DURBAN - Small businesses said that they were convinced the relief financial aid from the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry would bring their businesses to normal operation.
Several Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) were impacted by the July civil unrest last year that saw widespread looting and the torching and destruction of businesses.
According to the research conducted by the eThekwini Economic Activity and Outlook Survey, about 16 000 businesses were negatively impacted, there was R20 billion lost in equipment and machinery, R40bn of sales and stock was lost, damage to property cost almost R15bn while 91 000 jobs were at risk after the unrest.
In response, the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry NPC in partnership with Old Mutual and the Domino Foundation, joined forces to provide financial and business sponsorship support to affected SMMEs across different economic formal/informal sectors and areas.
The selection was based on the financial requirement and criteria set by Old Mutual as part of their Corporate Social Investment initiative.
One of the beneficiaries, Obed Ngcongwana, who owns Obees Trading, a cleaning and herbal products manufacturing company in Hammarsdale said damages to his business amounted to more than R750 000.
“I was so devastated. They broke into my business, smashed windows and doors. Four machines and five computers were taken and what they couldn’t take they broke ensuring that nothing was left. This business fed my family and 67 other families of my employees. I was terrified of how these families would survive if I closed down the business,” he said.
Ngcongwana used his savings to replace some of the damaged equipment and to keep the business going.
“I lost many customers. I can’t even begin to think of the profit I lost. I am just grateful that I was able to keep all my employees.”
He said the financial help would help put his business back to its original working capacity. Nokuphila Gama, owner and founder of MaGama catering in Nazareth in Pinetown, said it would have taken her years to recover had it not been for the financial relief.
“I work from home. I was still building a storage unit in my yard when the looting began. They took all the chairs, other furnishings and the compressor machine which we used 99.9% of the time. This was a double blow as I had just retrenched two of my employees due to lockdown. I lost about R76 000.
“I recently went to buy almost everything I needed with the money I received. I am over the moon. As we are speaking, the chairs I bought were booked and taken the same day I had bought them. I will forever be grateful to the Durban Chamber and Old Mutual. This contribution was much needed,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mpho Joma of Joma Sport SA, a sport clothing and equipment business situated in Hillcrest, was forced to shut down the business after the unrest. He said the thought of re-opening again brought back his love for business.
Joma said he built and maintained his business from the ground up using the money he got from his side hustle of transporting pupils to school.
Joma estimated his loss to be R80 000. He said he went as far as contacting the Department of Sports seeking assistance and they informed him about the relief fund for small business.
Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry NPC deputy president Gladwin Malishe said they were confident this financial sponsorship support would help restore these operations.
Daily News