By Lungani Zungu
The controversial Delangokubona Business Forum has been accused of blocking the opening of a Pick n Pay store in Isipingo, south of Durban.
The forum, which has wreaked havoc and disrupted many businesses in KwaZulu-Natal, is allegedly demanding a certain monthly percentage to allow the store to start operating.
This has left the store’s would-be employees without jobs.
One of them is Thembisile Mchunu, from Folweni in southern Durban.
“I was happy when I got a call about two months ago informing me that I had been shortlisted for a job. But nothing came of that after I heard that the opening of the store had been prevented by some people,” she told Scrolla.Africa.
The single mother of two, who has been job hunting for more than six years, said her hopes of a better life have been shattered.
“My only plea is for people who are doing this to find other ways of resolving whatever issues they have without stopping opportunities that create employment for us.”
The forum abruptly stopped the facelift of the Durban-based Suncoast Casino in 2017 after its members were allegedly sidelined from the multimillion-rand upgrade.
At the time, the members of the forum forced their way onto the construction site demanding 40% of the job be given to black-owned construction companies.
Pick n Pay’s communications unit said the retailer was trying to resolve the impasse over its operations without any further disruptions.
A local community leader in Isipingo, Mike Naidoo, said: “This is sad, because those who are bearing the brunt are predominantly poor people who were hoping that the store would create job opportunities for them.”
Thabani Mzulwini, the spokesperson of the Delangokubona Business Forum, could not be reached for comment.
Pictured above: Thembisile Mchunu showing her email from Pick n Pay
Image source: Lungani Zungu
