REPORT BACK
2020
NOTE FROM
The cost of the coronavirus pandemic along with the lockdown has been very high indeed, and very few businesses in our city and province can claim to have escaped unscathed. Navigating the Covid-19 impact has proven to be a challenging undertaking, and the Durban Chamber commends, with gratitude and admiration, all business leaders who have contributed incisive thought leadership and industry insights to numerous strategy sessions at city and provincial level to try and get economic activity back on track; those who have contributed to goodwill activities that support those who have been hard hit (including food relief); those who have taken dividend and salary cuts to ensure employees remain in jobs; and those who, through sheer guts and determination, have worked hard to keep their doors open to both employees and customers. Without bold and sacrificial leadership, our economic ecosystem would have collapsed entirely. These businesses lend truth to our stated organisational purpose: In Business For A Better World, and we salute them. In our world, people always come first and, for this reason, we also commend President Cyril Ramaphosa, his cabinet, and our provincial government for the bold (and, in some cases, unpopular) steps taken to deal with this unprecedented crisis by prioritising the preservation of life in the delicate and truly challenging task of balancing the preservation of lives and livelihoods. We are also encouraged by the positive and proactive engagement between the public and private sectors in Durban and KZN, which, in this unprecedented year, have shown that we are capable of working together quickly and with a singular vision in the best interests of our province. We trust that this trend will continue well after this crisis has ended.
NOTE FROM ABOUT THE
F
Durban Chamber
ounded in 1856, the Durban Chamber is the largest memberbased metropolitan chamber in southern Africa. We represent close to 3 000 businesses in eThekwini and beyond, ranging from multinationals to corporates and SMMEs. Since 2019, we also represent 54 000 informal sector businesses through their business associations. Policy and advocacy are at the heart of our work and we assist members with securing trade and investment opportunities locally and internationally, providing business advisory services (CIPC, Certificates of Origin, ITC checks, HR consultancy and more) across a broad spectrum of sectors, engaging thought leadership through forum webinars and other networking events,
sharing business information through digital platforms, and also sourcing business insights through occasional questionnaires. The Durban Chamber advocates and influences policy decisions that affect the interests of business (tax legislation, import and export regulations and more), offering member benefits and providing information relevant to business decisionmaking. As a businessbased and member-focused organisation, our strategic purpose is to help create a conducive economic and business environment to facilitate and promote economic growth in the region in partnership with key stakeholders. CONTACT US: 031 335 1000 info@durbanchamber.co.za www.durbanchamber.co.za
The President, Nigel Ward
The CEO, Palesa Phili
When we were all drafting business strategies for 2020, none of us could have imagined that we might soon be needing to insert a column labelled “Covid-19 Effect” into our spreadsheets. Who was to know that we would be navigating the rough seas and uncharted waters of a catastrophic pandemic that would batter the operations and revenues of practically every one of our members, and, indeed, we ourselves as a Chamber? Businesses have suffered tremendous economic losses and re-opening the economy proved to be a complex process with different sectors having different requirements and facing different pressures. As the recovery work continues, the Durban Chamber continues to robustly engage key stakeholders in the public sector on behalf of our members to ensure that their views and concerns are heard and taken into account at the highest decision-making levels in government. Given the level of uncertainty in the marketplace, the Durban Chamber encourages businesses to continue to be agile, innovative, and creative to be able to survive and thrive in the “new normal” that will be the status quo for a considerable period to come. In this special insert, find a summarised report of some of the ways the Durban Chamber served the business community during lockdown. We appeal for your continued support in paying membership fees that will enable us to continue serving you to the best of our ability, especially in lobbying on behalf of the Durban and KZN business community. Do not hesitate to call on your Chamber!
