By: Vuyolwethu Nzolongwane
It is alleged that a manager of a popular East London family restaurant, Las Vegas Spur, was unsympathetic to an employee who called in sick last week and told the employee to work her shift to avoid losing her job.
Funiwe Nkebe, fondly known as Nandi, was the sole breadwinner for her two daughters, ages four and seven.
The manager who had denied the sick leave is said to have been negligent and unsympathetic to the situation when colleagues tried to help Nkebe as her health deteriorated.
A Spur staff member who wanted to remain Anonymous said “I was agitated by the mere fact that nothing was done at a time where the situation could be eased, it imposed how blatantly negligent the shop’s managers can be and it was not a matter of who’s wrong or who did what but a matter of working together in fighting with Nandi for her life.”
The Buffalo City based Economic Freedom Fighters, together with their regional spokesperson Mziyanda Hlekiso sat down with the Spur group management to hear more about the incident and for a way forward.
“We tabled some of our demands that they should pay for the funeral and for the education of Nandi’s two children,” said EFF spokesperson in the BCM region, Siya Rumbu.
Speaking for the family, Siyanda Mbuwana, Nandi’s cousin, conveyed how vibrant and kind Nandi was and how great it was when in her presence.
“We are heartbroken, we did not expect that Nandi would pass away so soon, she was a vibrant person, always happy, and she had a certain energy about her and she loved people,” said Mbuwana.
The manager in question has since taken special leave pending her disciplinary hearing. The Spur group agreed to the EFF’s demands to pay for Nkebe’s funeral and her daughters’ education from primary until high school and will arrange counselling sessions for all employees that were affected by the incident.
Nkebe will be laid to rest on Saturday, May 15 at NU 6 in Mdantsane.