Issues surrounding Busy Corner Mall still not resolved
MIDRAND – Disputes between the Busy Corner Mall and the community of Ebony Park still not resolved after several attempts.
Following a protest by locals at the Busy Corner Mall, discussions between disgruntled community members and mall owners have stalled.
A meeting between the two parties was supposed to have been held on 19 February at the Protea Marriot Hotel in Midrand. The meeting, however, did not take place when one of the owners of the mall, Andries Tlouamma, said that they would not negotiate with ‘thugs’.
As reported in the Midrand Reporter in Empower Locals [Week ending 7 February], locals of the Ebony Park community had marched outside the Busy Corner Mall to submit a memorandum of understanding last month, noting their grievances towards the mall after claiming that the mall was not empowering local people but instead ‘stealing’ from them.
ALSO READ: Midrand community needs to ensure they follow by-laws
A meeting was then held on 13 February – reported in the article Grievances not resolved [Week ending 21 February] – chaired by the Region A Business Forum and attended by representatives from the South African National Civic Organisation and Ivory Park Taxi Association among others to get feedback from the mall and resolve the issues brought forward by the community.
The meeting was not fruitful and community members gave the mall until 19 February to go through the memorandum and give feedback. However, the follow-up meeting never took place. The Region A Business Forum chairperson Terance Dzeli, said, “We are still waiting for a response from them because on the set date for our meeting they just left us stranded and did not even communicate with us that they would not be able to attend the meeting.”
The Midrand Reporter followed up with Tlouamma, who attended the first meeting, to find out what caused the delay. Tlouamma said that they do not have a problem meeting and engaging the community, however, he said they would not discuss concerns without official parties. “We cannot be held ransom by thugs who have intentions to extort money using the name of the community. We are not going to attend any meeting if it is not called by the councillor of the ward in which the mall is built, or any authorities.
“Why are we having a meeting in Midrand, who is reporting back to the community? I gave them respect but all I got was disrespect, I did not want to argue. Why does someone want to do business with you using intimidation,” added Tlouamma.
One of the listed issues on the memorandum presented was that of the mall using the name ‘Busy Corner’, as there is already a business operating under that name, the Imbizo Shisanyama Busy Corner in Ebony Park opposite the mall’s premises.
Tlouamma said that the owner of the business should have confronted them directly instead of ‘working with crooks’, so they could come up with a solution and fix the matter. “The owner should have rather used legal people and say that the name has been patented, instead of working with people who are not going to help her in any way.”
Details: Gauteng Business Forum 011 706 6707.