Policy & Advocacy SUBMISSIONS
Draft Rates Policy 2020-21 Constitution Eighteenth Amendment Bill eThekwini Municipality Draft Budget 2020-21 eThekwini Municipality Annual Report 2018-19
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENTS
During and after lockdown, the Durban Chamber has convened robust and ongoing discussions with EDTEA, TIKZN and eThekwini Municipality to secure the survival of businesses during these difficult times by ensuring that concerns and inputs from our local business community are submitted to National Government. As an output of these engagements, a multi-stakeholder business support integrated service plan and support programme was launched to assist SMMEs with access to Covid-19 linked information, support fund applications and assist with potential new opportunities. Engagements with Nomusa Dube-Ncube, MEC of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA): Implications of Level 4 Lockdown on Business in KZN Construction Sector Engagement Tourism Sector and Liquor Industry Engagement
hampers in the CBD and Clermont.
SPONSORSHIPS AND DONATIONS
Toyota Motors SA Covid-19 Food Relief for vulnerable households: In April Toyota Motors South Africa (TMSA), with the support of DCCI and eThekwini Municipality, provided emergency food relief to over 1 000 vulnerable households affected by Covid-19 in Isipingo. Hampers were distributed by eThekwini Municipality Mayor, Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda; President of the Durban Chamber, Executive Vice-president of Manufacturing and Support at Toyota Motors South Africa, Nigel Ward; and Durban Chamber CEO, Palesa Phili. Protective Equipment Donation: In June the DCCI secured a donation of 5 000 washable face masks, 2 000 surgical masks, and 1 200 bottles of alcohol-based sanitiser from three businesses (Labora Group, Olive Group and Sappi). The Deputy Mayor received the items at the Olive Convention Centre. MEC Sponsorship: The Durban Chamber secured sponsorship of 800 soups and 800 juices through the Olive Group and Labora Group as part of the drive by EDTEA MEC Nomusa DubeNcube, to combat the coronavirus pandemic. School Shoes Sponsorship: The Durban Chamber facilitated sponsorship of 77 pairs of school shoes through Labora Shoes, which were directed to Ward 31.
JOINT COVID-19 RELATED PROJECTS
Covid-19 Support Tool: The Durban Business Support Finder is an initiative between The Durban EDGE, Open Cities Lab and DCCI. The directory helps businesses in the eThekwini Municipality access funds and support during the Covid-19 crisis. Survey Collaboration: The Durban EDGE and DCCI ran surveys on the impact of the lockdown on Durban business, as well as suggestions for municipal support. Durban hailed by World Bank as a Best Practice City during Covid-19: A strong working relationship with DCCI resulted in a rapid evaluation of the impact on SMMEs and a response to some needs within the city’s realm of responsibility.
JOINT CSI INITIATIVE
Collaborative Collection Drive: During Level 5 lockdown, the Durban Chamber in partnership with the Domino Foundation and Global Shapers Durban hub distributed 80
International Business ONLINE CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN
In 2018, the Durban Chamber launched an online system to process Certificates of Origin, which has been advantageous to export businesses during the pandemic. The system is designed to be more reliable, faster, accurate, cheaper, and provides an efficient flow of communication from a sender to the receiver. Between January and October 2020, DCCI has issued 17 842 certificates.
EXPORTER OF THE MONTH
The Durban Chamber recognises top exporters from various sectors for the role they play in boosting the economy of KZN through the exporting of goods manufactured in the country. Despite the impact coronavirus has had on the economy, businesses in the export industry have manoeuvred against all odds and the Durban Chamber recognises them for their efforts, passion, and dedication. The categories are: Large Exporter business; Medium Exporter business; Emerging Exporter business; Agriculture & Forestry Exporting business; Mining & Minerals Exporting business; Manufacturing Business; Transport & Logistics; CEO’s Special Recognition.
INBOUND AND OUTBOUND TRADE DELEGATIONS
The Durban Chamber partnered with various stakeholders to ensure that trade delegations and Business to Business (B2B) engagements were taking place virtually despite the lockdown. Delegations included Singapore, India and Bangladesh.
DURBAN CHAMBER ESD PROGRAMMES
Food Hampers: The Durban Chamber secured sponsorship of 200 hampers through Standard Bank. These hampers were procured from the My Spaza Association as a means of empowering hard hit township businesses.
BUSINESS FORUM WEBINARS
A total of 51 forums were held virtually in 2020.
