Hotel suspends sangoma trainee
26 September 2009, 21:20
By Bianca Capazorio
A top Cape Town hotel has suspended an employee after she refused to remove the white beads that indicate she is a sangoma in training.
Zolelwa Mpofu, a linen keeper in the housekeeping department of the Radisson Blu hotel near the V&A Waterfront, said she had gone on leave from the company on August 18 after feeling ill and deciding not to ignore the "calling of her ancestors".
When she went back to work nearly a month later, wearing the traditional "instimbi" or white beads, she was asked to remove them. The beads indicate she is in training and has obeyed the ancestors' call.
"I told them I'm not allowed to take these things off, I don't know what will happen to me if I do, I might get sick," Mpofu said.
The strands of little white beads are worn around the head, neck, wrists, arms and ankles. She said that in a meeting with the hotel's human resources department she had agreed to remove the beads from her head. The company then said the beads at her neck and ankles did not comply with the company dress code, and asked her to cover them by buttoning up her blouse and wearing long trousers.
But this posed a problem for Mpofu.
"I'm not allowed to wear pants. This is part of my culture and my tradition. This is not for fun. I did not apply for it. It's my calling."
Other alternatives the company suggested were to take unpaid leave while becoming a sangoma, or producing "relevant legislation relating to this issue to assist with a way forward".
Because she continued to display most of the beads after the meeting, she was summoned to a disciplinary hearing, then given a written warning. She refused to sign it and continued to wear the beads. A disciplinary hearing last Friday resulted in a final written warning, and she was suspended on full pay until Monday. Another hearing will be conducted then.
Weekend Argus is in possession of the written warnings served on Mpofu. The offence is described as "failure to be obedient, respectful and to execute a reasonable instruction with regards to abiding by the company's uniform standard, ie to cover up your white beads on your neck and legs."
Hotel's manager Chris Pike refused to comment, other than to say the matter was an "internal employee issue" which was "under review".
A document, entitled "Company's case-aggrevating (sic)", details the company's case made at the hearing, stating they are a "global, five-star international hotel group".
It says Mpofu signed a contract with them in 2005 and was given a copy of the employee handbook "thereby accepting these terms and conditions of employment".
The document listed the alternative courses of action suggested to Mpofu, which she rejected, other than to remove the beads on her head. The disciplinary action followed.
The document said there was "no SA legislation that supports or dictates to the employer on the policy relating to sangomas".
A note on the company's case document states that "the defence also mentioned that when the beads are removed, she would be required to wear goat skins all over her body depending on what the ancestors tell her. Where do we draw the line in 'accommodating' and breaking the rules enshrined in our policies and procedures manuals?"
The constitution says no person may discriminate against another based on "race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social orientation, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth."
Department of Labour spokesman Page Boikanyo said Mpofu was advised to "report the case to the CCMA offices so that the alleged unfair dismissal can be investigated".
A top Cape Town hotel has suspended an employee after she refused to remove the white beads that indicate she is a sangoma in training.
Zolelwa Mpofu, a linen keeper in the housekeeping department of the Radisson Blu hotel near the V&A Waterfront, said she had gone on leave from the company on August 18 after feeling ill and deciding not to ignore the "calling of her ancestors".
When she went back to work nearly a month later, wearing the traditional "instimbi" or white beads, she was asked to remove them. The beads indicate she is in training and has obeyed the ancestors' call.
"I told them I'm not allowed to take these things off, I don't know what will happen to me if I do, I might get sick," Mpofu said.
The strands of little white beads are worn around the head, neck, wrists, arms and ankles. She said that in a meeting with the hotel's human resources department she had agreed to remove the beads from her head. The company then said the beads at her neck and ankles did not comply with the company dress code, and asked her to cover them by buttoning up her blouse and wearing long trousers.
But this posed a problem for Mpofu.
"I'm not allowed to wear pants. This is part of my culture and my tradition. This is not for fun. I did not apply for it. It's my calling."
Other alternatives the company suggested were to take unpaid leave while becoming a sangoma, or producing "relevant legislation relating to this issue to assist with a way forward".
Because she continued to display most of the beads after the meeting, she was summoned to a disciplinary hearing, then given a written warning. She refused to sign it and continued to wear the beads. A disciplinary hearing last Friday resulted in a final written warning, and she was suspended on full pay until Monday. Another hearing will be conducted then.
Weekend Argus is in possession of the written warnings served on Mpofu. The offence is described as "failure to be obedient, respectful and to execute a reasonable instruction with regards to abiding by the company's uniform standard, ie to cover up your white beads on your neck and legs."
Hotel's manager Chris Pike refused to comment, other than to say the matter was an "internal employee issue" which was "under review".
A document, entitled "Company's case-aggrevating (sic)", details the company's case made at the hearing, stating they are a "global, five-star international hotel group".
It says Mpofu signed a contract with them in 2005 and was given a copy of the employee handbook "thereby accepting these terms and conditions of employment".
The document listed the alternative courses of action suggested to Mpofu, which she rejected, other than to remove the beads on her head. The disciplinary action followed.
The document said there was "no SA legislation that supports or dictates to the employer on the policy relating to sangomas".
A note on the company's case document states that "the defence also mentioned that when the beads are removed, she would be required to wear goat skins all over her body depending on what the ancestors tell her. Where do we draw the line in 'accommodating' and breaking the rules enshrined in our policies and procedures manuals?"
The constitution says no person may discriminate against another based on "race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social orientation, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth."
Department of Labour spokesman Page Boikanyo said Mpofu was advised to "report the case to the CCMA offices so that the alleged unfair dismissal can be investigated".
- This article was originally published on page 6 of Saturday Argus on September 26, 2009
