DA eThekwini leader proposes plan to deal with criminal business forums terrorising companies

DA eThekwini caucus leader Nicole Graham. Picture: Facebook

DA eThekwini caucus leader Nicole Graham. Picture: Facebook

Published Dec 2, 2021

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DURBAN - DA councillor Nicole Graham has called on the eThekwini Municipality to establish a “one-stop centre” resourced with security officials to respond to the threats posed by business forums to the businesses in the city.

She said means must be made to allow business people involved in the construction industry or any other business that found themselves intimidated by business forums to be able to call the city directly for help.

The investors who find themselves in the cross-hairs of business forums, she said, cannot be expected to sort out such matters in courts alone; they need the support of the city.

The business people should be able to call this centre for help, and resources, including security, are dispatched there to help, said Graham.

She said this could be one of the steps the city takes to protect current investments and attract other investors and grow the economy of the city.

Graham, who was re-elected as the caucus leader for the DA, was speaking to The Mercury in a telephonic interview as she readied her party for the start of the new term, with the first meeting expected next week.

Giving people dignity through housing, economic opportunities, safety and ensuring service delivery will be among her top priorities this term, she said.

This new council term presents a lot of opportunities for the second biggest party in the council to broker deals.

The ANC no longer commands absolute majority after its support fell below 50% in the recent local government elections and it has to rely on smaller parties for support to lead.

Graham said they will engage with all parties including the ANC on any initiatives that aim to bring progress to the city. She said their aim is not to just oppose things they find objectionable, but they will support the positive initiatives aimed at improving the lives of the city’s residents.

She said the DA has 59 councillors this new term with more than 300 years of combined experience and they will bring this experience to bear as they fight for improved service delivery for the city’s residents.

“We will fight tooth and nail to make sure that the lives of the eThekwini residents are improved.

“The reality is that the ANC is in a very difficult position and the coalition is far from stable. I do not believe that it will last five years. We will therefore partner with all the parties in the council to bring change.”

Graham said there are many service delivery issues in the city that need to be attended to and almost all service delivery departments are faced with different challenges.

She said the city has the poorest metro population in the country, and the city therefore has to work hard to create an investor-friendly climate to attract investment, and part of that includes improved security.

“There is no investor who will invest in a city that is dirty, where water and electricity are unreliable and where there is no security to protect their investments.”

THE MERCURY