CEO’s Report To The RCCI AGM

CEO’s Report, delivered to the RCCI AGM on 4th March 2020 by Linda Blackbeard

• With high hopes for 2019 amidst the poor economic situation and unemployment at an extreme high, low confidence for investment as well as future funding of projects, the energy around was palpable with the members and enquiries we were receiving. Very encouraging indeed. Our motto is always, how do we make a positive from the negative. What can we do to make it better and work? I found the young people all wanted to make a difference in their lives and were using this downtime as opportunity time.

• Well, we started our year with the internal pressure to catch up on the extra rental payments that were being paid by us for the COJ business hub, before cancelling without any notice. We had over R120,000 to find to pay back and we did it. Not an easy feat for an NPC, who is not currently sponsored by any corporate or funded by any government establishment.  BUT, with diligence, careful spending and other efforts, we have finally managed to settle all our debt and are again in the green.

• We were given a knock in 2019, at the sudden passing of our Head of Finance and Governance, Mrs Jean Caddy, after a short illness in September last year. This placed the chambers in a situation, of having to retrieve all the computer works at her family home. Again, under a lot of pressure and against all the odds, we are delighted to announce the inclusion of Mrs Yvonne Jeffries as Treasurer. Yvonne worked very closely with Mrs Caddy on all our financial matters and the transition into her position was made easier because of this. Thank you, Yvonne, for your diligence and hard work to have our Financials ready, approved and well prepared for us today. Thanks also goes to Brenda, our bookkeeper, who has worked tirelessly to assist Yvonne to prepare all the required information.

• We also lost a long-standing staff member of our chamber, Mrs Eileen Nel, who managed all the administration and COO’s for almost 10 years. She worked most of those years as a volunteer for the RCCI and retired at the age of 86, two years ago. Sadly, Mrs Nel passed at the end of February at the ripe age of 89. Those who dealt with her, will remember her for her efficient and friendly personality.

• On a happier note now, this year we celebrate our 60^th Anniversary. Quite a milestone. The many memories of RCCI’s beginner days and occurrences were all proudly shown in print in the local Caxton Media’s 60^th Edition of the Randburg Sun. We thank Multi Choice for the support and Sponsorship of the DPS in this 60^th celebratory edition.  We were also proud to announce our longest standing member of the chambers – Campbells Locksmith who, is still operating in Randburg Mall.  Mr Campbell has long retired and his children now run the business.

• It is amazing how other areas have grown in our surrounding spaces.  Sadly, many businesses have either moved out of the area or closed (due to the economic climate and truthfully the current state and crime in our area. The Revitalization of Randburg Project, the brainchild of Mr Richard Ntjana, was started 6 years ago with the aim of cleaning up Randburg. The Chambers were more than eager to provide their support along with CoJ. Most inspiring to have us rejuvenate our Randburg to the buzzing town area it once was.

• Another encouraging factor is that we became aware of the increasing number of SME’s moving into the Randburg Area. Industry sectors being very varied. From mostly media houses, to attorneys, bookkeeping and accounting services to virtual services and budding Air B&B’s.

•  We have many unregistered blue collar trade workers which in our  2020 planner, wil be seeing these men and women formally introduced into the business sector, registered, trained in their preferred sectors, and empowered to trade effectively and sustainable in the Randburg area. We need to assist them to learn more about running a business and partnering with others to JV with each other for Municipal and other tenders. Thus, enabling them to offer supply and labour on tenders now, and not only labour. Affording them an opportunity to earn more.  PCF-SA founder Mr Richard Ntjana and our VP, is the innovator of this endeavor. We are working with PCF-SA as our passions co-inside in the empowerment and upliftment of the Blue-Collar trade in our area.

• Our daunting task is to reach all these men and women in Randburg, but with the passion behind the task we will succeed. By the RCCI partnering with others, we will get this done and it should indeed prove to be of major assistance by employing, uplifting and formalizing our community and others alike.

