A perspective of manufacturer who feels left out of Covid-19 relief

As a manufacturing export business showcasing South African technology, intellectual property and skills, it surprises me that there is no support for us from any of the government programmes.

We’re a medium-size business with 70 employees, turnover of more than R50 million, and an international market.

We’re carbon fibre specialists making more car and motorcycle wheels out of carbon fibre than anyone else in the world. We’re 18 years old, have survived many tumultuous years yet the experiences and revelations over the last seven weeks are from another realm.

For me, the remarkable aspects that I battle are:

Firstly, the reality of the R500 billion relief package to those of us on the ground and the ability – or otherwise – of accessing it (and I have a quite a lot to say about this!)

Read: Keanu Reeves drives our carbon fibre

Secondly, the tension created by government and the departments between the employees and employers. Regardless of whether this is done wittingly or not – it is there, constant and aggressive – not supportive of the “social compact” at all (and I have a great deal to say about this!).

Thirdly, it is hard not to feel the disrespect shown to us in the commercial sector by the message “sacrifice for the greater good” or basically “suck it up” while government spends the taxes we have paid with blood sweat and tears on a very large group of public servants who are sitting at home getting full salaries. We are living on what the unemployment insurance fund (UIF) decides to pay us.

The lack of fairness is what’s eating people alive. Businesses that provide the taxes are being told that if they don’t make it – that’s sad! To be fair, put everyone on UIF.

Finally, the banks. Together they and government have taken R200 billion (of the R500 billion), and made it available to companies such as mine. Super! Oh – small print – as a loan.

At prime lending rate which is great, but you’re saying we can borrow money in order to keep paying salaries and rent while we’re not allowed to work?

I thought it was going to be relief. Can you believe that one of the conditions is this: we must have “no existing capacity to borrow”.

So if I understand it correctly, we have to be maxed out already, and only then can you borrow more to ensure we don’t go under while we don’t manufacture!

We are all sailing in these stormy waters. Can it not at least be more fair? When government officials talk about the massive inequalities in our society – are they talking about the above?

* Terry Annecke and her business partner Gary Turner founded Joburg-based BlackStone Tek (BST), producing the world’s first carbon fibre motorcycle wheel 18 years ago.

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