MASTER BUTLER COLLECTION
Wayne Fitzharris, Owner, Visionary and Creative Director of Aspire Globally Limited.
11 Jan 2025
Court Case highlights a need to improve Industry Standards
Quite a few years ago, it was brought to our attention that students and employers began voicing their concerns about SABA, otherwise known as the South African Butler School, based in Cape Town South Africa. Court cases were held by the South African High Court in Cape Town, were SABA must repay student plaintiff Ms. Lin Yang’s school fees of $5,200 US and an additional 32,947.62 Rand, plus interest on both sums since 2019, as well as her legal costs. The remaining 21 SABA students are continuing with their Class Action against SABA at the South African National Consumer Commission.
According to Lin Yang, as a result of these students’ legal actions to remedy abuse and fraud, as well as SABA’s failure to accept any wrong-doing beyond the one plaintiff in this High Court case, and because it has yet to acknowledge and remedy its unethical business practices or that its materials have been taken from others without credit, SABA and other business names it adopts from time to time, such as Dubai Butler Academy, SABA – The International Butler Academy, SABA International Butler Academy & Training School, and SA Butler Academy, people will always rightfully question the value of attending residential Butler Courses unless values, promises and ethical teaching practices are guaranteed.
By understanding the grievances of SABA students and clients, it’s easy-to-understand what standards and ethics need to be in place to protect students, employers, and the butler community, as well as ensure the continued good reputation and existence of our profession.
All the Master Butler Collection Trainers have signed up to ethical practice and we have put in place a feedback system that allows us to track and identify where we can continually improve.
News on the other 21 complainants would be welcome.