On Friday morning, a spirit of unity filled the BON Hotel as the Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZCCI) hosted its latest Captains of Industry gathering. Business leaders and industry stakeholders came together with a shared vision to reimagine a stronger, more inclusive Zululand region.
This year marks 99 years of service for the ZCCI, a reminder that the Chamber has long been the heartbeat of business in the region, a neutral space where leaders can set aside differences and chart a collective path. For nearly a century, it has stood as a bridge between ideas and opportunity, ensuring that collaboration turns vision into reality.
The conversations did not shy away from Zululand’s pressing realities. Issues of unemployment, crime, and service delivery dominated discussions. Industry leaders, however, reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable development and shared growth across King Cetshwayo District.
With Richards Bay on the cusp of significant industrial expansion, delegates stressed that growth cannot remain symbolic, it must be tangible. This includes creating opportunities for local businesses, ensuring SMMEs are part of supply chains, enabling young people to gain skills, mentorship, and meaningful jobs, and making sure communities see prosperity in ways they can feel and measure.
The Chamber highlighted its ongoing work with SMMEs through partnerships such as its collaboration with Absa, aimed at building small business capacity to compete and thrive. Plans are also underway to centralise access to opportunities, from jobs to training, making it easier for industries to localise and for communities to benefit directly.
Closing the session, the ZCCI President reminded delegates that despite being under-resourced, the Chamber has made strides that prove what is possible when business rallies behind a common vision. With greater support, it can continue to act as a command centre for strategy, collaboration, and transformation.
As the meeting concluded, one message lingered: growth is a choice. It will be built by those bold enough to plant seeds, nurture wisely, and grow together. The Captains of Industry gathering reaffirmed that Zululand’s future lies in the hands of leaders willing to act and act together.
