62% of Cape businesses in favor of closing down on Friday

5 April 2017

Nearly 62 percent of Cape businesses are in favour of closing down on Friday in protest against the sacking of former Finance Minister, Mr Pravin Gordhan, according to a survey conducted by the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

"The comments of our members make it clear that the number would have been even higher but for the many public holidays in April," said Ms Janine Myburgh, President of the Chamber.

"We have the Easter weekend as well as Freedom Day in April and people tend to add a few days of their annual leave to these holidays so that makes April a very difficult month for business. Productivity suffers and I can understand that many firms simply cannot afford another paid holiday."

In response to the question "Do you believe we have a leadership crisis in the country? 99.21 percent of respondents said YES.

When asked: "Do you support the call for Jacob Zuma to resign?" 99.21% of respondents said YES.

Some of the respondents contained apologies for not supporting the stay away, pointing out that they had obligations to their customers.

Others relished the opportunity to make a stand with one businessman saying he was giving his staff a day of paid leave and he would buy them all KFC and Coke and they would march together.

Issued by Dean Le Grange, Media and Digital Co-ordinator, Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 5 April 2017