She was doused with methylated spirits by employees at a
SuperSpar and had to be treated for burns in hospital.
Three people were arrested following the incident and are
due back in court in January 2021. The Spar Group said the store is
independently owned. The company has, however, apologised.
Mavis* spoke to GroundUp on condition that her identity be
withheld. She said she sustained burn wounds on her waist, arm, leg and vagina.
She said she arrived in Musina on 2 November 2020 in search
of work. “I was accommodated at a relative’s place but the relative was
visiting her husband working in Pretoria Out of desperation I walked to Spar and stole
a packet of meat worth R25. I walked out without anyone noticing me until some
Spar workers approached me, requesting to know what I had bought. I never
denied anything. I showed them the meat,
She said though she explained her situation and apologised but the employees poured spirits onto her skirt and set it alight. “I asked for
forgiveness but all fell on deaf ears. Some kicked me. I told them if they
wanted to kill me then they should not make me suffer that way.
“I am not denying that I did the wrong thing, but were
these workers supposed to give me such a treatment? They have made mine and
children’s lives even worse. At the moment I can’t even sit down and I have to
sleep on one side.” I am not sure when I will recover so I can work for my
children. The pain is too much,” said Mavis.
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