In a recent TikTok video, user Ziphe Magubane has brought to light allegations of racial profiling and discrimination at a Food Lover’s Market branch in Musgrave Centre. The incident involved Magubane’s brother, who was allegedly racially profiled, manhandled, and banned from the store without any clear reason.
The Incident
According to Magubane, the store manager, identified as Joshua, singled out her brother, accusing him of theft and banning him from the store. When Magubane confronted the manager about the incident, he allegedly refused to provide any explanation or evidence to support his accusations.
Allegations of Inhumane Treatment
Magubane claims that the staff at Food Lover’s Market treated her brother in an “inhumane manner”. She alleges that the manager and another employee physically manhandled her brother, which she describes as assault. The manager allegedly used derogatory language towards her brother in front of other customers.
Lack of Evidence
Despite the serious accusations, the manager allegedly refused to provide any evidence of the alleged theft. According to Magubane, her brother was well within his rights to request proof of the accusations, but the manager denied this request. It was only after Magubane made a spectacle of herself to draw attention to the situation that the manager attempted to show her the footage.
Questions of Protocol
Magubane questions the store’s protocol in handling such situations. She points out that if the store suspected her brother of theft, the correct procedure would have been to pat him down in the presence of a security officer or someone in authority. However, this protocol was not followed in her brother’s case.
Call for Accountability
In her video, Magubane calls for accountability from Food Lover’s Market. She asks what the store’s protocol is when a customer is racially profiled and discriminated against, and when they are manhandled on the store premises. She also questions the manager’s refusal to provide evidence of the alleged theft, and his decision to ban her brother from the store without any clear reason.
This incident, as described by Magubane, raises serious questions about racial profiling, discrimination, and the treatment of customers at Food Lovers Market. It serves as a reminder of the importance of fair treatment, transparency, and respect for customers’ rights in retail environments.
Food Lover’s Market Response:
Following the allegations of racial profiling at a Food Lovers Market branch in Musgrave Centre, the company responded to Ziphe Magubane’s claims via email. The company firmly stated that it does not condone racism or racial profiling in any form.
The company explained that the Musgrave store has been dealing with theft issues recently, which has led to heightened vigilance among the store management. They suggested that Magubane’s brother, who is on the spectrum, might have exhibited behavior that was misconstrued as suspicious, leading to the unfortunate incident.
Food Lovers Market denied any physical assault or manhandling of Magubane’s brother by the store manager. They also refuted claims of intimidation towards Magubane, stating that the manager remained calm and polite throughout the interaction.
The company highlighted that the manager had invited Magubane into the store office (not the cold room) to resolve the matter privately. The interaction in the office reportedly ended with the store management apologizing to Magubane’s brother, an apology that both Magubane and her brother accepted and thanked the store management for.
Despite the company’s response, an employee at the Musgrave store has advised Magubane to lay charges against the manager and Food Lovers Market. This development adds another layer to the ongoing situation, indicating that the matter is far from resolved.
UrbanSway has attempted to reach out to Food Lover’s Market for comment and at the time of publishing has not received a response.
