Things are getting nasty in Guptaland as consequences of the family’s machinations become apparent to employees. Yesterday, Gupta mother ship Oakbay distributed a letter purporting to be from its employees which pleaded with SA’s Big Four banks to re-open Gupta company accounts (republished at the bottom of this story), Zupta ally, the usually vocal ANC Youth League President Collin Maine, lent his support by meeting with Oakbay executives. But when Maine tried to discuss the letter with employees, he was given short shrift – chased to his vehicle amid chants calling for his demise. The angry Gupta staff say the letter was written by two employees who do not represent them – encapsulated by a choice quote from one of the ANN7 employees: “They treat us like dogs and then they expect us to speak on their behalf.” – Alec Hogg
By Lizeka Tandwa
Johannesburg – A meeting scheduled between ANC Youth League President Collin Maine and Gupta-owned Oakbay employees ended abruptly when they chased him away.
Oakbay employees chanted “Maine must fall” as he tried to make his way to his vehicle.
Maine said he had received an open letter from Oakbay employees, addressed to the ANCYL and the Ad hoc Committee on Finance in Parliament.
The letter apparently pleaded with ABSA to reopen the Oakbay account for the sake of its employees.
Upon arrival at the Sahara offices, Maine said he discovered the staff were divided and that there had not been a meeting with staff over the writing of the letter.
“We have decided to abandon the meeting because that letter was not written by the staff… The staff must unite themselves before we can talk to them. The consensus of that letter is that people are not sure of the future,” he told journalists.
Employees then interrupted Maine, asking him why he was fighting for Indian people and not for black people.
Employees shouted at Maine, telling him to go.
“We don’t want you Maine, you must go,” they said.
#Oakbay employees claim the company is using their anxiety to try influence the banks to open its accounts #SABCNews
— Aldrin Sampear (@AldrinSampear) April 20, 2016
Maine said he had met with Oakbay management earlier in the day, who had indicated that two people had written the letter on behalf of the employees.
Maine said he would return at a later date to speak to employees.
Two ANN7 employees said they were oppressed by Oakbay’s management and would never speak on their behalf.
“They treat us like dogs and then they expect us to speak on their behalf. That is nonsense,” one said. – News24
Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/ancyls-maine-chased-away-by-gupta-employees-20160420
The letter distributed yesterday by the Gupta mothership:
An open letter from the employees of Oakbay to (SOS):
Maria Ramos, Chief Executive Officer, ABSA
Jacques Celliers, Chief Executive Officer, FNB
Ben Kruger, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Bank
Michael Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Nedbank
Dear Maria, Jacques, Ben and Michael
RE: IMPASSIONED PLEA FROM OAKBAY EMPLOYEES – PLEASE SAVE OUR JOBS
We are not rich people. We are not politically connected. We have not captured the state. We have never offered any politician a job.
We do not know if any of the allegations against the Gupta family or Oakbay’s management are true. We do not care.
All we care about is providing for our families. If you do not open Oakbay’s bank accounts we cannot be paid and Oakbay cannot pay its bills.
If by the end of May the accounts remain closed, Oakbay’s businesses will close. That means that thousands of us will be without a job.
How will we pay our bills? How will we feed our families? You will not just be hurting us, but our children too. Must they go to school on an empty stomach? What happens when we cannot pay our rent or house bonds? Will our children have to live on the street?
We urge you to recognise that your actions have a human cost. Only a few weeks ago the companies we worked for were profitable and our jobs secure. We do not understand why we have become the victims in a political game.
Please reopen the bank accounts so that we do not have to suffer. We, the employees, have not done anything wrong.
We humbly ask you to hear our message.
Yours faithfully
