Afrikaner poverty grows in Tygerberg region's Voortrekker corridor:
Homeless white man - known only as Ines - seriously injured during scuffle with security guard, Midwell shopping Centre, Durbanville.
http://www.tygerburger.co.za/231802/news-details/homeless-man-allegedly-assaulted-by-security-guard
10 March 2015 The homeless man, only known as Ines, sustained a serious head wound when he fell and hit the pavement with his head in a scuffle with a security guard at the Midwell shopping centre in Durbanville.
The problem with "vagrants" in the town centre of Durbanville was highlighted when this white man, obviously homeless, was allegedly assaulted by a security guard near Checkers at the Midwell shopping centre last Sunday.
According to a resident, Mary Ann Murray, she noticed the bleeding old man, only known as Ines, sitting on the wall surrounding the parking area near Checkers, when she left church on Sunday 1 March at about 11:45.
“His head bled profusely as if from a knife wound. He sat stunned - one or two of his friends had gathered around,” she said.
They told her that he was assaulted by a security guard when he went into Checkers.
Murray said when she confronted the security guard, he admitted to having done it. The guard is from FBS Security Services, which is contracted by the Midwell shopping centre.
Murray then called the police to assist the old man.
“Let us ask Checkers LiquorShop to close down on Sunday - we do not need these incidents when we leave church,” she said.
“The guards on duty in that liquor store, it seems, need some public relations training and perhaps some discipline about being overly zealous in what they consider their duties.
“They should be more restrained with older people who will not do much harm and need some advice in dealing with the public!” she said.
However, according to Shoprite Checkers the homeless man fell and hit his head on the pavement after a scuffle broke out.
According to Sarita van Wyk, corporate communications manager from Shoprite Checkers, FBS Security Services is not contracted by Checkers, but by the Midwell shopping centre.
“Neither Checkers , nor its contracted security staff, were involved in the incident,” she said.
“We investigated the matter and also obtained statements from some of the other tenants in the centre, as well as the security officers involved.
“A scuffle ensued between one of the security officers and a vagrant, who was part of a group of three who are well-known in the area and have been warned to leave the premises on many occasions in the interest of the safety and comfort of patrons of the Midwell Centre.
“The "vagrant provoked the security officer" and during the scuffle, which was "initiated by the vagrant while swearing at the officer" the man fell and hit his head on a pavement,” she said.
“The officer acted in accordance with his responsibilities, but in future security officers will be instructed to also involve the police if repeated warnings to vagrants are not heeded by them,” Van Wyk said.
“According to FBS Security Services they will initiate a process aimed at helping their security officers to better deal with verbal abuse,” she said.
Johan Fourie of FBS Security Services confirmed this. “Shoprite Properties already replied on this enquiry. We find the information and facts in their reply a true discription of the situation,” he said to TygerBurger.
The Durbanville police could not confirm that criminal charges were laid. - TygerBurger
http://www.tygerburger.co.za/231802/news-details/homeless-man-allegedly-assaulted-by-security-guard
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