Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry
 
 

Committees

 

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Chamber committees are a vital element in the Chamber task of lobbying government on behalf of business. Using the Chamber web-site allows you to interact with the committees. You can view meeting schedules agendas and minutes of all committees. More importantly, you can submit issues that you would like to have raised and carried out by the committees. You can then view the agenda and minutes to ensure that your voice is being heard.

Standing Committees

Chamber committees are a vital element in the Chamber task of lobbying government on behalf of business. Using the Chamber web-site allows you to interact with the committees. You can view meeting schedules agendas and minutes of all committees. Most importantly, you can submit issues that you would like to have raised and actioned by the committees. You can then view the agenda and minutes to ensure that your voice is being heard.

The following specialist and sector committees deal with issues facing specific sectors or facets of business in Durban:

  • Trade & Investment

    • Chair: Ms. Bashni Maistry (Santia Customs Consulting)
    Deputy Chair: Cliff Bell (Richards Bay IDZ)

    Like the other successful committees operated at the chamber, the Trade and Investment Committee’s strength lies in the support it gets from its members. The committee members are dedicated to sharing their specific experiences within their individual portfolios including customs and excise, investment opportunities and current affairs, international transactional expertise, clearing and forwarding, import and export and international law. Several of the committee members are also part of the judging panel and committee of the KZN Exporter of the Year Awards held annually in September.

  • Economic Affairs

    • Chair: Siven Dorasamy

    This Committee looks at identifying and considering national and local economic matters, and other issues with a view to meeting the objectives of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This is done through fostered working relationships with the Ethekwini Municipality and various provincial and national government departments. From time to time pertinent legislative input is required by the committee on draft bills and issues pertaining to micro and macro economic issues. This committee then reviews the necessary legislation and forwards a collective response to government.

    The Committee also holds an annual viewing and reviewing of the National Budget Speech. The objective of this event is to allow members to be a part of the review and analysis of the budget. This is usually chaired by the Tax sub committee chaired by Mr Peter Bailey.

  • SMME
  • Safety & Justice
  • Tourism
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Human Resources
  • Environmental

    • The DCCI Environmental Committee is ably Chaired by Glendyr Nel, Cullinan and Associates, and is comprised of various industry experts, consultants, non-governmental organizations and eThekwini Municipality.

    The Environmental Affairs Committee continues to provide a broad information sharing platform for Chamber members interested in improving their environmental performance or learning the latest with regards to local and national environmental matters. A watching brief is kept on newly-released environmental legislation and committee members are able to provide input/comment on the legislation as it is released.

    The Air Quality Management Plan is regularly reported on within the DCCI Environmental Affairs Committee, keeping members abreast of matters pertaining to ambient air pollution and initiatives to address the issue. High quality presentations have been shared with the DCCI membership on matters such as the eThekwini State of Energy Report, the Waste Discharge Charge System and the new EIA regulations.

  • Infrastructure

    • The DCCI Infrastructure Committee continues to act as a forum for the business community to raise concerns over Durban’s infrastructure as well as provide valuable input to the various authorities and Governmental departments on infrastructural matters.

    A watchful eye has been kept on the controversial N2 Wild Coast Toll Road issue: an initiative which could have substantial impact, both financial and otherwise, on the local business community and Durban residents. Further information on this project is to be released during the course of 2007 and the DCCI will play an active role in scrutinizing this information and submitting meaningful comment thereon.

    eThekwini Water and Sanitation unveiled commendable projects to the DCCI on reducing water loss and various other water-related initiatives. Umgeni Water also provided valuable information on their infrastructural upgrades in the region, including the South Coast Pipeline project, which will augment water supplies in this area. The development of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry’ Catchment Management Agency (CMA) for the Mvoti-Mzimkhulu catchment has seen much DCCI involvement and lobbying for representation on this CMA’s Governing Board.

    Members have also been kept informed of Eskom’s intended development plans into the future, in light of rapidly growing electricity demands throughout South Africa. A watch on progress has also been maintained with the establishment of the Regional Electricity Distributors (RED’s).

    The maritime and port-related issues discussed within the Durban Port Liaison Committee continue to provide crucial input into this committee and thus provides a good degree of integration on discussions pertaining to infrastructural matters.

    The Dube Tradeport EIA initiated a number of specialist studies pertaining to the impacts of this proposed facility and DCCI members have been kept informed along the way, during the latter part of 2006 and into 2007. Durban International Airport continues to handle large volumes of passengers and has recently completed its Multi Story Parking Garage – a facility aimed at relieving parking constraints within DIA.

  • Durban Port Liaison

    • The Durban Port Liaison Committee (DPLC) represents a highly active and integrated forum of senior level representatives of Port user associations, Ports authorities, Spoornet, Customs and Excise and the South African Police Services.

    Several significant initiatives have been contributed to by the DPLC, including the Department of Public Service and Administration and Department of Transport’s assessment of the Durban-Gauteng freight corridor capacity. The DPLC has contributed largely to the National Ports Plan, currently under revision within the National government structures and expected during the course of 2007.

    Congestion levels within and around the Port remain a concern, with the DPLC interacting closely with the Transnet eThekwini Municipality Port Initiative (TEMPI) in an effort to assist in addressing these and other pressing issues pertaining to the Port.

    The DCCI and the DPLC is confident that Durban will remain the leading commercial port in Africa, contributing a substantial amount of revenue to KwaZulu-Natal and, indeed, the rest of the country.

  • Clothing, Textile & Fashion
  • Women in Business
  • Film Industry

Area Committees

Chamber committees are a vital element in the Chamber task of lobbying government on behalf of business. Using the Chamber website allows you to interact with the committees. You can view meeting schedules agendas and minutes of all committees. Most importantly, you can submit issues that you would like to have raised and actioned by the committees. You can then view the agenda and minutes to ensure that your voice is being heard.

The area committees deal with all issues relating to specific regions within Durban including:

  • Beachfront
  • Central
  • Jacobs
  • Tongaat
  • Umhlanga