She Bought a Car. Then Her Boss Demanded Her Bank Statements. |
| 28‑year‑old Eza Limelintaka in her new car image via her Facebook |
For Aseza Limelintaka, a 28-year-old cashier at a Shell petrol station in Maitland, Cape Town, buying a car was supposed to be a joyful milestone. After months of disciplined saving and taking out a small bank loan, she finally drove off with a second-hand vehicle she could call her own.
But instead of congratulations, her new purchase raised eyebrows especially from her employer.
Not long after she parked her car at work, the station owner, Shiraaz Patel, questioned how someone on her wage could afford it. What followed was an unexpected demand: he asked to see her bank statements. Feeling caught off guard and worried for her job, Aseza complied. Her employer even emailed the statements to himself.
Despite finding nothing irregular, Patel allegedly told her that he could no longer trust her. Then came the blow Aseza says she was told to either resign or accept a demotion from her position behind the till to working outside as a petrol attendant.
She refused both.
Shiraaz Patel, owner of a Shell petrol station in Maitland, Cape Town, allegedly fired his employee, Aseza Limelintaka, after she bought a car. He claimed she couldn't afford it on the low salary he was paying her. pic.twitter.com/kyv6xsEiPH
— The Instigator (@Am_Blujay) July 1, 2025
Standing Her Ground
Rather than walk away from the job she had held with no disciplinary record, Aseza continued to report for duty. However, she was told there was "no work" for her unless she accepted the change in position. She believes this was retaliation not based on misconduct, but simply because she had defied expectations of what someone in her role could achieve.
Fortunately, she wasn’t alone. The National Insourced Workers Union took up her case, defending her right to remain in her job and challenging the legality of the employer’s actions. They emphasized that forcing someone to resign without formal disciplinary action is unlawful, and that employees are not required to justify personal purchases to their bosses.
The Employer Responds
The company operating the station, Berkley Motors, has denied that Aseza was fired. They claim no formal action was taken against her and that she remains employed. However, no clear explanation has been provided for why she was asked to leave her cashier duties or pressured to resign.
More Than a Workplace Dispute
For many, this story has come to represent more than just a dispute between a worker and her boss. It touches on deeper issues power imbalances, economic dignity, and the right to privacy. In a country where many workers struggle to get ahead, Aseza’s experience has sparked outrage and support in equal measure.
Her car, once a quiet symbol of progress, has become a lightning rod for a much bigger conversation.
“I followed the rules. I earned that car,” she reportedly said. “And I won’t be pushed out just because someone thinks I didn’t deserve it.”
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