Injuries sustain at Spar Gugulethu Mall

I hope you are well.

I am writing to formally report an injury I sustained at a SPAR store on 8 February and to request your guidance regarding the appropriate next steps.

The injury occurred due to the cashier’s negligence. A bottle that I had purchased—specifically a bottle of Straiten’s Gin—was placed precariously at the edge of the checkout counter. The bottle subsequently fell and struck my foot, resulting in a serious injury. At the time of the incident, I was also purchasing Savannah, ice, and lemonade; however, it was the bottle of gin that fell from the till and caused the injury.

Although a staff member briefly administered first aid as I was leaving the mall, I believe the store failed in its duty of care. No ambulance was called, no transport was arranged to ensure that I arrived home safely, and there was no immediate follow-up regarding my condition. I had to walk out of the mall and find a taxi on my own despite the injury.

I was later informed that SPAR does not handle such matters directly and that my case had been referred to a third-party company for investigation. This third party advised that they would need to review the surveillance footage and assess the incident report. I provided a full written statement detailing exactly what had occurred.

Following the incident, I requested that SPAR arrange for me to see a private GP so that my injuries could be properly assessed. At the time, my wound had closed but I was concerned that there might still be cloth or debris trapped inside the wound. Despite my request, no medical assistance or referral was provided.

Instead, four weeks later—after I had already been managing and treating the wound myself—they advised that they could now provide funds for me to visit a private doctor so that the visit could be included in their report. I find this difficult to understand, as by this stage my wounds have already healed and I have been caring for them at my own expense. This included purchasing wound cleaning products, disinfectants, and other necessary medical supplies myself in order to treat the injury.

Throughout this process, I have been the one continuously following up for updates while receiving very little urgency or support from SPAR regarding my wellbeing.

I do have photographs documenting the injuries sustained and can provide them should they be required.

Given the circumstances, I would greatly appreciate your advice on how best to proceed and what options may be available to me. Please also let me know if any additional documentation or information is required from my side.

Thank you very much for your time and assistance.

Kind regards, Khanyisa Simelela 063 992 3550