Traveller leaves R4,444 tip

A South African traveller who was outraged when a Spur waiter in East London was left a measly R4 tip for “hungry Africans” by racially abusive teenagers stopped in at the same restaurant to leave his own R4‚444 tip for “hungry Africans”.

“The incident left me unsettled and enraged and I knew that I wanted to do something about it,” he said.

“I spoke about the incident with a few friends and shared my frustration.”

Waiter Xolani Mbalo‚ 24‚ an information technology development graduate from Walter Sisulu University‚ told the Daily Dispatch in March that he had been harassed by the teens to the point where he quit serving their table.

“They taunted me from the beginning until I quit serving them,” he said.

“When I brought their food‚ they started making silly remarks‚ asking me to eat the chips‚ and when I asked them if I looked hungry‚ they burst out laughing.”

Three teenage patrons are not off the hook just yet.

A case of crimen injuria was registered with the police following the incident.

“Statements were taken from all the parties involved.

“The docket has been handed to the director of public prosecutions to make a decision on whether they will be charged‚” police spokesperson Captain Mluleki Mbi said.

The good Samaritan‚ who had been on holiday and asked not to be named‚ visited the same restaurant earlier in April to hand over his tip before departing to Cape Town – but Mbalo was not on duty.

“Unfortunately he was not on shift when I arrived and so I left a note and a tip that had been collected from 11 friends, including three people across the globe that I have never met,” he said.

The note‚ left with the restaurant manager‚ read: “Xolani‚ I’m sorry that I was not able to meet you.

“Please accept this small tip of R4‚444 for ‘hungry Africans’.

“Because what this country needs more of is hungry Africans. Hungry for knowledge. Hungry for justice.

“Hungry for hope. Hungry to know that they are seen‚ known and valued‚” he wrote.

Mbalo said he preferred not to talk about the incident.

“This thing happened a while back.

“It wasn’t nice and I just don’t want to revisit the bad memory‚” he said.

Spur condemned the teens’ behaviour.