The Durban Chamber is accredited to run Enterprise Supplier Development programmes on behalf of corporates. Our training and mentorship is focused on Business fundamentals; Regulatory compliance; Marketing; Business Plan development; Presentation skills; and Financial management. In 2020, the DCCI has run an ESD Programme for Toyota South Africa, empowering and equipping 14 business leaders.
Business Development SIYABAKHULISA TRAINING PROGRAMME
The Durban Chamber, in partnership with the American Embassy in SA, launched the Siyabakhulisa Training initiative aimed at growing local micro-businesses in the rural, and township communities in Durban and surrounding areas, with an emphasis on encouraging social cohesion and the fight against xenophobia. Through this programme, participants were skilled to develop and uplift their businesses in local communities and positively contribute to the local economy through economic activity. Content included: Practical business insights; Skills and tools which included Brand Building, Financial Management and Planning, Marketing, Merchandising and Compliance with By-laws. A total of 411 business owners attended the training.
ASIYIBAMBE WEBINAR SERIES
Given the attrition of jobs in the wake of the lockdown, the Durban Chamber in partnership with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), hosted a webinar series focused mainly on the SME sector to assist with labourrelated matters, including: An overview of the CCMA and Labour Dispute Resolution, Management & Prevention, including how to refer a case to the CCMA; Understanding the Temporary Layoff Scheme (TLS) and Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) for employers and employees as to an option available to avoid retrenchment as per Section 189 of the LRA; An overview of the EEA and Dealing with Unfair Discrimination in the workplace; An overview of the CCMA Rules for Practice & Procedure; The National Minimum Wage; An overview of the CCMA and Sexual Harassment in the workplace; An overview of the CCMA on equal pay: The gender pay gap.
CIPC SERVICES
GENDER DISTRIBUTION MALE FEMALE
YOUTH REPRESENTATION YOUTH NON-YOUTH
To support the increasing number of entrepreneurs and small or micro-businesses birthed out of Covid-19 retrenchments, the DCCI in partnership with Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), provide an in-house company registration facility which allows for online company registration (PTY/NPC) with B-BBEE Certificate issuance at very affordable rates.
Member Support Campaigns The KZN Business Advisory: Covid-19
Due to the alarmingly high circulation of fake news related to the pandemic, DCCI, in partnership with EDTEA and eThekwini Municipality, initiated a daily circulation of the KZN Business Advisory: Covid-19. The content aimed to provide members and the business community with verified, factchecked, authenticated, and link-tested information. From April to November 2020, 141 issues have been circulated.
Covid-19 Champions: HALALA CAMPAIGN
This campaign profiled 13 Durban Chamber members, partners, and stakeholders who contributed greatly to the fight against the social and economic challenges brought on by the pandemic. They are: Aspen Pharma Care; DUT; eThekwini Municipality; Tongaat Hulett; ABSA; Distil; Pista; SAPPI; Transnet; Farrell INC Attorneys; Defy; Vodacom; Toyota.
NO RESERVATIONS CAMPAIGN
This campaign supported our members in the tourism and hospitality industry. Once restaurants and eateries were allowed to have sit-down guests, the Durban Chamber leveraged our
digital platforms to invite businesses and the general public to support local restaurants, caterers, and support the economic recovery and sustainability of eThekwini businesses. This campaign was active for one week in June. Durban Chamber members that were profiled: Eat Greek; Magic Pan Caterers; Eat Fresh (Kofi restaurants); McAllisters Catering.
