Disgusting mistreatment in a time of grief

I cannot stay silent about the disgusting mistreatment experienced at Pick N Pay Steenberg Village yesterday around 11:30.

My mother passed away 2 weeks ago and soon after entering the store I started having a panic attack. For anyone yet to experience this, it's terrifying as you gasp for air, your heart races and your vision blurs. Shaking, crying and struggling to breathe, I took down my mask to catch my breath.

I was immediately surrounded by a team of security guards and treated like a ********. Repeatedly explaining that my mom had just died, that I'm here to feed my grieving family and that I'm struggling to breathe.

I was met with a unanimous spitting threat, led by the duty manager I greet on a weekly basis, that should I not comply immediately and put on my mask, that beyond denial of service, security will remove me from the premises and the police will be called to arrest me.

I understand that these are unprecedented times, with great fear and insecurity on every level of society. I understand there are rules we must follow.

I would have understood if I was asked to leave to catch my breath in a compassionate way as opposed to being ********ised and threatened with no intention of hearing my side.

I wonder what the costs are of blindly following orders without compassion, humanity or the awareness and willingness to understand another person.

What would it look like to see past a mandate for a moment, and respond rather than react to a person in crisis after suffering great loss.

Beyond being loyal customers for 20+ years at this "so-called Family Store", and having good relationships with Pick n Pay Steenberg staff and management, I am disgusted and deeply saddened - first and foremost - as a human being.