Public Servants Association of South Africa has threatened to protest at this year's Vodacom Durban July if horses belonging to former Steinhoff International Holdings CEO, Markus Jooste, are not pulled out of the event.
PSA wrote a letter to the main sponsor, Vodacom and the National Horseracing Authority, this week demanding that Jooste be excluded from the prestigious horse racing event.
In a statement, PSA, said Jooste was instrumental in the loss of billions of public servant's pensions invested in the Steinhoff International Holding via the Public Investment Corporation on on behalf of the Government Employees’ Pension Fund (GEPF).
The PSA is a registered trade union representing more than 240 000 members of whom most belong to the GEPF.
PSA General Manager, Ivan Fredericks, said as an international brand, Vodacom, had a responsibility to society to not be associated or perceived to be purporting the unethical behaviour that Jooste is known for.
The union gave Vodacom and the NHRA 24 hours to reply since their submission on Thursday.
"Failure by these parties to ensure that the horses are prevented from participating will result in PSA protest action at the race. People need to understand that Jooste cannot be allowed to continue making millions whilst his actions have had a devastating effect on the thousands of people’s pension investments,” Fredericks said.
Fredericks said they were also awaiting the official report on whether Steinhoff will be able to recoup the money lost during Jooste's tenure.
He said he read recent media reports that Steinhoff may not be able to recoup the money lost.
"While we are waiting for that report to be made public by Steinhoff, the PSA will continue to be at the forefront in the fight against corruption and maladministration in public and private sectors. The PSA and the NHRA in January 2018 reached an understanding to exclude Jooste’s horses from the SunMet race and it is trusted that the same understanding will prevail again this time,”.
The prestigious horse racing event will take place on the 7th of July.
