The controversial former Cabinet spokesperson, Jimmy Mswanele Manyi, accused Caucasian members of the outdoor advertising industry of being racist during the industry’s Outdoor Advertising Indaba on 10 May.
Manyi was the emcee at the indaba held at Indaba Hotel in Fourways.
He shocked his mainly white audience during the indaba when he accused them of sidelining black members. “If a black business person manages to comply with everything that is required, why do you guys [not] do business with them? What else must they do after ticking all the boxes? It is racism that makes you overlook them. What else can it be?” said Manyi during the indaba.
He also launched a blistering attack on JC Decaux chief executive officer, Basil Lauryssen whom he described as selfish.
This followed after Lauryssen urged upcoming players in the outdoor advertising industry to concentrate on increasing the market rather than trying to split the small existing cake.
“I am really worried about what Basil said. Instead of committing to sharing the existing market, he wants it to be left untouched for his exclusive rights. I think that is being selfish,” said Manyi.
Another new entrant into the outdoor adverting industry, Tshepo Motsepe, accused the City of Johannesburg of not practising the transformation gospel they preach. “The Mayor of Johannesburg’s picture is being carried by Primedia billboards and not even one is on SMME boards. Why not share that business with us. We are not running substandard businesses,” said Motsepe.
Member of the Mayoral Committee, Ruby Mathang, conceded that the council was still to give business to upcoming black businessmen.
The same sentiments were echoed by Joyleen Mahanetsa who called upon the City of Johannesburg to speed up the site application process which she said was taking more than three years.
She also lamented the unfair labour practices in the industry and urged the City of Johannesburg to level the playing field. “We are given very short contract periods, application fees for sites are so high and the application process takes so long,” said Mahanetsa.
