“The reason you’ll always be poor is that you’re not willing to do what needs to be done” is what budding entrepreneur Zandile Zulu* was told when she wouldn’t give in to a potentially important client’s sexual advances. “I was totally taken aback,” she recalls.
Zulu, an events co-ordinator with her own company that specialises in weddings, but also does government and corporate events, had just launched her venture when she received this indecent proposal.
She adds: “I’d met this government official before, when I’d worked at a travel agency. I’d mentioned that I wanted to start my own business and he suggested I give him a call, as government was always looking to support young, black female entrepreneurs. He’d always been a complete professional and I’d never seen this side of him before.
“When I’d first called him up about working together, it was well received. I was pitching for a tender and went in fully prepared with my business plan, all the relevant documents and a presentation. It was all on track until our third meeting, when he made his move, saying: ‘You’re a beautiful girl. I could take care of you . . . you know how things are.’” Zulu gave him a piece of her mind, but was nevertheless shaken by the event and left – without the contract.
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