Racial and class **************

I was accused of pawning a ****** item and turned away from the Cash Crusaders store in Victoria Rpad Woodstock because the manager felt like she could not trust that the item I was pawning belongs to me as I was accompanied by my brother who had the item with him in his pocket as it is raining in Cape Town so to keep it safe from damage I gave it to him. I took the phone from him before entering and starting the process and the lady came from the back to the front and she said she would not accept it. I asked her why and she responded that I must firstly take off my beanie so she can see my face when there was a white guy who was wearing a hoodie and was not told to take it off but I did not mind that and I took off the beanie. The problem started upon enquiring further on why the item would not be taken, she revealed that she saw me taking the item from the guy I am with so she has no guarantees that the item is not ******. I proceeded to provide her with my ID TO VERIFY AND SHE OPENED THE PHONE AND LOOKED in it and advised that she would still not assist as she feels the item has been ****** and they don't take ****** items. She said to her colleague "Ndiyabazi kalok lamasela enza lento when they come to sell their ****** goods" which is directly translated to I know these *****s do this trick when they come to sell ****** items. I thanked her and took the phone and as I was about to leave feeling offended I asked what the rules are in this instance are and what the company policy says she told me that they would not take it still as it is ******.

I left the store afterwards but I feel angry and aggrieved about the situation as I feel that I was racially profiled and my ability to pawn was determined based on my race and social standing and existing stereotypes around black men and ********ity. I feel like my human rights as a citizen and customer were violated and I was embarrassed and shamed infront of the employees and customers in the store. My race was used as a barometer and directly correlated to ********ity. I was not treated like a customer at all but rather as a ********. I would really like to see action taken and I plan to lay charges with the relevant bodies as my human rights were violated and my dignity was trembled on. The lady is a black chubby lady who manages the selling and pawning side and there was 2 gentlemen with her one is chubby and dark skinned and the other is skinny and light skinned with short dreadlocks which are cut in a fade cut.