"Woolworths suspends employee for wearing isiphandla (sacred wristband)" 4 February 2020

Woolworths is embroiled in a cultural storm after the retail giant suspended an employee for wearing isiphandla, a traditional animal skin wristband. Mathapelo Nkopane was suspended last month and is being investigated by Woolworths in Blairgowrie, Joburg, for wearing her cultural wristband since March last year after she performed an ancestral ceremony. The upmarket food and clothing outlet has been accused of “unfair labour practices”. This as Section 6 of the Employment Equity Act prohibits the unfair targeting of employees on a range of issues, including cultural and religious beliefs.

…On Monday, The Star spoke to Woolworths Blairgowrie manager Xolile Zondo, who acknowledged Nkopane’s suspension but refused to comment further. “This is an internal matter. I’m not allowed to share any private information with you because you are not part of this business,” Zondo said. However, senior labour lawyer Michael Bagraim said Woolworths Blairgowrie was engaged in “unfair labour practices”, saying the store would lose the case should it go to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). “It certainly is unfair labour practice. One needs to look at the policies surrounding (isiphandla). But if it does not affect the work and it is neat, I think that would be unfair labour practice.

… An example would be the Jewish skull cap; as long as it is neat, why would you want (a Jewish male) to remove it? “So I think it is unfair labour practice,” Bagraim added. Collen said isiphandla was sacred to African religion as it is worn after a ceremony for people to connect with their ancestors. “Isiphandla is recognition from the ancestors that you belong to the family. We don’t just wear animal skins for fun,” Mkhulu Collen said.