Business Owner Declines Request to Hire South Africans in Tense Confrontation With Local
- A business owner denied a South African man's request to hire more local workers
- The unnamed man requested that the business owner hire South Africans instead of foreigners
- The request led to a tense confrontation, with both men accusing each other of shouting
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An unnamed business owner has refused a request to hire more South Africans, leading to a heated exchange with a local man.
Source: Twitter
South Africans have increasingly demanded that companies hire local citizens over foreign workers, with some groups going so far as to storm businesses to make their case.
In one video reported by YEN.com.gh, an activist group confronted a company and made clear that jobs had to be given out, whether or not applicants had a CV.
The group's leader said they were not asking but demanding employment for South African nationals in place of foreign workers.
Business owner clashes with South African
A video has now surfaced showing a heated confrontation between a business owner and a South African man over hiring practices at his company.
In the video, the unnamed business owner is seen getting out of his car as he is met by the man.
The man raised concerns that the owner had reportedly hired workers from Zimbabwe, and asked why he could not instead hire South Africans, questioning why the owner would employ outside people at all.
He also referenced his own company, spelling out its name as "Lapo" when the owner questioned him on it, and argued that South Africans had been waiting for job opportunities for ten years.
The owner told the man to leave, declaring that he would not employ his people. When the man asked why, the owner responded, "Why should I?" adding that he had his own people.
When the man pressed further, asking if he meant foreigners, the owner clarified he meant South Africans.
The exchange grew tense when the man told the owner not to shout at him, to which the owner replied that the man had started shouting first.
The X video of the confrontation between the business owner and the South African man is shown below.
YEN.com.gh cannot independently verify the exact date or location of the video.
Netizens react to South Africa hiring row
Reaction to the video was largely sympathetic to the business owner, with many defending his right to close the company rather than take on new staff.
YEN.com.gh compiled some of the comments from the post.
Tlou wrote:
"Let him starve, there are businesses that will be happy to continue operating."
Deeeeee! said:
"Open your own business, you can't force the man to open his business because you want to beg for work. You guys can't think honestly."
Sibusiso indicated:
"It's not easy to run a business. Imagine hiring those people, they will abuse you as a business left, right and centre. Hire the unknown South African, not those that came with the marchers. Approach is very important, this type of extortion is on another level."
Lotus commented:
"His business. If he no longer wishes to continue and wants to retire, then so be it. Many business owners are already frustrated paying high taxes and are barely surviving. His reasons are his own."
11/88kv Power Supply and Installation added:
"He is definitely within his rights if he wants to close the business, he has the right to do so. If you want South Africans to be hired, open your own business."
South Africans beg shop owner to reopen
YEN.com.gh earlier reported that a similar situation played out in Cape Town, where a migrant shop owner closed his business out of fear it would be looted during anti-immigrant protests.
Local South Africans were seen in a video begging the shop owner to reopen so they could buy groceries, with the owner explaining that he feared his shop could be targeted the same way as other migrant-owned businesses.
Source: YEN.com.gh
