Staff of the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nafcoc) were locked out of their Johannesburg offices on Monday morning.

"We arrived to find the building locked and the locks had been changed," a member of Nafcoc's staff who did not want to be identified said.

While staff and the press stood in the parking lot, security guards patrolled the entrance to Nafcoc House, explaining to Sapa they were there to keep staff out of the building and to ensure it was not damaged in any way.

The staff member alleged the lock out was the work of Nafhold, Nafcoc's investment arm.

"There are people inside there destroying documents," she said. When police arrived the doors were opened briefly.

Nafcoc senior members are at present trying to negotiate entry to their offices. This follows a stand-off between members of Nafcoc and Nafhold over the issue of shares.