• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Login

logo

Menu

  • Home
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • IWEC
      • IWEC 2017 Awards
      • IWEC Awardees 2015
    • Exporter of the Year
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • Previous Winners
    • Events Archive
  • Membership
    • Join Now
    • Member Benefits
    • 25 Reasons to Join the Chamber
      • Advocacy and Lobbying
    • Subscription Rates
    • Member Deals
  • Services
    • Lobbying
    • Networking
    • Business Information
      • Gazette Notices
    • International Trade Desk
    • Dispute Settlement
    • Finance
    • Rooms for Hire
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe Today
    • Services Brochure
  • Intel
    • Press Releases
    • ED’s Blog
    • Set Breakers
  • About Us
    • Team
    • Council
    • Portfolio Committees
    • Chapters
    • Code of Conduct
    • Chamber Constitution
    • Youth Chamber
  • Contact Us
logo
  • CapeChamberBanner12
    Get to know the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry
    LEARN MORE
alternative

Cape Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Established in 1804, the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry is the oldest member-based business organisation in Africa. It is mandated to serve, enable and lead business. This is achieved through a multitude of services, networking opportunities as well as robust advocacy on behalf of business.

The Chamber represents business of all sizes and virtually all sectors. Our members count on us to be their eyes and ears in the Western Cape as well as on a national level, and we work tirelessly to ensure that we serve our members’ needs.

As a key player in the business landscape, the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry truly believes that we are Where Opportunity Meets.

Join Now

Upcoming Events

loading...
×

×

×

Metrorail - An update on current rail operations & the way forward

21st November 2018 10:00

Register Now!

Innovation Initiative Networking Event - Innovation 2018, Future 2019

21st November 2018 17:00

Register Now!

Disability in a South African Socio-Economic Paradigm - Athlone & Cape Flats Chapter

29th November 2018 10:00

Register Now!

Cape Chamber Central Chapter Coffee Club

4th December 2018 08:00

Register Now!

Business Writing & Email Writing Skills - Workshop

5th February 2019 08:30

Register Now!

Office Administration - Workshop

7th February 2019 08:30

Register Now!

Debt Colleting with Assertiveness and Conflict Management -Workshop

12th February 2019 08:30

Register Now!

Cutting Edge Selling Skills - Workshop

19th February 2019 08:30

Register Now!

SEARCH THIS SITE

Events

KEEP UP TO DATE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

LATEST NEWS

7 Nov
Anger and excitement at last night’s Rumble in the Urban Jungle

Anger and excitement at last night’s Rumble in the Urban Jungle

There was both anger and excitement at last night’s Rumble in the Urban Jungle debate but it proved to be a good opportunity to examine widely differing points of view on land expropriation and the consequences for the economy of the country. The debate was organised by the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry and sponsored by Nandos. The participants were Andile Mngxitama of Black First Land First and economist Dawie Roodt. Events of this nature encourag people to face up to difficult issues and unpack the various aspects of the problem. I wish to thank everyone present for taking part in the robust but respectful debate and hope that it brings us a little closer to a solution. In the debate Dr Roodt argued that land was not the real issue as it did not have any intrinsic value and that it was only modern farming methods, technology and investment that gave land its value. Because of this any piece of land in South Africa was at least a 100 times more productive than it had originally been. He said surveys showed that only 5% of black people considered land to be the most important issue facing the country. The […]

Featured Item Press Releases
5 Nov
Gang violence giving Cape Town a dangerous reputation

