BULL **** Treatment

1 April 2020 - Mall of the South

In light of the COVID-19 Pandemic, measures have been put in place for essential services such as Checkers. I am not sure whether this frustration gives reason for the staff at Mall of the South to ill-treat their customers.

I don't know which law governs Checkers Mall of the South and does not govern the rest of South Africa's Supermarkets. My mother and I stood over 30 minutes in the queue to enter the store and when we got to the door, we were told only 1 family member can enter. I explained that I will be making my own purchases and so will she. We we will told we both cant enter. I understand fully that they need to adhere to the Social Distancing rules but, in the event that each family member is making their own purchases, why could we not both enter. When the manager was called, Ziyanda explained that the rule is - 1 Person, 1 Trolley - which abides to the Social Distancing Rules. When I explained to the security after Ziyanda advised of the rule, they still did not allow my mother into the store. Simon and other colleagues ganged up on me and insisted that they will not allow my mother into the store even when she is making her own purchases.

I asked which law stated their rule and I could not get a response. A lady whose name I did not get kept screaming at us stating that if we are not happy with this rule, we should go to Pick 'n Pay. (If I wanted to go to Pick 'n Pay, I would've done that. I chose Checkers because I have a right to choose which Supermarket to shop at).

I asked Simon - what happens when only 1 person is paying for both purchases, his response was that, only 1 person must enter then pay and another family member must enter and pay again. (Does that even make sense?)

I eventually gathered all that I needed and met with my mother at the door. She took the trolley and made additions to the list (as that was the only option). While waiting, who gentlemen who needed to access the money market we both allowed to enter at the same time. Now, if we are playing our part in making sure we adhere to Social Distancing, how come people from outside accessing the money market so not have the same rules apply to them as those accessing the store? I asked that question to Thembani (a security personnel) who could not answer that. Instead, he wanted to chase me out the store and threatened to drag me out. When I asked if that was allowed as I was merely asking a question and not causing any harm to the rest of the customers in store, he still insisted that he will drag me out and cause damage to me. (Which meant he will beat me up)

Staff members of the mall are allowed to walk in, in twos and the rule does not apply to them. I witnessed this when I was waiting by the door. Again I asked, where and how are you adhering to Social Distancing here? If the issue is to maintain Social Distancing - staff members of other stores in the mall needn't walk in together as well.

The same lady who kept screaming that people must go to Pick 'n Pay, continued to exclaim that, with even more conviction. I then asked, where is customer etiquette in all that? How do you expect your customers to feel when you say such things. I saw then sworn by the lady in isiZulu which I chose to ignore.

Might I add, Simon said he also does not want to be working and he would rather be home too.

Again I ask, which law governs Checkers about COVID-19 policies and does not apply the same law to other Supermarkets? How do you tell your customers to go shop somewhere else when they have chosen to come to you?

I sent Multiple tweets to @CheckersSA and only received 1 response. I was told the matter will be investigated.

I am beyond aggrieved by this ill-treatment!!!