• Discussions held with the CoJ regarding various collaborations to be initiated, that all chambers under the CoJ Economic Development division would work together with the City on various matters affecting the Economic Development of Randburg and the City,  came to a grinding halt after the elections. This set us back a bit, but nothing we find a challenge, but rather an opportunity for us to approach the City Economic Development Department for the re-establishment of our Training hub again and to familiarize them with our favourable action plan to improve Randburg and uplift other in the process. Its very much in line with what the Cities plans is.  

• We would also like to use this platform to obtain expert training, to include opportunities for members, who are compliant in their fields, and the tick boxes, to offer suitable such various trainings to the SME’s, entrepreneurs, and members at a reasonable cost. Working with the CSIR is exciting and much is on the cards going forward for 2020 in the area of opportunities again for our entrepreneurs.

• Our banks are playing a major role in training facilitation, explain various business roles to our SME” not just a “get to join my bank attitude’ but a passionate one to help empower others. Very exciting. I really enjoyed those meetings.

• Our benefits of the exciting Shell petrol and diesel fuel card is a cash back NOT points on the forecourt or Benefits points back but cash back in your bank. and the fantastic part of this is that not only the member company owner, but ALL their staff and families, by approval of the company can get a card and start benefitting

• VIP Randpark Gold Club benefit card. Meet their criteria and you have it. You don’t need to be the MD to get one, just other criteria. If you interested, make some time to meet with me.

• Upcoming is Stationery as well as groceries. All cash back benefits for the whole company and its employees is on the agenda and to make this national chamber benefit our mother chamber SACCI is working for all to increase these cash benefits.

• Currently working on the nuts and bolts to finalise our SME Construction Card launch for all our SME blue collar traders in the construction industry sector. This is something very meaningful and will benefit so many in our area. Many men and women can now become formally registered, meaningfully trained through the major suppliers and will have the ability to offer supply and labour services to the local tenders. Our VP, whose initiative this is, to uplift the Blue collar works in the area through PCF-SA, motivated the chamber to partner with him on this most worthwhile project in ensuring that we could obtain the partnership of the large corporates in the Construction Industry.

• Marketing has made strides forward on our web site, monthly electronic Newsletter and social media, we have members participating and some extremely interesting articles and offers for all. Our Networking with a difference Monthly events is also gaining momentum and finding new ways to do business. Our Business Development Team under our President have been working hard behind the scenes. Our VP is hard at work for our SME’s and we are hopeful for many exciting interactions for our SME’s coming out of both

• This year had immense pressures on all business owners and employees. The high cost of power, staff retrenchments, c2c for the companies all on the rise and slow business as well as a reduction in the confidence index of the investors and funders, really placed a dampener on the economic situation. As a chamber we found opportunity in the adversity as well as the need to encourage more businesses to engage more with a view to other markets of potential, available out there for our members. By this I mean, for example who is interested in the Africa Free Trade agreement.  and what it means to you as a businessman or woman? Do you or could you work into Africa, low hanging fruit first SADC region? There are many opportunities and we must become aware of them and make it works for us. Members must engage with the chambers. Africa not only want tangible goods but also services. What have you got to offer?

• We have an amazing event coming up on the Africa Free Trade agreement and opportunity, at the beginning of April, addressing just this. If you wish to receive the invitation to attend, please let me know. It will be held at the Randpark Golf Club. It’s a breakfast and will end at 12.

• Membership this year had growth with 56 new members joining in this financial year. Raising around R140,000 odd in membership fees. However, membership loss of many, especially SME’s and the older small businesses, was due to many of our business closing. Very sad to see how many had to close their doors.

• The sponsorship of R60,000 from Multichoice aided us in the DPS celebrating our 60^th info for RCCI.

• Linda Bird who is managing the International Desk has successfully offered many training courses this year to the exporters, including the new Incoterms training. Our Electronic Platform for COO’s has proven very useful and successful to our larger users. Manual COO’s are still available to the members. This has a huge time & overall cost saving for members. COO numbers per month have increased and we are now generating an average of R20,000 per month on COO’s well up from the 8,000 per month from last year.

