Treated like a ********

I am writing this e-mail with a heavy heart.

On the 31st August 2022 I went to Woolworth in Clearwater Mall to buy groceries as it was month end. I got to the till to pay and asked the cashier if I should take out the milk (6 pack 1ltr) from the trolley or she will just scan it from there and she said its fine I don’t have to take it out the milk. While still at the counter paying I remembered that I did not take the coffee and malva pudding so I ran quickly to the shelves.

On my way out the security checked my slip, a normal procedure, and it was discovered that I did not pay for the milk. I explained to the security that I forgot to pay for the milk probably because I did not take it out of the trolley and the cashier must have also forgotten about the milk. She then called the other security, the security came, took my slip and said I must follow him with my trolley, not even giving me a chance to explain. I kept on asking where we are going and he said I must just follow him.

The next thing we are in the back offices, only then I realized that I am accused of *****ing the milk.

The one guy came to ask what is going on and explained that it was a genuine mistake that I did not pay for the milk and maybe got distracted when I went back to fetch the coffee. The guy said he will be back and he disappeared, I had to stand in the passage with my trolley embarrassed for almost 30min. Still no one explaining what is going on. The one Lady even asked security what did I ***** while I was sitting right there. After a while I was let into the office still no one paid attention to me, another 30min to an hour waiting, security at the door guarding me like a ********. Only for the guy to come back and say they were investigating, it was a genuine purchase, I am a regular customer and I am not guilty and was given the milk for free.

I understand that there was a process that needed to be followed (investigation) but how it was conducted was not happy about. 1. Security Guard treated me like a ********, even before the investigation, not explaining to be the procedure and where he was taking. 2. I had to wait for almost 2hrs with not knowing what is going on, no one explaining anything to me. 3. I was embarrassed, had to wait in the passage with everyone giving me the look as if I am a ********.

As a regular Woolworth customer who shops regularly also online, I am really DISSAPOINTED and SADDENED as to how this situation was handled.

Regards Tumi