Durban - KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Willies Mchunu, has vowed to crush the uMlazi business forum that has been accused of threatening violence to muscle its way into public and private construction contracts.
“This grouping called Delangokubona (is threatening) everybody. We assure you that with co-operation from the private sector, they can be crushed overnight. We will be there,” Mchunu said.
He was speaking on Thursday at the announcement of a R700 million hotel as part of the Oceans uMhlanga development.
On Wednesday, an interim interdict was granted by the Durban High Court against the controversial Delangokubona Business Forum, barring it from the Springfield Park site of a four-level parking and repair garage being built for the municipality.
This was after it had allegedly threatened workers and subcontractors of Elias Mechanicos Building & Civil Engineering on Monday.
The forum had, it has been alleged, previously besieged municipal depots across the city, preventing staff from going out to attend to electricity and water faults.
“This country has to be stable, especially this province,” Mchunu said.
He said the provincial government would work closely with the private sector to clamp down on anything that threatened investments in KZN.
“We will work with you to deal with whatever sort of anarchy,” he said
Contacted for comment, Nathi “Bhamuza” Mnyandu, chairman of the Delangokubona Business Forum, appeared unperturbed by Mchunu’s threats.
“Those people must not play political ball games with us, we are not politicians. That premier just came in, he does not know us,” Mnyandu said.
“We are not mad in the head, they paint us as such because they want to benefit alone, and we have researched this and know officials use companies as fronts for their own pockets. When we ask for this to be investigated, they call us criminals,” he said.
Mchunu told his audience of the support the Community Safety and Liaison Department gave to Kokstad businesses, which recently took legal action against protesters that caused damage to public and private properties in the area.
“It is a senseless action,” he said referring to damage to properties when there were protests.
Mchunu condemned those who led protests that resulted in damage, for any political or other end.
“There are systems that provide mechanisms to raise whatever dissatisfaction, including going to court.”
He insisted that stability would be maintained at all costs in KZN.
“We want to assure you that as the leadership of this province we will do everything in our power to maintain stability.
“The ANC, as the ruling party, has deployed the finest volunteers of the movement to ensure that this democratic government represents your aspirations,” Mchunu added.
Dumile Cele, chief executive of the Durban Chamber of Commerce, said the actions of the forum were of great concern for investors and business people trying to deliver on contracts.
She agreed that collaboration between eThekwini, the private sector and now the provincial government was needed to effectively deal with the forum before things spiralled out of control.
Cele also extended an olive branch to the forum, saying the chamber was “more than happy to have a conversation; if they need help”.
“We encourage all businesses to be a part of organised business formations like ourselves, so that people can be informed about ways to find their own opportunities, upholding the rule of law and maintaining a high standard of doing business. Business etiquette and ethics are some of the vital skills we impart to members,” said Cele.
The forum has at least four interdicts against it, including one brought by the eThekwini Municipality.
Mthokozisi Mhlope, a spokesman for the forum, said this morning he would be engaging with his lawyers, whom he did not want to name, and said they were capable of winning the case. He said the forum was extending its reach to construction sites as far afield as the Eastern Cape.
He said the members had unity and showed up at sites to make appointments. This was not intimidation. He dismissed claims they had used force or intimidated workers. - Additional reporting by Nosipho Mngoma and Zainul Dawood
Daily News