Looting – FASA calls on government to act to protect its citizens and the economy
As members of the Franchise Association of South (FASA) are reporting increased violence and looting across key franchise sectors, the board of FASA adds their voice to other representative business associations calling on government to take urgent action to bring national security under control and prevent further unrest.
“Franchising, which contributes around 14% to the country’s GDP represents businesses across fourteen different sectors, and FASA has done everything to ensure that their members comply with government’s guidelines and continue to contribute to keeping the economy going.” says Pertunia Sibanyoni, FASA’s Chairperson. “We are disappointed at the inadequacy of the response from the authorities in protecting businesses and assets and urgently call for the government to act with urgency to prevent further anarchy and the collapse of the economy.”
Tony Da Fonseca, a past Chairman of FASA and CEO of the OBC Group with supermarkets across the country and in vulnerable areas reports that the group has lost over 10 of their stores in KZN and Gauteng and reports from fellow retailers is that over 500 supermarkets have already been looted nationally. “We are hearing that, if not stopped immediately and urgently, the looting is going to escalate nationally overnight which we are already seeing in outlying areas. Food security is going to be an issue in the coming weeks as retailers are forced to close which will impact all communities across the country. The destruction, not only to retailers and property, but to the very infrastructure and basic services such as supplies to hospitals and water security in the coming days is cause for alarm.”
The Franchise sector is focussed on putting entrepreneurs into business and by extension, employing half a million people. According to Maria D’Amico, FASA’s Chair Elect “The current situation will have a detrimental impact on not only the economy but more devastating are the wider ramifications, which includes the staff of these stores and their families. The pandemic has already put people’s lives in danger with widespread suffering and death and it has been the business sector that has held the economy together through their efforts to remain viable, keep their doors open and employ as many people as possible.”
The Franchise Association of South Arica, through the years, has worked tirelessly with its stakeholders in ensuring that there is poverty eradication and job creation in South Africa by expanding their business and investing in new opportunities. “We are saddened by the current developments in the country regarding the destruction of private property and businesses and the harm to the people,” says Freddy Makgato, newly elected CEO of FASA.
“We are extremely concerned by the insufficient security response that is meted out taking into account the level of violence and destruction taking place. We call on the government to make sure that proper security is provided in ensuring that private property, infrastructure and the safety of our people is guaranteed. Should this state of affairs be allowed to continue, most and major businesses may not be able to recover and people will in all likelihood lose their jobs and the economy will come to a standstill as it is already in dire straits.”
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