Government Crackdown On Pretoria Restaurants Exposes Wage Violations

Holifil

04 Apr, 2025

A government raid on Menlyn-based eateries Babel and Ocean Basket uncovered that the establishments owe their employees over R1 million in unpaid wages.
Reports indicate that both restaurants failed to pay workers the legally mandated minimum wage, resulting in a total debt of R1.3 million.
South Africans expressed relief that action was taken against these restaurants and urged investigations into other businesses.
Ocean Basket CEO Grace Harding strongly denied the allegations and demanded transparency from the Department of Labour.

Tebogo Mokwena, a seasoned Briefly News journalist with seven years of experience at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News, has covered crucial local and international topics such as health, corruption, education, unemployment, labor issues, service delivery protests, and cultural heritage in South Africa.

Pretoria restaurants Babel and Ocean Basket have been accused of failing to pay workers adequately. Image: @Meth_Khosi Source: Twitter

PRETORIA — The South African government conducted a raid on two prominent Menlyn-based restaurants, Babel Restaurant and Ocean Basket, revealing that these establishments owe their workers more than R1 million in unpaid wages. This news has sparked widespread outrage and calls for greater accountability in the hospitality industry.

Unpaid Wages Uncovered at Local Eateries

According to @IOL, the raid, which involved the Hawks, the Department of Labour, and the Department of Home Affairs, uncovered numerous violations of South Africa's labor laws. Specifically, both restaurants were found to be non-compliant with the Minimum Wage Act, which mandates that workers should be paid a minimum of R27.58 per hour. This investigation not only highlights the plight of underpaid workers but also sheds light on systemic issues within the industry.

Read also:
Sihle Zikalala Opens Up About His Demotion A Candid Conversation

Babel Restaurant, for instance, owes its employees—including cleaners and servers—over R560,000 in unpaid wages. Employees reportedly earned as little as R150 per shift, working grueling 12 to 15-hour days, which directly contravenes the Basic Conditions of Employment Act. These revelations paint a grim picture of worker exploitation and raise serious questions about enforcement mechanisms.

Check out the tweet here:

Ocean Basket Responds to Allegations

Briefly News reached out to both restaurants for comment. Ocean Basket CEO Grace Harding categorically denied the allegations, asserting that the figures presented are inaccurate. She emphasized that her company has not received any official communication or documentation from the Department of Labour substantiating these claims.

"Absolutely no contact has been made or documentation supplied to us by the Department of Labour as evidence of where they got the figures they released to the media or to request our cooperation in resolving this matter," she explained.

"We’ve been referred among various personnel at the Department, but no one has addressed our questions or agreed to meet with us to discuss these claims. Our request is simple: we urge the Department to join us in a constructive dialogue to understand the situation fully. We need to review the source of their data and examine their current processes."

"We are deeply concerned that the Department issued a media release without first consulting us about their findings. This action has severely damaged our brand’s credibility and reputation," she added.

Public Reaction to the Scandal

The public response to this exposé has been mixed but largely critical of the alleged wage violations. Many South Africans expressed anger over the exploitation of workers while applauding the government's intervention. Social media platforms lit up with comments from citizens demanding justice and accountability.

Akani Nwanati voiced support for the whistleblower, stating:

"We must protect the brave individual who brought this exploitation to light."

Another user, Transporter, echoed similar sentiments:

Read also:
When A Mercedes Goes Vertical The Craziest Car Crash On Tiktok

"I’m sure this has been going on for years. These unscrupulous employers probably thought they could keep getting away with it."

Farieda Khan directed her criticism toward the Department of Labour:

"This situation highlights the Department of Labour's inefficiency. Why aren’t they conducting more proactive inspections?"

Queen of Sheba praised the courage of the whistleblower:

"It took one fearless woman to uncover all of this. Hats off to her."

Meanwhile, Space Cowgirl suggested further investigations:

"Spur should be the next establishment to be scrutinized. Let’s ensure no one gets away with such unethical practices."

Government Employment of Foreign Nationals Raises Questions

In a related development, Briefly News reported that the Department of Public Administration disclosed that over 6,000 foreign nationals are employed by the South African government. This revelation came after Minister of Public Administration Mzamo Buthelezi responded in writing to a parliamentary inquiry.

While the focus remains on labor rights and fair wages, this disclosure adds another layer to the ongoing debate about employment practices in South Africa. As the country grapples with high unemployment rates, questions about job allocation and resource distribution continue to surface.