RELEBOGILE MABOTJA IN MIDDLE OF SHOCKING SORBET SALON ALTERCATION!
Broadcasting personality and media figure Relebogile Mabotja has spoken out following a disturbing incident at a Sorbet salon in Johannesburg, where salon staff were subjected to verbal abuse by an irate customer.
The incident, captured on video and widely shared on social media, has sparked public outrage and renewed conversations around the mistreatment of service workers.
According to Mabotja, she was inside the salon getting her nails done and was the only client present at the time.
While on a phone call, she became aware of a heated confrontation unfolding near the front of the store.
“I started hearing commotion, and then I heard someone swearing – using the F-word and being extremely aggressive,” she explained in a video shared on her social media platforms.
“I realised I was the only customer in the store, and the ladies were trying to speak to this person, but he was irate, angry, screaming, threatening and intimidating.”
Mabotja said the man was demanding a refund, claiming that his wife’s nails had been “terribly done” earlier that morning.
The salon staff were attempting to establish who his wife was and resolve the matter, but he allegedly refused to engage calmly and continued shouting at them.
Disturbed by what she witnessed, Mabotja intervened.
“I stood up and said, ‘Excuse me, I’m a customer here. Please don’t speak to these ladies like this,’” she said. “He responded by saying he can say whatever he wants – ‘freedom of speech’ – and that’s when he turned his anger on me.”
The confrontation escalated further, with the man directing profanity and insults at Mabotja and others in the salon. As he attempted to leave while continuing to swear, Mabotja followed him, refusing to allow what she described as abusive behaviour to go unchallenged.
“At that point I started recording,” she said.
“You can’t just scream at people like that — people who are trained in customer service and are expected to stay calm no matter how badly they are treated.”
During the altercation, the man allegedly grabbed Mabotja’s cellphone. Security personnel intervened and managed to retrieve it, preventing the situation from escalating further. He continued shouting, threatening and hurling insults as he left the premises.
Mabotja said she was shaken but safe.
“I’m okay, just a little shaken up,” she told followers.
“I’m taking a deep breather. Thank you to everyone who has been checking up on me.”
She expressed particular concern for the salon staff, adding that she has offered to assist them in opening a police case.
“I’m more worried about the staff at the salon,” she said.
“I’ve offered to be part of opening a case against him, and I’m waiting for them to get in touch with me. There is security footage as well.”
Mabotja also noted that security guards at the complex indicated the man was known for similar behaviour and appeared intoxicated at the time, though she was careful not to speculate beyond her observations.
“What I do know,” she said firmly, “is that this behaviour is absolutely unacceptable. There is no human being who is beneath you – whether it’s a service worker, a security guard or anyone else. It is not acceptable. Absolutely not.”
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation online, with many praising Mabotja for standing up for the workers and calling for accountability. At the time of publication, no official statement had been released by Sorbet or law enforcement authorities.
As the footage continues to circulate, the incident has become a stark reminder of the abuse often faced by frontline workers – and the responsibility of bystanders to speak out against it.
