New mayor to cut business red tape

Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga has vowed to cut red tape for businesses in the capital city and bring back the “glorious Pretoria Show”.

Speaking in his first external address as mayor at the Matchmaking Africa Conference as the Jacaranda Agricultural Show kicked off yesterday, Msimanga said he was ready to form partnerships with businesses to ensure success in the local economy and to promote business matchmaking within South Africa and with other African countries.

“I commit to cutting red tape in our city to ensure business prosperity.

“I pledge that Tshwane will enter a new phase for business development.

“I’m making a commitment to bring back the glorious Pretoria Show. It will open again,” he told guests.

He promised job creation and service delivery and an end to corruption.

“Unemployment has continued to grow. We must create growing opportunities in our economic participation and securing of jobs. This (conference) is to create relationships with the industry.”

He said the capital city was ready to work openly with partner cities and economic players in the region.

“We have much to gain and much to offer. We will take key interest in today’s (yesterday) proceedings and business interest to partner in growth.

“We want to build this conference into a higher success and an annual event.”

The Agricultural Show, which replaced the popular annual Pretoria Show in 2014, covers agriculture, wildlife farming, agricultural machinery, livestock, agricultural business development, technology and organic farming.

The show provides a specialised business-to-business platform designed to showcase and create agricultural business opportunities for farmers and the agricultural industry, said organiser Petro Ferreira.

The show will close on Sunday.