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The recent taxi strike undoubtedly caused major mayhem for businesses and employees alike. But in true Ubuntu fashion three Observatory men rolled up their sleeves and came to the aid of a local café.
On Monday 7 August the bustling Sonder Café in Observatory was left without staff members as they could not reach their place of work due to the strike.
Michelle Fredman, co-owner of the café, says she and her partner Chase had to run the café solely as all three of their staff members were unable to pitch up for work.
She explained that they reside in Khayelitsha, which was labelled as one of the redzone areas.
Fredman says: “We have three staff members who were unable to get to work due to the strike. Unfortunately, unlike some bigger businesses, we don’t have the luxury of being able to close for the day. So, it was just myself and my partner running the shop. I was working in the kitchen as a chef and my partner Chase Dell was the barista.
She says with the morning rush they found themselves running around trying to cope.
“We got busy because a lot of the other restaurants wasn’t operating because of lack of staff and load shedding. We have an inverter, so we are able to operate during load shedding.”
Fredman says three customers, Motheo Moleko, Rafael Bloch and Juvae Sewpersad who visit the establishment regularly, rolled up their sleeves and assisted them.
“We have a small coffee shop with many locals coming here frequently. Three guys who come regularly were here busy working remotely. They saw that we were spinning around trying to do everything. We didn’t have a waiter. It was chaotic, so they just rolled up their sleeves and jumped in.
“One of them was helping me in the kitchen, the other one was washing dishes and the other one was waitering.”
Moleko says: “My friends own the place; they were busy because their staff could not be here. We just decided to step in. I had a gap during my working day, so I thought it is easy enough to wait tables and help them out. I think in SA unemployment is a big problem and the taxi strike only made things worse for people who need to get to work.”
Moleko explains that he runs an ad agency and spends about three hours per day at the café.
He says he was just trying to lend a helping hand.
“If we have the ability to help, and if it’s easy enough to do, then we should do it. I don’t think what I did is praiseworthy but if it brings people together, I guess it is worthwhile. I was taking orders and waiting tables.”
Fredman says they are grateful for the good samaritans who came to their aid.
“It is nice to see the community spirit is still alive during tough times. We are massively grateful to them. I think it is because they come here often so they learnt the ropes just from watching. They knew the menu and they knew what to do. They were a great help. One of them is here still taking orders and enjoying his role as a waiter.”
According to Fredman they were able to assist their three staff members with alternative accommodation for the duration of the strike.
