Johannesburg - The fortunes of the two warring factions of the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nafcoc) took different turns this week.
The group led by Buhle Mthethwa failed in its court bid on Thursday to stop a conference organised by the camp headed by Lawrence Mavundla from taking place in Ekurhuleni. The conference was scheduled to end on Saturday.
The North Gauteng High Court dismissed the application with costs after it ruled it would be impossible to stop the conference, which was to start on the same day.
On Friday the Mavundla camp hit back and successfully applied for an order from the South Gauteng High Court allowing them to repossess all the documents that were taken by the Mthethwa faction last week Friday.
This after the Mthethwa faction had won a court order last week allowing them to enter Nafcoc House, Nafcoc's headquarters, to take the documents.
Friday's court battle unfolded as Mavundla, president of the African Co-Operative for Hawkers and Informal Businesses, and his executive committee were being inducted by a pastor at Emperors Palace as the leadership of the new faction.
The Mavundla camp also donated R1m to the ANC Women's League (ANCWL), which was accepted by ANCWL treasurer-general Hlengiwe Mkhize.
Nafcoc Women's Chamber president Kentse Makgai denied the Mavundla camp was trying to buy political support with the donation.
She said the ANCWL had lent Nafcoc money in the past that the chamber had not repaid.
"We do not want the debt to create bad blood between the two organisations," she said.
Nafcoc also bought 15 Toyota Hilux double cabs worth R5m and gave them to the presidents of provincial and sectoral structures and to the ANCWL.
Phosane Mngqibisa, the youth leader in the Mthethwa camp, said they applied for the urgent court application late because they only had access to the files after winning last week's court order.
He still insisted the Mavundla leadership was illegitimate.
"They are just a group of disgruntled people... and they are being heavily funded by Nafhold," said Mngqibisa.
"Their takeover can be compared to that of a military junta. The only difference is that they are funded by Nafhold and they were voted in by structures that are not in good standing."
The Mthethwa camp is now regrouping.
"We will pursue all possible avenues to restore the dignity of Nafcoc. We will communicate with all our structures before we take any decision," said Mngqibisa.
Members unhappy
The Nafcoc members who made it to Emperors Palace voiced displeasure at the recent leadership tussles and said the organisation had failed to give them their money's worth over the past years.
Molefi Motswenyane, who runs an animal farm and butcheries in North West and has been a member since 1978, said in the past Nafcoc used to be a platform where he established a business network.
"Now the chamber appears to be existing to enrich the leadership at the expense of the ordinary members," said Motswenyane.
Thobeka Mapukata is a member from Western Cape who owns a catering company. Mapukata said in her 27 years as a member she had depended on Nafcoc conferences and annual general meetings to create business networks.
"But over the past five years the culture at Nafcoc has changed drastically. For instance, over the past two years we never held a conference or an annual general meeting," she said.
"Although the organisation has not benefited me over the past years I've remained a member because I've been with the chamber for many years and I believe that one day things will be back to normal," she said.
North West property developer Abdullah Wanyane said since he had joined Nafcoc five years ago it had not benefited his business.
"But I have told myself I should not leave this organisation as it has the potential to grow and improve," said Wanyane.
- City Press