Randhart Shopping Centre faces challenges to keep their customers happy because the car park is in a terrible state, due to the City of Ekurhuleni’s departments refusing to take accountability.
According to Ward 94 Clr Samantha Nair, she has received many complaints from the centre’s personnel and resident in the area.
They are upset because the nearby park is full of uncollected waste, and homeless people sleep there at night and leave their belongings lying all over the park in the morning to go and hustle.
“This matter was brought to me a long time ago. I tried my utmost to ensure that this issue was attended to. However, the big challenge is between the city’s environmental and waste management, and parks and recreation departments as they throw accountability at each other regarding who should be responsible for ensuring that the place is tidy and welcoming.”
Apparently, the matter started a while back, but last year it got out of hand.
Alic’s Dry Cleaners’ owner, Estelle Brits, said she has tried everything to eradicate the homeless living in the park, to the extent that she even got the EMPD involved because it affects her business.
She told the Alberton Record that what triggered her was seeing the shopping centre trend on social media for being dirty. Moreover, the customers were worried about their safety.
“I tried to reach out for help from all the people who could be of aid in making the space clean and safe, including the EMPD.
“What we do now as the businesses renting in the centre is that every business should try and keep the open space in front of their shops clean from the unpleasant waste to minimise the damage,” said the business owner.
Apparently, some homeless people sleep in front of the shops and that is one of the customers’ concerns.
“What we need from the relevant people is a permanent solution because they remove the vulnerable, but they came back,” she said.
The Alberton Record has forwarded these queries to the various departments of the City of Ekurhuleni for comment.
To report service delivery issues to the city, call 086 054 3000, tweet @coe_call_centre, or email call.centre@ekurhuleni.gov.za