• Tourism This is an area that we need to play a very meaningful role for our area. Much is on offer, but little is being done to get this information out there. We are hopeful the City tourism wil emerge more positive so we can bring to the table much that could raise the economy in our area through tourism.  

• We are seeking an expert in the field of tourism that we can work with. If you fit the criteria, please connect with me, or please send me all your details, Profile and CV please.

• Engaging on an ongoing basis with the SADC region Chairman for Business Mr Jabu Mabobo. Who is willing to speak to business work with us to help cross border business opportunities flourish? We are also engaging with the SADC countries – Embassies trade Secretaries – Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, and Mauritius, Ghana, Morocco and Our International Desk head Linda Bird, has several countries we can work with too. Humbly, my Pan African SADC lifetime achievement award acquired, has been of great assistance in opening various doors here for our members too

• Linda Bird is working on four other Embassies regarding this and although her year has been hectic, she wil be offering feedback on some of the countries she wanted to address. Linda will shortly be lost to us and be moving to Cape Town. Out of sight Linnie, but not out of mind or action. Linda will still be available for us to connect with when needed. Just not face to face that often anymore. Thank you for everything you have done for us. You are truly greatly appreciated.

• Countries showing great interest in engaging with us is Morocco has shown a strong interest as well as Algeria and Ruanda and Kenya. We have met with them and they are interested in using RCCI as a platform to showcase their countries and even more keen when they reviewed my Pan African Lifetime Continental Achievement award.  We in turn need to find more and more benefits for our members in this and opportunities. We welcome all and any ideas going forward from the members that would enable us to move forward more effectively.

• The Global Round Table events offering for business. They gave us 12 stands and we had a full house attendance to the Global Round table trade show. They have agreed to offer us subsidized stands again for our SME’s and are trying to find us sponsorship to get them.

• Anina Hough is working hard to get us some stands again for our businesses at the GTS later this year. As soon as we have the dates, we will send them out.

• Social partnerships with Pink Drive, Josh and Sunflower as well as Nosh foods all help make those with needs, lives easier. We thank everyone who has contributed to their causes. Mary who heads Josh for the homeless, we eagerly await some very positive action in 2020.

• Women in Business is on the go and we are still trying to find a suitable powerful and passionate ambassador for our women in Business for the chamber.

• Another exciting proposal on the books is the offer to assist the chambers in opening an Energy Power Forum for all the chambers to work through. Most interesting concept which we will also keep you abreast of and full in with more info as soon as the strat is complete.

To summarize, the year –  it was tough, but what drives me is the challenges we face every day and the highs we have too.  Having announced our fourth quarter at 1,4 % down in our 4^th  quarter and the .8 % in the 3^rd , we are almost double points down on our GDP. Not a good sign, but definitely a very positive signal to work WITH your chamber who has the ability, through SACCI, who engages with ALL the ministers and is YOUR VOICE at this  critical time to engage consistently and to offer comments and lobby in business defense.

YOUR voice enables us to make the difference we all need. Please do contribute your comments. It takes five minutes, if that, but can have a huge impact, going forward, when we deal with BUSA, NEDLAC,NERSA etc. Personally, the trust and pride I have, in the faithful players at my side, who are always adding to the positive works and not creating unnecessary negativity around us, I thank you.

Now definitely time for me to brag about our Past President, Mr Neil Pollock who was elected at SACCI AGM as the Vice President of the South African Chamber of Commerce. Well done Neil – you do us proud.  I too was elected to serve on the Board for SACCI. I  believe we are doing our members proud and instilling in them a confidence as to who their leadership is, and that we are serious to make the difference for you.

Thank you, Directors, for everything you have done and contributed to RCCI  this year and to the board members who have worked so hard at their own individual causes, I salute you and tell you once again how greatly appreciated you are. I humbly remain in service  to you all

Thank you

Linda Blackbeard