Claiming a bigger piece of the pie

A battle between a private developer and community business owners is playing out on a construction site on Vergelegen Road. The two opposing forces are Hugo de Villiers of Tutam Properties and a conglomerate of local SMMEs claiming to have been neglected by the developer. The protesters are aiming to disrupt the construction until their concerns are heard.

The scenario is one of claims and counter-claims as the two forces struggle to see eye to eye. “All we are asking is that the developer sits down with us to discuss the situation,” said Kudjoe Negota, the ad-hoc representative of the conglomerate. Negota claimed their group of local businesses have been excluded by the developer when ensuring that a sufficient number of job opportunities were earmarked for the local community.

Previous disruptions to the site, a failed court interdict application and the presence of armed security have left tempers frayed. While Negota claimed his group were peaceful, De Villiers alleged threats of violence had been made against him. “Do we look like violent people? They are the ones who have armed guards and big dogs,” laughed a confident Negota who was gathered with his fellow SMME owners outside the development.

De Villiers defended his company, and explained, “We feel we have given this group ample opportunity. We have awarded contracts to these protesters in the past and it did not work out. There were problems with them paying their labourers and the work was of a poor quality.” This is not the first time that the two have been at loggerheads. A concerned De Villiers confirmed, “They closed the site for almost three weeks. No activity at the site is a financial loss to us and the labourers.”

Earning his wages in defiant fashion though, is site foreman, Daniel Siphugu. The commotion outside in the streets does not deter Siphugu. He works through any protest and cuts a lone figure as the sole worker on the vast construction site. “These homes need to be finished. There are people waiting. We are here to work and want to work with people who want to build South Africa,” said a spirited Siphugo while taking a break from operating his digger.

Accusations of the use of illegal foreign labour with inadequate safety are also central to the community business’ argument. “We encourage all business owners not to hire cheap illegal foreigners as it robs a South African of an opportunity,” pleaded Negota. With progress on the site already moving into phase two, appointing new contractors would be logistically problematic. The costs of the delays may be snowballing but so too is the resolve of the determined SMMEs.

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