BOSA press briefing disrupted in Katlehong

A press briefing that was addressed by Build One South Africa leader Mmusi Maimane was disrupted in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni on Monday.

The briefing was set to expose corruption by the Gauteng Department of Economic Development and companies meant to empower small-business owners around Kathorus.

According to BOSA, the Gauteng Economic Development Department appointed Family Tree Holdings as an implementing agent for the Township Development Act, through the Kathorus Shop owners’ association in Ekurhuleni.

However, BOSA member of the Gauteng Legislature Ayanda Allie says that Family Tree Holdings and Kathorus Shop Owners Association have done nothing to fund small businesses in the area.

“What have they done for these people? Paint their shops green. After they painted their shops green, they took them to training for a couple of weeks and nothing came of that. They promised them funding. They promised them stock. They promised them refurbishment. None of that came to pass.”

Commotion ahead of BOSA briefing in Katlehong:

Job creation

Maimane says Family Tree Holdings, which is responsible for implementing the Township Economic Development Act, has lied about the number of jobs it has created and the people it has assisted so far.

The dispute centres around the running of spaza shop businesses in the area.

BOSA, which was called to intervene by some business owners and some spaza owners, has raised concerns about business operations in the area.

Allie explains, “The gentleman, who is leading this group is known as Mzambia in the community. He is part of the Cultural Shop Association that is linked to Family Tree, whose relationship with the department is subject to scrutiny by the Gauteng provincial legislature. There is a finding that there needs to be a forensic investigation to look into the relationship between Family Tree and the department.”

Cultural Shop Association’s Tshidiso “Mzambia” Mosia-Mbele says, “They are proposing that the chairperson must fall. That is not going to happen, why do they come to Katlehong, if you can go around? Here in Katlehong, there are no foreigners, he’s just talking like this because he’s living in Palm Ridge, why don’t they go there? They must start there not here, we don’t want any political parties to fight our own economy, we can fight for our own from 2019 we have been alone here.”

Some members of the Cultural Shop Owners Association are accused of extortion. 59-year-old Mmakaheng Moedi is a recipient of a social grant from the government and is also a spaza shop owner.

She says she has also been a victim of extortion. “Such a young person to come and take the money that I receive from the government, that thing hurts. Because he is a young person who can work for himself but he’s taking our money and that’s how he is making a living.”

But Mosia-Mbele has defended the association and refuted claims that some of its members are involved in extortion.

“He is telling me that you are doing a protection fee. In my life, I have never done any crime.”

BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane says his party will continue to intervene as this is done to change the lives of those exploited.

The Cultural Shop Owners Association says money collected from shop owners goes towards paying rental for its premises and running the office.