Discussions between two local business groupings have stalled as they backtrack on a plan for a united front.
Discussions between two local business groupings have stalled as they backtrack on a plan for a united front.
The Grahamstown Business Forum, established last year, and the developing Makana Business Forum will now meet individually to decide whether to continue as separate bodies, or merge.
The forums had planned to elect representatives for different business sectors last week, but at a meeting between the respective committees on Monday, it was decided elections couldn’t take place until a committee had been finalised.
“We had a very productive meeting on Monday. Suggestions on how the two forums can work together were tabled,” said Grahamstown Business Forum chairperson Eugene Repinz.
“Both forums are consulting with their members and the committees will meet again to make a decision about the nature of their relationship.”
Despite uncertainty about the exact form a combined body might take, Repinz said the two forums would work together on issues of local concern.
Interim Makana Business Forum committee member Xolani Ngcikhwe noted that current discussion between representatives of the respective forums centre on forming a joined task team and exploring how they would go about doing this.
The committees will meet in two weeks to finalise their plans. After this, meetings will open up to the public again and the elections for business sector representatives will continue as planned.
