Durban - A young businessman saved a Durban businesswoman from the clutches of an angry crowd that was threatening to throw her from the top floor of a Durban clothing factory on Friday after a dispute over salaries.
The hostage situation played out at a cut, make and trim (CMT) factory in Morningside from early on Friday morning, and unfolded on social media when concerned family and friends began posting more information.
The businesswoman, who did not want her identity, or the name of her company or building to be revealed, was allegedly held hostage by about 40 employees in the clothing factory that operates in the building.
She did not want to speak in detail about the incident because she was still consulting her legal team, but hinted at a complex situation between her and tenants of the building. The employees were demanding outstanding wages.
She said she would soon be laying charges against the employees who “pushed her around”.
The businessman who came to her aid, Daryl Govender of Westville, had come to the building for a meeting with her.
“I arrived at the factory to look at the floor plan.
“I have known the businesswoman for a few months now and she is very kind and humble.
“When I got there, we realised there was some issue over the payment of the staff, but it had nothing to do with the businesswoman as the staff were not employed by her directly,” Govender said.
He said he had been horrified to see the businesswoman being dragged up the stairs and away from the lift and he tried to intervene.
“I couldn’t just leave her and go, and two of the employees were armed and threatened to take her to the top floor of the building and throw her off,” Govender said.
The dispute was over R30 000 in outstanding wages, and Govender decided to transfer the money so that the situation could be averted.
“I had my tablet on me, so I transferred the funds to the businesswoman’s account, for her assistant to arrange the cash payment to the staff, even though it was not her responsibility to pay them. I did what I could even if it meant using my money to help someone,” said Govender.
