Humiliated, Arrested, and Ignored — Pick n Pay's Disgraceful Treatment of a Pregnant Mom

Yesterday, someone close to me, who is 23 weeks pregnant, went to Pick n Pay Constantia Village with her two small children (aged 1 and 4) to buy colouring in books for her son's school market day. Both were overwhelmed, crying, pulling at her for sweets and toys. In an effort to calm them, she took away the colouring-in books and tucked them under her handbag in the trolley so they wouldn’t damage them before she could pay for them. In the chaos, she forgot to pay for them. Everything else in the trolley was scanned and paid for. But because of that mistake, Pick 'n Pay Constantia Village treated her like a ********. They refused to listen. Refused to consider the very real reality that mothers, especially pregnant mothers, are juggling more than most people can imagine. They called the police. She was taken away in front of her kids. Put in a jail cell. Not offered food. Left humiliated and deeply shaken. Told she would be locked up until Tuesday. As a pregnant woman and mother of 3, she’s now home, but completely traumatised. She still has to go to court. She insisted on paying over and above what was due but was refused. The police and detective agreed it was all a big misunderstanding. But security (PnP's CCTV operator, not external) wouldn’t let it go and the store manager of PicknPay Constantia simply refused to get involved as she was put into the back of a police van and driven away. With Mother’s Day around the corner, we’re surrounded by ads telling us how much brands like Pick n Pay value moms. But what happens when the cameras are off? Shame on you Pick n Pay!