2025-Year in review
Dear Moorreesburg Business Chamber members and community.
As 2025 draws to a close, it is my privilege to present a summary of the chamber’s activities and achievements over the past year.
We began the year with the theme “Own it, shape it, and live it,” guided by the objective of taking responsibility for our challenges and identifying practical solutions. In a period marked by significant instability, it remains essential that we recognise problems early and implement initiatives that benefit both business and the broader community.
Our primary focus throughout the year has been to attract much-needed investment to Moorreesburg, and this priority will continue for the foreseeable future. Each town in the Swartland region faces unique challenges, and we recognise that attracting new businesses and residents is vital for the long-term sustainability of our town. Observing the decline of many towns across South Africa serves as a clear warning, and we are committed to taking a proactive stance to prevent a similar fate for Moorreesburg.
Moorreesburg has several strengths that make it an appealing investment destination, although communicating this effectively requires sustained effort. With the commitment of the chamber’s management and our partners, we believe strongly in building a future that benefits the entire community.
Despite the many challenges we face as businesses and as a community, we remain committed to constructive action rather than assigning blame. I extend my sincere appreciation to the businesses and residents who support this approach. The chamber’s management dedicates significant personal time to advancing the interests of local businesses, nonprofit organisations, and community initiatives, all with the shared vision of positioning Moorreesburg as the leading investment destination in the region.
Below is an overview of key highlights and, to a lesser extent, certain challenges experienced during the year:
Investment in Moorreesburg
Through the assistance of one of our strategic partners, I secured a meeting with Capitec’s management to advocate for the establishment of a branch in Moorreesburg. We also presented them with potential premises for their consideration.
The engagement was positive, and I intend to invite Capitec representatives to a member evening in the new year for further discussion. The process remains ongoing, and I will continue to follow up. Institutions of this nature undertake extensive assessments before committing to new investments.
We will also continue to engage with other corporate companies to invest in Moorreesburg. These negotiations are still in the early stages, and we hope to have a positive outcome in the near future.
At present, we are engaging with property developers who have expressed interest in establishing small estate-style residential units. In addition, there is interest in various forms of commercial development within the industrial area. We continue to engage actively with all relevant stakeholders to attract these projects to Moorreesburg. However, it must be noted that such developments require significant capital investment, and progress will therefore take time.
Member Evenings
Regular communication with our members remains essential. Our member evenings, attended by individuals from Moorreesburg and surrounding towns provided updates on various matters throughout the year.
We extend our sincere thanks to our guest speakers, Mr Christo van der Rheede and Mr Sakkie Rust, for their insightful and motivating presentation as well as to our sponsors who made the evenings possible.
Power Hours
Our quarterly Power Hour sessions aimed to strengthen connections between local businesses, encourage networking, and promote business referrals.
Attendance was consistently strong, and participation was limited to approximately 30 attendees per session. The format included a breakfast meeting where one business representative was allocated ten minutes to present their services or products.
These events proved highly successful, and we received positive feedback from participants who benefited from new referrals. Power Hours will continue in the coming year. We express our gratitude to Overberg Agri for allowing us the use of the Jan Basson Hall.
Partners
The chamber values its partnerships with institutions such as Swartland Municipality, West Coast District Municipality, M.U.R.S., SAPS and others.
We thank our partners for their continued support and their contribution to creating a more enabling environment for businesses and residents alike.
Our partnership with M.U.R.S. and several local businesses gained further momentum through the expansion of the CCTV project. This ongoing initiative aims to enhance safety in business and residential areas by deterring criminal activity.
Cameras have been installed at strategic points throughout the town, industrial area and selected public spaces. We are pleased to report that the areas covered by CCTV have seen a noticeable reduction in crime. While criminal behaviour continues to evolve, the installation of additional cameras in the coming year will further strengthen our efforts.
Media Coverage
The chamber’s activities were regularly featured in regional media, and we express our appreciation to our media partners for their support. Transparent communication with the community is vital, and media coverage plays an important role in this regard.
A significant highlight was the Daily Investor article on Moorreesburg, which showcased the town’s potential and investment opportunities.
Read the article here: https://dailyinvestor.com/property/106681/the-small-western-cape-town-outshining-major-cities/
Membership Growth
We are pleased to report another year of membership growth. We extend our gratitude to all businesses and nonprofit organisations that joined the chamber.
The chamber remains committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which businesses can thrive and contribute meaningfully to community development.
Member Highlight Initiative
Starting this year we introduced a new initiative to profile our members through video interviews. These videos provided valuable insight into the products and services offered by local businesses and created an effective marketing tool to raise awareness within the community and other businesses.
Award-Winning Businesses
The chamber nominated several businesses for awards at the AHI Annual Conference, held at the V&A Waterfront. We are proud to announce that the following businesses achieved top-three placements in their respective categories:
* Moorrees
* Ruan van Heerden Spyseniering
* Die Hut
* WIS 24–7
* Herding Hope
We nominated six businesses, of which five placed in the top three, an exceptional accomplishment. We commend these businesses for their contribution to the growth and reputation of Moorreesburg.
Conclusion
While 2025 saw notable successes, we remain aware of the ongoing challenges facing our town. We call on all businesses and residents to continue working alongside us to position Moorreesburg as the premier investment destination in the region. Together, we can address challenges such as unemployment, including youth unemployment and crime.
I firmly believe that, with unity and commitment, the people of Moorreesburg can continue building a thriving and resilient town. Let us carry forward the spirit of our 2025 theme: To OWN our challenges, SHAPE our future, and LIVE the results of our collective efforts.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas, a prosperous New Year, and a safe festive season.
A special word of thanks goes to SAPS and all emergency service personnel who will be on duty during the festive period to safeguard our community.
Lastly, thank you to the management of the business chamber for their ongoing assistance and support throughout the year.
Fritz Els
Moorreesburg Business Chamber: Chairman