ANCYL owes us money: businesses

Businessmen ‘owed hundreds of thousands’

DEBT collectors are queuing at the doors of the cash-strapped ANC Youth League — and their number is growing by the month.

Some businesses have gone to court to try to recoup their money.

Joey Fisher, who owns a printing company, says he has had to retrench three staff since the youth league failed to settle a R143,000 debt.

Fisher said he printed T-shirts for its elective conference in Bloemfontein last year and has still not been paid.

“I am on the verge of closing down my business. I was recently forced to lay off three of my employees after the youth league failed to pay me,” Fisher said.

“I run a small operation and every cent counts. Without the money, I will be forced to close down.”

Fisher has gone to the South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, to get the youth league to pay him.

Several other businessmen said they were together owed hundreds of thousands of rands. They did not want to be identified because they fear they might lose government contracts if they are seen to be “shaming” the ruling party.

But Pule Mabe, the youth league’s treasurer-general, yesterday said that those who claim they are owed money should contact the youth league direct and not through the media.

“In the past, there have been people who tried their luck by making false claims against us,” Mabe said.

“Since we have come out openly about the activities of Lembede [the youth league’s investment company] all manner of people have tried their luck. Others have even tried to bill us for rental at Luthuli House … just imagine that.”

Mabe said the youth league’s previous leadership had entered into a number of deals and it was difficult to verify some of them.

One businessman in Bloemfontein, who claims to have helped organise accommodation for the youth league’s conference last year, said he had tried all avenues, including contacting Luthuli House, to no avail.

“It’s unfortunate that we are forced into poverty by the ANC. They preach one thing while doing the opposite,” he said.

“I had to borrow money and now I have been forced not only to lose my credit rating with the banks but I have also lost my friends whom I am unable to pay back.”

The youth league has come under fire after deciding to close its investment company, Lembede Holdings, and place its assets in a trust.

Youth league president Julius Malema has called on his former colleagues to account for the lost money in Lembede.

He acknowledged last week that the league was facing financial difficulties and that it was raising funds to settle debts incurred by conferences in Bloemfontein and in Johannesburg.