KZN Midlands businesses honoured after a challenging year

Pietermaritzburg manufacturer Preformed Line Products (PLP) won the manufacturing sector’s Business of the Year award on Friday night, with strong profit growth and investment in machinery and staff underpinning its performance.

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The award was presented at the annual Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Chamber of Business (PMCB) banquet at Epworth School, which recognised businesses from the city and the Midlands.

PLP, the African arm of a listed U.S. company, recorded a significant increase in profit before tax over three years. Turnover rose 63% and its workforce grew 16% over the same period.

PMCB chief executive Melanie Veness said the company had invested in machinery to increase production capacity and meet customer demand, while prioritising employee development.

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She said PLP spent R1,3 million on its internal bursary programme this year and planned to allocate up to R1 million to bursaries for employees’ children.

“Their business style is totally client focused through direct contact with key clients via in-person discussions and meetings using specialised sales reps. Engineering excellence is key to their success and all products are tested in their own test laboratory before being released,” Veness said.

In her opening remarks, Veness said the banquet recognised both businesses that had excelled and those that had simply endured.

I don’t have to tell any of you that it has been a very tough and complicated year, shaped by difficult economic conditions and no shortage of challenges, but we’ve all shown up, and that alone is worth celebrating.

The PMCB hosted the banquet with Mi7, CHC Catering and The Witness. Themed “Fabulous Dahling”, the evening drew figures from KwaZulu-Natal’s business community, including Prince Africa Zulu, the Royal Vice-Chancellor of the Zulu Kingdom.

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Mi7 marketing head Amil Umraw urged Pietermaritzburg businesses to strengthen partnerships and invest in their communities, drawing on Lego’s turnaround as a lesson in resilience.

He said businesses could achieve more by sharing expertise and creating opportunities together.

A single brick can only achieve so much. Its real potential becomes apparent when it connects with others.

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Mi7’s community investments include Project Halo, which aims to install 500 illuminated safety poles and expand the surveillance network, alongside a wellness programme offering health assessments.

The PMCB also recognised The Witness’s 180th anniversary, with Veness congratulating the newspaper on its resilience in a challenging media landscape.

Witness managing director Riquadeu Jacobs said the newspaper was humbled by the support of its loyal readers and advertisers, and that journalism was important to society.

He said the paper was investing in growing younger audiences and had adapted its content so young people had a platform to be recognised and heard.

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All the winners from the 2026 PMCB banquet:Social Enterprise of the Year — Built Environment Support Group (BESG)Business of the Year — State-Owned Enterprise — uMgeni-uThukela WaterChampion Entrepreneur of the Year — Rashmee Ramdeen – Zilon Bulk BagsSmall Business of the Year — Enermous InvestmentsMedium Enterprise of the Year — Anderson EngineeringMedium Enterprise of the Year – Runner-up — SLCNGBusiness of the Year – Manufacturing Sector – Runner-up — Aberdare CablesBusiness of the Year – Manufacturing Sector — Preformed Line Products (PLP) South Africa.