Restaurant worker burnt with boiling water for eating leftovers

Fortune Moyo is still perplexed by how an ordinary day turned into a nightmare when his boss flew into a rage and threw boiling water on him — all because he ate leftover sauce.

Moyo‚ 20‚ of Diepsloot‚ Johannesburg‚ reported for duty as usual at the Rodizio Brazilian Restaurant in Fourways on March 18.

His boss had bought bread for the staff.

But after such a good act of kindness‚ Moyo said‚ his boss revealed his mood was sour.

“He said that he is going to kill one person today‚” Moyo, who works as a cleaner, alleged.

Moyo‚ who has been working at the restaurant since he was 16‚ had kept some leftover spaghetti the day before so that he could eat it the next day. It was after midday.

“My colleague had cooked oxtail in one pot and then poured the stew into another pot that would be used to serve the customers. But the one which had been used to cook the oxtail had some sauce left in it. Then one of the guys who work at the back came to fetch the pot to where it was supposed to be cleaned‚” he said.

Because the staff had got bread from the boss‚ they had also boiled water so that they could make tea to serve with it.

Moyo went to the pot in which the oxtail was cooked‚ mixed the sauce with his leftover spaghetti and was ready to have a good meal.

While he was doing this‚ his boss was observing him on the restaurant’s cameras.

The boss then came to them and asked why they were eating his oxtail.

“I explained to him that it was not the oxtail but some sauce that was left in the pot. He then asked who gave this to me and I explained. He then went to call the chef‚ also asking him why he had given the staff his oxtail. The chef also told him that it was not the case.

“He then started swearing‚ shouting at everyone‚” Moyo alleged.

“He then started to be rude‚ questioning why I had not eaten the spaghetti yesterday. He became angry and simply grabbed the kettle with boiling water and threw it on me and I got seriously burned. Three of my colleagues were also burned but I got serious burns because I was close. He then started going crazy‚ smashing the cups that people were going to use to drink tea.”

Moyo suffered burns on his chest‚ arm‚ stomach and a small part of his face.

Police have confirmed a case has been opened.

Sergeant Mpho More said Douglasdale police were investigating a case of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

“The complainant told him that there is only water inside the pot. The suspect pushed the complainant and poured him with boiling water on his chest. He sustained injuries on his chest‚” said More.

The suspect‚ aged 55‚ appeared in court on March 26. The case resumes in May.

Investigations are continuing.

The restaurant was contacted for comment‚ but declined to do so.

* This is a developing story

- Additional reporting by Kgaugelo Masweneng