Gang violence giving Cape Town a dangerous reputation

The recent murder of city advocate Pete Mihalik in a gangland style “hit” brings home the urgency of dealing with the criminal gangs who are giving Cape Town a dangerous reputation. It came just a few days before the new anti-gang unit lead by top cop Major-General Jeremy Vearey went live on Thursday, November 1. We have a situation where the gangs are out of control and desperate measures are needed. Any fatal shooting is bad but murder in front of a school, women and children shows a complete disregard for society and civilised values. We are dealing with the worst kind of thugs who have taken the law into their own hands and believe they can get away with it. The fact that the victim was a member of the legal profession and that his young son was also shot shows contempt for everything we believe in. Major-General Vearey faced a huge challenge but I would like to assure him that the Chamber and all the law-abiding people of Cape Town are behind him and wish him every success. Some of the gangs have been in existence for 50 years and clearly new thinking and new methods are needed. From […]

Featured Item Press Releases
1 Nov
Unemployment rises in third quarter but improvements are expected

Unemployment rises in third quarter but improvements are expected

It’s disappointing to see a further increase in the unemployment figures for the third quarter of the but we expect an improvement in the fourth quarter. In the Western Cape we’re still feeling the effects of the drought but there are encouraging signs that the new tourism season will improve the situation. In addition the film industry seems to be active again and we are now in the growing season for agriculture so that should also mean more jobs, even if they’re of a seasonal nature. Generally, unemployment rates in the Western Cape are significantly lower than those for the other provinces but that only means we are doing less badly than the country as a whole. The national problem is overwhelming and that encourages migration to the Cape. The hard fact of the matter is that in the third quarter of the year 127 000 people lost their jobs taking the jobless total to 6.21 million. Only 92 000 new jobs were created. In percentage terms the unemployment rate increased from 27.2% to 27.5%, giving South Africa one of the highest unemployment rates in the world. Making it worse is that our population is growing faster than the economy and […]

Featured Item Press Releases
29 Oct
Nando’s to fire up the Rumble on expropriation

Nando’s to fire up the Rumble on expropriation

Expropriation laid bare in upcoming ‘Rumble in the Urban Jungle’ The Cape Chamber of Commerce & Industry, together with Nando’s, is hosting a debate on the hottest topic in town: land expropriation without compensation. This ‘heavydebate championship’ will be between the leader of Black First Land First – Comrade Andile Mngxitama, and Dawie Roodt – the acclaimed economist of the Efficient Group. The land issue and expropriation without compensation have been at the centre of public debate for nearly a year, but most of the discussion has been at a fairly academic level. We feel it is now time that we overcome the raw emotions and start to deal with the facts. We appreciate that the choice of speakers is somewhat controversial, but we want to cover as full a spectrum as possible, so that we can move from having an opinion to taking a stance. A positive business climate requires certainty. The issue of land expropriation without compensation has created anything but certainty. And this event intends to change that. If you have any interest in our economic future, this is one event not to be missed. Nando’s believes that the best way to develop policies that’ll benefit the […]

Featured Item Press Releases
25 Oct
Mid-term budget policy speech focusses on implementation, better management and accountability

Mid-term budget policy speech focusses on implementation, better management and accountability

The Chamber is pleased to see the mid-term budget policy speech focus on implementation, better management and accountability. These have been missing factors in the past and they led to the huge leakage of money and corruption in the administration of the country. Good policies and plans mean nothing if they are not well implemented and that is what the Minister of Finance, Mr Tito Mboweni, has promised. I was also pleased to see that he promised action against officials found wanting in the Auditor General’s reports. These measures are necessary to repair the damage done by years of slack management and corruption. Unfortunately the numbers on our economic growth and rising debt levels are weak and they won’t help us to attract the new investment we need. But there are some positives. We are be delighted to learn that the backlog in VAT refunds will be dealt with and that could give a lot of relief to struggling businesses. The Chamber is also pleased to see a new attitude toward the private sector. The promise to demolish the walls between the public and private sectors is welcomed as is the belief in partnerships with seasoned professionals from the private sector. […]

Featured Item Press Releases
19 Oct
WC Cabinet changes make a great deal of sense

