A mother has been left traumatised and in pain after slipping and falling in a puddle of fresh cream in a supermarket and nearly dropping her two-month-old baby in the process.
The woman says to add insult to the injury, the manager of the Shoprite store in Pelican Park treated her like she was
“nothing”.
She now wants Shoprite to pay her doctor’s bills, which have so far amounted to R1 200.
Shakeenah Abdullah, 33, says on Sunday, as she walked in the dairy aisle with her daughter on her arm, she felt the ground disappear from under her.
“I just tried to keep hold of my baby and fell hard. A terrible pain shot through my back, side and leg,” she says.
“My baby was screaming and I checked to see if she was not physically hurt, but I saw no injuries.”
She asked for assistance, but says instead of helping her, a male worker simply mopped up the floor.
She was eventually taken to the store supervisor/manager, called Laticia.
“She was rude to me, asking to see my bruises, which were not there yet, and checking my child for injuries,” says the mom.
“I asked if she is a doctor and asked for an ambulance. She asked me if my leg was broken.
“She was so insensitive and uncaring. I had to call my friend to come and assist me with my baby.”
After three visits to the doctor and some physiotherapy sessions to fix the diagnosed “deep-tissue injuries”, Shakeenah now wants Shoprite to foot the bill.
Her back has been tightly strapped and she is on three different kinds of pain medication.
“Yes, I was hurt and my baby is now a bunch of nerves, screaming at any sudden movement.
“Treating me like I am nothing and making as if my injury and fall were my own fault was wrong. I want Shoprite to pay my doctor’s bills and train their staff to deal better with customers. We are all people,” the mom says emotionally.
Shoprite spokesperson Sarita van Wyk says they regret the incident.
“The Shoprite chain is sorry to hear that Ms Abdullah feels that she did not receive adequate assistance and apology from branch management after her unfortunate accident in the store,” Van Wyk says.
“Her claim for a doctor’s visit is being assessed at the supermarket chain’s head office and we will ensure that it is expedited in the interest of good customer service.
“We will make contact with Ms Abdullah to reassure her of our commitment to provide customer care of the highest standard and the handling of the matter at store level will also be looked into to take corrective action where necessary.”