LIMPOPO – Many elderly people who wanted to experience the feeling of moving up on escalators for the very first time in their lives at Thavhani Mall, Thohoyandou when it was opened last Thursday, tripped and fell to the amusement of fellow shoppers.
Thavhani Mall is the first mall that has escalators in the Vhembe district. For many, the escalators are a new experience, which proved to be a problem to some, especially to the elderly people.
“For the first time in my life I have used an escalator. Even though I was very scared at first, I ended up enjoying the new experience.
“I was scared that I might fall,” said Julia Munyai (41), who was among the very first group of people to shop at Thavhani Mall.
Videos of some people who have fallen victim to this new experience have gone viral on the various social media platforms.
Oh lord ,oh no !!!,my venda people are in danger here @ #thavhaniMall ???????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/sw8W2KH6nC
— kumbani AW☔ (@Andani_kumbani) August 25, 2017
Despite falling and tripping, many people saw the funny side of the experience.
“I know it’s painful to see an elderly person falling from the escalators but the funny side is that at least now people get the chance to experience what people from other developed areas have been experiencing all these years,” said Nyandano Mundalamo.
One of the brains behind the mall, Chief Jeffrey Ramovha, said the mall does have stairwells that people who are not comfortable with the escalators can use to avoid uncomfortable moments.
