MickeyD
RIP
Source: http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/man-chained-like-a-dog-over-a-r5-mug-1.1673788
http://hellopeter.com/shoprite/comp...85389425602":"og.comments"}&action_ref_map=[]
From the Facebook page:
http://hellopeter.com/shoprite/comp...85389425602":"og.comments"}&action_ref_map=[]
A man is in jail tonight because of a "honest misunderstanding" over a lid for a cup he bought and has a slip for.
I am reporting this on behalf of a friend, who was called to Shoprite by his foreman - a man who has worked for him for over 10 years. Langton Nyathi was manacled by Shoprite security in Adderley Street - they chained him to railings behind a security grille at the staff entrance for nearly 3 hours without access to water or toilets. At no stage did he resist. The store manager "Sharon" declined to give her surname or do anything except wait for SAPS. Matter has been reported to Dean Alwage (Shoprite Head Office ) and Shirley (And the store manager). They say they can do nothing. Langton is in jail tonight, with the charge upped to *****. His "crime"? He took a lid for a cup he had bought off the Reduced table. A cup for which he has a slip. Disgusting and shameful. No store security has right to chain a customer. This is kidnapping and wrongful arrest.
Hello anne_taylor,
We can appreciate your concern on behalf of your friend, but we are unfortunately not in a position to discuss this matter with third parties.
Kind regards
Dean Olwage
Customer relations
From the Facebook page:
He has been described as my employee In newspaper articles - this is not true- it would be better to describe him as a much loved member of my family, My daughters think the world of him. He has great dignity, and huge integrity. He is greatly respected in his community. He is also the sort of customer that have Made Christo Wiese, and Whitey Basson into billionaires.
The treatment meted out to him by their company is vile and disgusting. Violation of human rights is not an adequate description. Simply put – this is torture. What’s next? Waterboarding?
Events, corroborated by others that witnessed these incidents, are even more horrifying than previously thought.
Langton buys most days, at Shoprite Golden Acre for his daily needs. On Tuesday morning he entered the store and placed a loaf of white bread, and a small packet teabags into a basket – he noticed a mug marked at R5.00, and looked for the lid, that fits this model of mug. He found one, on another mug, and placed this lid , separately into the basket, and presented all of this for payment, handing a R50:00 note for payment – The till operator took the lid, and screwed it onto the mug , and noted “that this mug comes with a lid” – her supervisor was called, and she inspected the mark down, and approved the sale, as per Shoprite’s standard procedure.
Surely, by all that is reasonable, this concludes a valid sale, and all the goods are now Langton’s Property. Langton took two steps past the till, and was set upon by Shoprite’s Security. Despite pleas to talk to the manager, he was taken away and chained to a railing, in a standing position, behind a grill gate , at the staff/suppliers entrance – in view of all that passed/ entered there. The lid had been removed from him, under threat, by Shoprite’s Security people – and has never been returned. Is this not theft?
He remained chained like an animal to the railing, in great emotional and physical discomfort, with his anguish, pain and humiliation clearly visible, for nearly 3 hours, No rest, water, or access to toilets, despite my plea’s to Sharon the manager, that what she was doing was illegal, and disgusting, that there was a receipt for his goods, there were other witnesses, and a reasonable explanation, and even if they still wished to prosecute, he had been well behaved, compliant and cooperative.
She told me that -
1. She had seen video footage (No one else has seen this , not the police nor anyone else)
2. That her security people were excellent and knew what they were doing.
3. And that criminals should expect to be chained.
4. And that this was not my business and that if I did not desist she would have me locked up.
She refused absolutely to intervene in what her security detail were doing, or to hear what Langton may have to say, or to lessen his discomfort in any way possible. If the SPCA were to see an animal in such distress I am sure they would charge someone with a crime.
The Police arrived around 10:00 AM. They told me that they had been called shortly before.
Langton’s day then got worse. He was provided with a document, that originated from Shoprite, which required him to acknowledge, that “the Stolen Goods had been returned to Shoprite!!! – I had pushed my way back to the grill gate, and I shouted to him that he should not sign this, or anything else, and that he should say nothing, until we had a Lawyer for him. I was immediately threatened with arrest for interfering with police business!!!!
Thank goodness that he heard me, and understood. The Police, at least had the kindness to immediately unshackle him, and led him that way to the Caledon Police Station.
I was allowed to be with him while they-
1. Finger printed him
2. Told me that Shoprite accused him of Shoplifting an Item worth R19:00 ???????
3. Removed his shoelaces and belt
4. Strip Searched him
His money, and cell phone and the contents of his pocket, and the mug which he purchased were given to me for safekeeping. Part of the content of his pocket was the receipt!
I asked the police to please make sure, that the mug, and the receipt were retained by them, as this was evidence, of his innocence, and I asked them, what other evidence there was, that he had committed a crime.
They said they had nothing other than a statement from Shoprite. They refused point blank to put the receipt or the cup into evidence. They said they needed no evidence other than a Statement from Shoprite to lock him up. (It seems that one should be afraid – very afraid when buying at Shoprite, and the only right that a customer has, in the event of a dispute, is to be chained to a railing!)
This was the last friendly face he was to see for 36 hrs. He was clearly terrified, and very traumatized. There were delays with the SAP system, and his case number could not be allocated, and until this was done, there was no question of bail, release or anything else.
As early in the events of this vile day, I phoned Shoprite Head Office and got through to one Mr Dean Olwage. I explained to him the situation, told him of the abuse that I had witnessed, and the chaining AND EMAILED PHOTO”s of this to him. I also told him of the existence of the receipt, told him of the other witnesses, and that this was proof positive that no shoplifting could have occurred.
He explained that it would take a lot of time to “Investigate “ and that he would probably only come back to me, the following morning. He did however phone me back that afternoon, with what can best be described as a corporate single finger salute, and told me that they would not intervene. (Which turned out to be true) – they had evidently decided that what I had told them about the receipt had merit, and Shoprite sent someone to Caledon St Police station to alter the charge to a more serious one of fraud!.
My wife had also phoned Mr Olwage, and implored him to get someone to just listen to Langton’s story – She tell me that he told her that this would be a “Waste of time-“ because these people always lie”
There can be no doubt that Shoprite Senior Management, both at the Branch Level, and at Head office were fully, and carefully informed of the situation.
Langton was eventually released, and I should note that there was no direct mistreatment of him by the individual SAP members, and he was particularly well treated by one excellent Policeman - Constable Magadu.
But the system itself is despicable. 36 hours incommunicado, with little food, and what there is bad, sharing mattresses, violent and dangerous criminal companions, huge risk of injury or rape, little sleep – It goes without saying that this has to be unpleasant beyond reason. When Langton’s attorney eventually got to him, Langton was too Terrified to talk to him at first (He had never met the man, and at first he thought he was from Shoprite!)
The SAP had offered Langton a R250 admission of guilt – which he refused. He was released on his own recognizances, warned to appear, which he did this Morning. The Senior Public Prosecutor refused to place the Matter before a court , and he was immediately free without condition.
I personally watched Shoprite “Drive a Horse and Cart” over Langton’s basic dignity. The only right afforded to him by Shoprite was to be chained to a railing. I saw no privileges whatsoever.
It seems that this treatment is not an isolated case.
Update:
Welcome Home Langton
