EDITOR- Save Our Berea is well aware and sensitive of the need of any business to protect their client base and image that the business enjoys in the community.
But even in the light of that we are astonished that the management at Musgrave Centre is so disengaged and dismissive regarding the well-being and security of their loyal customers. We contacted them in the run up to our urgent public Monster Meeting on crime. We wanted a security manager to attend our meeting and to put forward Musgrave Centre's point of view on the crime spike in the area following the tragic murder of Ms. Singh.
After all, most of the people attending the meeting, shop in the centre and as the biggest stakeholder in the area, it is vital to the well-being of the area that management support any initiative to improve security. To our amazement, we were told by a less-than concerned centre manager that “there was no crime in Musgrave Centre” and that “the centre was only responsible for addressing security in the centre.”
When we argued that it was the centre's customers who were being targeted by criminals as they made their way to shop in the centre, the centre manager indicated that this was beyond centre management's remit.
We were disappointed that no security representative attended our meeting, and if he did, he did not make himself known to us, neither did he add anything towards reassuring the community that Musgrave Centre management was on top of crime in the centre.
In fact, two days after the centre manager brushed us off, MTN was hit by 13 armed men in the early hours of the morning and cleaned out. Last week the Berea Mail carried a story, where a Musgrave Centre customer was very unimpressive with the attitude of the centre’s staff, after his car was stolen from their parking area.
We think we need to hear from the centre management and the owners.
There was a time when Musgrave Centre was involved, and in fact sponsored the Berea Police Station.
What has changed?
Kevin Dunkley
Cheryl Johnson
Save Our Berea
Musgrave Centre responds:
“Musgrave Centre acknowledges the concerns posted on the community social media platform, “Save Our Berea”. While the incidents were reported incorrectly and there has been a misrepresentation of the statements made by Musgrave Centre, Centre Management would like to assure customers that we make every endeavour to ensure safety and security and to reduce the impact of crime on shoppers.
We work closely with our security and Police to curb violence, theft and other threats to our shoppers and as such have minimised incidents of this nature. Musgrave Centre handles each incident as it arises with the relevant authorities and aims to rectify any matters as swiftly as possible. We would like to confirm the commitment of SA Corporate Real Estate Ltd, owners of Musgrave Centre, to promoting corporate governance and responsible corporate citizenship.
Together with the Centre Management team, they are actively involved in matters concerning the local community, particularly those of a security concern.
For any further comment on any of the unrelated incidents mentioned in the Facebook comment you can contact the Marion Plint (Portfolio Executive) on mplint@broll.com.”
Nicole GoundenMarketingManager
Musgrave Centre
* Letter shortened – Editor
