As a businessman, would not invest money in metro

DEAR metro and all politicians,

As a businessman, I would not invest in the metro, because:

ý The metro has no natural resources that require me to set up business (for instance, no gold, diamonds, etc);

ý Labour is not cheaper. Most bargaining is done via bargaining councils and workers in Johannesburg earn the same as in the metro;

ý It has the second most expensive electricity in South Africa. (You guys make 100% markup.);

ý Transport costs to the biggest markets in South Africa (Johannesburg and Cape Town) will never come down. Costs are likely to increase as petrol taxes go up every year and the rand devalues;

ý Highest rates and taxes (as indicated by The Herald reports).

The metro needs businesses that add value to products, not resellers like malls (that have been given rates rebates for a couple of years) or food/parts distribution centres (most big brands have distribution centres in the metro and not manufacturing plants as the metro has become too expensive).

Trying to justify the high rates and service charges, so that you can support the poor, is not going to be sustainable.

You are creating a smaller herd of cattle that will be thin and few, not producing any milk, let alone cream.

It’s time all politicians come together and work on a realistic plan forward to ensure that we can grow our businesses, not starve them of food that is required to grow our herd.

Or else when the time comes for my retirement, my bags will be packed for greener pastures and the metro will be losing another cow (with the extra R847.17 I will have, I could enjoy a couple of cases of beer with my feet up every month, it’s tempting).

Bernhard Wolf, businessman, Port Elizabeth