14-05-2025
Business chamber partners with experts to manage risks from weather and other disasters
Big businesses in the city have offered their support in the establishment of a risk management desk by the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber to minimise the risk of service delivery woes.
The partnership with Hollard Insurance, Santam Insurance and the Simah Group seeks to ensure that proactive measures are in place to minimise risks associated with weather and other disasters.
The desk will focus on proactive maintenance of stormwater drains, alien vegetation removal and the functionality of fire hydrants.
Chamber chief executive Denise van Huyssteen said the desk would leverage expert knowledge to proactively identify and mitigate risk factors in the metro, specifically those affecting local businesses.
'By using the expertise of key industry players like Hollard, Santam and Simah, the desk will be able to quickly assess risk areas, develop timely interventions and provide critical insights that help safeguard infrastructure, human life and the continuity of business operations,' she said.
The desk's priorities include reducing the effect of weather-related disasters, mapping out risk areas, providing technical inputs and other support for the implementation of sustainable interventions.
They also include co-ordinating business responses to natural disasters such as floods or fires, and collaborating with the chamber's geographical clusters and the municipality to ensure a proactive approach to identifying risks and developing mitigation plans.
Hollard's head of environmental, social and governance, Deanne Bezuidenhout, said by bringing together expertise from diverse sectors, they were advancing a holistic strategy.
'Disaster prevention is far more effective and less costly than recovery,' Bezuidenhout said.
Santam's head of market development, Neptal Khoza, said the initiative was important to ensure the continuity of business operations in the city, which in turn supported overall economic stability.
'The ability to minimise disruptions caused by weather-related incidents ensures that companies can maintain operations and continue contributing to the local economy.
Simah's corporate account executive, Khanyisa Gogela, noted the importance of data-driven decision-making and stakeholder collaboration.
'Our involvement in the desk reflects our commitment to using data and innovation to support proactive risk identification and intervention.'
The Herald
