A controversial new business has been set up on the North Coast, apparently to offer local construction sites protection against ‘tender mafias’.
Run by a group of local businessmen, some with strong links to the Dolphin Coast Taxi Association, Dolphin Coast Business Watch claims it will keep the likes of the notorious AmaDelangokubona Business Forum out of the area.
Recently, major Ballito construction sites – like others in KwaZulu-Natal – were targeted by the AmaDelangokubona Business Forum which demanded up to 30 percent of their profits as well as job opportunities.
The formation of Dolphin Coast Business Watch has led to fears that they would themselves operate as a tender mafia, controlling jobs at local construction sites.
The members’ affiliation with the taxi association has led to concerns that the taxi bosses would be able to control who transports workers to and from the sites.
Also read: Dolphin Coast Taxi Association vows to discipline extortionists
Speaking for Dolphin Coast Business Watch, chairman Dustin Pillay (also a member of the Dolphin Coast Taxi Association) flatly denied that the taxi association would have any influence in that respect.
“Our aim is to partner with the community, investors, and contractors to create peace on the North Coast. At the moment, investors are leaving and those who are here are scared because they are being bullied by so-called business forums from outside the area.
“Although we are not operating as part of the taxi association, we have experience in dealing with people who try to muscle their way in.”
Pillay said they were able to provide peace and stability at a taxi rank, which was “one of the most hostile places you can find” so they would be able to do the same for the construction sites.
“We successfully manage our local taxi rank and association which employs 300 people and provides transport to 10 000 local people daily.”
He said he wanted to create an environment where the community stood behind the developers, instead of against them.
“We gave councillors forms to fill out, which we will use as a database to collect information on job opportunities, suppliers and contractors in the area, making sure that our locals from the different wards, irrespective of politics and race, are provided with equal job opportunities when the need arises. When people from outside try to hold the construction sites ransom we will mobilize our community to take action in the form of peaceful demonstrations. Right now we have a few developers who want to come on board.”
Ilembe Chamber CEO Cobus Oelofse confirmed that construction sites in Ballito have been targeted by business forums who were trying to extort tenders and profits from them.
“The Chamber does acknowledge that the growth within the Ilembe district and the development projects that continue to stimulate our growth trajectory, have created unrealistically high expectations, among various groupings about how they will benefit from such projects. It is however important, in a free market, that business terms are not dictated to business.
“SAPS and reputable safety and security operations are assisting businesses to solve this problem.”
Oelofse said the Chamber had met with the AmaDelangokubona Business Forum many times. The Chamber has initiated a number of interventions, including an emerging contractors development programme that aims to assist contractors to become compliant and competitive.
KwaDukuza municipality media liaison officer Sipho Mkhize urged developers to work within the council structures.
“We do not support shoddy business forums in the KwaDukuza municipal area, including AmaDelangokubona. We urge the business community to approach the courts to interdict such forums as they operate unlawfully.”
Umhlali SAPS spokesperson captain Vinny Pillay said Dustin Pillay should submit an application to provincial SAPS regarding his business plan.
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