Triggered by the devastating looting and plundering in KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng last week and following the continuous impact of the pandemic on the economy of our town, a syndicate of NGOs, businesses, schools, and community members have resolved to continue serving the needs of those in need.
The group's mission is to encourage:
• Sharing of ideas, resources and encouragement
• Continuing to serve those in need
• To maximise collaboration efforts - when our individual organizations are unable to meet a
need, or when we have resources but are unable to deliver.
Should you have missed the initial media statement, please find it here.
As we align our efforts it is becoming clearer that sustainable food security as well as job creation are hugely important and further thought is currently being put in that. We will keep you posted of further developments in our newsletter, but also keep an eye out for social media and media releases in local press.
Next week's Coffee Podium at Elegant – assuming regulations allow
With the current Adjusted Level 4 hopefully being lifted this upcoming Sunday, we are looking forward to hosting our next monthly networking event, as always on the last Thursday of the month. On the 29th of July Elegant Tshisanyama in Concordia will be our next Coffee Podium host.
As always up to 10 businesses will be given the opportunity to present themselves to the audience attending on the day. Your opportunity to get known within the broader business community of Greater Knysna! The Coffee Podium opens at 07h30 with presentations starting at 08h00.
Please RSVP on info@gkbc.co.za to network, mingle and market your business. R60 for members, R80 for future members. Limited availability, booking is essential!
NB! Should the restrictions not be lifted and gatherings not permitted, this Coffee Podium will be postponed until Thursday August 26. Please keep an eye on our facebook page for updates.
Small guesthouses rebate? – Motivation being sent to Muni
As part of a broader discussion about the increased Rates & Taxes (see also below), the imposed 76% increase for accommodation establishments with up to 8 lettable rooms is being challenged jointly by the Knysna Accommodation Association (KAA) and the Business Chamber. A 40% rebate as per the Budget Policies seems to have been omitted in the Final Budget.
As said, more info below and in our next newsletter.
Tourism in our town – your voice is important!
Our paid up members will have received the invitation to respond (either by email or by participating in an online meeting) to the proposed implementation of the tourism function as envisioned by Knysna Municipality once the current contract with Visit Knysna, run by Wesgro, comes to an end at the end of October. This in preparation for the general stakeholder meeting to be held next week, where GKBC is expected to be given the floor to raise concerns and give input as received from our members.
You are invited! Please RSVP directly with Visit Knysna as per the invitation.
First deep water samples taken
In our ongoing effort to focus on the health of the Knysna Estuary, the Chamber is happy to report the first deep water samples have been taken, supplementing the monthly samples of the surface water. Photo's and results to follow in due course. Thanks go to our international donor for the generous sponsorship!
Rates & Taxes - a continuing story
As reported in our last newsletter, several of our members have raised concerns about the unexpected exorbitant increases in Rates & Taxes implemented from the 1st of July 2021 for certain property sections/owners, in particular 32% for business vacant land, 76.8% for accommodation establishments with max. 8 lettable rooms and 120% for private open space. The general increase in Rates & Taxes has been approved at 6.1%.
Sedgefield Ratepayers' Association and GKBC
Two separate meetings took place between Knysna Municipalit, Sedgefield Ratepayers' Association and the Greater Knysna Business Chamber. The process followed was discussed at length as well as how these higher increases could be approved and implemented without further input from the public, it seems unjust, and the next step is currently being considered.
KAA and GKBC
A separate meeting took place between Knysna Municipality and the Knysna Accommodation Association where the GKBC was represented as well.
While questions were raised about future plans with regards to tourism and marketing of the town, the main concern focused on the 76.8% increase in rates and taxes for 'Accommodation Establishments where the number of lettable rooms is equal to or less than 8'. It was established that there is a discrepancy between the Budget Policies which stipulates a 40% rebate for that category accommodation establishments.
A motivation to implement the 40% rebate retroactively is currently jointly being finalized by the KAA and GKBC.
A more detailed minute of these meeting held has been sent to the Municipality and can be found here. Should the Municipality choose to comment we will share those in our next newsletter.
Another issue touched upon is the substantial number of small accommodation establishments which run their business without the proper business registration and/or zoning. This was flagged as unfair competition for those establishments which operate within the law and local regulations.
Business Breakfast – postponed until later
Please note that the Business Breakfast as announced in our earlier newsletters has been postponed for now. We will keep you posted, please keep an eye out for our newsletters and social media.
Directors: Pierre Gouws (Chair) | Richard Sohn (Vice) | Andries Fourie (Treasurer) | Evelyn Pepler |
Elmay Bouwer | Jason White | Mark Sofianos | Chris Schutte | Hermann Kapp | Martin Hansson | Clifford Elion | Megan Taplin | Office Administrator: Ypie Kingma
