Discriminatory treatment by Converse SA outlet in Canalwalk, Century City, Cape Town

On 1 July 2022 my wife purchased me a pair of Converse shoes at the Canal Walk mall, Century City, Cape Town.

Her experience was awfull. My wife suffers from Marfans Syndrome, which attacks both the muscles as well as the skeleton of humans, and can under extreme conditions lead to various organ malfunctions, like heart disease and so forth. It IS a disability, and can also lead to physical deformities.

When my wife went to the Converse outlet, the staff member was unfriendly towards her. When she went to pay, another staff member by name of Marlio approached the cashier and made a comment to the effect of "Man has a crotch on him" while looking at my wife's stomach (which is a result of a c-section, that lead to collapsed stomach muscles).

What makes this worse, is that our two daughters heard it. When I found out about it, I returned the shoes, as I will not support any shop where such actions by their employees are allowed. When I confronted Marlio, he denied it, but his body language indicated that he was well aware of his actions ( Not making eye contact, fidgeting, etc)

The shop owner was also present and denied that Marlio would say something like that, yet she wasn't present when the incident happened.

I contacted various members on linked-in, no response. I went onto the Converse website and laid a complaint, no response.

On their website it is stated that Converse supports the LGBTQ community. My wife is an anatomically born woman, identifies as a woman, and looks like a woman inspite of her facial deformities. If the people of the store treat anatomically born men and women like that, I can only imagine what comments they make to members of the LGBTQ community. In my messages I did state that I do not want Marlio to be fired, as I do not know if he has a family to support, but I do want him to be sent for sensitivity training.

As NO ONE from Converse even acknowledge my messages, I am now posting this here, and wherever I can find any platforms or groups dealing with any form of ************** to raise awareness.