The Zulu Royal Chancellor, Inkosi Malusi Zondi has vowed to fight for black farmers amid the allegations that Tongaat Hullets was going to be liquidated.
Zondi promises to fight tooth and nail to make sure that black farmers by the collapse and pending liquidation of Tongaat Hullets, one of the biggest role players in KwaZulu-Natal and the SADC region.
While Zondi has always hoped – much against hope – that the company would be saved and black and emerging sugarcane farmers given a lifeline, the Business Rescue team has announced that all efforts have failed and have since kicked off the process to liquidate it.
This is a double blow to farmers who were owed by the company and had to wait for years to be paid for sugarcane supplied.
The same farmers have to wait for the liquidation process which will take about three years in order to get what is due to to them.
“As the Zulu Royal Chancellor enstruted to improve the welfare of Zulu people, I wish to assure farmers that I will fight the battle on their behalf to the bitter end. I will ensure that they second in line to be paid after SARS.
“Banks and other big creditors can wait since they have enough financial reserves to withstand the liquidation shock. Small businesses often operate on month to month budgets and cannot afford to be last on the line as it always happens when a company is liquidated,” he said.
Zondi also assured black workers that he will ensure that they get what is due to them and one time.
He said it cannot be acceptable that a company that was built on their sweat pays them last when it undergoes challenges.
He said in an ideal world, they should be the first ones to be paid out since only a tiny portion of the money to be collected by liquidators will go them.
Zondi added that what is giving him comfort is the undertaking by Vision Sugar, the company that bought the entire R11,7 billion debt book of Tongaat Hullets that it will work with him to ensure that black farmers and employees are not disadvantaged in the process.
“It is commendable that Vision Sugar is on the same page with the rest of us on the matter and it also understands what is at stake. I will take it from there and stand for our people during the liquidation process,” Zondi added.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
