Makro Security Guards Accusing Falsely Accusing Customers of Shoplifting

On the 4th of March 2021 around 16:30. My mother and I visited MAKRO Vanderbijlpark looking forward to a shopping spree for my new house. My focus was on Gardening Equipment, a washing machine and a microwave. My experience in the Gardening Department was excellent. The gentleman who was assisting me was very thorough and he showed me the best products to buy, from a petrol lawnmower, to wall mount hose to gloves to pest control products, the list endless. I left that section with a fully loaded flatbed trolley and he fetched me an empty trolley. His service was immaculate that I gave him a R50 tip which he denied and said he was happy to assist but it is against company policy. So you see this was supposed to be a complement however due to the following events, I doubt if I will ever shop at MAKRO again. I am actually disappointed, disgusted and depressed due to what transpired that day. We went to the washing machine and microwave section. I was planning to buy a Samsung washing machine but I fell in love with the Hi-Sense Machine that was on promotion, unfortunately I was told it is out of stock. The gentleman who was assisting us confirmed that we can't even pay for the machine and have it delivered once there was stock. How disappointing.

I went to look for a microwave. I was told that they need to fetch a sealed one from the storeroom. 20 Minutes later we were informed that there is no stock. Upon check out we were in a que when a lady who was wearing a blue tunic dress, asked us to come to the 10 items or less till, she thought I was alone. When she realised I had 2 trolleys, the que she called us from had other customers now. She apologised to the cashier and requested him to assist us. Our items were scanned carefully from the trolley. My mother and I were even assisting taking out the scanned items from the trolley so that the cashier does not miss any item. When I paid, it was my first time using the new touch pad speed point that moves the numbers around every time you punch a digit of your pin. The Cashier explained to me how the machine works and told me to take my time. On the machine. I was not focussing on the total but my budget was R12 000. The payment went through and my mother was given a very long receipt.

I was behind her at the exit Security Desk. The items in her trolley were checked against the slip and she left me behind for the female Security Officer to check my flatbed trolley. She then called her male colleague Mr Mokoena to help her check. I was just standing there waiting for them to do their job. After a while I asked what seems to be the problem, I believe that they need to inform me what they are doing since it is taking long. I was told to shut up by Mr Mokena, the Security Guard and allow him to do his job. He asked me for another slip. I told him I don’t have another slip and further asked him what was going on.

It turns out the cashier forgot to scan one of the items and upon checking out, the FIDELITY Security Guard, Mr Mokoena instead of explaining to me what is going on as he was ticking the items on the slip he treated me like a ***** and even chased after my mother who had already left with the first trolley to the parking lot and dragged her back into the store where he continued to speak to us in a very disrespectful manner. He spoke to me like a child assuming that my mother is the one who made the purchase and not me.

When he realised that it was the cashier's fault after causing an unnecessary scene (it is a local shop and there were people that know us in the shop, some even greeted my mother and asked what was going on). My mother is an ex School Principal and I am Professional in the Mining Industry. We are law abiding Citizens with no ******** record. Instead of getting a genuine and loud public apology that is equal to the scene that was created all we received was attitude and back chatting from Mr Mokoena who failed to admit that he is sorry , instead he said he is going to open a case of theft against me. The cashier apologised and said he forgot to scan the lawnmower box and so did his FIDELITY Supervisor and the MAKRO Store Manager.

The Security Guard was forced to apologise and he did, and his apology was not genuine because still left my items flipped upside down, taken out of the plastic bags. And he even went to speak to his other colleagues about me, pointing fingers at me saying that he has witnesses, showing no sense of remorse what so ever while I am left with no dignity and a dented reputation. I swiped for the item they missed I am not a ***** (bringing my total to R10 582,6). The treatment I received I would not have received it in that manner if I was white! But I am not going to play the race card. This is about my reputation and my mother's reputation.

The correct procedure that was supposed to be followed is this: The Security Guard was supposed to inform us in a professional manner that there seems to be 1 item that is not on the slip and then go and sort it out with the Floor Manager and the Cashier to find out what happened instead of accusing us of *****ing"

I demand for the Security Guard to be disciplined or you will be hearing from my lawyer for defamation of character and false accusation.

Some customers left me at scene knowing that I stole items with my mother. People will always remember me and my mother as shoplifters.

I have never been so humiliated and so disgraced in my life!