WC Cabinet changes make a great deal of sense

The changes in the Western Cape Cabinet were inevitable as Mr Dan Plato returns to the City Council as the new Mayor but they make a great deal of sense. Mr Alan Winde has done an outstanding job as Minister of Economic Opportunities but he, too, will soon be moving on to become the Province’s new Premier. Allowing him to take over as Minister of Safety and Security will broaden his experience in preparation for his new responsibilities. Ms Beverley Schafer’s move from DA chief whip to Economic Development and Agriculture gives her a chance to settle in before next year’s election. She has already indicated that she will continue the policies put in place by Mr Alan Winde. Ms Schafer has big shoes to fill but her commitment to creating an enabling environment for business is a good start. We can assure her of the support of the Chamber as she goes about this work. The economic performance of the Western Cape has been good compared to other provinces and the national government, but we still need to do better. It will be a big challenge and we will watch the performance of the new minister with interest and encouragement. […]

Featured Item Press Releases
19 Oct
Exporter of the Year 2018 – Winners

Exporter of the Year 2018 – Winners

Research Unit, a firm which manufactures designer handbags, and All Women Recycling which makes gifts and gadgets from used plastic were the big winners at last night’s Exporter of the Year Gala Awards Dinner. The competition which is in its 28th year is organised by the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry and sponsored by the Export Credit Insurance Corporation. For the first time in the history of the competition one firm, Research Unit, won four awards while All Women Recycling won three. Research Unit was the overall winner of the ECIC/Cape Chamber award as well as winners of the Transnet Port Terminals award for Manufacturing, the Small Exporter category and the Innovation award. All Women Recycling won the Finex SA award for the best non-engineering exporter, the Cape Chamber award for Design, and the Nedbank award for Transformation. Folio Online, a translation service, won the Gerald Wolman award for excellence in doing business in Africa. The overall winners were announced at a Gala Dinner at the Westin Hotel, Cape Town on the 18th October 2018. Certificates were also presented to three outstanding business women from the International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge, Dr Birgit Andrag of By den Weg and Jill Byssche […]

Featured Item Press Releases
17 Oct
Who’s land is it anyway? Mngxitama VS Roodt – Rumble in the Urban Jungle

Who’s land is it anyway? Mngxitama VS Roodt – Rumble in the Urban Jungle

The land issue and expropriation will be the subject of the next Rumble in the Urban Jungle on 6th November. The two prize fighters in the “heavydebate championsip of South Africa” will be Comrade Andile Mngxitama, the fearless leader of Black First Land First and Dawie Roodt, the brave and acclaimed chief economist of the Efficient Group. The bout takes place over two rounds after a dinner at the Cape Sun. It will be followed by a question and answer session with the audience. The land issue and expropriation without compensation has been at the centre of public debate for nearly a year. Most of the discussion has been at a fairly academic level and the Chamber felt that it was time to get down to basics and look at the facts as well as the emotions. We warn that some of the debate could be rather raw and it won’t be for the squeamish or the politically correct. Sometimes one has to push arguments rather hard to get the message across, but perhaps that is what’s needed at this time. The combatants will be dealing with questions like “whose land is it, anyway?” and we can expect the facts […]

Featured Item Press Releases
10 Oct
Will the new Finance Minister bring some stability to SA’s finances?

Will the new Finance Minister bring some stability to SA’s finances?

The Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry hopes that the appointment of the former Governor of the Reserve Bank, Tito Mboweni, as the new Finance Minister will bring some stability to South Africa’s finances. It will be a very difficult job with most of the State Owned Enterprises in a state of virtual bankruptcy and little prospect of the economic growth we desperately need. Mr Mboweni has a solid background and he earned respect as governor of the Reserve Bank, but the new challenge will be the ultimate test. The post of finance minister had been bedevilled by politics in recent years so it is to the country’s advantage to have someone in the position who has not been involved in the political scrap. What we need now is clear financial planning and not political thinking. There will be some very difficult decisions ahead, especially on the future of the SOE’s. We wish him well and we can assure him of the support of business as he tries to steady the ship and get South Africa moving. Janine Myburgh President of the Cape Chamber

