Latest news with #NelsonMandelaBayBusinessChamber
Daily Maverick
12 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Fighting back — cellphone providers and business collaborate to combat EC hijacking hotspots
Following several meetings to discuss rampant truck hijackings in the metro and surrounding areas, the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and South Africa's (SA's) two major cellphone network providers have joined forces to make the Addo Road — an Eastern Cape crime hotspot — safer. After a spike in truck hijackings on the Addo Road in Motherwell, businesses began looking for solutions. A common factor reported by truck drivers hijacked was the lack of cellphone signal, which prevented them from calling for help. While tracking systems work in the absence of cellphone networks, data is not always sent out timeously in low-network areas. Recently, construction manager Victor Ngcobo was kidnapped on the R335 near Monument Crossing — an area identified as having a particularly poor signal. He was later found unharmed. Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber CEO Denise van Huyssteen said discussions around the hijackings also revealed that poor cellphone reception was contributing to the area's status as a crime hotspot. 'We asked two cellular network provider companies to do an assessment of the cellphone coverage in the area. One of the two reverted back with a report which indicated that there was a lack of coverage in the area, and that infrastructure upgrades would be required to address this situation,' she said. Van Huyssteen said the chamber had also approached Google Maps as the Maps App indicated that the R335 was the 'shortest route' to take visitors and tourists to Addo Elephant National Park. 'It automatically takes users on the shortest route to Addo, which means that incoming visitors to the metro travel there along the R335. We rallied our members to go onto Google Maps and log the road as a high-risk road. This resulted in the route being blocked and travellers being re-routed along other more safer routes,' she added. Zakhele Jiyane, Managing Executive for Vodacom Eastern Cape region, confirmed that the organisation was approached by the business chamber to see if there was something Vodacom could do to fix the cellphone network in the area. 'Vodacom has successfully completed upgrades on 11 base station sites in Addo in Sarah Baartman District Municipality and along R335, connecting Addo to Motherwell. Among these upgrades, four sites have improved cellphone coverage specifically for the Addo CBD, local police station, farming community, and the new Addo Spar center. The remaining six sites extend coverage along R335 road. Coverage '10% improved' 'Following our upgrades, coverage has improved by an impressive 10%, particularly on the R335 road. Furthermore, the upgrades have significantly reduced areas without service, and the network capacity has increased by 15%. This means more users can stay connected for longer periods on the network. 'Critically, as part of our commitment to support both the Addo community and local businesses, we have plans to improve connectivity in the area in this financial year. 'For example, we are planning to deploy high-power signal boosters to cover the remaining section without service on R335, and we will do this within six months. Secondly, we are planning to deploy additional base stations to help achieve full coverage for the Addo CBD, police station and community during the 2025/2026 financial year,' Jiyane said. He said the Vodacom Eastern Cape region had invested more than R500-million over the last financial year on modernising the network, energy projects and accelerating broadband coverage across the province, particularly in townships and deep rural areas of the province. R1bn long-term investment This is an investment totalling over R1-billion over two years and forms part of Vodacom's long-term vision, to have the widest and most reliable network accessible to all South Africans, he said. MTN SA, in written responses, confirmed that they would conduct a drive test to verify signal strength and identify gaps. 'Currently, MTN has 4G deployment at this specific location. MTN did experience operational issues at this location at the end of March and the start of April 2025, however the issue has been resolved. While MTN confirms coverage at this location, a further drive test will be done to test the service performance in the area. This test will be concluded within the next few days,' the statement continued. DM
Zawya
17-04-2025
- Automotive
- Zawya
South Africa: Mandela Bay Business Chamber and Stellantis partner to foster job creation in E.Cape
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, supported by Stellantis are collaborating on the Eastern Cape Youth Empowerment Programme to transform futures in the impoverished Eastern Cape. The programme aims to equip 50 young people with the valuable skills and market access needed to secure sustainable employment in the fast-evolving digital economy. The province faces a massive unemployment challenge, which currently stands at 41.0% - significantly higher than the national rate of 33.5%. It is also home to Stellantis' new assembly plant in the Coega Industrial Development Zone in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan area and will contribute jobs to the province and the automotive industry. Together with key business and financial partners, this new transformative initiative will provide critical opportunities in a sector primed for quality job creation and in need of new skills as the prospect of new energy vehicle production becomes a reality for the industry. 'Education is the biggest contributor to progress, and the more people we can provide education to, the more they will contribute to their lives and their communities,' says Stellantis SA managing director, Mike Whitfield. 'Our greenfields manufacturing facility will be establishing the very jobs these new skills will be trained to fulfil.' Year-long technical training programme Through the SA Youth online platform, 50 young Eastern Cape learners from disadvantaged backgrounds will be identified and selected to undergo a year-long programme focused on providing technical training in ODIN Checkpoint Shop floor Task Management Solutions. This global automation technology is the type used in manufacturing facilities, including Stellantis SA's new plant. The training will be complemented by mentorship and hands-on experience in virtual systems maintenance. The project will further provide the trainees with direct market access, allowing them to engage in various services, including system onboarding, implementation, and the development of Standard Operating Procedures content. Additionally, the Chamber's Entrepreneurship Desk will support the young trainees in developing vital entrepreneurial skills, empowering them to launch their own business ventures and contribute to the economic upliftment of the region. The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, a non-profit company representing approximately 700 members from commerce and industry, will play a key role in facilitating the success of this initiative. In addition to Stellantis, the Chamber has partnered with Jendamark, Harambee, the Eastern Cape Development Corporation and member companies in the manufacturing industry to deliver the necessary resources and connections to make this project a reality. The initiative will also have a strong focus on entrepreneurial development, with micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the area benefiting from the highly skilled youth workforce. Driving meaningful change The chamber has already placed over 100 interns with full stipends in local MSMEs and will continue to provide valuable opportunities for youth in the region. 'We believe in the power of partnerships to drive meaningful change. By equipping our youth with in-demand skills and providing direct market access, we are not only combating unemployment but fostering an entrepreneurial spirit that will last for generations,' said Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber CEO, Denise van Huyssteen. Stellantis SA aims to share its values, knowledge, and resources through philanthropic actions and is rooted in the belief that education is the cornerstone of progress and empowerment. Stellantis Philanthropy is distinct from the company's business operations in that it is purely philanthropic, focusing on creating opportunities and fostering hope. By providing tools for transformation, Stellantis Philanthropy aims to help individuals dream big and achieve lasting change. Stellantis SA is embarking on this effort, with its focus on education, to empower people and to build resilient communities with effects that can extend generations into the future. Additionally, Stellantis' philanthropy vision and strategy are built on the company's core pillars of Value, Care, and Tech. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
