Guards face charges over assault of women at store

THREE security guards who were caught on camera accosting a Cosmo City woman have been suspended and are facing charges of assault and sexual harassment after a video of the incident was widely shared on social media.

The video was uploaded to Facebook on Saturday and shows Thandi Chaparadza‚ a 28-year-old woman‚ being pushed to the floor and handcuffed inside the Shoprite Usave store at Moscow Centre in Cosmo City, Johannesburg.

The incident took place in full view of her three-year-old daughter‚ Lara‚ who can be seen on the video trying to grab her mother’s arm as the guards struggle with her.

One of the security guards‚ according to Gauteng Community Safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane, who visited the victim and the store yesterday‚ had been handed over to police and would be charged.

The company the remaining two guards – a woman and a man – work for was also asked to hand over their employees.

Chaparadza said she was shouted at by the woman after her daughter had suddenly needed to attend to a call of nature while she was queuing to buy electricity.

She was subsequently accosted when she went into the Usave store, she said.

The man who posted the video‚ Thabiso Phinda‚ said he accompanied Chaparadza to the police station across the road to open a case.

The centre management said the incident was unfortunate and regrettable and was no way to treat customers‚ especially not in front of children.