Durban - Representative of the Delangokubona Business Forum - accused of aggressively taking over construction sites, demanding jobs and some of the profits - lay low on Wednesday and did not come to court to oppose an interdict to stop a site hijacking threatened for Thursday.
However, the forum can still oppose the finalisation of the order when it comes back to court later this month.
So far the forum has at least four interdicts against it - one brought by the eThekwini Municipality and the others by businesses that have reported that the group uses intimidation tactics and threats to get its own people employed and a slice of the profits.
On Wednesday Elias Mechanicos Building and Civil Engineering obtained an interdict from Durban High Court Judge Mahendra Chetty against the forum and five of its “directors”, Sibusiso Mnyandu, Bonga Shongwe, Sibongile Cele, Mthokozisi Mhlope and Bumuso Nyandu.
The latter three were allegedly part of a 15-to-20-strong group which stormed the company’s site in Springfield Park on Monday, frog-marching the security guard to the management’s offices demanding a meeting this morning.
The group indicated that if its demands were not met - which included that 10% of the contract value be subcontracted to it - it would “shut the site down”.
The company is building a R140 million city fleet facility for the municipality as per a contract it was awarded last year.
In terms of the interdict the forum and its members are restrained from threatening, intimidating or assaulting anyone linked to the project. They also cannot disrupt any work on site and cannot enter the site.
The company has also hired extra security.
The application papers were served on the forum’s offices in Umlazi on Tuesday afternoon. As part of Wednesday’s order, the SAPS was directed to assist the sheriff to serve the interdict if need be.
The return date in another, similar, interdict matter is tomorrow.
Lafarge, which owns a quarry near Empangeni, obtained an order against the forum in early May.
In his affidavit, quarry manager Stewart Chislett said individuals had arrived on site unannounced, surrounded him and indicated they would be “taking over the business”unless they were granted an audience with the chief executive.
Chislett said the forum was a “law unto itself”.
Attempts to contact the forum or its members have been unsuccessful.
The Mercury