The group has cut ties with the Black Business Caucus forum after the R21m Nelson Mandela Bay drain-cleaning work packages debacle.
The forum that falls under the Zola Nqini Cluster was launched at the Uitenhage Town Hall, attended by more than 50 small business owners.
Zola Nqini Cluster co-ordinator Lawson Hanabe said the forum would be named at a later stage but would comprise SMMEs operating in the two towns, along with the surrounding townships.
“We do not want to be part of the SMME leadership involved in the drain-cleaning project,” he said.
The SMME leadership was responsible for compiling a list of all businesses that received work packages for the project.
But Hanabe said one of the reasons for starting their own forum was the fact that some SMMEs were not paid for the drain project work.
On Monday, hundreds of business owners gathered at the Port Elizabeth City Hall and Uitenhage Town Hall, claiming they had yet to be paid.
In December, 945 SMMEs were allocated the work packages – totalling R21m – after a council decision. There were only 600 SMMEs initially, but the number increased to 945 as more signed up.
Hanabe said they had asked Bay mayor Mongameli Bobani to attend Wednesday’s meeting but he failed to respond to an invite – which The Herald has seen – sent to Nwabisa Twalingca, who works in his office.
Bobani said there were procedures in place that needed to be followed before he attended a meeting.
“For something like this, the SMMEs should have approached their ward councillors. The councillor must then approach the mayoral committee member (MMC) for the relevant portfolio. Then that MMC makes contact with the mayor,” he said.
“The mayor receives a lot of correspondence. With this particular meeting, no ward councillors or MMC indicated to me that I should attend. There is a proper process to follow.”
The meeting started with a prayer by Emakabaneni business owner Sindile Mene, who asked for strength to overcome what he described as bullying by Port Elizabeth SMMEs, led by the Black Business Caucus.
This view resonated with other business owners, who said they were disappointed by Bobani’s absence.
JNG Trading director Thandisizwe Nkomo-Sam said regardless of the group’s frustration, it should ask Bobani to attend another meeting – before resorting to something extreme.
Tembinkosi Mnyamana, who chaired the meeting, said Bobani’s absence was a slap in the face.
“The reason we invited him was because we wanted to give him a list of demands and also highlight our plight as SMMEs of the Zola Nqini Cluster.
“We feel undermined and sidelined in this disregard.
“We will now write a letter to the mayor expressing our disappointment,” he said.
“We will further ask him when he will be available to have a meeting with us so we can address our issues regarding the SMMEs’ current situation,” Mnyamana said.
Hanabe said they also wanted the mayor to use his satellite office in Uitenhage so they would not have to travel to Port Elizabeth.
Black Business Caucus coordinator Lithemba Singaphi wished the new forum the best of luck.
“This will assist the cluster in Uitenhage and Despatch going forward. I support that they have organised themselves.”
The newly elected Zola Nqini Cluster forum executive members are: chair Mmeli Kondile, deputy chair Simpiwe Jama, secretary Buyiswa Tembani, deputy secretary Madilekana Makgato, organiser Mike Nelson deputy organiser Tembisa Deli. Additional members: Tembinkosi Mnyamana,Tembakazi Sinuka, Mbulelo Gasonti, Nono Phezisa, Lawson Hanabe, Nomahlubi Cengani, Duma Speelman, Zukiswa Tshingana, Miranda Luphondwana.