A very disturbing story today: a non-South African African who works in our group was in Shoprite-Checkers in Mowbray today, with his wife, doing their regular grocery shop. The till operator spoke to him in isiXhosa, and he asked her to speak in English as he could not understand what she was saying.
Instead of doing so, she spoke loudly in isiXhosa across him to her colleague on another till, with the word "makwerekwere" prominent in the dialogue.
This exchange went on until the manager interevened, asking what the problem was. Our colleague's wife said "They are more interested in talking about makwerekwere than serving us". The manager instructed the till operator to serve them, then, as they were leaving, was seen to call the till operator into his office, presumably to tell her off.
This is blatant xenophobia in action - and not 2 km from two UCT campuses, in the heart of the southern suburbs.
Personally I think this warrants a communication to Shoprite-Checkers head office: one, to commend the manager; two, to demand that their staff be instructed to smile and greet EVERYONE who comes to be served, regardless of what they look or sound like.
We are ALL makwerekwere - or we should be prepared to be.
