Latest news with #NelsonMandelaBay
The Herald
14 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald
Proposed bill set to improve the ease of doing business
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber has welcomed the department of trade, industry & competition's (DTIC) commitment to finalising a comprehensive omnibus bill which will reduce unnecessary red tape and improve the ease of doing business. The chamber said this marked a critical step in cutting through excessive regulatory red tape that constrained economic activity, limited investment, and affected business confidence, especially in regions such as the Bay that have huge potential but where investors may become deterred by the onerous requirements and lengthy time frames to implement planned investments. Business Chamber CEO Denise van Huyssteen said the proposed legislative reforms signalled a long-awaited shift in government's approach, acknowledging the urgent need to dismantle structural barriers that have long held back economic expansion and job creation. 'By targeting key pieces of legislation, including the Infrastructure Development Act, the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, and the International Trade Administration Act, the DTIC is demonstrating the sort of bold policy leadership the country desperately needs,' she said. 'For the metro, this legislative reform package is more than just national policy, and is an action needed to unlock the potential of our local economy, create jobs and revitalise the metro's industrial base. 'This aligns with our strategy of positioning the metro as the Bay of Opportunity and a leading manufacturing base in the African continent.' Van Huyssteen said updating the Infrastructure Development Act would directly benefit Nelson Mandela Bay by enabling faster planning and execution of catalytic infrastructure projects, whether the focus is on maintaining and upgrading ageing water, sanitation and electricity infrastructure, or improving logistics corridors that connect local manufacturers to domestic and global markets. Efficient infrastructure is not just a convenience, it is the foundation of job creation and industrial competitiveness in this metro, she said. Meanwhile, she said reforming the outdated National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act would bring consistency and predictability to the local property development process. 'Bay businesses have long faced frustration with municipal delays, misalignment between departments, and outdated regulatory frameworks. 'Modernising this act will help unlock stalled developments, attract private sector investment, and support spatial transformation in the city. 'Strengthening the International Trade Administration Act is particularly crucial for our region's manufacturing and export sectors, which are under severe strain from cheap imports entering the market. 'A more robust trade enforcement framework will level the playing field for local producers, protect jobs and support localisation. 'Supporting local products is key to the Bay's economic turnaround. 'When local businesses, from car assemblers to packaging manufacturers, are supported, they hire locally, pay local suppliers and reinvest in the community. 'This multiplies economic activity and helps reduce unemployment. 'Every purchase made from a local business helps sustain jobs in sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, services, technology and those deeply rooted within communities. 'For one person employed directly in manufacturing, four direct jobs are created downstream. 'For every one person employed directly, 10 people are supported.' The CEO said further that choosing an SA-made product enabled investment into local community support programmes and initiatives to help address critical areas of need such as education, skills development, hunger and poverty alleviation, health care and sports development. 'However, the chamber emphasises that regulatory reform alone is not enough. Its success hinges on resolving systemic challenges that continue to affect business confidence and erode our metro's potential.' These included: Logistics inefficiencies at local ports and within the rail network that raise operational costs for local industries; Unreliable water, sanitation and electricity infrastructure, which has severely affected manufacturers and other small to large businesses; Widespread crime and safety concerns, which increase the cost of doing business and discourage new investment; Lack of delivery of basic municipal services; and Lack of co-ordinated implementation, which continues to stall high-impact projects that could drive job creation and industrial renewal. 'The chamber believes that bold legislation must be matched by bold execution. 'The implementation of these reforms must be backed by real accountability and supported by partnerships at both a national and local level. 'The business community cannot continue to operate in an environment of uncertainty, weak infrastructure and unreliable service delivery. 'As such, we urge the government to stay the course and ensure that this initiative moves from intention to impact and helps the country chart a sustainable economic path which will create much needed jobs.' The Herald
The Herald
15 hours ago
- The Herald
Education MEC condemns heinous attack on teenage girls
The Eastern Cape department of education has condemned the murders of two teenage girls whose charred remains were discovered in KwaNobuhle on Wednesday. In a statement on Thursday, education MEC Fundile Gade expressed deep sadness at what he described as a heinous and senseless double murder. Though their identities have not yet officially been made public, Gade said they were both pupils at Nkululeko Secondary School. He extended the department's condolences to the victims' families, friends and peers. 'The department can confirm that the SA Police Service is conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident,' Gade said. He urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward and assist the authorities, adding that the safety and wellbeing of all pupils was a priority. He said they would provide support to the families of the deceased and work closely with law enforcement to ensure a comprehensive investigation. 'We are deeply troubled by the heinous crime committed against two of our schoolgirls in Kariega. 'Daily, I am convinced that there is a silent war being meted out against women and young girls. 'We empathise with the families, their colleagues and the community of Kariega at large. 'We urge law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned and to provide clarity about this tragedy. 'We wish the affected families strength, courage and resilience during this difficult time. 'Updates to our community of Nelson Mandela Bay will be provided as more information becomes available,' Gade said. The Herald
