We have passed the halfway mark in 2026 and we are approaching the June / July school holidays. Before we know it we will have to get ready for our Christmas shopping.
As chairman of the Moorreesburg Business Chamber I would like to report back to our members and residents of Moorreesburg of what we have and have not achieved in the year so far.
Our Focus in 2026
And perhaps beyond 2026, we will continue to focus on two very important areas.
- Establish and maintain an environment where businesses can operate and focus on their respective goals and operations.
- Attract much needed investment to our town in the form of multi national business, retailers, manufactures and other service orientated organisations. Also, to promote Moorreesburg to potential residents that will positively contribute to the economy of our town.
We have successfully formed informal partnerships with organisations that will help us reach the two objectives and we are extremely thankful for the engagement with these organisations on a continuous basis.
CCTV Project
Together with our strategic partners M.U.R.S. (Moorreesburg Urban and Rural Safety) and Swartland Municipality we continue to install CCTV cameras at strategic points in the business district. Furthermore, CCTV cameras were also installed in residential areas that are hot spots for criminals when they move around. The business chamber, M.U.R.S. and SAPS work together to use the CCTV cameras to identify perpetrators when they committed their crimes and I can report back that we have successes with the prosecution of criminals, thanks to the CCTV system.
This is an ongoing project and we are continuously planning and identifying areas that need CCTV cameras to even further combat crime.
We would like to thank SAPS, Swartland Municipality, and M.U.R.S. for their continued support and proactive approach to this project. Furthermore we would also like to thank SACACOMS who is a proud member of the chamber and who sponsors some of the installations of the CCTV.
Partnerships
Communication for any business is important, we have established long standing relationships with role players that can assist our businesses with any operational issue they might experience and again a sincere thanks to them as well. We want to emphasise our commitment to our members to assist them with any matter that will negatively influence their day to day operations.Creating a sound, secure and trustworthy environment will help business to contribute to the overall economy and social well being of our beautiful town.
Focus on Investment
Members of the chamber spend a lot of time trying to attract much, much needed investment to Moorreesburg. This is indeed a long process and requires a lot of convincing to potential investors. We believe that Moorreesburg has a lot to offer for both business and families to set up shop or house in Moorreesburg. I want to again highlight the factors that we believe are important for any person or business to consider.
- Good municipal infrastructure and municipal management
- Newly built N7 road, easy access to Cape Town
- Relatively low business crime levels (per capita)
- Good schools
- Very good internet, both Fibre and wireless
- Availability of property for development.
At the moment there are a number of organisations and individuals that show a keen interest in bringing investment to Moorreesburg. Property developers are seeing the early potential of building homes for the higher LSM (Living Standards Measure) market. The business chamber will continue to support developers that will bring the much needed investment in the form of housing to Moorreesburg. During negotiations, we ask that these developers make use of local labour and business in the form of bricklayers, electricians, plumbers etc.
Imibala, is a good example of this approach. They used local business and labour to convert the old Commando building to the modern building that they have today. We really appreciate their commitment to supporting local business.
We are currently awaiting feedback regarding a proposed industrial development. Negotiations are at an advanced stage, and should the development proceed in Moorreesburg, it is expected to have a positive impact on the local economy and create potential employment opportunities for the community.
Other investment
Mr Price is in the final stages of completing their new shop in Main Street, opposite Pep. Hungry Lion and Clicks are also finalizing their plans to establish themselves in Moorreesburg. The building of Hungry Lion already commenced in the parking area next to Nedbank. We also took the initiative to communicate to the community where they can apply for positions at the new Mr Price.
We are still awaiting feedback from Capitec to see if they will establish a branch in Moorreesburg. We will continue to engage with them.
Seeking investment is an ongoing process and the business chamber will continue to identify the potential opportunities for investors and approach them to consider Moorreesburg.
During February we engaged with Usave (part of the Shoprite group) to look at opportunities in Rosenhof. They were quite pleased to see the potential but they do have certain requirements for their retail model to work. They require a shopfront with parking and an area where trucks can off load their merchandise. We engaged with local property owners but unfortunately there is no suitable property at this stage that will allow them to set up a shop.
