The owners of Twincity trading as Paledi Mall in the Mankweng area obtained a final court order against the cluster head of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Mankweng, Thabo Modishe and fellow members on Tuesday, prohibiting them from disrupting business at the Studio 88 Shop and Sasol Garage at Paledi Mall.
This follows protest action last year when the businesses were allegedly occupied, damaged and disrupted. A provisional interdict was obtained on 13 December 2018.
Party members allegedly staged a protest action at the mall accusing the managers of the two retail outlets of bullying and exploiting their employees.
According to Eben Smit, the lawyer representing the management of the mall, the two shops lost revenue during the protest action. “They were creating havoc and chasing the customers away and we can’t tolerate that. They went into Studio 88 and broke the rails and put clothes on the floor. Our clients can’t tolerate that. They must not come to the mall again. If they violate the court order they will be arrested by the Police. They are only allowed to come to the mall to shop,” Smit said.
EFF Provincial Chairperson, Jossey Buthane said that the court order was not new to them and they would not stop defending the abused workers. “We respect the court order and we will challenge it. We were defending the abused workers of Studio 88 and Sasol garage in Mankweng. The owners are treating our people like dogs and we are not going to allow that,” Buthane said.
Story: Herbert Rachuene
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