Breather for business forum

THE Delangokubona Business Forum has been thrown a lifeline.

As per a weekend report in The Mercury’s sister paper, The Sunday Tribune, a group of construction companies – led by Esor Construction – are asking the Durban High Court to find the controversial organisation in contempt of court. This after representatives of the forum allegedly stormed Esor Construction’s offices and intimidated a human resources worker there last week.

The matter came before court yesterday, when the forum was supposed to answer to the accusations, but it was instead given until January to secure legal representation and file papers opposing the construction companies’ application.

Speaking outside court, Robert Ndlela – of the Federation for Radical Economic Transformation, to which Delangokubona belongs – said the group was not one of “thugs”.

“We are not a cartel of some sort,” Ndlela said. “When they talk about criminal activities, that is not us. These are just business people.” He said they wanted to share in the economy and for companies like Esor to mentor and give space to aspiring contractors.

Approach

“It is not correct that we engage different projects and demand a stake. We approach different projects and we sit down and engage on the basis of contractor participation goals, which stipulate that a certain percentage must be given to the local business community,” Ndlela went on.

He said the court action and the allegations of intimidation had surprised the federation and the forum.

They were “disappointed” by Esor’s attitude.

“As the federation we are flabbergasted,” he said. “Right now, as we speak, there are engagements with Esor.

“They are using the courts as an alternative to the agenda of radical economic transformation,” Ndlela said.

The matter will come before the court again in late January.

AMADELANGOKUBONA through its mouthpiece, Robert Ndlela, would have the public believe that it is the media that has manufactured a perception that the forum are a bunch of thugs enthusiastically going about the business of strong-arming the city into involving them in business deals they missed the boat on.

Really? So tell me then, Robert, who was it that shoved a gun under my nose and demanded that I and my colleagues leave the site or we would be “dealt with”?

Who was it that threatened me with violence when I attempted to record the thugs involved? Who was it that shut down the Durban Go project in Pinetown for months?

I have proof, Robert… their faces are quite clear. As is the registration number of one of the vehicles.

No, Robert…There is no perception…There is no confusion…You are thugs! RUSSELL WRIGHT Pinetown