Zulu wristband spat 'racist'

[lsuacner]

This so called African religion is not a religion unless the state recognises it, has the state done so?

 

[Moederloos]

One customer down, only so many until the entire outlet closes down. Clearly their is no concern toward the company that employs you or your fellow employees. If you had pride in your job you would not agree to such circumstances, if you are unable to perform your job you either need to agree to a move or retrenchment.

PnP is a useless company with useless staff. I no longer go into any PnP.
Endless complaints, and no action ever resolves the underlying issues - that being that the staff they choose are totally unprofessional. From their lack lustre attitudes, to their disdain towards customers, and their shocking quality control.

It is hardly a surprise to me that the staff member considered her "right" to wear some unhygienic bracelet to be above the rights of her customers to food safety.

 

[Slaine73]

The story doesn't explain all previous actions taken to try and alleviate the situation, so of course there is missing info which means we can't make a completely informed judgement.

Suffice it to say though, had I seen someone handling my food with an animal skin bracelet I would not have taken the food, and I would stop shopping at that PnP

To be honest if I see anybody that is working in a supermarket with a thing like that on their arm I will complain, whether that person is working with food or not. Bloody hell sooner or later that person is going to get close to the food section and I don't want that near anything that I have to eat. So I can now say my whatever is dead and therefore I have to wear a piece of dead animal round my arm and walk into a board meeting, hand bread over the counter etc!

 

[bsntombela]

What is happening here is that we are witnessing a massive lack of understanding of the matter by some of the people who participate in this forum...
The romans wear rosaries (that cross thing) around their necks and some are not allowed to cover them or tuck them in, would that also be considered unhygienic?

I just think that the employee should have just been requested to cover it up and not told to remove it completely...

Anyway in this country and employee who packs food in a PnP does not matter! I just wish that people stopped ridiculing other people's beliefs so much..

 

[Guest 20221009]

This is so funny..only in SA baby, only in SA

 

[Moederloos]

What is happening here is that we are witnessing a massive lack of understanding of the matter by some of the people who participate in this forum...
The romans wear rosaries (that cross thing) around their necks and some are not allowed to cover them or tuck them in, would that also be considered unhygienic?

I just think that the employee should have just been requested to cover it up and not told to remove it completely...

Anyway in this country and employee who packs food in a PnP does not matter! I just wish that people stopped ridiculing other people's beliefs so much..

The Romans no longer exist.

 

[DJ...]

The romans wear rosaries (that cross thing) around their necks and some are not allowed to cover them or tuck them in, would that also be considered unhygienic?

No, they're not made out of dead animals. Dead animals = unhygienic. That's the crux of the matter and the chain has a responsibility to maintain certain hygiene standards. We cannot drop our health and safety standards for the sake of a few who feel compelled to wear dead animals on their arms. I'm all for accepting other cultures, however one wouldn't walk into a board meeting in a tribal loin cloth as that would be inappropriate - likewise, one shouldn't be working around food with dead animals hanging from their wrists. Common sense.

I just think that the employee should have just been requested to cover it up and not told to remove it completely...

What is the difference? I am curious as to what purpose this serves in the Zulu culture - excuse my ignorance but I'm at a loss as to how wearing a dead animal on one's wrist can be such an issue. Could the employee maybe not have worn it around her ankle instead? Not trying to ridicule here - I just don't understand it...

 

[JungleBoy]

This so called African religion is not a religion unless the state recognises it, has the state done so?

the state doesn't recognise Christianity either, it's totally secular

 

[Slaine73]

It may be this person's culture, but my culture also gives me the right to not want to be served in a shop by someone wearing a piece of dead animal round their arm.

 

[JungleBoy]

No, they're not made out of dead animals. Dead animals = unhygienic. ...

I suppose you don't wear or utilise any leather items

What is the difference? I am curious as to what purpose this serves in the Zulu culture - excuse my ignorance but I'm at a loss as to how wearing a dead animal on one's wrist can be such an issue. Could the employee maybe not have worn it around her ankle instead? Not trying to ridicule here - I just don't understand it...

