****** is alive and well in 2017

On December 2nd, 2017, I went to Megasave to make purchases of the following items for my sister's traditional wedding, which was taking place the same day. Given that these were last minute purchases, one can imagine how relieved I was to have found them: 1. Large Can of Baked Beans 2. Large Jar of Mayonnaise 3. 3 Sachets of Cream Cheese. I went to the outlet together with my uncle, whom is in his late mid 50s. These items added up to roughly a little under R400, which I paid in cash.

When I arrived home, these items had already been purchased by my cousin, whom was sent on a similar errand. He happened to arrive first and the products were used by the time I arrived.

Because I had a receipt, I returned to the store within 30 minutes of having made the purchase. The cashier who had served me initially informed me that I could indeed return the products and asked if I needed something else instead. I told her that I did not require anything else, and she then proceeded to void the purchase and refund my uncle and I our money. She then asked the reason for me returning the products. I explained to her that these items had already been purchased when I reached home, and that I had been asked to return them.

After providing her with the reason, which she deemed reasonable, she asked her supervisor to come to the teller and void the items and issue me a refund. The man's name was Rodney. He told me that he cannot give me a cash refund, and instead 'told me that I need to take something else to the same value as the previous purchase.

I then informed him that I do not need anything else and that I had been sent by the people who were catering for the wedding, thus it was not my money nor upto me to make purchases they had not consented to. At this point I called one of the ladies who were catering the wedding. They spoke to him and informed him that they did not need anything else.

It was at this point that he started to develop and attitude towards me. He pointed to the returns and exchange policy of the store. I then took a picture of the disclaimer, which is mounted in a less than visible part of the store.

I read the disclaimer and it seemed very straight forward. In summary, it read that returns and exchanges were possible provided the items purchased were still in the original package. It did not expressly state that cash refunds were null and void. The only condition was that I could not return the items because I had changed my mind.

As stated above, It was not a change of mind that prompted me to return the items, but the simple fact that they had been purchased elsewhere by someone else, for the same use which I had bought them for as well.

In any event, I didn't appreciate the treatment that I read because the insinuation was that the manager could read and I couldn't. This was because well over half of the staff told me that this is what he does when it comes to black customers. He gives refunds to white customers but forces black people to take something else instead of refunding them their money.

The store assistant manager, Herste was also there. After being adamant that I was not going to get the money back. As a means of mitigating the situation, I then opted to take what I could for the amount.

However it needs to be stated for the record that the outlet is not what it appears to be. It is thus in one's own best interest to steer clear of that shop, moreso if one is of a darker skin tone. I felt insulted, degraded and humiliated, not to mention my uncle who had to witness the entire ordeal. This is the one place where the customer, depending on skin tone, is king.

I've since resolved never to set foot in that establishment again, and to voice my opinion about the disgusting manner in which blatant ******s are still allowed to draw benefit from the very same people they despise, yet afford them differing levels of service to their white counterparts.

I am not the first one to complain about the shop as a black person, however I can guess that I'm the only black person to complain about it on this forum. Understandably so. Generally speaking black people to not complain in public spaces. They tell whomever they are closest to by word of mouth, and stop supporting a concern.

With that being said, I will conclude by saying that its so counterproductive to rely on other races for services and products, because it gives these races the abhorrent belief that other races are at their mercy.

I motion that the store be boycotted and shut down or that new management be installed in order to safeguard the dignity of people who make purchases at this outlet. We need to start our own businesses and not rely on such to people or businesses. They think that they are doing us a favour.

I cannot recollect the cashier's name but she was very helpful.