From the business chamber we will now approach potential investors to investigate the opportunity to build a shopfront along with other shops. Ideally we would like the Shoprite group to not only establish a Usave but other brands within the Shoprite group.
Public Infrastructure
Sport fields are part of Moorreesburg and sport gathering attracts a lot of participants from all over the region. During these events families and participants contribute to the local economy.
It is then extremely unfortunate when these facilities are the target of vandals that are continuously damaging this public infrastructure that are meant for the use and enjoyment of everyone in Moorreesburg.
The chamber requested drastic measures to combat this and recently plans were adopted to safeguard public infrastructure from these criminals. These measures will be implemented in different phases as funds become available.
The cost of these projects are enormous, the business chamber requests that the community take pride and ownership of these facilities to help us and the authorities to combat the vandalism of these buildings and parks.
Day to Day Management of the Business Chamber
Strong Points:
Gholf Day
During February we hosted our very first Moorreesburg Business Chamber Golf day, we managed to squeeze the day into a very busy Moorreesburg social calendar. The day was a huge success, thanks to the planning skills of our secretary, Madelein Groenewald.
The goal of the day was to raise funds for the business chamber, funds that will allow us to continue our work for not only business owners but also for the community.
Winners of the Gholf Day
Power Hour
We hosted a very successful power hour at Die Hut restaurant. The power hour is a platform where businesses can present themselves and introduce their products and services to other businesses in the area.
The Power Hour is a quarterly event and we are pleased to say that the attendance was very good and business owners are using the platform for much needed networking.
Annual meeting with Swartland Municipality
This is the second year that we have an annual meeting with senior representatives of Swartland Municipality. The municipal manager and directors of the different departments were in attendance.
During the meeting we outlined our objectives for the year and how Swartland Municipality will play a role in these objectives.
The management of Swartland Municipality are really forward thinking, strategic operators and we are very fortunate to have this platform where we can discuss our requirements, not only for now but also the future. It is important to embrace the future and identify important future shortcomings and opportunities.
We thank Swartland Municipality for their willingness to meet with us, the details of this meeting are beyond this writing but we are extremely excited about the discussions with the municipal manager and relevant directors.
ABSA
As previously communicated we learned that ABSA was considering the closure of the local branch. We immediately reached out to their provincial leadership to discuss this matter and we are very pleased to report that ABSA met with the chamber in Moorreesburg.
Together we discussed the way forward and suggestions were made to convince them to remain open for the time being. They are currently looking at cost cutting solutions to remain open in Moorreesburg, we will be in close contact with ABSA regarding this.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Through our network we managed to get the contact details of senior management at multinational companies. We are currently working on strategies to get these companies involved in Moorreesburg as part of their Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programmes. This will again be a long process but we hope that we can offer them a unique (and innovative) solution to their CSI programmes.
Estate Agent Forum
Estate Agents deal on a daily basis with clients that are looking at buying property in Moorreeburg. They experience first hand what these clients’ feedback are about Moorreesburg.
We decided to get all estate agents to discuss their experiences and identify areas where we as the Business Chamber can help them promote Moorreesburg.
The first meeting was extremely successful and we are very pleased with the positive interaction between the agents. Important points were raised and we at the chamber will now make work of these suggestions to further improve the marketing of Moorreesburg.
The Estate Agent Forum will meet regularly to discuss issues affecting the property sector and to provide updates on matters previously discussed. The Chamber is committed to taking meaningful action, and we believe that consistent communication and feedback are important to achieving positive results. By engaging with estate agents and other key stakeholders, we gain valuable insight into how Moorreesburg is perceived, enabling us to better identify opportunities, address challenges, and promote the town’s continued growth and development.
One specific point of concern that was raised was the process of building. Unfortunately a number of residents found themselves as victims of “dodgy” builders. The chamber obtained important information that we will communicate to our members regarding the appointment of a builder, as an example.
Promoting our members
We continue with making videos of members and their business, unfortunately this is time consuming and between the business chamber and running our own businesses we need to find time to edit and upload these videos.
We will also start uploading the business details of our members on to our website for further visibility and advertising.
