A KFC manager in Somerset West has been suspended after allegedly calling employees “a bunch of monkeys”.
KFC public affairs director for Africa-KFC, Thabisa Mkhwanazi, said the company “strongly and unequivocally” condemned the alleged actions, reports the Cape Times.
“We take the allegations of racial misconduct brought against a restaurant manager seriously and we will continue to move swiftly while maintaining the integrity of our internal HR disciplinary process, in accordance with the South African labour law guidelines,” said Mkhwanazi.
“The restaurant manager has been suspended while this case is under investigation and we will work closely with the authorities in their investigation. We’re an inclusive brand and believe that such behaviour has no place in our society.”
Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana confirmed a crimen injuria case had been opened.
Several KFC employees at the branch said the manager had threatened to sack them after they approached their union regarding her alleged remarks.
“The first time she made racist remarks was when an inspector was going to visit the store. She was angry and said ‘I don’t know why I’m placed with a bunch of monkeys’. We were unhappy but kept that to ourselves because it was the first time and we thought she had just said that out of anger but it happened again,” the employees said.
The Democratic Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Detawu) said although the matter was reported to cops in June, the manager was only recently arrested, while one of the more vocal workers was sent away to work at another store.