BULANA FOR GAUTENG?

Hi All!

After being dropped by GC (with its farcical Transformation Programme/Fund), Mr Bhekinkosi Bulana (the first African trainer post 1994, to be BEE correct!), he was seriously considering throwing in the towel!

In KZN, the emphasis on 'transformation' has been on Indians only. This has resulted in a situation where you have numerous new Indians (professionals and the wealthy class) as entrants into the game as owners. For Mr Bulana, this has not translated into getting black Africans involved as owners/patrons to support. That is understandable as he was only considered to satisfy BEE requirements at the time!

I have convinced him that there are owners out there who will support him...owners who will not see him as representing transformation or any racist connotation but for the good and sustainability of the game.

Therefore, I have suggested him to re-locate to Gauteng where he can be exposed to a more supportive and understanding patrons.

Initially, he can set up a satellite operation and, once the numbers add up, re-locate whilst he disposes of the KZN setup.

Therefore, I appeal to anyone who could intervene...please come forward to support him.

Mr Bulana's contact no. is: 083 396 5350 or tel/fax: 031 769 1045 (preferably in the evenings before 8.30om).

I am confident that the presence of Mr Bulana will generate interest and will be good for our Province.

When he`s set up we can put him in our trainers directory

Before bulana talks about transformation and opportunities he must learn to keep to his promises and remember where he came from. When I met bulana he was an employee of the summerveld groom school,he lived in a small room behind the barns and never even had a drivers license,I gave him my dream of becoming a trainer.
Although he was reluctant at first I showed how I could get him a transformation deal and all I wanted in return was to be his assistant which he agreed. We approached an indian political party leader Mr A Rajbansi who took our case to the then minister of sport. Mr Ngconder balfour.
To cut a long story short gold circle was pressurised by the kzn gov that if he wasn't given a transformation deal,their gambling -gaming license won't be renewed.
So what do I get? I'm the man that had the ideas,spent my time and money to assist him, I got nothing.
Not even a public thank you or the promise of making me his assistant.
And what he got from my hard work?
1million to spend on horses
Free feed for 3months
Huge discounts on stables
A brand new 4x4
A house in summerveld
They even took out his drivers license
And if any person of colour were first time owners gold circle subsidised half the training fees

O for those of you that didn't know,bennet can't train a horse for peanuts. Buller benton is his assistant and does all the work,bennet is just the face of the stable, if you listen to his interviews he makes himself a clown cos he doesn't even know what he talks about.

Its not a matter of sour grapes cos I now own a nice buisness and doing very well
I just want the public to know the kind of man he is
When you become sucessful always remeber where you came from and the people that helped you get there.
The funny thing is that he still comes to me for help,he just phoned me this morning asking me to buy into a silvano horse

That was really quick, thanks to who relayed the msg to bennet

@bad company :

I do not want to enter into a debate BUT question your statements.

However, for the record:

It was my initiative with & pressure on former CEO Michel Nairac of GC (a most pleasant person to talk to!) to put together the Transformation Fund and the NHA to give him a licence (that can be verified/confirmed). I did that also for a female jockey and a black groom who was the first to be given a jockey licence (unfortunately, he had a mishap); my effort was totall non-committal and non-conditional!

I never ever claimed credit for this in public (or private) because the issues that need to be addressed are greater than an individual & involved others with equally good intentions!

For you to mention Mr Rajbansi...he's a joke & opportunist from 'apartheid' days (the man whose toupee fell off his bald plate when Terblanche smacked him during Codesa negotiations!)! I made numerous representations to him over the years regading various issues; not a response. Besides, Mr Rajbansi was nowhere in the picture at the time.

So, what you claim, is news to me!

If you really wanted to become a trainer, why did you not approach some of the bigger stables? When I was a kid and wanted to become a jockey, I was prepared to leave the country, even as a stowaway in a ship!

But then, 'cos I now own a nice buisness and doing very well ' says it all.... you saw Mr Bualana as a conduit for a business undertaking, not to be come a trainer!

I strongly think you owe Mr Bulana and readers an apology!

BTW:
Mr Bualana is still waiting for you to turn for the job ...with your overalls!

One of the comments in the GC annual report read something along the lines of "please send me your comments." This is exactly what I did. I asked the then chairman to explain why there was no mention of the Transformation Fund and there seemed to be a lack of commentary on the future of the fund. I am sure that you can guess what happened next.

The report should have read "Please see what a wonderful report we put together and if you are one of the mighty owners please send a comment so that we can feel important."





I am still waiting for a response. (the space above represents nothing in case you are wondering).

