They are worried about where they will get their next pay cheque. Dismissed staff from the once trendy Max Lifestyle Village in Umlazi in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, have not heard a word since they were asked not to return to work until further notice a few weeks ago. ZiMoja recently reported that about 20 staff were left jobless after the business suffered financial challenges. Another five staff members have been sent home, as the business is said to be struggling to stay afloat.

JOB HUNTING

A staff member who was recently let go from his duties as a server said he saw it coming. "The other guys left before so we knew we needed to push and try to get customers, but maybe people don't have money; we don't know. He started job hunting last year when Zinhle Mqadi, the daughter of business owner Max Mqadi, took over. "She's nice but also young. I didn't start looking for a job because of her but I want something within the field that I studied," the insider said.

RETRENCHMENTS

Another staff member previously confirmed to ZiMoja that he too was retrenched. "Yebo, sidiliziwe (we were laid off) . They say, there are no customers, and the business is not making money. There are over 20 staff members who left.' The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Max, and his daughter, Zinhle, confirmed there were some changes in the business but did not want to go into detail. Max handed down the reigns to focus on his other business ventures while his daughter took over the venue.