Appauling conduct from staff members

<p>Yesterday I attended at the branch in Kaalfontein (store number 6366 as provided to me by Ntsiki, store supervisor) to look for an item. I went into the store for less than a minute as the area where the item I was looking for was located not too far from the entrance. Upon arrival at the section I was unable to locate the item, thereafter decided to leave. All this time I was carrying my 9month old baby on my back. As I was about to leave, the security guard, who referred to himself as Bruce (not sure if it’s his real name because he was hesitant to provide me with this name and further refused to provide me the security company he works for nor their details). He requested to search my back, I was carrying my bag on my shoulder so I opened the zip while it was on my shoulder for him to look at the items in the bag. He then attempted to pull down one of the bag straps, where I protested and said as a male he is not authorised to search my bag, only a female is authorised to do that. He then advised that I attend at a lady who is a cashier, I think he said Phindile if memory serves me well. I thereafter attended at the till informed the lady of the request by the security guard and he further instructed that the lady search my baby as well. The cashier called her colleague, Priscilla who attended to the instruction. She advised me to attend with her in the fitting room. I duly obeyed the instruction and attended at the fitting room. Upon arriving at the fitting room the first question I asked her was where is the policy that authorises them, including the security guard to search us. She advised that there is no policy, however she is doing her job by searching me. I advised her should she locate anything incriminating against me, she has every right to take it up with the relevant authority, and however should she not find anything I will not leave things I will take it further. She searched my bag, thereafter instructed me to remove my baby on my back and further instructed that I take off my clothes. I duly obeyed as there would have been a negative inference drawn had I not obeyed the instruction as my concern was further exasperated for my baby in all this mayhem. Throughout the exercise they nothing was found in my possession. I thereafter requested her surname so as to isolate the individuals concerned, however she refused to provide same. Thereafter I attempted to take a picture of her, however she refused and ran to the back of the store. I went to the entrance to also attempt to take a picture of the security guard as he was hesitant to provide me with his name, he also refused to for me take the picture. The store supervisor, who provided me with her name as Ntsiki who requested clarity as to what the issue was. I explained what transpired to her and she apologised for the incident. I asked to assess the discrepancy in the application of the alleged search policy or procedure in that I was searched, however people were leaving with their bags unsearched, therefore the alleged policy or procure is not consistently app****. </p> <p>The whole process was humiliating and infuriating that I had to undress in front of an employee in the name of doing her job and further be humiliated when walking from the door to the fitting room as I was being escorted so everyone is aware as to why I’m being escorted. It’s sad that the stereotypes that woman carries babies on their backs are shoplifters, my baby and I were profiled as shoplifters.</p> <p>Kindly advise how the matter will be addressed as a matter of urgency.</p> <p> </p>