‘Abusive guards’ handed to police

Arrests after assault on mom in shopping centre

Two of the three security guards caught on camera assaulting a woman at the Shoprite Usave store at Moscow Centre in Cosmo City, Johannesburg, on Saturday, were yesterday handed over to police.

The third guard was arrested at the weekend.

The trio is expected to make a first appearance at the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court today.

The guards have been suspended and are facing charges of assault and sexual harassment after a video was uploaded to Facebook showing Thandi Chaparadza‚ 28‚ being pushed to the floor and handcuffed inside the shop.

“Two suspects were arrested and handed over to police this morning by the security company‚” said Busaphi Nxumalo‚ a community safety spokeswoman.

In a statement, the centre’s management said the owner of the security company was cooperating fully with the investigating officer.

“Centre management is fully cooperating with all involved authorities‚ especially SAPS. With that said‚ centre management will reach out to the affected family at the right time to offer the required support‚” said the statement.

The incident took place in the presence of Chaparadza’s three-year-old daughter‚ who can be seen in the video trying to grab her mother’s arm as the guards assault her.

Gauteng MEC for community safety, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane visited the victim and the store on Sunday.

Shoprite said it strongly disapproved of the behaviour as witnessed in the video.