Featured Item Press Releases
1 Oct
Water restrictions relaxed from 6B to level 5

Water restrictions relaxed from 6B to level 5

The relaxation of the water restrictions from 6B to level 5 is a welcome respite for the city. We are in a substantially better position than this time last year and we trust that there will be no Day Zero in our future. We don’t have the mineral wealth of Gauteng, nor its summer rainfall, so water plays a key role in our tourism and agriculture industry. We are encouraged by the water savings at a domestic, commercial level and industrial level. We urge all users of this precious resource to continue on this trajectory. Janine Myburgh President of the Cape Chamber

Featured Item Press Releases
1 Oct
Simultaneous torching of three Metrorail trains

Simultaneous torching of three Metrorail trains

The Chamber is most concerned with the simultaneous torching of three Metrorail trains on Friday. We cannot accept the status quo, where the rail system is supposed to be the backbone of commuter transport, yet is today very far from it. We already have insufficient train sets, and putting more carriages out of commission just exacerbates the problem. It is ironic that the Province and the City have each committed R16 million to train a new unit to enforce security, yet it is PRASA’s R16 million that was only paid of late – many months into the exercise. There are three primary issues that we have identified. These include bringing a climate of law and order into the system, preventing theft of infrastructure and having enough rolling stock. The latest incident affects all three. It is clear that PRASA is simply not capable of operating the service that we need. It is becoming clearer by the day that Metrorail has to be taken out of PRASA’s hands and we should even consider the severe step of privatisation. The Chamber supports the call for a state of emergency to be declared, so that more national resources will be released to counter the […]

Featured Item Press Releases
1 Oct
Fuel prices to reach most expensive level yet

Fuel prices to reach most expensive level yet

The Cape Chamber is disappointed, but not surprised, with the increase in fuel prices which will reach its most expensive level yet on Wednesday. Unfortunately this is to be expected with the weakened rand and the crude oil increase – a situation that we predicted early September that might result in a shock increase. This shock increase is now a reality. Coupled with a shrinking economy, this fuel increase is particularly onerous on both business and domestic users. Much of the damage has unfortunately been self-inflicted with widespread corruption, mismanagement of our State Owned Enterprises and the looming expropriation issue not engendering any confidence in investors. South Africa has so much potential, yet we seem to be pushing down on the accelerator, hoping to go faster, yet pushing as hard as we can on the brakes at the same time. The result is that we are going nowhere – fast. Janine Myburgh President of the Cape Chamber

Featured Item Press Releases
21 Sep
Visa regulations to be revised

Visa regulations to be revised

The Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry has welcomed the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that visa regulations for tourists are to be revised to ease their entry into South Africa. This will make a big difference in the Western Cape which has invested heavily in its thriving tourist industry. The stimulus package is generally positive and it has certainly brightened the outlook for the country. What the visa changes show is that ways can be found to boost the economy without spending money. Sometimes all the government has to do is remove the hurdles and growth will take place. The Chamber would now like to see a systematic search for hurdles and red tape to free up the economy and give business the space to grow and create jobs. The visa problems and the solutions have been set out very clearly for the government only to be met with stubborn resistance and a refusal to understand the damage being done to the economy and job creation. Finally, someone has listened, but why do we always have to fight against brick walls? We’ve also welcomed plans to develop agriculture but warned against simplistic views on land reform. Successful agriculture depends […]

Featured Item Press Releases
19 Sep
Alan Winde as the DA’s candidate for premiership is a positive move for business

