As scores of Drip Footwear employees lose their jobs as the company is liquidated, EFF leader Julius Malema has questioned the government’s silence. Malema said the business was worth saving suggesting more black owned companies could possibly go under if there’s no government intervention. He briefed the media at the party’s headquarters, Winnie Madikizela house in Johannesburg and where he also indicated he was to meet with Drip owner Lekau Sehoana to get details of the situation.
“I have a meeting tomorrow ( Friday) with the owner of Drip. I just want to understand what is going on. I want a mynute detail of what is really going on, because at a phase value grip is doing well, and it was a growing brand found in many other shopping complexes, but we will not know the internal usages of moneys and all of that, he said.
Malema said unlike white business which has the likes of Afri-Forum and countless wealthy foundations to rely on in tough times, the state had a responsibility to cushion their black counterparts as they don’t have generational wealth.
“Where is Patrick musepe When we need him? If He’s indeed a successful black billionaire, where is he when a young entrepreneur with such a promising future is going down, my brother, you can’t compare us with those forum things. And what is this other one, solidarity, even if I ask all eff members to put together their last cent, the one rescue, the repeat needs to 20 million 20 million. We want to get it, we are struggling now to get money for our own NPA.
Malema said the government should step in to rescue Drip and establish means to avoid having more black owned businesses going bankrupt.
“There’s nothing that a black man and a black child can point and say, These are the benefits of government of national unity. Drip is closing down today, limited under GNU. You said GNU is working.
The likes of ( Small business minister)Stella Ndabeni, useless, all she knows is factionalism of the Eastern Cape with Oscar Mabuyane and all of them, why is she not rescuing drip, why is there no state bank that will put money to protect small business, including those of black people if it’s drip today, but who is following? Tshepo Jeans and more.
We are projected as failures as black people. That’s how they (white capital) want to perpetuate the narrative, by leading us into believing that we are not good enough when each time they fail there’s a rescue, yes there’s always a rescue for them but nothing for black people, it’s not me saying it, the facts are clear,” said Malema.
Scores of workers across Drip’s 14 stores are expected to be affected.