Company owed R2m for food parcels

AN Eastern Cape company has turned to the courts to recoup close to R2-million that is owed by two KwaZulu-Natal companies that contracted it to supply food parcels in the province.

AVNG Investments is owed more than R1-million and R800 000 by Dawn-Don and Ikamvalamakhabela Trading and Projects respectively.

Dawn-Don and Ikamvalamakhabela are contracted by the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) to supply food parcels when the need arises.

AVNG Investments directors are Ndimphiwe Gqwetha and Aphelele Vazi.

They acted as a supplier for the two companies, delivering food parcels to Sassa whose officials would deliver them to the intended recipients. Invoices seen by Times Media reveal that Dawn-Don had been paid R9 466 926 by Sassa Eastern Cape for six months of work to date.

Ikamvalamakhabela received R7 493 575 for the same period.

But both companies have failed to settle their debt with AVNG.

Gqwetha said he had been demanding payment without any luck.

“I got tired of their empty promises and I had to use the services of the lawyers to recoup our money from these companies,” Gqwetha said.

Last month, AVNG was granted judgment by the East London High Court to attach the assets of both Dawn-Don and Ikamvalamakhabela.

“In February, we sent summons to these companies and they failed to adhere to the demands. All I want is R1 114 956 from Dawn-Don and R838 752 from Ikamvalamakhabela.

“I’ve distributed food parcels in the province and when they have to pay they are running away. I know they have been paid their money by Sassa,” Gqwetha said.

Vazi said the two company’s directors had switched off their phones.

“We are just defeated. We can’t move or do anything. We need the money that these people owe us,” Vazi said.

Dawn-Don director Mazisi Thobela acknowledged that they owed AVNG the money but would not comment about the court attachment order.

“We will pay the money tomorrow or later in the week. We have received money from Sassa,” Thobela said.

Ikamvalamakhabela director Gcwalisile Thobela Majali said he was “bereaved and cannot talk”.

“I will come back to you and talk about this. I have a bereavement,” Majali said.