KZN Business CEO Melanie Veness: Mkhwanazi has 100% support - because he deserves it

National Business Chamber chair Melanie Veness, whose day job is CEO of the PMB & Midlands Chamber, says whistleblowing Gen Nhalnha Mkhwanazi is fully supported on the ground in KZN. She says efforts by the provincial head of SAPS have been successful in turning the tide against crime and corruption - and that his disclosures of corrupt MPs being in cahoots with criminals is no surprise in a province wracked by the consequences of endemic corruption. She also shares suggestions for exporters struggling to see a future with 40% export tariffs looming. Veness spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg..Sign up for your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to keep you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here.Support South Africa’s bastion of independent journalism, offering balanced insights on investments, business, and the political economy, by joining BizNews Premium. Register here.If you prefer WhatsApp for updates, sign up to the BizNews channel here.The auditorium doors will open for BNIC#2 on 10 September 2025 in Hermanus. For more information and tickets, click here..Watch here.Listen here.BizNews Reporter .South Africa's exporters on edge amid rising tariffs and global trade turbulenceAs South Africa stands on the precipice of major shifts in global trade, Melanie Veness, CEO of the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business and head of the National Association of South African Chambers, has called for urgent action and transparent communication from the government. Speaking to Alec Hogg, she painted a sobering picture of uncertainty for local exporters, especially those relying on the United States as a primary market.Veness has become a trusted voice during key turning points in South Africa’s recent economic history - her insights during the July 2021 riots provided clarity in a time of chaos. Today, she warns that proposed US tariffs - up to 40% on some South African exports - could prove equally disruptive. “You need quite a backbone to run a business in these current times,” she noted.South African industries, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, have built significant trade ties with the US. The looming tariffs threaten these ties, especially in automotive and agricultural sectors. “Over 100,000 jobs are at risk,” said Veness. “In citrus alone, it’s 35,000 jobs if US market access is lost.”The root causes of these trade tensions, she explained, lie in long-standing policy issues and trade practices that the US deems unfair or non-reciprocal. From overly stringent standards to unresolved poultry disputes, the US has voiced dissatisfaction for years. The latest tariffs, pushed forward under Donald Trump’s aggressive trade agenda, reflect growing American frustration with what they view as South Africa’s inaction.“They don’t want us to explain why things should stay the same,” said Veness. “They want to know how things are going to be different.” She added that the time has come for South Africa to negotiate a new trade agreement rather than defend outdated policies.While tariffs dominate business headlines, local security and governance issues also weigh heavily on the business community. Veness strongly endorsed Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, KwaZulu-Natal’s police commissioner, calling him “very effective” in tackling crime and the construction mafia. “We used to have 60 attacks a year, and we’re down to six,” she stated.Recent statements by Mkhwanazi alleging political interference and corruption have not surprised the business sector. “We’ve seen it ourselves,” Veness confirmed, recounting incidents where municipal officials were warned off interventions by senior political figures. The community, she said, overwhelmingly backs Mkhwanazi and fears instability should he be removed.Against this backdrop of uncertainty - domestic and international - Veness’s message to South African businesses is clear: diversify. “If you’ve relied on a single product line or one export market, it’s time to pivot,” she advised. Diversifying markets and products won’t be easy, she admitted, but it's vital for long-term sustainability.She also called on Pretoria to improve communication and provide guidance to businesses facing unprecedented challenges. “We need our government to speak to us,” she said. “We can’t be waiting, like everyone else, for tariff announcements.”Despite the challenges, Veness remains deeply committed to her region and country. “I live where it makes me happiest,” she said. “South Africa is still the most amazing place in the world to live. Our people are phenomenal.”Her optimism is rooted in the resilience of South Africans and a belief that real change is possible - if corruption is addressed. Drawing on lessons from Rwanda’s post-genocide recovery, she emphasised the importance of “zero tolerance for corruption” in restoring hope and fairness in society.“Corruption is the cancer killing us,” she concluded. “That’s why when someone like Mkhwanazi stands up and says ‘no more’, it resonates. South Africans are tired - and that’s a good thing.”

KZN Business CEO Melanie Veness: Mkhwanazi has 100% support - because he deserves it

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