WCCI golf day draws investors as chamber stakes claim in Waterberg’s economic future
The Waterberg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WCCI) has reaffirmed its ambition to become the leading voice of business in the district, positioning itself as a catalyst for investment, infrastructure development, job creation and economic transformation following a successful inaugural Golf Day held at Euphoria Golf & Lifestyle Estate on Friday.
The event brought together government leaders, investors, business executives, entrepreneurs and development stakeholders in what the Chamber described as a strategic platform for strengthening partnerships and unlocking economic opportunities across the district.
Speaking after the event, WCCI CEO Rebone Langa said the overwhelming response from stakeholders exceeded expectations and demonstrated strong support for the Chamber’s vision.
“The day went super well, it exceeded our expectations. The number of people, the number of organisations that were there, the government presence, our investors were there because we are already busy with infrastructure projects with them in the district. So everybody was there who needed to be there and it was full to capacity. So I have no reason not to be happy,” said Langa.
The Golf Day formed part of the Chamber’s inaugural programme and was organised to bring together government, business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs and civil society organisations to strengthen partnerships that will advance economic growth in Waterberg.
According to Langa, the initiative aligns with the Chamber’s mandate of supporting businesses, promoting investment and creating opportunities for meaningful engagement around economic development.
She said the event also provided an opportunity for sponsors, investors and business leaders to engage in a more relaxed setting while discussing long-term development plans for the district.
“We walked with our sponsors through the process of launching, they were there yesterday and we all said let’s go and unwind and socialise and speak in a much relaxed environment of the strategic ways that we are going to be doing in the Waterberg district. We have a lot to do and we’ve been preparing for more than a year to launch, so it’s a beautiful view for me, it’s a beautiful sight,” she said.
Beyond networking, the discussions centred on investment opportunities and infrastructure development projects that have the potential to reshape the economic landscape of the district.
Langa revealed that the Chamber is already involved in discussions around major developments, including a smart city project in Modimolle, while several investors have expressed interest in becoming part of future initiatives.
“In Modimolle alone, we’ve got a smart city going and we are part of that. So I spoke to one of our sponsors, they want to be part of it. They want us to actually come and sit down and them being part of it and we are about money, we are about commerce, we are about work, we are about job creations, our SMMEs needs to be here working and being part of the investment that comes into the district,” she said.
The Chamber believes that ensuring local businesses participate in economic opportunities remains central to its vision of inclusive growth. Langa said investors are not only interested in commercial ventures but are also looking at critical infrastructure projects that could have a lasting impact on communities across Waterberg.
“Some want to invest in infrastructure as well, the water, the waste management and believe me, we are up there,” she said.
She emphasised that the Chamber’s long-term objective is to serve as a bridge between government, business and communities while facilitating investment and economic participation.
Looking ahead, Langa confirmed that the Golf Day will become an annual feature on the Chamber’s calendar, complemented by regular stakeholder engagements aimed at maintaining momentum and strengthening collaboration across the district.
“We’re going to be having this event annually, we’re going to have quarterly meetings. Our annual reports will show, we’ll be publishing it on our website as well, so we will be doing this drive and going for road shows. We’ve been meeting with sakekarmers and local forums so that we don’t work in silos. Our motto is that we need to collaborate and have one voice. So we are going to be showing our faces in quite a lot of places in Waterberg,” she said.