Residents have taken to Twitter to report protest action by EFF members outside Dischem stores at two shopping centres in the Midrand area.
By 12.30pm, Danny Maduray of Ria Sebetsa Security Services confirmed that the situation at the Mall of Africa had been contained by the mall’s security. By 12.50pm, the protesters had left the mall.
Maduray further confirmed that the situation at Carlswald Lifestyle Shopping Centre was cleared too, and it is believed that the protesters had moved from Carlswald to the Mall of Africa earlier on Saturday.
Photos and videos of the protest action are circulating on social media, and at this stage, it is alleged the protesters are citing ‘injustice at Dischem stores’ as their reason for the protest, however, this is yet to be confirmed and it is not yet clear what the alleged injustice is. Further, one sign held by a protester reads, “No room for exploitation at our Region A.”
The Midrand Reporter in January did report that Nupsaw-affiliated Dis-Chem employees recently protested at the company’s distribution centre in Midrand due to Nupsaw alleging that their members were not given December bonuses and furthermore that Dis-Chem refuses to grant the union organisational rights.
However, Dis-Chem and the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (Nupsaw) reached an agreement on 24 January.
Scenes of @EFFSouthAfrica at Mall Of Africa, here to fight alleged injustice at Dischem stores#EFF #MallOfAfrica #MOA #EFFProtest pic.twitter.com/vUAtlA12zR
— Zama Dollarz???? (@imo_lately) February 17, 2018
As stated above, one of the Dischem stores affected was at the Carlswald Lifestyle Centre:
EFF members outchea at Carlswald, wonder what's the story behind this ????
— Dana (@McDxnx) February 17, 2018
Another was the Mall of Africa’s Dischem:
#EFF @Mall of Africa Dischem pic.twitter.com/5EEaSI04Fq
— Rose Benton (@brbenton384) February 17, 2018
EFF fighters out in Midrand. I wonder what Dischem has done ???? pic.twitter.com/aFA5NzmUTR
— La Pantera Negra (@The_MuziSbu) February 17, 2018
@EFFSouthAfrica is back @mallofafrica pic.twitter.com/a94FMYqXEf
— Tshepiso (@Tzhepiezo) February 17, 2018
According to some on Twitter, the EFF had planned to protest outside the Dischem stores on 24 January:
https://twitter.com/AdrianaStuijt/status/955910921473417216
"People please stay away from shopping malls as of Wednesday because EFF is attacking all dischem stores " https://t.co/OImwP6SyTE
— Yolanda Mginqi (@Yolanda_Mginqi) January 24, 2018
*CCIN EFF DISCHEM ADVISORY* :
Release : Immediate
1. It is rumoured that latter party has threatened to picket… https://t.co/cKMVrU1dAD— SA-News Sports (@SANewsCom) January 23, 2018
Have you seen protest action in the area? Let us know by posting on our Facebook page.