The Economic Freedom Fighters Party has cautioned that until such time as Grooms grievances at the Vaal, Turffontein and Durban have been resolved, the Vodacom Durban July could be in jeopardy.
Speaking on Afro TV, EFF spokesperson Boitumelo Kgomo said that the authorities in the mentioned regions have been advised that ‘there will be no Durban July’ without co-operation and resolution of grievances..
The July is scheduled to be be run on 7 July at Greyville in Durban.
A fortnight ago, minimum wages, accommodation and raceday transport were at the core of an Economic Freedom Fighter’s led strike by Randjesfontein – based Grooms, which disrupted the Turffontein racemeeting on 20 May.
At the time trainer Mike de Kock was quoted saying that it was unfortunate that the trainers like himself. who do their best and go out of their way to comply and treat Grooms very well, have to suffer because of a small minority of trainers that don’t comply.
This is not the first major race to come under public focus for the wrong reasons in 2018.
The Public Servants Association threatened to disrupt the Sun Met in January at Kenilworth if former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste’s horses were not withdrawn.
The National Horseracing Authority met and discussed the matter with representatives of the Public Servants Association (PSA) and other interested parties at the time.
The NHA agreed that no horse owned by Markus Jooste would race on Sun Met day.
It was agreed between the parties that the horses running under the Mayfair Speculators banner would relinquish their official colours and be allocated club colours by the NHA.
