Mother Sues Clothing Store For R1 Million Following Alleged Assault And Kidnapping Of Teenage Son

In November 2022, a distressing incident occurred at the Power Fashion store in Daveyton Mall, Ekurhuleni. Mosima Mphela, a mother from Gauteng, has filed a lawsuit demanding R1 million in damages from one of South Africa’s largest clothing chains, Mr Price Group Limited.

The lawsuit comes after her 15-year-old son was allegedly assaulted and kidnapped by staff members on accusations of theft.

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According to Mphela, her son was accused of shoplifting, assaulted, and then locked inside the store for approximately 12 hours.

She recounted how her son was forced to clean the store and was released around 9 PM with serious injuries. The traumatic event has reportedly caused her son to behave unusually and perform poorly in school.

Mphela initially attempted to resolve the matter by communicating with the assistant store manager but was unsuccessful. Consequently, she sought legal counsel.

A letter of demand sent to Mr Price’s management highlights that the child suffered emotional shock, trauma, and impaired mental health, necessitating medical treatment. It also mentions that his right to human dignity, as per Section 10 of the South African Constitution, was violated.

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Matthew Warriner, Director of Investor Relations and Stakeholder Engagement at Mr Price Group Limited, confirmed that the company has engaged with the family and is adhering to the due legal process.

He emphasized that a thorough investigation was conducted at the time of the incident, though he could not disclose the investigation’s results.