Johannesburg - The National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nafcoc) this week suspended one of its vice-presidents, Pinky Mkhize, for allegedly sowing division in the organisation.
 
Nafcoc president Lawrence Mavundla said the disciplinary process was a small matter and the suspension would be lifted if Mkhize apologised for her actions.
 
City Press has learnt that Mkhize, who is also the president of Nafcoc KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), has been accused of giving approval to entrepreneurs in that province to register new sectors without seeking permission from Nafcoc's highest decision-making body, the executive council.

Mkhize was unrepentant on Friday afternoon. She said: "Why should I apologise for doing my job? Nafcoc's Vision 2014 programme gives us room to mobilise business people to start new sectors in the chamber. My apology would chase away the new members of the KZN branch."

The new sectors in question are in information and communication technology, retail, security and education, an industry close to Mkhize's heart as she runs a private school in Pietermaritzburg.

A delegation consisting of Nafcoc's senior vice-president, Churchill Mrasi, and deputy secretary-general Kentse Makgai were sent to KZN to probe Mkhize's actions last week.

Mrasi and Makgai arrived while the KZN branch was holding a conference with its members.

However, the duo was refused permission to attend the conference and subsequently chased out.

Mavundla said: "To have this disciplinary process means that we want to fix our relationship with Mkhize."

Mkhize's suspension comes after Nafcoc chief executive Robert Mhlambi was suspended in April because he failed to deliver the three platinum sponsors he had promised when he took over the job.

Mavundla said the plan to sell part of Nafcoc's 25% stake in Tsogo Sun, worth R1.5bn, had been concluded.
 
In terms of the planned sale, Mavundla said R350m would go to members while new projects would receive R250m.
 
Nafhold, Nafcoc's investment arm, will remain invested in Tsogo Sun with shares that are valued at R900m.

Mavundla said the future of Nafhold chairperson Jabu Hlongwane and chief executive Michael Leaf would be decided by the organisation.

 - City Press