Alleged Labour Violations Start Restaurant Raids in Gauteng, 8 Arrested in Sandton and Pretoria
Authorities, led by the Gauteng Department of Employment and Labour, launched a series of restaurant raids in Pretoria and Sandton amid concerns about unfair labour practices and the employment of undocumented workers. The operation resulted in the arrest of eight individuals, escalating tensions in the local restaurant industry.
Arrests in Pretoria: Babel and Ocean Basket Targeted
In Pretoria, four individuals were detained during raids at Babel and Ocean Basket restaurants located in Menlyn Mall, Pretoria East. The individuals arrested include restaurant employees and management. Among those detained was Babel’s restaurant manager, Raui Kobeissi, who was released after paying a R10,000 admission of guilt fine. The other three, Emery Niyomuremyi, Amina Lameck, and Kelechi Maduike, faced court for being in South Africa without valid documentation.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the detained individuals hold various positions within the restaurants. Lameck, a chef, and Maduike, a stock manager, were employed at Babel, while Niyomuremyi worked as a deliveryman for Ocean Basket.
Sandton Arrests: Five Held Without Valid Work Permits
In a separate operation in Sandton, five employees, including the human resources manager, were arrested for lacking valid work permits. The Department of Employment and Labour, represented by provincial inspector Adv Michael Msiza, noted that three of the five restaurants raided were also found to be underpaying their employees in violation of the National Minimum Wage Act (NMWA) of 2018. Specifically, the waitstaff was being paid in tips and commissions, contrary to the legal minimum wage of R28.76 per hour.
Ocean Basket Refutes Labour Violations
Following the arrests, Ocean Basket denied allegations that their Menlyn branch employed undocumented workers or engaged in unfair labour practices. The company released a statement after conducting internal investigations, stating that no illegal workers were employed, and no staff were owed wages. Ocean Basket has requested the Department of Labour to provide evidence of its findings, claiming that the accusations have severely damaged the restaurant’s reputation.
Labour Violations: The Road Ahead
The Department of Employment and Labour has given restaurants found guilty of labour violations two weeks to pay over R1.3 million owed in wages and comply with legal requirements. This crackdown is part of the government’s broader efforts to combat illegal employment and ensure fair labour practices in South Africa’s restaurant sector. The department has yet to meet with Ocean Basket to clarify the situation, leaving questions about the accuracy of the accusations and the next steps.
