Mall management probes abuse allegations in store
Personnel at Pick n Pay Savannah Mall have been the subject of several harassment complaints on social media over the past few weeks, as well as verbal and even physical assault
POLOKWANE – Following the latest complaint, Savannah Mall marketing manager, Karen Botha, approached Pick n Pay’s head office to ascertain what action, if any, is being taken.
Two specific alleged incidents were of enormous concern to the mall’s management.
First reported incident
On the Facebook page, Name and Shame, a woman posted that she was reportedly harassed by a Pick n Pay employee while in the store.
The woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, posted on the page that she was shopping with her baby daughter when a man working for the store took her baby from her and said that he would like to take her home and make inter-racial babies with her.
She further said she reported the matter to store management and alleged she was told the CCTV system in the store did not work. She further said she was offered a R500 shopping voucher to remain quiet about the incident.
Botha said after this post appeared on Facebook, she tried to contact the complainant to find out if the incident was ever reported to mall management or the store manager, however, no reply was ever received.
Second reported incident
The latest complaint involves the alleged physical assault of a female customer by an employee of the store. The incident allegedly occurred when a woman who was shopping at Pick n Pay was treated rudely by an employee. The woman reportedly asked the male employee why he was being rude, at which he physically assaulted her. The woman said she has since opened a criminal case at the Polokwane police station.
Polokwane police spokesperson, WO Lesiba Ramoshaba, confirmed that a case of assault has been opened in this regard.
Botha said following this alleged incident, she wrote a letter to Pick n Pay’s head office.
I informed them in writing that the mall management will not tolerate actions such as those alleged to have occurred in their store. I also demanded to know what action is being taken to resolve these complaints.
She said in response, she was told the first incident mentioned was being investigated internally and externally by Pick n Pay’s head office.
Regarding the second incident, Botha was told the incident did not involve an employee of Pick n Pay, but another shopper. Botha said this was confirmed by the CCTV footage of the incident.
“Savannah Mall does not condone any form of abuse or racism and sees these incidents in a serious light,” Botha concluded.
