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Business Breakfast with DEREK WATTS

If you missed out on the business breakfast with Derek Watts this morning, you missed out on something special!




The Chamber and Community Chest partnered in bringing Watts down to the local business community to discuss his work at Carte Blanche and a few inspirational stories that have made an impact on his life. As a journalist and presenter for one of the country's biggest investigative journalism shows, Watts has a passion for what he does and refers to it as an ‘addiction'. "Each day is different, and it drives me quite intensely," he said. He rates meeting various inspiring people as one of the privileges he's enjoyed through his 22 year career with the show.

Watts explained that the production of a 10 minute story on Carte Blanche, can take a few hundred man hours in planning and production. "No other programme has a higher budget per minute," he added. "Seeing a response to a story is amazing. The proof to our viewership's response, is our 20th birthday campaign where we aimed to raise R20-million towards helping organisations that need assistance. At the moment, the amount is approximately R66-million." This initiative towards helping the community is mirrored by the work done by Community Chest in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Established 57 years ago, the organisation supports approximately 80 organisations within the metro through various initiatives including skills development, job creation programmes and feeding schemes. Beulah Lumkwana, chief executive officer, encouraged business to show their support in keeping these projects running, and to increase their reach.

Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)

Emphasising a strong need to introduce more entrepreneurs to the Eastern Cape, Ufikile Khumalo, division executive of resource sectors at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), said that sustainability and employment are main factors to be considered going forward. Speaking at a business breakfast hosted yesterday, he showed statistics from the corporation that indicate a slow down to the economic problems if Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increases. "There is still uncertainty, but world trade flows are improving," he said.

With the aim of informing the local business community about the corporation's funding of entrepreneurs and business during these extra-ordinary times, it was interesting to note that the IDC offers a training academy to entrepreneurs where they can learn about pertinent business gaps in the market, and that ‘distress funding' has been identified for businesses who are currently struggling, but who showed profitability before the recession. "Through this fund, we are looking at the post-crisis time for companies, when things start improving. Aspects considered include management remuneration, job losses and payments to creditors," Khumalo. R1.1-billion has already been appointed for 23 companies in the period of April 2009 to January 2010. Companies have to demonstrate economic and financial viability and sustainability, require R1-million or more and operate within an IDC sector focus area to be eligible for consideration.

Project Mthombo - the 400-barrel-a-day oil refinery planned for the Coega Industrial Development Zone - will bring many more industries to the Bay area according to the IDC. Representatives of the corporation believe that the project will increase the area's competitiveness, encourage more companies to invest in the Bay area and a spin-off of the refinery will be electricity generation - a much needed commodity in this day an age as the electricity price hike by NERSA has come into effect.

Correct energy management will save money in the long term, according to Prof Ivan Steenkamp, consultant at Africa's Energy Footprint.  At a recent coffee morning at the Chamber, Prof Steenkamp addressed members on energy efficiency in buildings and introduced the new South African National Standards (SANS) 204. 

The rules and regulations set out in SANS 204 will be mandatory in all new buildings and a compliance certificate completed by a competent person, has to be submitted to the municipality along with the building plans.  "A year after submission, an energy audit will be conducted to measure the consumption, and therefore prove compliance with the regulations," said Prof Steenkamp.  He emphasised the importance of conducting energy audits and developing an energy management plan. 

Africa's Energy Footprint is currently in discussion with various stakeholders regarding the viability of solar and wind farms within the Eastern Cape.