STAKEHOLDER EVENTS AND WEBINARS
Free Webinar: GRI Invitation to Webinar on Sustainability Reporting for SMEs. ActionCOACH: The End in Mind Business Owners Workshop, Coach Marlene. Urban Links Africa Open Call: Looking for partnerships between UK SMEs and SA organisations to provide innovative technology solutions to real city challenges. ICC SOS Website and Resources. Join ICC at the 2020 SDG Business Forum. The Portside: Transnet Port Terminals Online Newsletter. IRMSA Annual Digital Conference: Invitation to Durban Chamber members. The World Macroeconomic Risk Map in 2020. Stakeholder Announcement: The US Embassy and Africa Women Innovation
and Entrepreneurship Forum announce Academy for Women Entrepreneurs Programme. Git-zone Global B2B Platform. LiquidTelecom: Turn your people into a Human Firewall. Innovate Durban: Design Thinking Workshop. Invitation: Stakeholder inputs of National Ports Plan. Livestream: Durban Business Fair. eThekwini Municipality: Economic recovery fund for business. Quarterly Labour Force Survey: Quarter 2: 2020. Invitation: Thought Leadership Series: Organisational Culture Driven by a Valuesbased Leadership. Durban Country Club Family Halloween Drive-in Cinema: Halloween/ Ghostbusters. Innovate Durban: Pitching den. Manufacturing Indaba: Are you a manufacturer looking for new clients, wanting to sell your products, services, and need leads? Raizcorp Aluminium: Training programme. AGHO: Small Business Initiative. Invitation: Indo Africa Virtual Summit.
Business Engagements IN CONVERSATION WITH PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA
In 2019 the Durban Chamber hosted a business engagement with President Cyril Ramaphosa, Trade and Industry Minister Patel, KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala, and KZN Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) MEC Dube-Ncube on challenges faced by eThekwini and KZN business community. This engagement was at the Durban International Convention Centre and was sponsored by Standard Bank and Vodacom. A total of 300 leading eThekwini businesses participated.
Milestones OFFICE RELOCATION TO DURBAN COUNTRY CLUB
In August 2020, the Durban Chamber moved to the iconic and world-class sporting and leisure facilities of the Durban Country Club. A few benefits of the relocation to the historic and prestigious Durban Country Club are the convenient location, sufficient parking, and easy accessibility for those using public transportation.
Exclusive Member Benefits: OVER R50-MILLION INJECTION OF VALUE INTO ETHEKWINI BUSINESSES
We have upgraded our exclusive member benefits package for active Chamber members to a total of 24 value-adding benefits, based on member input and requests. The Durban Chamber has negotiated these agreements to provide exclusive
CITY MEANS BUSINESS
His Worship, the Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, Cllr Mxolisi Kaunda, hosted members of the Durban Chamber, property developers and the business community for the launch of City Means Business in November 2019. The inaugural topic focused on the Inner-city Regeneration Programme with particular focus on “bad buildings” in the Mahatma Gandhi Precinct.
Durban Chamber Partnerships MANCOSA BUSINESS RESCUE SERIES
MANCOSA, in partnership with the Durban Chamber, offered free, expert advice to SMEs relating to tax, occupational health, human resources, how to apply for relief funding, coping with debts, property rental issues, and managing cash flow. Covid-19 Survival Tips for SMMEs: Bruce MacGregor is a practicing lawyer for 25 years with a strong commercial and employment law practice. Psychology of lockdown: Adapting to a “new normal”: Elizabeth Lumley is a Durban based qualified industrial and organisational psychologist. Taxing times: Covid-19 special tax relief: Aneria Bouwer is a partner in Bowmans’ Cape Town office tax practice. Cash is King & Keeping your site Covid-safe: Riaz Dhai is a chartered accountant and the managing director of Sachet Manufacturers. Relief Funding Toolbox for SMMEs: Melitta Ngalonkulu is a tenacious financial journalist at leading business, financial, and investment news website, Moneyweb.
benefits valued at more than R50-million, an unprecedented injection of direct value into member businesses. We are grateful to the eThekwini businesses that have agreed to contribute discounts. The value that is available to businesses through this programme exceeds R50-million. The businesses are: Accord Development Consulting Group; ActionCOACH; Ahavah Consulting; Avis Budget Rent A Car; Cowey Park Pharmacy; Denzile Reddiar and Associates; DNA Auto Centre Bosch Car Service; Epic Centre; eThekwini Toyota and Hillcrest Toyota; GAD Consulting; Icebolethu Group; Isuzu Trucks New Germany; Kofi and Eat Fresh; Makrosafe Holdings; McAllister Catering; Onomo Hote; Pfirestorm; Profitshare Partners; Regent Business School; Samac Engineering Solutions; Subb10 Technologies; Sumitomo Rubber South Africa; Barons Bluff (Volkswagen).