Waitress loses job over request to remove fez

A waitress at Franky’s Diner in Sea Point says she was fired for telling a Muslim man to remove his fez before going into the non-halaal establishment.

Cape Town - A waitress says she was fired for telling a Muslim man to remove his fez before going into a non-halaal establishment.

Polly Parolus, 46, said all she was trying to do was teach the young man and his friends respect for the Islamic holy month of Ramadaan, and now she’s jobless.

Parolus, who’s been a waitress for 18 years, started her new job at Franky’s Diner in Sea Point last week.

Before that, she worked for Franky’s co-owner Saul Beder at his other restaurant.

She said she was outside on a break on Friday night when four would-be customers pulled up.

One of the two guys wore a fez and a salaah top, and two girls had scarves on.

“I spoke to the guy and told them we are not halaal,” Parolus explained.

“They said they knew, and I asked him if it would not be more appropriate to remove his fez out of respect, you know, for the Fast. They then just left.”

But it appears the youngsters took offence at Parolus’s advice, and took to social media to complain.

@nabeel_26 tweeted: “Being denied entry into @Franky’sDinerSP for wearing a salaah top and fez and still being asked to remove it by the waitress.”

He tagged SABCjournalist Ivor Price, the South African Human Rights Commission and Cape Talk radio.

@FakhrieArendse slammed Franky’s for its alleged discrimination, tweeting: “Really? @Franky’sDinerSP pathetic! You need to reevaluate where you want ur brand to be. cos on Twitter, we expose.” (sic)

Parolus said she was fired by Beder on Saturday for bringing the company’s name into disrepute.

Franky’s has apologised on their official Facebook page, and said the matter had been “dealt” with.

@nabeel_26 accepted the apology on Twitter, but Parolus said she is now without a job.

“I was really not judging them or telling them not to enter,” said Parolus.

“If I saw them now I would apologise for the misconception, but why must I lose my job?”

Beder and Franky’s other co-owner Franklin Arendse said they have had a “traumatic” two days after the incident.

And the bosses insist Parolus was not formally employed by them.

“The waitress in question was in training and had worked for me before,” explained Beder.

“After Friday’s incident we decided to not continue her training. She was not employed.”

Daily Voice