Good news for Woolies fans in that the retailer giant has decided emphatically to end the relationship with their North Coast franchise holder.
Ballito foodies have complained long and loud about the two Woolworths stores in town, first at Lifestyle Centre and later at the Ballito Bay Mall.
Stock holding and quality have not been up to the expected Woolworths’ standards, according to those who frequent the chain. Many prefer to make the trip to Gateway for their products. Disappointed shoppers have wondered why their complaints even directly to head office appeared to fall on deaf ears, but it now becomes apparent that a legal process has been grinding away slowly in the background. Woolworths decided a while back that they would not loan out their good name in franchise operations any longer. The 10-year North Coast franchise for Stanger and Ballito, signed in December 2003, is due to expire in December 2013. Franchise holder Haresh Ouderajh wanted a five-year extension but Woolworths said thanks, but no thanks.
It all came to a head in the Western Cape high court last week. Woolworths told the court that the franchise holder had failed to meet his obligations in respect of the Lifestyle store by failing to pay rent in time, paying late for stock and not submitting turnover certificates on time. They also accused him of deliberately running down stock in the Lifestyle store to divert trade to his new store in the Ballito Bay Mall. The court ruled that Ouderajh does not have the right to a renewal of the agreement and instructed him to cease operations in December next year. Creditors still waiting payment on many fronts, including the building of the mall three years ago, will be nervous now they know that this source of income will soon come to an end. There is quite a queue already.
One of those creditors is KwaDukuza Municipality. As of last month, the mall and associated enterprises owed the electricity department a grand total of R8 058 476.71. Some of that debt is as old as the building itself.
It should be of concern to ratepayers that the municipality is making no real effort to get its money. There has been some sabre-rattling in the past, even threats to cut off supply, but it always comes to nought.
One wonders, why is that? Would you or I, in our businesses or personal capacities, get much leeway beyond 30 days? Questioned in the past about their inexplicable attitude, the municipality hem and haw and say they are dealing with the matter. I want to know why our councillors are not demanding the municipality take swift action. Just now there could be a monstrous bad debt and “I told you so” won’t cut it.

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The chameleon count at Compensation last month, which unfortunately didn’t turn up many chameleons, has nevertheless caused many to take notice of their surrounds.
And it turns out that the Ballito business park is home to many of these little creatures. Sharon Engelbrecht who works in the business park said that she and many others frequently stop to lift chameleons and deposit them safely in the direction in which they were going – slowly.

“Sadly we often see flat chameleons that have been run over on this road. If people drove more slowly along here then there would certainly be fewer chameleon casualties,” said Sharon.
The chameleon-moving staff are planning to put in a road traffic application for signs to warn people to slow down and watch out for creatures crossing the road.