Durban businessmen are concerned about the cost of the coming public holidays, Easter and the national elections. But they'll just have to accept the reality and "deal with it".

That's the no-nonsense view of John van Rooyen, president of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He was commenting on the five days of lost productivity businesses will have to endure over the next week.

Most workers will go off on Thursday for a long weekend because of the Easter holidays. Then it's back to work on Tuesday, but Wednesday is also a public holiday because of the elections.

'There's nothing we can do about it'

Any employee with the foresight could end up with an 11-day holiday by applying for three days' leave on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday next week, only having to return to work the following Monday. Another concern is that many employees will extend their holidays by not going to work next Tuesday.

"Businessmen have always had to put up with the Easter weekend. But this year is an exceptional case because elections are being held in the same week. There's nothing we can do about it and at least it only happens every five years," said Van Rooyen.
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• This article was originally published on page 4 of Daily News on April 08, 2004