Social Responsibility Projects
The chamber will soon launch a project to address the skill shortage of the community. We are working with organisations that will identify potential members that can take part in the programme to assist them with skills development.
We at the chamber believe that there is scope for skills development and there are initiatives to establish such a centre. We will continue to engage with the stakeholders to make this a reality.
Spatial Development Framework (SDF)
This is a document that is drafted every five years and in short sets out the development plan for the town. It is a guideline how property development, for example, should be approached within a digital border of the town. The document shows where developers can develop housing, business and industrial complexes.
There are still areas available where both residential and industrial projects can be built, we are however concerned about specific zoning limitations but we are in talks with Swartland Municipality to review these specifications in the SDF to accommodate the potential needs in future. Towns are subjected to proper town planning structures, which we support but if the need arises to accommodate specific investment then we engage with the municipality to jointly determine the feasibility of it.
The current SDF is due for renewal in 2027, this is again a process that must be followed. Swartland Municipality will engage with the chamber when the review process begins. We will keep you posted.
Blog
We have launched a dedicated blog section on our website, where we will regularly publish articles on topics of economic and business significance. Our first article explores the proposed Cape Winelands Airport and its potential long-term impact on the Moorreesburg economy. We encourage our members and the wider community to visit our website and stay informed about developments that may influence the future growth of our region.
Weakpoints:
Postponement of event
Due to unforeseen changes to our schedules and other factors beyond our control we had no choice but to postpone the Power Hour for the second term. We are already planning the next Power Hour for the 3rd term. Our goal is to have a one Power Hour event per school term.
We apologize for the possible inconvenience but assure you that we had to attend to another urgent matter.
Outstanding SARS registration
Unfortunately the chamber cannot sustain itself from the income of members fees alone. Our vice chairman, Mr Pieter Visser secured funding from businesses provided we can supply them with an Article 18a SARS registration. This will enable businesses to donate funds that are then a tax deductible expense.
Our secretary will be in touch with our businesses who indicated that they will make contributions to the business chamber, thank you for your commitment.
Your contribution will help us to take Moorreesburg to new heights, in a time where economic stability is often compromised.
In Memoriam
The Moorreesburg Business Chamber would like to extend its sincere condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of two respected members of our community who sadly passed away during the first half of the year.
Mr Jaco Louw made a significant contribution to the growth and development of Moorreesburg through his involvement in several property development projects. He played an instrumental role in attracting Mr Price to the town and was also a driving force behind bringing Imibala to Moorreesburg. His vision, commitment and passion for the development of our community have left a lasting legacy, and his contribution will long be remembered. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.
We also pay tribute to Mr Terence Swanepoel, owner of the local firearm shop, who was a respected businessman and valued member of the Moorreesburg community. Through his business he provided employment opportunities and made a meaningful contribution to the local economy. His passing is a great loss, and we extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends and all those who had the privilege of knowing him.
Looking ahead
Planning is already underway for our Members’ Evening in August, and we are looking forward to hosting what promises to be an enjoyable and valuable networking opportunity for our members. We encourage you to save the date (which will follow) and join us for an evening of collaboration, engagement and fellowship.
In addition, the Chamber is working on an exciting new initiative that has the potential to become a landmark event for both Moorreesburg and the Business Chamber. While we are not yet ready to reveal the details, we are confident that this innovative event will be unlike anything previously presented in our town. We look forward to sharing more information in the coming months.
To conclude:
Our slogan is “Together, Visible, Forward.” However, I would like to add a fourth principle: “Results-Driven.” Everything we do is focusing on delivering meaningful results. Discussions and good intentions alone will not move us forward, real progress comes from action and measurable outcomes.
Looking back over the past six months, I believe we have achieved a great deal. While we can be proud of our accomplishments, there is still much to do, and we must remain focused on achieving our goals for the remainder of the year.
Finally, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to my fellow directors and associates for their dedication and support, with special recognition to Madelein Groenewald for her outstanding contribution. Thank you to each and every one of you. Together, let’s continue building on our momentum and make the rest of the year even more successful.
Fritz Els
Chairman: Moorreesburg Business Chamber