Knowing one’s most vulnerable moments have been recorded is naturally something that fills one with shock-horror. Well, this is precisely what happened at Pearly’s restaurant in Langebaan, where two customers using the restroom saw they were being recorded.
According to one, she had visited the restaurant with friends and, as one of the last customers, she and a friend went to use the restroom and saw a phone held up by someone in the next cubicle, clearly showing it was recording.
“We immediately informed one of the waiters, who informed her manager. He informed us that he would handle it as professionally as possible, but in the same breath said we should please not make this situation worse than it already was. He undoubtedly and very clearly dismissed our concerns and our right to privacy. The waiter went into the bathroom to check and confirmed there was definitely more than one person in the same cubicle.”
She said two young girls emerged from the cubicle. “When the two girls left the bathroom, there was no attempt by the manager to question the girls, despite our visible distress. I confronted the girls myself. When I confronted the manager later on, his defence was that he did not have the right or permission to confront the girls as they were minors. The girls were most definitely at least between 13 and 16 years old, making them more than capable of realising what they were doing.”
The customer added that she and her friend felt their privacy was violated. “Every day, children are being exploited and trafficked. These two girls most definitely did not realise they could be victims themselves if they pursued this kind of behaviour. I am shocked and appalled by the whole situation.”
violated and uncomfortable
The other customer involved and another friend agreed, the former saying she too felt violated and uncomfortable on realising what was happening. “I realised all of my friends who used the restroom before me may have been recorded as well. It makes me wonder what their intentions were. Knowing it was young girls, being a high-school teacher, really shocked me. Ultimately, I hope we all learnt something from this incident by always checking our surroundings before using the restroom, and that the girls somehow learn that doing such things is truly unacceptable, and that the managers of the restaurant have the strength and courage to stand up for what is right.”
According to David Warmerdam of Pearly’s, the restaurant was aware of the customers’ recent complaint. “We sincerely regret that it occurred and acknowledge the distress it caused our guest.”
highly-sensitive matter
Warmerdam continued: “The safety and privacy of our customers are our top priority, and we are dedicated to ensuring a positive experience for every person who dines with us. This was a unique and challenging situation, particularly given that it involved minors, and it became a highly sensitive matter very quickly. We recognise that while our handling of the incident was guided by the immediate need to de-escalate, it could have been managed differently.”
He said that on being alerted to the situation, Pearly’s staff immediately took action. “A female staff member was sent to the restroom to investigate, and once the individuals were identified as two young girls, our manager waited with the customer. We were able to identify the girls’ parents, who were also dining at the restaurant, and facilitated an immediate conversation between both families.
“We intended to empower those most affected to handle the situation, and we believe the conversation between the families successfully addressed the issue. We understand that the complainant feels her concerns were not fully heard, and for this we sincerely apologise.”
Warmerdam added that they are committed to learning from this incident and are already taking steps to ensure their staff is better prepared to manage any sensitive matter in the future. “We value the trust our community has in us and are dedicated to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.”
