SPAR STORE MANAGER STANDS FIRM AFTER BEING CONFRONTED BY GROUP DEMANDING MORE JOBS FOR LOCAL SOUTH AFRICANS, SAYING EMPLOYMENT MUST BE BASED ON SKILLS AND LEGAL HIRING REQUIREMENTS
A video circulating on social media shows a SPAR store manager being confronted by a group calling on the supermarket to create more job opportunities for local South Africans.
According to those involved in the confrontation, CVs had been submitted to the store the previous week, and they wanted to know why local applicants had not been hired. During the discussion, the store manager reportedly responded that the applicants who had applied did not meet the skills and requirements needed for the available positions.
The exchange then became more heated as members of the group allegedly insisted that the store should employ more local residents. According to claims made in the video, some argued that locals should be prioritised for jobs regardless of skills or criminal record checks, while also threatening to shut down the business if their demands were not met. These claims have not been independently verified.
The manager rejected the demands, stating that employment decisions must follow the company’s recruitment policies and South African labour laws. He maintained that a business cannot simply hire people under pressure and that appointments must be based on the requirements of each position and whether applicants are legally eligible to work.
The incident comes amid ongoing public debate over unemployment, undocumented migration and employment opportunities in South Africa. It also follows the circulation of false social media claims suggesting that SPAR had created thousands of new jobs because of anti-illegal immigration protests. SPAR has previously denied those claims, stating that its stores continue to recruit through their normal hiring processes based on operational needs and the qualifications required for each role.
The video has sparked mixed reactions online. Some people believe businesses should prioritise qualified local South Africans when filling vacancies, while others argue that employers must remain free to hire the most suitable candidates while complying with South African labour laws.
Do you think companies should always prioritise qualified South African citizens for available jobs, or should hiring decisions be based solely on skills and legal eligibility to work?