Nafcoc faction gets its offices back

JOHANNESBURG - A faction of the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nafcoc) led by Buhle Mthethwa was given access to its offices on Friday.

This followed an order granted by the South Gauteng High Court on Thursday allowing staff who supported Mthethwa access to their offices.

The situation arose as a result of two factions claiming legitimacy to lead the organisation when Lawrence Mavundla recently claimed that he had replaced Mthethwa as Nafcoc president.

Mavundla then changed the locks to the doors of Mthethwa’s offices.

Mthethwa’s deputy Phindile Mpata told Sapa that after some resistance, they had gained access to their offices.

“The sheriff of the court was there and he managed to get us into the building.

“A locksmith had to be called and those inside who were purporting to be members of Nafcoc had to leave the building as the police threatened them with arrest.”

Mpata added that on Monday Mthethwa and her staff would move back into the building.

“We'll be phoning the staff, telling them to come back,” he said.

He added that while Mavundla’s faction had managed to obtain a new lease for the property, this matter would also be brought to the attention of the court shortly.

The leadership tussle between Mthethwa and Mavundla arose after Mthethwa publicly said that Nafcoc’s investment arm, Nafhold, had sold its shares worth millions of rands at hugely discounted rates to Nafhold chief executive officer Michael Leaf and board chairman Joe Hlongwane.

- Sapa