On 16 April the Durban Chamber of Commerce and industry hosted its 159th Annual Gala Dinner at the prestigious ICC venue. The event was attended by more than a 1000 of KZN’s finest businessmen and women.
Every year since its establishment, the Chamber has hosted its annual gala dinner during the first quarter of the calendar year. The gala dinner has grown into a premier event on the business calendar.  This year saw the inauguration of the new president to the Durban Chamber, Mr Zeph Ndlovu. Zeph is a General Manager of Transnet Port Terminals. He has actively been involved in the Chamber movement for the past twelve years, previously being part of the Chamber in different roles ranging from Durban Port Forum, Chamber Council, and in the last four years member of the Board in his capacity as Vice President. Zeph will serve as Chamber President for the next two years, along with the five new board members announced during the gala dinner.
The Officers:
1. President: Zeph Ndlovu
2. Deputy President: Mike Jackson
3. Vice-President [finance]: Muhammad Seedat
4. Vice-President:
Claudette Sigamoney
5. Vice-President:
Vani Moodley                     
6. Immediate Past President: Akash Singh Elected Members:
1. Susan Abro
2. Deven Naidoo
3. Sanam Shree
4. Linda Bukhosini
5. Musa Makhunga
6. Laura Moodley
7. Altaaf Suleman
8. Pravin Thakur
9. Advocate Khaya Thango
10. Binesh Rajkaran
11. Darlene Menzies Area Forum Representatives:
1. Central Area: Carl Heinz Uys
2. North Area: Iqbal Sheik
3. South Area: Gladwin Malishe
4. West Area: Craig SchmahlStanding Forum Chairpersons:
1. Durban Port: Peter Besnard
2. Economic Affairs: Paul Jones
3. Environmental: Sandra Redelinghuys
4. Human Resources: Jacquie Bhana
5. Infrastructure: Nkopodi Nkopodi
6. Safety and Justice: Peter Feuilherade
7. SMME: Sharon Van Den Heever
8. Tourism: Markus Fritz
9. Trade and Investment: Bashni Maistry
10. Women in Business: Vani Moodley
11. Health Professionals: Dr Basil Dhaniram

Customary to the annual gala dinner is the announcement of the Alec Rogoff awards in the category of B-BBEE. Now in its eight year, this award category celebrates organisations with enterprise development programmes that encourage and contribute to economic empowerment and to the development of small black enterprises.
The 2015 Alec Rogoff Award winners are:
â-  Qualifying Small Enterprise Category: AQRate KZN
â-  Large Corporations (Generic Enterprises): WOA Fuels and Oils
â-  Best Supplier Development Project/Programme: SAPREF Guest speaker for the night was Suzanne Ackerman-Berman who is a successful South-African businesswoman. Ackerman-Berman currently serves as Director of Transformation at Pick n Pay Holdings Ltd., one of the biggest retail chains in South Africa.
 She gave essential business insights and tips using the topic, â€˜South Africa staying afloat in
tough economic times’.