The Herald
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Herald
Nelson Mandela Bay taking the lead in plotting future of SA auto manufacturing
The SA automotive industry's two most significant international events will be hosted in Nelson Mandela Bay this year, underscoring not only our leading role in history and the present day as the anchor of local automotive manufacturing — but also our future as an automotive hub in Africa. This is the first time Nelson Mandela Bay will host the flagship events of both the vehicle manufacturing and automotive components sectors, namely SA Automotive Week convened by the Automotive Business Council, Naamsa; and the Naacam Show by the National Association of Automotive Component Manufacturers. The fourth edition of Naamsa's SA Automotive Week in October is 'coming home' to celebrate its 90th anniversary in the birthplace, where the organisation was founded after the first SA-built vehicles rolled off the Ford production line in 1924. The fourth Naacam Show in August also makes history in coming to the Bay for the first time. Hosting both these events in the same year is significant, highlighting the depth of the automotive ecosystem based in the Bay, which encompasses a wide range of automotive component manufacturing through to the assembly of passenger cars, light commercial vehicles and trucks. Three of SA's seven original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) — Volkswagen Group Africa, Isuzu Motors SA and Mercedes-Benz — are located in the Eastern Cape, representing 38% of the country's vehicle production and more than 50% of exports. Volkswagen also holds the title of being the country's biggest vehicle manufacturer. More than 40% of t he country's automotive component manufacturers and suppliers are based here, and the Bay accounts for 41% of all automotive manufacturing employment in SA, with every job supporting an estimated additional 10 people in their families and communities. Over and above this direct employment, thousands of jobs are created in the value chain encompassing logistics and transport, consumables and office supplies, services such as IT and cleaning, having an impact through to the retail and tourism sectors. The two events are critical to navigating the future of the SA automotive manufacturing sector at a time when the industry faces major headwinds — the impacts of the transition to new-energy vehicles and global tariff upheavals, along with rapidly increasing competition from imports of cheaper vehicles and parts which threaten the retention of local investments and jobs. Both events will take a close look at the SA Automotive Masterplan 2035 and the need to align this to the rapidly evolving global manufacturing landscape and ensure that the regulatory environment and policy enablers remain relevant and effective in supporting growth, localisation and retention of local manufacturing capacity In particular it is vital that completely knocked down (CKD) assembly is prioritised, rather than semi-knocked down (SKD) assembly — as CKD results in the creation of deep supply chains and a surrounding ecosystem which creates much-needed employment. Key local enablers are lacking though — industry faces barriers including crumbling infrastructure, reliability of electricity and water supply, logistics inefficiencies, critical skills shortages, red-tape bottlenecks and a lack of a co-ordinated, investor-friendly policy environment. These are not issues the auto industry can solve on its own, but both Naamsa and Naacam hold substantial influence in lobbying and collaborating with the government to remove these hurdles, and the two events represent key platforms for these discussions. The events themselves have significant local and national impact. At the previous Naacam Show, in 2023 in Tshwane, for example, more than 500 business-to-business matchmaking meetings were facilitated and 16 component manufacturers announced investment pledges totalling R4.86bn, together representing 10,700 retained and new jobs. This year's Naacam Show, hosted at The Boardwalk Convention Centre, features a full week of events — a golf day, factory tours and networking events, in addition to the main exhibition and conference. Similarly, SA Auto Week, to be held at the Coega Vulindlela Conference Centre, is expected to attract 1,200 delegates, and will include a number of related activities in the Eastern Cape in the run-up to the event, as well as a programme of events around the main conference and exhibition. These are all golden opportunities to showcase the Bay's assets and ability to host events of this magnitude. There will likely be further spin-offs in terms of visitors staying additional days to experience attractions such as beaches and game reserves. Speaking at the NMB Business Chamber's AGM in May, Naamsa CEO Mikel Mabasa said the organisation wanted SA Auto Week 2025 to be a 'truly local event', focused on recruiting local events and services suppliers and partnering with local businesses and stakeholders. Naacam's head of policy and regulatory affairs, Beth Dealtry, similarly highlighted that they were looking forward to showcasing the Bay to more than 130 exhibitors and hundreds of delegates, and to the event having positive spin-offs for tourism and local suppliers. These are crucial opportunities for the Bay — not only in terms of the immediate impacts in sectors such as retail, tourism and services, but also in the long term through the potential to attract new investment and create new jobs, in an environment of high unemployment and escalating de-industrialisation. The metro needs to be ready to host events of this magnitude, particularly addressing the basics of cleanliness, maintenance of public spaces and safety and security. With thousands of local and international business visitors arriving in the next few months, in our most key economic sector, not only do we all need to put our best foot forward to ensure that the Bay shines, but we need to work together to capitalise on the opportunities presented for the future of our Bay of Opportunity. Denise van Huyssteen is CEO of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber The Herald
