Riaz Jalal, eienaar van Star Meats, het Maandag die rede verduidelik waarom hy besluit het om sy besigheid te sluit na ’n onlangse aanslag op sy lewe.
“Ek het die besigheid in September 2020 met krag en entoesiasme oorgeneem, maar ek was ongelukkig nie bewus gemaak van sommige faktore van my aankoop nie. Gevolglik was die afgelope 30 maande uitdagend en het ek te doen gehad met historiese arbeidskwessies, krediteure en baie ander kwessies wat nie geopenbaar was ten tyde van aankoop nie,” sê Jalal.
“Dit is nou openbare kennis dat ons probeer het om terug te veg teen ’n smeerveldtog wat daarop gemik is om ons bedrywighede, personeel en reputasie te diskrediteer. Deur dit alles het ek voortgegaan om terug te veg om die lewensbestaan van 200 mense te red wat van die onderneming afhanklik is vir hul daaglikse lewensonderhoud,” skryf Jalal verder.
“Na die onlangse aanslag op my lewe het die situasie egter onhoudbaar geword. Dit was nie ’n maklike besluit nie en my besorgdheid oor personeel wat by ons staan en probeer om die smeerveldtog te beveg, bly ons prioriteit terwyl ons probeer om die regskwessies aan te spreek.”
Daar was bewerings dat Star Meats ou en vrot vleis verkoop het. Die besigheid was ook daarvan beskuldig dat hulle onwettige immigrante in diens geneem het.
Die verklaring lui:
It is with regret that I inform you that we have been left with no option but to shut our doors of Star Meats.
I took over the business in September 2020 in good faith with vigour and enthusiasm but unfortunately was not made aware of some factors of my purchase. As a result, the last 30 months have been challenging as | have had to deal with historical labour issues, creditors & many other issues that were not disclosed at the time of purchase,
It is now public knowledge that we have been trying to fight back against a smear campaign aimed at discrediting our operations, staff and reputation. Through it all | continued to fight back to save the livelihood of 200 people that are dependent on the business for their daily sustenance.
However, after the recent attempt on my life the situation has become untenable. It has not been an easy decision and my concern for staff who stood by us trying to fight the smear campaign remains our priority whilst we try to address the legal matters.
Thank you for your support throughout our time and the kindness shown as we tried our best to address the untruths aimed at destroying us.
All the best and may the Almighty keep you safe.
RIAZ JALAL, Star Meats