Linda Esterhuysen just wants her 22-year-old mentally disabled son to be treated with dignity and with understanding.
Linda informed the GCN that her son, Shane Esterhuysen, and husband, Deon Esterhuysen, were mistreated by the security at Makro Germiston, on Tuesday (August 13) afternoon.
“They were stopped by security guards at the store’s exit point after paying for what they had purchased, and were asked to follow the security guards to the head office,” explained Linda.
“My husband was informed that our son had stolen something from the store.”
Linda said the securities found a packet of cork screws worth R120 on her son.
“My husband apologised and tried to explain to them that our son was mentally handicapped and that he is unable to understand what he just did by taking the packet of cork screws without paying for them.
“They did not want to listen to him and proceeded to search my son and kept pulling at him.
“My husband and son were treated so badly, and the staff were just so rude to them, they even went as far as deactivating our customer buying card.
“They then called the police,” she added.
“The police arrived and decided to take no action because they could see that our son wasn’t well.
“I mean, who goes into the store to steal cork screws?” she asked.
“My son is incapable of understanding what is stealing and what is not stealing in his condition.
“To him, when he sees something, it is just a thing that is lying there.
“It is not the first time this has happened, but other people understand.
“We have problems with this child as is, why must a special person be treated like this?” she asked.
The GCN requested an official comment from Makro Germiston and Annaleigh Vallie, communications manager, had this to say: “We are deeply embarrassed by the description of events that took place at the Makro Germiston store and we apologise unreservedly to the Esterhuysen family.
“We have immediately reactivated the customer’s buying card.
“Massmart internal audit has been tasked with investigating the matter with a mandate to recommend steps for preventing a re-occurrence of this type of incident.
“Makro human resources has been directed to conduct diversity training in the store, placing specific emphasis on empathetic customer interaction skills.
“Makro operations director has been directed to meet with and apologise to the Esterhuysen family.”
Linda confirmed with the GCN that the operations director met with the family in Kempton Park, on Thursday (August 15), to personally apologise for the grievance.
“They have apologised and no harm was done,” said Linda.
“We just wanted them to know that you can’t treat people like that.
“They must be considerate.”
Linda has informed the GCN that Makro offered her son a Play Station, courtesy of Makro Alberton, on Saturday (August 17).
