Cashier's car purchase causes employer to get suspicious
We understand that we live in a country constantly testing our limits, but being overly suspicious of people can be damaging.
There's no denying that buying your first car is a milestone. So, when you do get to list this milestone as part of your achievements, it's a big deal.
But for Eza Limelintaka, a 28-year-old petrol station cashier at a Maitland petrol station in Cape Town, it was a reason to celebrate.
After saving for nine months and securing a bank loan, Limelintaka could purchase a secondhand car in pursuit of running a side hustle while maintaining her full-time role as a cashier at the petrol station. But her celebration was short-lived when her boss questioned how she could afford a car.
After seeing Limelintaka's car, he demanded that she share her bank statements with him.
After going through them and finding nothing suspicious, her employer said he could not trust her. This led to Limelintaka asking if something had happened to cause his suspicions.
The employer then went on to say that he was uncomfortable with her being a cashier and gave her an ultimatum to go outside and work as a petrol attendant or resign.
She told News24, "I refused. I was hired as a cashier and have done nothing wrong."
After her refusal, Limelintaka's employer asked her to go home and consider carefully what she would do.
"I had hoped the car would help me run a side hustle and keep working. Now it feels like I'm being punished for trying to improve my life," she told News24.
Siviwe Shiyeni from The National Insourced Workers Union said, "They're trying to force her to resign under duress, which is unlawful. We have advised her to report for duty. If the employer intends to change her role, they must put it in writing."
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