Authorities have arrested at least three persons at Menlyn’s Babel restaurant after a former employee revealed alleged unfair and exploitative labor practices at the upscale new dining over the weekend.
The three people arrested apparently include the proprietor of the upscale Pretoria East restaurant and two undocumented employees.
The police, Home Affairs, and the Department of Labour carried out a sting operation on Sunday night after a lady posted a TikTok video on Saturday documenting her alleged working misery.
The young woman was hired on the spot, but she was later horrified when she was allegedly asked to begin work without a formal binding contract, was asked to pay for her own uniform, was told there was no basic salary, and stated that workers at the restaurant were fined to allegedly fund cutlery and breakage fees.
The woman also said she was expected to purchase her own equipment, including as bottle openers, cigarette lighters, cigar lighters, and cutters, and that there was no base wage, only gratuities and a daily non-refundable breakage cost of R200.
The woman, named Mihlali, details her story below:
@molly_baveBabel in Menlyn needs to start treating their employees like humans !!#fypシ゚#SAMA28#babel#menlynmall#mistreatment#viral♬ original sound – molly
The Economic Freedom Fighters in Tshwane paid a visit to the eatery on Saturday, and officials responded quickly on Sunday night, raiding both Babel and the adjoining Ocean Basket in the Menyln Shopping Centre.
Albert Matsaung, Home Affairs’ Acting Provincial Manager for Gauteng, said two employees at the Babel eatery were arrested because they lacked the necessary papers, including a work visa to work in the country.
Matsaung told Newzroom Afrika that the restaurant’s owner, along with his accused illegal workers, will be detained and held accountable for why his employees lacked the proper documents.
He stated that the employer would be punished and presumably penalized, while the unauthorized workers would be deported.
Before the sting, Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth took to X to say: “As promised that we’ll act @ClaysonMonyela, our team together with Home Affairs Immigration &Hawks pounced on Babel restaurant following the tip off of unfair labour practice. Some arrests have been made.. more details to follow #Babel #LabourMatters #Labour @DmJomo @deptoflabour”.
The Department of Labour said it would release a detailed statement on Monday morning, but it’s acting director-general, Viwe Mlenzana, said they were concerned about the hospitality industry and the alleged flouting of labour practice by employers.
