When Wendy van Schalkwyk entered Cash Crusaders in Shamrock Road, on Wednesday, September 7 with her four daughters she had no idea the events that would unfold.
“While my daughters and I were looking through the DVDs a woman approached me,” van Schalkwyk explained to the GCN.
“She asked me if I had a problem with her, to which I said no.
“She became increasingly violent, so I told her clearly that if she hit me I would open a case of assault against her.
“She asked me why I thought she would hit me.”
No sooner had she said this than she allegedly attacked van Schalkwyk, who was holding her five-year-old daughter in her arms at the time.
She and her daughter fell to the floor where van Schalkwyk claims the woman continued to punch and kick her, while her nine-year-old tried to stop the attack.
“The woman almost attacked my daughter when she tried to stop the assault.
“Luckily another customer in the store saw what was happening and stepped in to assist,” she said.
Van Schalkwyk claimed that once the beating had stopped she ran out of the store where she was able to stop a passing police car.
“The officer didn’t listen to a word I was saying, he simply told me not to bleed on his car,” she claimed.
She further claimed that the officer went straight to her attacker, where he coached her on what to say and what not to say.
“The officer told my attacker not worry and that it was going to be okay, they were going to sort this all out,” said van Schalkwyk.
When addressing her van Schalkwyk claimed that he called her by a derogatory name.
Both women were arrested and taken to the Primrose Police Station where they were formally charged, van Schalkwyk for crimen injuria and her alleged attacker for assault.
While in police custody van Schalkwyk claimed that she was denied medical treatment and was only released after midnight.
“I was only able to get medical treatment the morning after the attack despite numerous requests to see a doctor while I was at the station,” she said.
The GCN contacted the SAPS who confirmed the incident.
“The Primrose police are investigating two counter charges one of assault and one of crimen injuria,” said Sgt Styles Maome, communications officer for the Primrose police.
“It is alleged that the one woman called another one the “K” word which led to the assault.
“Both were charged and warned for court and appearance on September 8, where the case was postponed for further investigation.”
“As for the claims against the police officers, we ask that the complainant visit the station and open a complaint against the officers so that the matter can be investigated,” he said.
Van Schalkwyk, still maintains that she never called the woman the “K” word and that her attacker was told to say that to avoid trouble.
Throughout the incident she claims that none of the staff at Cash Crusaders did anything to help her, and when she asked for the CCTV footage they said the system wasn’t working.
“When my husband went back the next day the story changed and they told him he had to apply to Cash Crusaders’ head office for the footage,” she said.
The GCN contacted the company about the claims made against their staff and received the following statement from Alaine Rossouw, marketing manager:
“In relation to the incident that occurred at Cash Crusaders Primrose, the management of the store followed the correct procedure of contacting the local authorities to intervene in the assault taking place in the store.
“The SAPS were already on the scene at the time of the call and were able to attend to the incident. At no point were staff members questioned by the SAPS; however, management did cooperate with the spouse of the complainant by providing the details of the off-site CCTV monitoring company.
“The safety of our customers is vitally important within the Cash Crusaders Group. We pride ourselves on always putting our customers first,” she said.
The women are due back in court on October 6.
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