I think it serves the same purpose as
...the cross worn by the catholics
...the red string around some of the indians' wrists
...the wedding ring on a married person's finger.
etc

 

[supersunbird]

The romans wear rosaries (that cross thing) around their necks and some are not allowed to cover them or tuck them in, would that also be considered unhygienic?

Yes, and thus they would not be allowed to work with machinery where it could get caught in (due to work safety laws)...

 

[JungleBoy]

The Romans no longer exist.

what do yo call people from Rome?

 

[blonde one]

what do yo call people from Rome?

Italian

 

[DJ...]

what do yo call people from Rome?

Lucky bastards!!! Or Italians. Depending on my mood...

 

[RazedInBlack]

News 24: Why Do They Always Play the Racist Card?

'It's about hygiene, not race'
08/01/2009 22:43 - (SA)

Durban - Pick n Pay on Thursday denied reports that a manager at a Vryheid store removed a traditional Zulu wristband from the arm of an employee.

Pick n Pay spokesperson Tamra Veley said: "The incident occurred when, for health and hygiene reasons, the employee was asked to remove an isiphandla (a traditional animal skin wrist band) from her arm while on duty."

She said Pick n Pay respected the cultural heritage of its employees and that such bands were worn by other employees throughout the region.

"ut in keeping with South African health legislation and Pick n Pay hygiene standards, a protective guard is always worn over such armbands," said Veley.

The ANC Women's League however said "hygiene" reasons were a feeble excuse and that removing such a band was considered a sin in African religion.

The league's secretary Nonhlanhla Khoza said Pick n Pay's actions "actions were motivated by racism and intolerance of black people's culture".

The company said it will meet the employee and her family next week to resolve the matter. It also apologised for any insensitivity to the employee or her family.

"[D]etailed information will be provided to the store manager concerned so that he is fully aware of cultural norms and practices," she said.

The Progressive Women's Movement of South Africa called the incident "blasphemous".

Spokesperson Weziwe Thusi said it was an indication that some men still had no respect for women.

"This action is also in violation of the country's Constitution, which regards all religions as equal and guarantees them protection and respect," she said.

 

[JungleBoy]

Italian

no silly, they are European

 

[blonde one]

When a relative dies, one wears an animal skin wrist band (from the cow or whatever was sacrificed at the funeral) until it eventually rots away and falls off of its own accord (AFAIK).

Issues of culture and religion should always be treated with utmost sensitivity. The key is to find ways to accomodate each other's belief systems without being offensive to one another.

e.g. the store could have asked her to cover it (this is common practice especially whilst the wristband is still fresh). Better still they could have moved her to a section where she would not come into contact with the edibles.

Look at it this way (from any shop's hygiene policy)
Animals (live domesticated and clean animals i.e. pets) are not allowed into the store so why would a rotting piece of animal skin be considered acceptable? Would you be happy shopping in the aisle next to me when I have my dog or cat with me? I doubt it very much so why would I be happy having an assistant serve me with a part of a dead animal on her arm?
But I have a hypothetical solution, next time I go into Pick and Pay with my dog I'll cover him up and everything will be hunky dory

 

[blunomore]

"This action is also in violation of the country's Constitution ......"

Let's also remember this in all other instances where people's rights are grossly infringed upon by inter alia the government.

 

[JungleBoy]

Look at it this way (from any shop's hygiene policy)
Animals (live domesticated and clean animals i.e. pets) are not allowed into the store so why would a rotting piece of animal skin be considered acceptable? Would you be happy shopping in the aisle next to me when I have my dog or cat with me? I doubt it very much so why would I be happy having an assistant serve me with a part of a dead animal on her arm?
But I have a hypothetical solution, next time I go into Pick and Pay with my dog I'll cover him up and everything will be hunky dory

please make sure your dog is wearing a nappy, has had his fleas removed, and does not go anywhere near the butchery.

 

[LCBXX]

Aaah, how some shallow-minded Africans HATE the Western Cake. Pity that they can't stop eating...