Four young boys were forced to slap each other as part of their punishment after they were caught stealing chocolates at a Shoprite in Limpopo. Security footage of the incident shows how the boys took turns in slapping each other, while staff watched, laughed and passed “silly” comments.

The four friends, aged between eight and 12-years-old, are seen in a back room at Maake Plaza’s Shoprite at Rita, near Lenyenye in Limpopo, dishing out punishment to one another.

After initially being shouted at by the security guard, the boys’ ordeal carried on for two hours.

The video footage clearly shows the boys assaulting one another, while the guard even holds one of the boys in place for his friend to hit him in one scene.

An employee said the stolen chocolate couldn’t have cost more than R30 and that, “The security guard is the one who ordered them to slap each other. It is wrong. It is definitely abuse.”

Sarita van Wyk, a spokeswoman for Shoprite, confirmed the incident took place on November 20 and said action would be taken against three contracted security personnel from two independent companies that were involved.

Any other staff member that was found to have witnessed the event would also be temporarily suspended pending a full investigation into the incident.

According to van Wyk:

At no time was it reported to any member of store management that the minors were apprehended.

While it was not in its power to stop the incident due to a lack of knowledge, the Shoprite Group would like to demonstrate its goodwill towards the boys by inviting their parents or carers to make contact with the branch manager to assist with counselling.

She continued that any such detention on suspicion of shoplifting must be reported to the branch manager, and dealt with according to company policy – something the contracted guards obviously didn’t do.

[Source: Sowetan]