ETHEKWINI Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda has issued a stern warning to business forums who invade construction sites and demand a 30 per cent share of the work contract. “They must watch out, such anarchy will not be tolerated in this city,” said Kaunda as he addressed the Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday.
Kaunda said the behaviour of the business forums had cost the private sector hundreds of millions as a result of delays, adding that this unlawful conduct had to come to an end.
He will meet with members of the business forums next week and will make it clear to them that their behaviour would not be tolerated. Kaunda added that some businesses were threatening to leave Durban as a result of threats and stoppages caused by the business forums.
“If this is not nipped in the bud it could result in the city shedding thousands of much-needed jobs,” he said.
“We will not be leaving this sort of behaviour to continue. We will not tolerate this nonsense. We are prepared to go toe to toe with these business forums as the law must take precedence. We cannot be a banana republic where people do as they please. We are not retreating on this matter as we cannot allow business forums to co-govern the city with us. We are governing the city,” he said.
Kaunda went on to say that the city would also meet with the provincial police commissioner to get an update on cases that have been opened against the business forums.
“In instances where business forums distance themselves from an individual who has invaded a property or made threats, then legal action will be taken against that individual. We have to protect businesses in the City as well as Municipal infrastructure,” he said.
ALSO READ: Municipal climate change action plan lauded
Kaunda told the committee that a number of catalytic projects in the city had been halted by forums who demanded a 30 per cent stake in the work contract. He said this sort of behaviour was not Radical Economic Transformation but rather anarchy and would be dealt with as such.
“We will be acting decisively on this matter. We need our legal team to be ready as there will be litigation attached to an individual or the forum itself based on the evidence submitted,” he said.
Deputy Mayor Belinda Scott said the city had met with the business community on a number of occasions regarding the business forum issue, and both parties had agreed to work in partnership.
She said the city was encouraging affected business people to open cases against the forums if they had been intimidated or threatened.
“We cannot do it alone, we need to work with the business community,” she said.
Chairperson of the Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee Councillor Thanduxolo Sabelo said the city had opened a case after members of the business forum invaded a municipal building recently.
“We know that our lives may be threatened (for taking this stance) but so be it. This is what we are called to do. This is a country that is governed by laws which we all need to abide by. Failure to do so will result in our country becoming a banana republic,” he said.
Do you want to receive news alerts via Telegram? Send us a message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts
Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple.
