7 months ago
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A manager of Babel is out on a R10,000 bail and the three undocumented nationals who were arrested with him during a raid at two restaurants in Menlyn are still behind bars.
Raui Kobeissi, 42, was released at the Brooklyn police station after he paid an R10,000 admission of guilt fine, said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana.
Undocumented employees, who work at Babel and Ocean Basket restaurants, appeared in court for contravention of the Immigration Act.
However, Emery Niyomuremyi, 35, from Burundi, Amina Lameck, 34, from Malawi and Kelechi Maduike, 38, from Nigeria are still behind bars. They are charged with the contravention of the Immigration Act.
The four were arrested after a raid at Babel and Ocean Basket.
Mahanjana said the two restaurants employed the three men despite being aware of their migration status in the country.
“Both Lameck, who is employed as a chef, and Maduike, who is employed as a stock manager, work at Babel, while Niyomuremyi works at Ocean Basket as a delivery man.
“The three were arrested on the evening of September 15 at the restaurants by the department of home affairs after they conducted a raid at both restaurants,” said Mahanjana.
They appeared in court at the Hatfield magistrate's court on Tuesday.
This comes after a video was circulated on TikTok by a disgruntled Babel former employee expressing her dissatisfaction regarding her employer’s treatment and alleging that the restaurant was violating the Labour Relations Act.
“The matter of Lameck and Niyomuremyi has been remanded to September 19 and 20 for a formal bail application. Maduike’s matter is remanded to October 2, for a formal bail application,” said Mahanjana.
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