SMMEs threaten to derail Ironman

A Summerstrand SMME forum has threatened to stop the 2019 Ironman African Championship if its members are not mentored or given work by bigger businesses working on the event.

The Summerstrand Business Forum claims it was promised the work for the event in 2018.

It accused Ironman South Africa CEO Keith Bowler and his organising team of reneging on this promise.

The event is set to take place on April 7.

Bowler could not be reached for comment but one of the event’s directors, Mandla Madwara, said a statement would be released later.

At the Port Elizabeth City Hall on Tuesday, Summerstrand Business Forum chair Khusela Mqoboli said it had been waiting to be mentored by businesses working on the event.

His audience of SMMEs threatened that the 2019 Ironman African Championship would not take place if work was not given to them.

After the meeting, the group closed an Ironman site in Summerstrand.

Mqoboli said SMMEs had started engaging with Ironman officials in 2018.

“An agreement was reached between the municipality, Ironman and SMMEs which stated that work would be allocated to the Summerstrand forum. We are surprised they are now backtracking.”

The forum represents SMMEs in Summerstrand, Humewood, Walmer, Lorraine and Seaview.

Mayor Mongameli Bobani said: “We, as the municipality, are caught in the crossfire.

“Although we are the host, we request that the organisers and the SMMEs iron out the issues,” he said.

“We cannot allow this event to be derailed.”