The Herald
4 days ago
- General
- The Herald
Reading Champions shine a little light in tough Nelson Mandela Bay neighbourhood
At Dietrich Primary School in Schauderville, where cultures and languages from across Africa converge, teachers aren't just fighting to teach, they are fighting to be heard. Overcrowded classrooms, outdated resources and a curriculum bloated with administrative demands are pushing educators to the brink. Despite their dedication and creative efforts, teachers at the school in Nelson Mandela Bay's northern areas say they are stretched too thin and that their hands are tied by systemic neglect. Dietrich Primary's principal, Chantel Milborrow said she believed the curriculum for children and teachers was overloaded. 'It is filled with a lot of administration work, which prevents teachers from doing what they are supposed to do to the best of their abilities, or the way they would like to do.' A report by the 2030 Reading Panel, chaired by former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, found that about 80% of SA's grade 3 pupils are unable to read for meaning in any language. Just 20% of grade 3 pupils are performing at grade level or above for reading in their home language. This is something teachers at Dietrich Primary have experienced first-hand. Grade 6 teacher Shanice Simons said the basic education department's annual teaching plan made no provision for pupils who were struggling. 'It doesn't make provision for the child that cannot but only focuses on the child that can do everything. 'The child who does read with comprehension, who can answer specific types of questions, different levels of understanding can be accommodated, but the ones who cannot are not accommodated for.' 'While some the level of reading of some learners might sound as if they are really good, they are not able to answer those questions related to what they've just read. ' That then spills over into the assessments. Our assessments are not differentiated as yet. ' That then spills over into our pass rate b ecause then we are classified as underperforming, and it is basically because our learners cannot read with comprehension, and it is also not their first language.' Ethnicities and cultures from all over Africa collide in Schauderville, which borders the Korsten trading hub, and Dietrich Primary's pupil population includes black and coloured South Africans, Zimbabweans, Somalis and Ethiopians. This has contributed to some of the language challenges at the school. Grade 4 teacher Wonique Gamieldien said the community in which the school was located contributed to the generally low reading level of its pupils. ' Another influence is the location because there's a lot of gangsterism in the area and children are misbehaving and talk to us with a lack of respect. 'I think we spend about 30 minutes each lesson disciplining children and it takes away from the teaching time.' she said. Gamieldien said lack of parental supervision posed another challenge. 'If we send children with homework, it doesn't get done because there's no supervision at home at all. 'So, our hands are tied because we have overcrowded classrooms, so we can't assist everyone individually like we would like to. 'I think that's also stressful for us because we really want to help these children, but we can't because there's so many of them.' Milborrow said in the face of these challenges, the school launched a project, Reading Champions, to encourage a love of books among its pupils. 'Teachers identify the strongest readers in the classroom through spelling tests, to see how good they spell and also if they're able to comprehend what they're reading. 'We call them Reading Champions. 'They're given a badge, and their role is to assist the ones that are struggling to read, assist those who are not confident when it comes to reading and also those who are a little bit shy. 'We find that is a very effective way to encourage reading. 'In the foundation phase, learners are given high-frequency words, spelling tests once a week and parents are sent the words learners are preparing for. 'We need a lot of more parental involvement, but we found Reading Champions is a nice way to encourage learners to read because everyone wants a badge,' Milborrow said. Eastern Cape education spokesperson Vuyiseka Mboxela said the department did not believe the curriculum was overloaded 'because kids have an unmatched opportunity when they are still young'. This special report into the state of literacy, a collaborative effort by The Herald, Sowetan and Daily Dispatch, was made possible by the Henry Nxumalo Foundation The Herald
The Herald
4 days ago
- The Herald
Peace officers say they are in the dark over their dismissals
News With bylaw infringements escalating, metro says duo erred, but veteran honoraries point to exposure of illegal activity Premium By Guy Rogers - 17 June 2025 Two civic-minded Gqeberha volunteers, who worked as peace officers for a decade, helping to police municipal bylaws, are challenging their abrupt dismissal by the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality. Jane Jardine and Hank van de Water were among a large group of volunteers trained and certified by the metro in 2013 who went on to play a key role, all at their own cost, to support the municipal law enforcement team...
