Centre manager suspended for trying to expel man in traditional garb
THE Redefine Property Group has suspended the Boulders Shopping centre manager who was seen trying to kick out a customer who was wearing traditional Ndebele garb in a viral video which surfaced on Wednesday.
In the viral video, Ndebele activist and author Thando Mahlangu, was seen in a heated argument with the centre manager in an aisle at a Clicks store.
In the video, the centre manager can be heard telling Mahlangu that he should leave “his” shopping centre as he was not dressed appropriately.
The Redefine Property Group, who own and run the shopping centre, received a complaint from Clicks regarding the incident on Wednesday.
Redefine chief executive Andrew Konig said they were placing the centre manager on suspension and expressed great regret at the manager’s actions.
“The Boulders centre manager has been suspended pending an internal investigation into the matter.
“It is imperative for Redefine to communicate that we are alive to the fact that no outcome of an internal action is capable of undoing the pain and embarrassment the action has
caused. We respect the choice of all South Africans to dress, associate and assert their identity and cultural beliefs.
“As an immediate measure we will strengthen diversity training efforts for all our centre managers,” he said.
Earlier Clicks said it was embarrassed by the centre manager’s conduct. Clicks said its on-duty manager de-escalated the situation and sent the centre manager and his mall security guards packing.
“Clicks Midrand Boulders did not ask a customer dressed in Ndebele traditional wear to leave the Clicks store.
The centre manager of Boulders, accompanied by Boulders Centre security, entered the Clicks store and demanded that the customer leave.
“The Clicks store manager intervened and asked the centre manager to leave.
“The customer was allowed to continue shopping. We are extremely embarrassed by the centre manager’s behaviour and will be lodging a formal complaint,” said Clicks.
The centre manager in the video described the mall as his own and told the customers the right of admission was reserved and asked them to leave.
“Do you hear me? Let’s cut the story short, you’ve got a right of admission.
“I don’t condone this in my mall, ngicela uphume ke (please leave),” said the centre manager.
The clash continued until the centre manager told Clicks staff not to serve Mahlangu.
“I’m not going to argue with you, don’t sell them whatever they want to buy, they must just leave,” said the manager.