The Wild Falcon Spur in Fairland, north of Johannesburg, was in hot water after it was found that some of its staff members were illegal foreigners.
Combat, a protest movement “against lawlessness and economic apartheid” across all sectors that aims to protect marginalised poor South Africans, wants unemployed citizens to apply and for them to be hired.
Founder Enos Maake said in a statement that the restaurant has 60 employees, of whom only 13 are South Africans.
“The restaurant has new management who just took over about three weeks back. Unfortunately, the new owner has been charged. Please drop your CVs at Fairland, Newlands, Windsor, Honeydew. Communities are advised to go to this restaurant and try their luck,” said Maake.
He said Home Affairs, Labour and the SAPS have intensified inspections around Johannesburg targeting eateries and restaurants.
“Job-seekers should now continue intensifying their search for jobs as many companies are feeling pressure and laying off illegal foreigners voluntarily.
“We will not rest until there is a job in every home. We will not retreat on our quest to free Africans from exploitation and ensure criminals, oppressors (slavery masters) masquerading as employers are arrested. It is evident day by day that the private sector is the most corrupt, exploitative, oppressive sector that disregards the laws of this country. We will not rest until we uproot and expose the brutal conduct of so-called investors.
“Good luck to all job-seekers. When you get these jobs, please work hard! #NoRetreatNoSurrender. #Asijiki,” Maake said.
Gauteng acting provincial commissioner Major-General Fred Kekana commanded the roadblock in Honeydew, north of Johannesburg, as part of a weekend high-density operation, also known as Operation Shanela.
Spur Group Corporate spokesperson Moshe Apleni told The Star yesterday that Spur operates on a franchise-based model, with each restaurant individually owned and managed by independent franchisees. He said their agreements with franchisees stipulate that they have to adhere to South African law.
“We require our network to employ the South African population first. Where legal foreign nationals are employed, formal documentation has to be in place. We have a zero tolerance for any non-adherence to labour laws. As a franchisor, we take action where any wrongdoing is found,” said Apleni.
“The franchise in question changed ownership three weeks ago and the new owner was in the process of evaluating his employee complement. The new franchise owner has addressed the matter, and we can confirm that all current franchised employees adhere to the relevant labour laws.”
Apleni emphasised that the Department of Employment and Labour conducts regular inspections at restaurants to ensures compliance with the franchise network.
Gauteng provincial SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo said multidisciplinary law enforcement agencies were working around the clock, searching for stolen/hijacked vehicles and other illicit goods.
“The team recovered a car, a Nissan NP200, that was reportedly hijacked in Mabopane, Pretoria, this month. More than 80 illegal immigrants have been arrested. Ten suspects were also arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol. Other suspects were arrested for crimes including possession of drugs and fraud,” said Masondo.
Meanwhile, SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said police had through, in operations countrywide, seized 430 illegal and unlicensed firearms in four weeks.
“These include rifles, handguns, shotguns etc. The majority of firearms were seized in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Eastern Cape and Western Cape. More than 53 000 suspects were also arrested in the past month,” said Mathe.
The Star