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A Midrand mall manager who humiliated Ndebele activist and author Thando Mahlangu by kicking him out of the shopping complex for his traditional attire was suspended.
The owners of Boulders Mall announced that the manager has been suspended pending an internal investigation into the matter.
Mahlangu had taken an informal trip to the mall on Wednesday when he was told his outfit was “inappropriate” and told to come out of a Clicks store where he and his business partner Nqobile Masuku were shopping.
The incident that was captured on video by Masuku has sparked outrage on social media. Redefine Properties, which owns the center, apologized for the events that unfolded when Mahlangu was humiliated in front of other buyers, calling it “regrettable”.
“Redefine, therefore, moves away from the degrading and unworthy manner in which the director of the center treated Mr. Thando Mahlangu and Ms. Nqobile Masuku. The treatment of Mr. Mahlangu and Ms. Masuku lacked the principles of human dignity and equality that underpin our constitutional democracy. In this regard, Redefine not only apologizes to Mahlangu and Masuku, but to the Ndebele nation as a whole and to all South Africans, “said Andrew Konig, Executive Director of Redefine Properties in a statement Thursday.
“It is imperative that Redefine communicate that we are aware of the fact that no result of an internal action is capable of undoing the pain and shame that the action has caused.”
The company said that as an immediate measure it will strengthen diversity training efforts for all its center managers.
“This issue has also enlightened us with the need to continually review and revise our internal policies on an ongoing basis, to ensure that our policies are aligned with the values and principles that are recognized and celebrated by the multitude of cultures that make up our diverse nation.” Konig said.
In the video clip, a man who describes himself as the owner of the mall tells Mahlangu that there was a right of admission and that he does not approve of Mahlangu’s outfit and that he must go.
The man continues to tell Mahlangu that the mall was a public place and that he was dressed indecently, while Mahlangu defends himself that he was wearing African attire.
“You’re telling me I shouldn’t wear African clothes [clothes] in Africa, “Mahlangu told the man.
“I’m saying this is a public place … I don’t allow it here, this is my shopping center … the right of entry is reserved,” the man told Mahlangu.
Mahlangu’s girlfriend could be heard telling the man that “this is Africa, so you can’t tell anyone what to do, what to wear in what mall.”
In an interview with SowetanLIVE, Mahlangu said that he had been left heartbroken and that “even now that we talk, I am still not well emotionally.”
He and Masuku went to the mall to buy toiletries and have lunch when the incident happened.
“When we entered the mall we noticed a security guard looking at us.
“As soon as we entered a Clicks store, the guard came up to us and told me that they weren’t receiving me at the mall because I was harassing customers with my outfit,” Mahlangu said.
“The guard told me that I was only wearing underwear and that this was driving customers away, and because of this I was not allowed to shop at the mall. I refused to leave and told the security guard to call the person who told him that he should tell me to leave the mall.
“About two minutes later, the man who identified himself as the owner of the mall arrived. He immediately started telling me to leave the mall, but I still refused. We had exchanged heated words with the owner of the mall, which resulted in which he ordered the security to use his walkie talkie to request reinforcement of three more guards “.
He said that when the guards arrived he began to retreat after realizing that they were going to dominate him.
“My partner and I hurriedly bought half of the items we were looking for. I am thankful that the Clicks store allowed us to buy them. However, I am disappointed that my girlfriend and I did not have lunch at the mall, especially since we were hungry, for the harassment, “Mahlangu said.
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