GBV is a joke at Dischem Fourways

Good Morning,

I have been a shopper at Fourways Mall and Dischem for over a decade now. The service I have received has been great however my sister Mpho Tshoke recently had a run in when she went to purchase medication for her swollen eye due to her cold/flu .

An employee by the name of Michael at your Fourways Branch called for her and referred to her as “GBV” .

Understandably she had been wearing a cap to hide her swollen eye . He insinuated by that slur that she had been beaten up obviously by a male as a joke .

I do not believe that Gender Based Violence in South Africa is something your employees can flout and joke about with total strangers in public at peak hour in your store without it being addressed by your management . It was I. Very poor taste and iam disgusted that none of the colleagues addressed or corrected this behavior .

She still purchased what she came to buy and left . I will not go into her personal history and how sensitive she is to this issue . It is a highly sensitive topic in the family and I was furious to learn about this. This is surely some form of assault or

Clearly this behavior is common ground in your Fourways branch . I am merely bringing it to your attention and hope it is dealt with swiftly and with the correct amount of action. This unprofessional behavior has left me speechless, your staff should put the customer first and always be polite. There clearly is a need for sensitivity training in your male staff regarding touch point on “GBV” , it is NOT a joke.

“The Bill of Rights as contained in the South African Constitution protects human dignity. Defamation violates a person's dignity, and more specifically his or her reputation or fama. It thus follows that a person who is defamed must have legal recourse to protect and vindicate their constitutional right.”

The statement was clearly made to demean her and cause embarrassment as a joke , it was very traumatic and mean spirited . Just disgusting . I expect that my sister will receive a call from this Michael as a minimum to apologize as well as some recoup for the embarrassment she endured .

You may reply to my mail for her details.

I hope you will take this complaint seriously and take some action against the rude and unprofessional behaviour of this Michael who works I assume by the pharmacy.

This incident happened two days ago . My sister is still distraught and highly angry, she wants to follow up with some action .

I think this can be resolve with sensitivity by your organisation.