McDonald’s South Africa has confirmed an investigation is under way into the assault of one of their employees by a customer at their branch in Kenilworth, after a video of the incident went viral on social media.
The video has received over 328k views, 1.3k reactions, and has been shared more than 3.332k times.
The person who filmed the incident has since reached out to the Cape Argus to verify information about the ordeal, but has yet to provide comment.
In the video, a white male can be seen standing in the kitchen, behind the counter that is a domain restricted only to employees, and begins to assault a black employee.
In response to the video’s circulation and the incident, Daniel Padiachy, chief marketing officer at McDonald’s South Africa said: “We are aware of a video circulating online showing an altercation between a customer and one of our employees on Monday, March 17. We take the safety of our employees and customers very seriously and have instituted a full investigation into the matter.”
Malvern De Bruyn, Cosatu provincial secretary in the Western Cape, told the Cape Argus they would be looking into the incident and were shocked by what happened.
“As Cosatu we are highly disappointed and disturbed by the incident that happened,” he said.
“We will follow-up with McDonald's, whether they have filed any criminal charges.
“From our side, we will also write a letter to the South African Human Rights Commission.”
The South African Human Rights Commission yesterday said they were unaware of the incident.
In the video, the black female employee is heard informing the irate customer in the kitchen, “you wait for your food.”
He is then seen raising his hand showing two fingers and pushes up her abruptly.
She then tells him to stop pushing her.
“Don’t dare push me,” she shouts.
She has a chip basket in her hands and uses it to protect herself while the man continues with his assault, attempting to hit her as she pushes him away.
She responds with “who do you think you are, to hit a woman?"
He then disappears out of camera but is still in the kitchen and calls her a “piece of s***".
Shocked male patrons are filming the incident and later a group enter in a bid to help the employee and confront the white man when the camera is turned off.
Members of the public on social media suggested that she should have burnt him with the hot oil while others said she could have faced arrest for doing so.
“I would have grabbed hot oil if I was working, then as he pushed me he would get it in his face and chest.”
Another responded: “The only thing that came to my mind…so far we would be arrested by now.”
They also expressed frustration at male customers taking a while to jump into action and applauded the others for doing something.
Cape Argus