Slave labor and sexism at Shoprite Namibia – Everything Law and Order Blog

Content warning: This story contains references to suicide.

Shoprite Holdings, the largest supermarket retail chain in Africa, is under fire from workers organizing against grueling work conditions. The current surge in organizing follows the suicide of Shoprite worker Fabiola Zondjembo, a Walvis Bay woman who ended her life by drowning after enduring constant abuse at her job. For workers and organizers confronting brutal conditions at the retail giant, the current struggle is also part of Namibia’s long history of colonialism and neocolonialism. Shoprite, a South African multinational, has more than 3,000 stores across the African continent. Originally founded during Apartheid, its founder, billionaire Christoffel Wiese, is now one of the world’s richest men. The Real News reports from Walvis Bay and Windhoek, Namibia.

This story, with the support of the Bertha Foundation, is part of The Real News Network’s ‘Workers of the World’ series, telling the stories of workers around the globe building collective power and redefining the future of work on their own terms: https://therealnews.com/workers-of-the-world

To read to episode transcript: https://therealnews.com/namibian-workers-protest-slave-labor-at-corporation-founded-during-apartheid

Producer: Namupa Shivute
Videographer: Hildegard Titus
Video editor: Leo Erhardt

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39 thoughts on “Slave labor and sexism at Shoprite Namibia”
  1. He must take his stuff let them stay hungry , this is the thanks people in businesses get , no appreciations , nothing , give your pinky and people grab.your hand they should thank God they get money and food ,

  2. I was a community activist who helped organize a Shoprite workers strike in South Africa in 1992. 3 weeks of strikes & demonstrations didn't move management an inch. The situation only changed when we managed to make Shoprite radioactive in the community by organizing a full blown consumer boycott & created enough disturbances to make it an unsafe place for customers. The bosses subsequently relented & met all their demands by making all the workers in that outlet permanent, paid them decent wages & improved their working conditions. A few years later, Shoprite was back to their old tricks. Bosses don't relent before losses reflect on their income statement.

  3. The fat cats of Shoprite must be brought to task. They all a re covered by corrupt politicians. Labour Lawyers must look seriously into this matter. The biggest problem within labour setup in Namibia is the labour offers is far less than the labour demands. The so called government is supposed to look into this matter urgently

  4. This Important Doc is Trivialized with this " music" laid on it !
    Please Reconsider layering this thing on your reportage ! These facts are Not Soap Operas ! Shame you Feel it is needed !

  5. Even in RSA the situation faced by Shoprite employees it's so bad. I instructed my family member to leave that slave ship. A person coming from work crying everyday. It's so sad

  6. We are not 'independent' in Africa yet. Our so-called 'gov'ts' are nothing but token puppet regimes to fool the black man that he has 'independence'! We must revolt against the token puppet and the puppet master! Enough is enough. We have lost too many Fabiola's!

  7. Why do Namibians have no jobs. France is drilli g lits if gas and hydrofen there. Why cant the government secure jobs for its people from all these contracts.

  8. The brave lady got it right when she said the Colonizers have never left and they are now using the black leadership to continue the apartheid system, this is the problem of all of Sub Saharan Africa, a Crisis of Leadership that has kept Africa on it knees to the White small population in Namibia “The Colonizers have never left “ but the young people of that country will turn this place into rubble one day, this will not last

  9. Don't Make Videos Sooo Long. I Really Enjoy Your Reporting. You Are Detailed And Seek Out Information. Get Others To Joy Your Channel That You Can Trust TO Report. Of Course You Would Have To Be On Top Of It.

  10. Namibia is a volcano waiting to erupt with government officials and law enforcement being on top as a cap preventing her from erupting, for now. So far they are only succeeding thanks to the small population. My suggestion is that Namibians learn to go to Neighbouring countries where small business and even small farms are a common feature. If the government really loves her people, she should work with regional/African governments for more integration to free movement of goods and people. This is something that would benefit Namibians. This will challenge the South African businesses' (like Shoprite) dominion over the country; they Obviously won't like it. They will keep pressing the government not to let much of non South African goods in; difficult days lie ahead.

  11. The government doesn’t do anything for the welfare of their people? The companies help the people but, there wouldn’t be no company without the people.

  12. You don´t like a job offer? well just look for other one but don´t live complaining…year after year they complain but those jobs put food on their tables.

  13. this is sad to hear as a Namibian, Value our people's mental health. they are not slaves put people who just happen to have employment need.

  14. I simply cannot stress enough that the Mazungos are significantly outnumbered, no freedoms ever gained without bloodshed. You have to be willing to do what you need to do to get the results you want.

  15. Casual work status was first designed by white south African business owners to avoid paying minimum wage to Black employees. Now most foreign businesses in Africa are using it to avoid treating workers right. Shameful to see the African leaders just accept bribes and look away, when their citizens are being enslaved.

  16. I don't care if you don't smile or greet people but don't harass customers just because you had a bad day. Just scan the items quietly and do your job. Some people are rude for nothing, especially blacks.😂😂

  17. Maybe Fabiola's family need some thug guys to wait for this manager to leave work one evening and have a word with her 🤔

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