By Greg Ardé
For some, Radical Economic Transformation is a synonym for daylight robbery. For others, it is a moral imperative. Delangokubona is the pioneer of RET as championed by the ANC under former President Jacob Zuma. We spoke to the organisation’s national chairperson, Thabani Mzulwini.
Q: What is Delangokubona – what does its name mean and when and why was it formed?
A: The word means “satisfied by sight” or “seeing is believing”. We stop projects legally. We are not only business people, we are community members oppressed by the systems of the country, and have learnt of legal ways to deal with such.
We are not the original creators of the words “Radical Economic Transformation”. It is an ANC term that we use. Delangokubona was formally registered in 2015 with CIPC (Companies Intellectual Property Commission). The main reason Delangokubona was formed was because of the many lies and empty promises from politicians saying things will come – only to find it is they who are eating. We use the saying: hit the dog and the owner will show up immediately. Many of the projects we have stopped involved politicians who were eating.
Q: What are the aims of the organisation?
A: To promote and facilitate economic restructuring to make it inclusive and user-friendly to previously disadvantaged communities as per Section 217 of the country’s Constitution. We aim to create wealth and black business participation in the mainstream economy; support government initiatives aimed at economic redress and the creation of an enabling environment for SMMEs development. We aim to facilitate the provision of training and skills development of our members to provide quality in their service delivery to clients. We aim to fight against unjust laws.
Q: You are regarded as thugs and outlaws by many. Your members have stormed onto the sites of legal businesses and shut them down, until they get a stake in the business. How do you respond?
A: When we ask for economic relief we ask for it now – and we need to see it happening otherwise we legally stop or interdict such activities or projects. Transparency is what we want and now we are somehow there … but not 100%. The model of Delangokubona has been adopted by many people in the country and there are business forums in every corner of this country. It is only because of Delangokubona that we have opened the eyes of so many people. We need to educate these forums on the legal means of stopping these projects because there are legal means available.
Q: Business and government claim forums are threatening the economy. What do you say?
A: Corruption has disrupted this country. Look at unemployment and the shortage of skills.
Q: You say Delangokubona members stopped work on municipal projects demanding work opportunities. At first, the municipality did not heed your calls but now you seem to have their attention. Tell us about yourself and Delangokubona’s structure?
A: I have an undergraduate degree in tax and am completing my Master’s in Business Leadership. I became involved in Delangokubona through a brother whom I was assisting with his tax returns. My brother is a friend of our president and founder, Nathi Bhamuza Mnyandu.
I offered to help members register their businesses and become legally compliant so they could benefit from government and other initiatives available from the government like training and so forth. I also negotiated with the eThekwini Municipality to help Delangokubona members get their companies onto the city database. Delangokubona has representatives in 41 municipal areas in KZN and in most provinces. We have seven executive members and our offices are in Durban. We have 8 800 members nationally, each of whom has paid a joining fee of R1 000. Our constitution is in line with the Constitution of the country.
Q: RET forces are regarded as extortionists. What is your response?
A: I have never been a thug or mafia in my life, nor do I know any member who is. That is how some politicians describe us. We make sure the government does things properly. Things would be worse without us. Politicians are trying to control business projects, but we are not a political party. Forums are involved in about 60% of projects on the go in KZN at any given time.
Q: There is no formal structure for RET so who can legitimately claim to represent locals? Sometimes more than two groups arrive on-site to claim a 30% stake in the project.
A: There is mutual respect among forums. All business forums fall under one umbrella body, the BBF (Black Business Federation) led by its president, Malusi Zondi. I am also part of the BBF national leadership. The 30% gets distributed to all forums equally – but as you may know, people are not always satisfied.
Q: There have been numerous interdicts successfully served on business forums by law firms. Doesn’t that talk to the illegitimacy of forums?
A: We sign attendance registers for meetings with business and the next day legal papers are served on us. They accuse us of putting guns or bullets on the table during talks which to me is very crazy. How can you negotiate with someone in that situation? It is bizarre. It isn’t true. Delangokubona members have never been convicted of assault. Show me one case of this and I will agree that we intimidate.
Q: What would you consider examples of your successes?
A: We have so many successes. The fact that every corner of the country has a business forum (even if they don’t call themselves Delangokubona) is an indication. Government institutions and state-owned agencies now have formal engagements with business stakeholders.
Q: How are politicians getting involved in RET?
A: Politicians are part of the community and they must benefit from any activities in the community. However, it is unfair for them to be a referee and a player. I think politicians must decide if they want to be in politics or in business. They can’t do both. If they do, we will see constant stoppages of projects, not only by Delangokubona (using legal means) but by other forms. I say legal means deliberately because Delangokubona is no longer physically stopping projects – we file legal papers if the project is not in line with the provisions of the Constitution.