Alan Winde as the DA’s candidate for premiership is a positive move for business

The nomination of Mr Alan Winde as the DA’s candidate for the premiership of the Western Cape, is a positive move for business and the local economy. What we like about Winde is that he has stayed clear of the political scraps and concentrated on creating economic opportunities and jobs and that is what we need. He was also remarkable for his “open door” evenings in which he welcomed entrepreneurs and business people from all sectors of the economy. He is one of those rare politicians who spends more time listening to people than making speeches. His approach was to enable business and to remove the obstacles to growth such as unnecessary red tape. This policy, which was endorsed by the whole provincial cabinet, is one of the reasons why the Western Cape has performed better than other provinces and why our unemployment rate is significantly below the National unemployment rate. Technology is driving so many changes so fast that new approaches are required to anticipate problems and take early advantage of the opportunities opening up. Old style politicians are not very good at this so we need a new approach and Mr Winde may be the person to provide the […]

Featured Item Press Releases
19 Sep
Chamber welcomes Dan Plato as the City’s Mayor

Chamber welcomes Dan Plato as the City’s Mayor

The Chamber has welcomed the nomination of Mr Dan Plato as the City’s new Executive Mayor. He is well respected and he has more than 20 years of experience in local government both as an official and as a leader. We can now look forward to a calmer and more productive management of the City with fewer storms and distraction. Also important is that he has worked well with the Deputy Mayor, Mr Ian Nielson. Mayor Plato has done the job before and his experience in many areas of the City’s administration makes him the most knowledgeable “new” mayor for many years. In addition, his service in the provincial cabinet has equipped him well to deal with the new challenges the City faces. We need some major repair work to our image after the recent drought. We need to rebuild the film industry and get tourism back onto a growth path. The City and the Province have worked together well to grow the local economy and he is ideally placed to continue this work. The Chamber congratulates him and I would like to assure him that he has the full support of the Chamber and business for this important work. Janine […]

Featured Item Press Releases
10 Sep
Recent violent crimes against Metrorail passengers

Recent violent crimes against Metrorail passengers

The Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been deeply shocked by the murder, robberies and brutal assaults on Metrorail passengers between Lynedoch and Eerste River at the weekend. What is bitterly disappointing is that it is now clear that the Passenger Rail Agency (PRASA) is falling down on its commitments to upgrade safety and security on the trains’. The details of the attack are sickening and reveal that criminals have a level of contempt for train security and vulnerable passengers that we have not seen before. Unfortunately, it has come at a time when the Province, the City and business have united to help PRASA and Metrorail deal with passenger safety and rail infrastructure sabotage problems. PRASA had signed an agreement to contribute R16 million to a R48 million project to train a new unit to enforce safety on the trains. The Province and the City made similar commitments and the City was busy training recruits at present, but PRASA had failed to come up with its promised contribution. PRASA is fighting a losing battle. The Chamber supports the call for a state of emergency to be declared so that more national resources could be released to counter the […]

Featured Item Press Releases
10 Sep
Relaxation of water restrictions following reasonable rainfall and rising dam levels

Relaxation of water restrictions following reasonable rainfall and rising dam levels

The Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry has welcomed the slight relaxation of water restrictions following reasonable rainfall and rising dam levels. The Challenge now is to get the message out to tourists and the film industry so that we can revive these sectors. Unfortunately the drought and the Day Zero story made people look elsewhere for holiday destinations and filming locations. They may have liked the alternatives so we will have to fight hard to get the business back. The easing of restrictions on October 1 means that 50 litres per person per day now rises to 70 litres and the tariffs will decrease by 26.6% for those using less than six kilolitres per month. Those using between 10 and 35 kL will see tariffs drop by 56% while those using more than 35 kL will see a 70% reduction in tariffs. The tariff for commerce and industry will be reduced by 18% to R37.5 per kL. It’s unlikely that water use would return to the old levels once the dams were full as businesses and residents had learned to reduce water use and they had invested in water saving devices, tanks and other measures. All this puts us […]

Featured Item Press Releases
4 Sep
5c petrol increase a band aid for a broken leg

