Update: Debonairs Pizza store closed after viral video shows staff without masks

Video footage of Debonairs Pizza staff members in Tsakane Mall not wearing face masks while working has caused an outbreak of anger on social media.

In a post on Facebook, the woman who recorded the video on Wednesday can be heard expressing her concern over the matter.

However, the chain has said that it immediately responded to the incident and closed the shop that same evening.

“We can confirm that Debonairs Pizza Tsakane Mall was immediately closed on the evening the video was brought to our attention. The staff in question were issued with a verbal warning and the restaurant was not permitted to trade until re-training and confirmation of the face masks and necessary PPE was in place,” it said in a statement to The Citizen.

In the video, the recorder expresses her outrage, saying: “These people are not wearing masks… they are having discussions while preparing our food and there’s no social distancing at all.

“We are expected to wear masks and keep social distancing because we won’t be allowed to enter malls or shops without it,” she said.

The woman accused the staff of being ignorant after they allegedly laughed and called her “isilima” [idiot] when asked about the masks.

“How safe are we when we visit this restaurant even though we supporting the business? What is the point of us wearing masks when they don’t?” she asked.

The pizza chain said prior to the reopening of restaurants, it implemented a number of hygiene measures to ensure that “our standard operating procedures complied with the National Department of Health’s Covid-19 risk mitigation measures. These measures included the requirement that all team members are provided with cloth masks and that the wearing of these masks is mandatory at all times in our restaurants.”

In terms of regulatory amendments announced by Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, restaurants, fast-food outlets and coffee shops are required to keep a daily record of all employees, delivery agents and patrons, as well as conduct screening, sanitise and ensure the wearing of personal protective equipment.

Restaurants would also be required to keep a screening questionnaire of guests, including contact details, while refusing those deemed to be a safety risk access. Other amendments required restaurants to not allow self-service buffets or alcohol.

Also mandatory was the training of employees on health protocols and the wearing of face masks, except during eating or drinking.

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