Businessman points finger at Amakhosi after assassination attempt

THE Macekane businessman who survived an assassination attempt outside the KZN Tronox Mineral Sands security gate in Empangeni last week, believes the plot to get rid of him was orchestrated by well-known people.

Phiwe Mthembu also questioned the role played by Amakhosi in the business affairs of Tronox, saying they themselves were not innocent.

Mthembu was attacked by an unknown gunman who sprayed his white Range Rover with bullets after he attended a procurement meeting on Wednesday, 31 July.

‘It concerns me that the police have not yet taken a statement from me, despite knowing that I have been discharged from hospital.

‘They have made no effort to contact me. My only conclusion is that they know who is behind the assassination attempt,’ Mthembu said.

He believes the plot to eliminate him was sparked by his desire to involve communities in doing business with Tronox.

He said the source of the problem was the procurement committee which was supposed to be made up of representatives from traditional authorities.

‘Instead, this committee comprises of relatives and children of Amakhosi who were handpicked by the Amakhosi themselves.

‘Tronox is a good company and very transparent with its operations, but the problem lies with the procurement committee. Greediness is what drives the Amakhosi of this region to ignore the people they lead.

‘Seven Amakhosi are represented. Tronox asked them to elect community representatives from their traditional areas, but they only appointed their children.

‘These people were not elected by their communities and do not report back to their communities, failing to inform them about business opportunities.

‘They only report to their fathers and relatives.

‘The communities have been deprived of the right to do business with Tronox by these gatekeepers who are the ones doing business with Tronox,’ said Mthembu.

He revealed that he forced his Inkosi to grant him permission to be part of the committee after the community had raised concerns.

‘That did not go down well with other Amakhosi, but my desire is simply to see all of us benefitting equally from the local company,’ he said.

Mthembu claims all seven traditional authorities have community trust funds which receive funds from Tronox .

‘The sad part is that the trustees are related to the Amakhosi and the community is not benefitting in any way.’

King Cetshwayo Cluster Police spokesperson, Captain Mbongeni Mdlalose, said Empangeni detectives do not have access to the attempted murder docket, as it was transferred to the provincial office for further investigation.

‘This was after the victim requested that the case should not be investigated by Empangeni SAPS,’ said Mdlalose.

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