Businesses owners on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal that suffered losses during the July unrest last year are pinning their hopes on Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s budget speech.
Township businesses were not spared from the looting that swept through the province and parts of Gauteng, leaving a trail of destruction.
Some business owners say it has been tough, they have not benefited from government’s business support funds.
Budget speech 2022:
Sipho Nembula says he had to shut down his restaurant in Esikhawini township outside Richards Bay for five months after it was looted.
“It is very frustrating, to be honest. We hear the stories on TV and Radio about the financial assistance targeted to small businesses. We have been sent pillar to post. I have been to municipalities.
There are people who came here to access the places but it had not been forthcoming. The worst part is that when you try to resuscitate the business with all your reserves that you have, the employees think you are using their money that was given by the government whilst we or got anything.”
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission continues with its hearings on the July 2021 unrest.
Police Minister Bheki Cele was the first person to take the stand in the July 2021 unrest hearing and he told the commission that police could’ve done more to prevent the situation from escalating but they were threatened.
He said police in KwaZulu-Natal were threatened by the instigators of the unrest that their families would be killed if they participate in efforts to quell the violence and looting of businesses.
