New Spar boss accused of racism

Employees from Spar Strubens Valley are convinced that their jobs are in jeopardy following the termination of employment of several employees by their new employer.

The prominent supermarket was thrown into the spotlight last week after employees who were dismissed levelled allegations of racism and mistreatment of workers against the new management.

The complainants said they have endured a tough time since the store was taken over in May.

When Northsider approached Strubens Valley Spar for comment about the employees’ complaints, the newspaper was referred to Spar Group Limited for comment.

Speaking on behalf of Spar Group Limited, Marlene Urquhart, the divisional retail operation executive in the South Rand office, said the new owner/manager Nicholas Piquita denied all allegations of mismanagement, mistreating workers and being racist that were levelled against him.

She confirmed that Piquita took over the store in May after the previous retailer was placed in business rescue and eventually liquidated.

Urquhart added, “All allegations of harassment and racial slurs, have been denied by Mr Piquita and our investigations to date have revealed nothing to substantiate the same. Should further evidence be made available, we will ensure the same is thoroughly pursued.”

Last Thursday the Labour Inspector and Human Rights Commission (HRC) also visited the store to observe the situation and investigate the matter.

Allegations and complaints against the new management included the following:

Bongani Zondi, a former floor supervisor who worked at the branch for more than a year, alleged that the new bosses exploited the workers, spoke down to them and used inappropriate verbal slurs.

“They asked long-serving employees and foreigners to have their work permits and identity documents verified,” said Zondi.

“He hired new workers and demoted the current workers.”

Zondi explained that some employees were apparently demoted to lower-paying positions – some cashiers became cleaners.

Another former employee Justice Duda, who has worked for different Spar branches for 19 years, said working for the new management at Spar Strubens Valley was the worst three weeks of his life. Duda said he was demoted without due explanation and his position of butchery manager was taken over by a newly employed manager. He also alleged that the new management cut their salaries. “Since May we haven’t received our full paycheques. Our salaries were cut without reason.”

Duda also alleged that the new management abused its power by instructing employees to stop communicating with one another on cellphones. “They asked [me] why my phone was on. I told them I had kids at home. I was told I must f*** off if I don’t want to work. The freezer jacket I use at work was called a ‘monkey’ jacket by them,” he alleged.

An employee who wished to remain anonymous due to fear of victimisation, said in spite of the HRC’s intervention, the working environment remains hostile, with current employees fearing for their jobs.

In defence, Urquhart said the general rapport between management and staff is good although all workers are naturally on edge, given the situation that arose last week with the disgruntled few.

Urquhart, who also defended the corporate image of the business, explained the issue concerning the verification of ID documents and work permits. She said, “In keeping with the Spar Group’s commitment to legislated labour compliance, an audit of the staff complement of stores under Spar control was initiated by one of our HR managers with the Department of Home Affairs earlier this year, to verify the identity documentation and status of all staff employed in those stores.”

Urquhart added that early in May, shortly after Piquita took ownership of the business, he received correspondence from the HR department advising him that some of his staff had been flagged because of expired or fraudulent work permits, asylum documents and identification documents.

Urquhart said the new boss opted to place the affected employees on unpaid suspension pending the verification of their documents and permits. She said the affected employees were given 30 days in which to resolve the matter, failing which they would have to be relieved of their duties.

The company also provided a supporting document with a Home Affairs stamp which proves that some of the employees did not have legally existing permits.

Details: The Spar Group Limited on 011 821 4293.