law enforcement, requested proper signage on the secondary road (no swim/no stop/etc), pleaded for the approval and support of an official Parkrun  in Komatipoort, the proper sealing of the excess/back up sewerage dam and the allocation of parkland for social recreational purposes and a building for  social welfare purposes. These notions were well tested with the residents after proper invite and notification March 2020 the 3rd, at the Kambaku club. A proper municipal delegation visited Komatipoort the 3rd of March 2020, assessed the proposals and took note. However, the chamber picked up no action followed the assessments.  The Komatipoort Business Chamber during 2021 consequently petitioned to Mpumalanga Provincial Government Cooperative Governance (Cogta) to ensure the Portfolio Committee and Administration take proper cognition of the Komatipoort infrastructural needs and respond with proper budgeted operational plans. Cogta responded decisively. The result was a virtual meeting set up and managed the 10th of  December 2021 by Cogta obligating the municipal manager and HODs to formally recognise and warrant attention to all the expressed needs. It was married to the chamber’s expressed desire and commitment to build the future of Komatipoort together; the chamber pledged collaboration and support to attain more than what budget may permit. The chamber’s pledge was met with a reciprocal pledge from the Municipal Management. The chamber handed to the Municipality a detailed list of needs and collaboration offers May 2022. The Municipality committed to these formally in a formal operational plan, and took most items up in the 2023-2025 Integrated Development Plan (IDP).  These plans include but are not limited to the following:

  • Installation of mini-substations and backup transformers, with one mini-substation already in place and two more planned
  • Replacement of approximately 3 km of high velocity overhead and feeding electrical cabling.
  • Installation of three permanent backup generators at the water suction works, water treatment plant, and reservoir.
  • Implementation of a comprehensive security solution, including camera installations, to ensure key point protection.
  • Comprehensive road repairs, including pothole fixing. These included Crocodile Road, Klipspringer and Wildebeest Streets.
  • Upgrading and maintenance of municipal buildings in Komatipoort.
  • Enforcement of bylaws through newly recruited and trained Law Enforcement Officers.
  • Rezoning of land and the roll out of the tender process for a proper refuse transit site.
  • A bylaw to regulate freight truck traffic and parking in the town.

 

The Chamber and Municipality agree that collaboration of private sector and government is the only mechanism to develop our town and region. The chamber plays a crucial role. The approach is departmental as contained under strategy. Results are the outcome of a vested relationship of trust and history of successes, and dreams for the town that exceeds municipal budget. Improving the town and building it as a tourism, business and residential destination happens in real time. All are welcome to join the journey.

Be part of the difference

Join the chamber

Support the programs initiated from the working relationship in between the chamber and the relevant government departments. 

The better tomorrow starts in our own homes and businesses.