Bad Company - its a great pity that you had to take this up on this forum. Umlilo has worked very hard on promoting transormation and particularly the plight of Mr Bulana. The industry is dominated by the white elite and comments like yours will only make it even more difficult for him and Mr B. This further serves to prove their supiscion that certain quarters will do all they can to keep this a white elitist game.

Bad Company - I have learned that when you give you should do so with an open heart. Surely you dont want to see Mr Bulana living in a small room behind the barn again? The universe has a way of paying back good deeds. Have you wondered why your business is thriving? I never hinge dreams on what others can do for me, I hinge them on what I can do for myself!

I read Cuckoos comments on transformation on the SFRW site and I have to fully agree with him:

"The reality of the situation is that for horseracing to survive and grow, we need to encourage participation from the 75% majority of our population, whether its as owners, grooms, punters, administrators, commentators, marketing etc.
There is a need to remind our operators and its agents that to carry on side-lining the vast majority of our population is tantamount to an apartheid-style regime.
An issue like what happened yesterday, trivial as it may seem to you and others, the impact is far-reaching, cementing the perception that a couple of white buddies are cavorting merrily amongst themselves while an unemployed, talented, iconic (yes, iconic in the eyes of the majority of the population, who the racing regime know or care less about) non-caucasion, who could bring in thousands into the racing fold, has been totally ignored and snubbed.
Do you think that the majority tote pool contributors care about Molly's p/a, which dominated the commentary ?
Imagine the interest a person like Smiley or a Cecil, marketing our racing to this 'black' faction, could generate.
Apologies, you are right, its not all about black and white. To the operator and its agents it appears to be only about white (buddies)."

The problem with Rey's response to Cuckoo is that it's the natural reaction to anything on transformation. White SA is so fearful and has to protect at all costs. What a Croc. White SA has still prospered under a transforming society. Why should it be any different in racing.

It seems that Mr Bulana reads this site - Well done with Queensway and all the best. The tide will turn. Don't let anything break focus on your goals.

Umlilo come out with your real name, for you to say rajbansi was never involved is absolute crap, I challenge to meet you and bennet, let him look me in the eye and tell me neither me nor rajbansi helped him and it was you that pushed for transformation.
Don't tell me not to want credit or gain something cos that's exactly y I did it.
I was also from a poor background like him and we both made plans to improve our lives, when the deal was done he never kept his promise.
I'm sure mr rajbansi has a copy of the original fax we sent him and all other correspondence
If you have balls give your real name, I'll ask mr rajbansi to come with the documents and you tell him that you are the man Umlilo
Rajbansi got smacked cos he was fighting for the indians

I saw the deal helping bennet has purely buisness, my fault was that we never had any written agreements

As for him waiting for me with my overall and boots, dream on
That's y he phones me begging me to buy him horses!

So umlilo don't talk shit, you fucking pissing me of, were where you when I took three minibus taxis from phoenix to summerveld just to advise him
Where the fuck were you when I stayed in the grooms hostel of summerveld, living under very difficult conditions so that we could move foward with plans

So don't tell me I don't have a right to be disapointed to the deception of bulana

@bad company :

Your intimidating, threatening vulgarity is not on & you show no respect for fellow forum members!

Also, I will not stoop to your level as you come out as a typical manipulative, abusive Indian.

As for my track record, neither you nor Mr Rajbansi ('for Indians only'- the butcher, bottle store and bakery licence kingpin!) can even walk in my shadow!

Umlilo or should I say mr hanif manjoo please ask bennet to stop phoning me today I went public on what he did to me a poor disadvantaged indian boy with a brain, I proud that I was the man behind the first black trainer in sa with an open trainers license.
Mr manjoo are you even involved with ownership in the bulana stable?
As I'm typing these msgs bulana is trying to phone me to stop, but I won't, I'm going to expose him

@bad company:

that does not justify your abusive, vulgar and threatening language on this forum against me.

My name Umlilo, I earned as an activist, as that's what I was/am- don't play with fire!

You owe me and everyone on this site an apology!

NB: My apologies to ABC forum for the outburst- not intended!

Sometimes, we do lose ourselves...never intended that sort of threat but will report to the NHA for 'bringing the industry into disrepute'

My friend I have Jesus to protect me ,I never threatned you just stating some facts, but if you feel the need to satisfy your needs to send your mks bennet has my phone no and he will tell you where to find me.
I'm glad you made those statements cos it really shows your character and how you handle buisness.
Goodluck with promoting the bulana stable I'm sure you did a good job today showing people what a gentleman you are with your mks

@bad company:

I doubt Jesus teaches such vulgarity and disrespect and not to be your brother's keeper?