South Africa’s opposition Economic Freedom Fighters leader, Julius Malema,engaged some restaurant owners on Wednesday, in a bid to correct local and foreign employment ratios.
Malema’s visits are meant to check “labour policies, staff complement and ensure that our fellow Africans are not exploited and locals are employed at a satisfactory level”.
He visited Kream Restaurant at the Mall of Africa in Johannesburg where he quizzed the owners about the hiring of more foreigners than locals.
The restaurant owners refused to hold a meeting with Malema saying he has no authority to assess employment ratios in the country.
Malema said2, “If they can’t meet me, they can’t operate. I’ll stand here. I’m not [a] fool. They said to me we are ready to meet you, come today [Wednesday]. Why would South Africans run away from the conversation? I’m not fighting.
“No one has brought masses here. I came with the leadership … He [the business owner] operates in South Africa, and therefore by virtue of operating in the public space he’s got the responsibility to be answerable. The targeting of foreigners is misleading. We are going to the real people who want to cause xenophobia in South Africa.”
Malema has in the past complained about the exploitation of foreigners by employers, who normally pay them low wages.
