WATCH | Father Christmas taking...instead of giving

The festive season took a turn for the worse for Father Christmas on Sunday.

A Santa Claus hired to spread some Christmas cheer at Mdantsane City Mall was caught stealing a R40 pair of sunglasses - and summarily booted off the job.

Mdantsane City Mall shopping centre manager Dean Deary said the man was fired immediately and also received a lifetime ban from the mall.

Read more in Tuesday's edition of the Daily Dispatch.