UPDATE: Vodacom Durban July crisis averted
The groomsmen's strike for an increase in wages has come to an amicable conclusion.
A STRIKE involving hundreds of groomsmen mere days before Durban’s biggest horse-racing event, the Vodacom Durban July, ended amicably yesterday.
Hundreds of groomsmen gathered at the entrance of the Shongweni Training Centre yesterday, waving sticks, hammers, knobkerries while chanting. The peaceful protest ended after an agreement was made with the centre’s management.
The estate manager and trainer representative, Tony Riverland, said the incident was ‘sorted out’ and the Summerveld Training Centre had come to an agreement with the groomsmen regarding their wages.
An estimated R160 million will be spent directly on products and services, ranging from transport, accommodation, restaurants and hospitality, to fashion and entertainment, according to a survey conducted at last year’s Vodacom Durban July.
ALSO READ: Groomsmen are striking at Summerveld Training Centre
The President of the Durban Chamber Of Commerce, Musa Makhunga, emphasised the value the Vodacom Durban July has on the local economy.
“An event of this nature brings an array of socio-economic benefits to the local economy and besides for the over R150 million injected into the local economy, the event produces annualised employment of 320 and government taxes of R10 million,” Makhunga commented.
Add to this a spend of up to R100 million on betting at both on-course and at off-course totes, the Vodacom Durban July is responsible for an economic churn of between R250 and R300 million.
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