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The Star reports that Woolworths is embroiled in a cultural storm after the retail giant suspended an employee for wearing isiphandla, a traditional animal skin wristband.
Mathapelo Nkopane was suspended last month and is being investigated by Woolworths in Blairgowrie, Johannesburg, for wearing her cultural wristband since March last year after she performed an ancestral ceremony. The retailer has been accused of “unfair labour practices” as the Employment Equity Act prohibits the unfair targeting of employees on a range of issues, including cultural and religious beliefs. Nkopane works as an interactive co-ordinator and had her first sphandla in September 2018. She got permission to wear it as long as it was covered while she fulfilled her work duties. In March 2019, she had a second traditional ceremony and received her second sphandla, which was worn for a period of 10 months with no issues having been raised. Nkopane explained further: “It was last month when we had a bakery specialist that an issue was raised. The specialist advised the managers to move me to another department until the sphandla falls off because there was a mutual understanding that I couldn’t remove it for cultural reasons.” After it was arranged for her to be moved to a different department, she was called in and asked to write a statement explaining why she had isiphandla and whether she has received permission for it. “Following the explanation, I was suspended with immediate effect and told that I’m under investigation until further notice,” Nkopane stated. On Monday, the store manager acknowledged Nkopane’s suspension, but declined to comment further.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khaya Koko at The Star
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