Aseza Limelintaka: Cape Town cashier allegedly fired by boss for buying car – “How did you get it?”

A 28-year-old Cape Town cashier, Aseza Limelintaka, has sparked outrage and drawn national attention after claiming she was fired by her Indian-origin employer for simply buying a second-hand car.

According to Limelintaka, who worked at a Shell garage in Maitland, her troubles began when she proudly arrived at work with her newly acquired Honda, a vehicle she says she bought through personal savings and a bank loan.

But instead of being congratulated, she alleges her boss became suspicious, demanding to see her bank account records to “explain how she could afford the car” on a cashier’s salary.

The situation escalated when her employer reportedly emailed her bank records to himself without formal consent and offered her a painful choice: either accept a demotion to petrol attendant or resign entirely.

Limelintaka, refusing to accept what she describes as punishment for her financial independence, opted to speak out and has since received massive support online.

In a now viral Facebook post, she wrote:

“Hi guys, do you know that I work in a garage as a cashier? , so last month I bought a car and I’ve been saving for this car and my aim of working was to buy a car and do business with it , so yesterday I was called in office by the boss asked me do I have a car? I said yes! He said how did I manage to buy a car while I work there? Because no one ever bought a car there I told him that I’ve been saving since I worked there, not him asking for proof of my savings? Ok I went through my bank app showing him then he took my phone and shared my bank statement with PDF. He apparently he doesn’t see it well on the phone and I left him because I know there is nothing then he went through and he didn’t see anything, and he came back to me saying I started buying new furniture now. I’m buying a car, he’s not comfortable for me to be a cashier again, so I should work outside as a petrol attendant and I told him I don’t want to and I would like to ask if there is any lost money that I investigate? He said no! And then why am I being investigated? Why should I tell my personal life?.. So by buying a second hand car that I’ve been saving for it made me lose my job!!”

Her case has raised important questions about employee privacy, workplace rights, and discrimination based on financial progress, drawing commentary across South Africa and beyond.

The National Insourced Workers Union (NIWU) has now stepped in to assist Limelintaka, stating that being forced to resign without proper procedure is illegal.

The union has requested her original employment documents and insists she remains on duty while they pursue a fair resolution. The union’s involvement brings renewed focus to the labour rights of low-income workers, especially those who face subtle forms of economic bias in their workplace.

In response to the allegations, Berkley Motors, the franchisee operating the Shell filling station, denied that Limelintaka was fired.

The company claims she remains employed and insists that no accusations or illegal actions were made, adding that the issue may have been misrepresented. However, the public reaction tells a different story, as social media has exploded with anger, empathy, and calls for justice.

Many users commended Limelintaka’s determination and condemned what they see as a violation of personal boundaries. One post read, “How dare an employer demand to see your personal bank records just because you bought a car?” Another said, “She should sue them. This is economic discrimination at its worst.”

This incident not only highlights growing frustrations with workplace power dynamics but also emphasizes the need for clear boundaries between personal finance and employment.

The situation is still developing, and the outcome could potentially set a precedent for how similar disputes are handled in South Africa. As the public continues to rally behind Limelintaka, her story stands as a symbol of resilience and the fight for dignity in the workplace.