Kaya 959 Reporter
The Durban Labour Court has ordered that a Nando’s Scottsville employee must be restored nearly four years after being sacked for eating two slices of carrot.
Ntokozo Gwala claimed he was only “testing” the cooked carrots since they seemed to be frozen at his disciplinary hearing in July 2018 and a subsequent hearing at the Commission for Consolidation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA).
According to Ground Up, CCMA Commissioner Nicci Whitear-Nel found that this was substantively unfair, and ordered his reinstatement.
However, Nando’s was aggrieved and sought to review and set aside this decision in an application heard by Acting Durban Labour Court Judge Kelsey Allen-Yama.
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Nando’s responded to the judgement and said the welcome the judgement.
“Our code of conduct for employees details our health and safety standards and processes, which does not allow employees on duty to consume any of the products we sell while working.”
“When Nando’s dismissed the employee in question, a fair disciplinary process was followed, and the case was presided over by an independent chairperson.”
“We were under the impression that the employee’s action warranted dismissal in the circumstances. In addition to this, it was believed that this action could potentially affect the health standards policy of the products we produce, therefore putting our consumers at risk.”
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