News Cafe investigating after woman was ‘held hostage’ over ‘unpaid bill’

Twitter user Zintle took to social media to share her ordeal after allegedly being held hostage at News Cafe in Table View in Cape Town.  Zintle said she went to News Cafe, ordered her food and paid the bill of R310, only for the managers to say they did not receive her payment after the speed point failed to print a slip. She alleged they held her hostage and asked the bouncers to stop her from leaving the restaurant.

She said she took out her phone to call the police but alleged that the manager “grabbed” her phone and switched it off. He also took her bank card, she alleged.

“While the bouncer was destructed, I made my way out and went to Table View Police Station to ask for help. The police went to News Cafe with me and asked for Steven to give back my belongings after resisting to give my phone back, Steven called me a ‘bloody fool’ and said I should open the case in the presence of the police,” said.

Zintle shared screen shots of bank notifications proving the payment went through and a WhatsApp conversation between her and the manager, who seems to have been apologising for the incident.

She said she opened a case against News Cafe, who said it was aware of the incident and was doing its own investigation.

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