5c petrol increase a band aid for a broken leg

The Cape Chamber welcomes the decision not to increase the price of diesel and to reduce the petrol price increase to only 5 cents a litre but warns that this remedy may prove to be a band aid for a broken leg. The problem is that the rand has already weakened further to R15.22 to the US dollar and the price of Brent Crude oil increased to 78 US dollar per barrel. Both numbers are going in the wrong direction for us and it may not be possible to avoid shock increases in October. In addition, South Africa has slipped into a technical recession so a shrinking economy would make dealing with rising fuel prices even more difficult than it has been in recent months. Sadly much of the damage has been self-inflicted. There are international emerging economies problems, but what has really spooked investors is the land issue and expropriation without compensation. We could not have picked a worse time for the debate. This followed even more details on the mismanagement and the corruption in State Owned Enterprises and the country’s credit down-grades. One of the things we need to do to get out of this hole is to […]

Featured Item Press Releases
3 Sep
Cape Chamber Council and Staff sign Plastic Pledge

Cape Chamber Council and Staff sign Plastic Pledge

Members of the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry have signed a plastic pledge to tackle the growing problem of plastic pollution. The plastic pledge commits members to supporting the goal of reducing the plastic footprint that is so damaging to our ecological environment. We will promote the drive toward attaining zero packaging waste in landfills, as well as the initiative to ensure that all packaging is either reusable or recyclable and the phasing out of single-use plastics. Awareness of the dangers from the overuse of plastic has increased dramatically in the last year or two and what is now required was a change of thinking. Anyone who recycles household waste quickly realises that most of the waste is plastic and paper and both can be recycled instead of being sent to landfill sites. In spite of this, the use of plastic, especially in the food industry, is increasing and in many shops it is virtually impossible to buy green vegetables that aren’t prepacked in plastic and polystyrene. There is a belief that this somehow adds value but it does not. It adds everlasting plastic to the environment. One problem is that there are many different kinds of plastic and […]

Featured Item Press Releases
29 Aug
14 of Cape Town’s brightest businesswomen heading to Shanghai, China for IWEC

14 of Cape Town’s brightest businesswomen heading to Shanghai, China for IWEC

Fourteen of Cape Towns brightest businesswomen will be heading for Shanghai, China, next month to look for opportunities in Asia and to meet with another 291 outstanding business women from 39 countries. The occasion is the annual conference of the International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge (IWEC) and award ceremony. IWEC is a New York based non-profit company with a mission to connect and develop a global network of successful women business owners. The delegation will be led by myself, Janine Myburgh, President of the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and includes seven women who have all won IWEC awards in previous years. Also in the party will be Jaqueline Naughton, owner of the BYC Group, who will receive an award this year. The second Cape Town winner, Jill Bysshe, is recovering from a recent motor accident and will not be able to make the trip. IWEC conferences provided a wonderful opportunity for women to inspire each other, exchange ideas, build new business contacts and explore export markets. The women at the conference own businesses which generate a combined revenue of 26.6 billion US dollars a year. I think these numbers tell us that we will be meeting some very dynamic […]

Featured Item Press Releases

ABOUT CAPE CHAMBER

Established in 1804, the Cape Chamber of Commerce is the oldest member-based organisation in Africa. The Chamber has remained contemporary and relevant with a wide range of services, including information, training, networking, trade facilitation and robust advocacy on behalf of our members. We are the voice of business.

SITE MAP

HOME
ABOUT US
EVENTS
MEMBERSHIP
SERVICES
INTEL

CONTACT US

4th Floor
33 Martin Hammerschlag Way
Foreshore
Cape Town
8001
Tel: +27 21 402-4300
Fax: +27 21 402-4302

FACEBOOK
  • Cape Chamber of Commerce
  • Contact Us

© Copyright by Cape Chamber. Created by #Fable.

Cape Chamber Newsletter

Subscribe to keep up to date with the Cape Chamber.
First Name
Last Name
Company Name
Email address