The launch of the KZN Chapter of the South African Chamber of Commerce UK on the 14th September 2021 marked the beginning of a new era for entrepreneurs (aspiring and existing) who are committed to the development and growth of the South African Economy. The purpose of the SA Chamber Chapters is to encourage opportunity for the upliftment of all South African’s. This includes supporting socio-economic development initiatives, and drawing together quality networks of people and business, essential for impactful creation of business development ecosystems; to support creating opportunity for South African businesses to expand their operations into the United Kingdom and other relevant countries.
As articulated by my colleague David White, who leads the SA Chapter of the SA Chamber of Commerce United Kingdom, in his article titled "Building Impactful Ecosystems for Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders". He says, "We need a new and better approach to supporting entrepreneurs and business leaders so they can learn essential lessons needed in business, benefit from existing knowledge and learning curves, and in turn serve communities, our nation, and the world at large with better value for consumers and better effects on our environment and global society.”
In my role as KZN Chapter leader, I would like to place emphasis on serving communities, as I feel serving our people is an important responsibility of every person in our caring nation. I would like to be an example in this regard. Serving communities should not only be limited to the commercial aspects as production of goods and the selling of services for the purposes of making profits but should include caring for the communities well fair and the environment’s preservation. As a community leader I fully understand that developing and growing the economy should be for the benefit of all citizens, including for those that do not have the means or capacity to start their own businesses. It is about increasing the size of the cake for the benefit of the broader society.
Being mindful of the history of our country and in particular the system of apartheid that created unequal societies, the rich and the poor, the have's and have not’s means that businesses should be aware of the benefits of empowering the impoverished communities. While I am fully aware that this responsibility lies primarily with the Government, however, the business sector also has an important role to play. It is with this in mind that the KZN Chapter of the Chamber would always actively encourage businesses to support initiatives or projects that are aimed at uplifting needy communities.
A very good example of the projects that businesses can provide support in is the Esibusisweni Children's Home which is based in Kwanyuswa, KwaZulu-Natal. The home is owned and run by Elizabeth who is a pensioner with a generous heart. The name Esibusisweni means a “place of blessing” and it caters for abandoned and orphaned children. Partnership between Sibanye Africa and Magic Moments Trust has attracted support in the form of sponsorships from businesses like DRG, Robinhood Foundation, CC&A, and others. This is just one example, and no doubt there are many others, that will benefit with the support of the business community.
We continue to encourage KZN Business Leaders to engage with the SA Chamber UK, particularly if there is interest in trading in new markets. We are excited to build productive, compliant, engaged, and sustainable enterprises. We are fully committed to creating and supporting an environment that encourages economic growth.
Please contact me, Mxolisi Miya, SA Chamber United Kingdom KZN Chapter leader on immiya1959@gmail.com