A historical milestone was reached for the Perseverance area with the signing of an agreement which will result in the establishment of the Perseverance Business Association.
This will see various business owners mobilising their joint efforts to drive for an enabling environment to be in place so as retain and attract investment in the area.
“Over the years, Perseverance has gradually deteriorated owing to the lack of maintenance of key infrastructure and related facilities,” says Siyolo Dick, the Chairman of the Perseverance Business Association.
“To this end, a number of businesses have committed to taking the appropriate actions to secure and facilitate the sustainable upgrading and maintenance of this precinct with the assistance of local and national government authorities.”
Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber CEO Denise Van Huyssteen says the Chamber stands firmly behind this initiative as it perfectly aligns with the business organisation’s strategy of resurging the city’s economy through an action oriented approach.
Vital to get basics working again
“The Perseverance Business Association is a trailblazer in terms of this approach and is likely to serve as a benchmark for other similar clusters going forward,” she says.
“It is vital that businesses, as the key drivers of economic activity and jobs, establish the appropriate platforms to collaborate with the relevant stakeholders to get the basics working again.”
The Perseverance area is an important contributor to the local economy and as such is home to 46 businesses, ranging from multinationals to local SMMEs who combined employ over 10 000 employees.
The Founding Members of the Association include Borbet SA, Coca Cola Beverages South Africa, SPAR Eastern Cape Distribution Centre, Welfit Oddy, and property owners Strydom Basson and Tait, while discussions are underway with other businesses in the area to join the association. The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber has been coopted as an honorary member of the association and will also be represented on its Management Committee. Additionally, Japie Strydom from Strydom Basson and Tait, has been appointed as the Chair of the Perseverance Property Owner’s Association.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture (EDTA): Executive Director Anele Qaba says that “The revitalisation of industrial areas in and around Nelson Mandela Bay Municipal area is key to building a sustainable economy that is able to attract and retain investments as well as create the much-needed jobs.
“These efforts of formalising and rejuvenating the Perseverance cluster must be applauded, noting the contribution of the Perseverance industrial area to the economy of the Nelson Mandela Bay”.
