Protesters close the eMba Mall

eMBALENHLE – Everything was quiet at eMba Mall after a few business people instructed the security guards to lock the gates.

Local business owners blamed the management team of eMba Mall for not giving tenders and work to locals.

They said this practise is affecting the state of the local economic development in a negative way.

These business owners have been engaging with the mall management team to negotiate the matter but the mall management team did not respond in time.

This resulted to a disturbance of operation at the mall as the business owners embarked in a protest on Thursday, 9 April.

Everything stood still and shop employees stood outside the mall as the protesters instructed the security guards not to open the gates.

Mr Mzwakhe Sibeko, spokesmen of the business owners, said they do not want anything else, but the eMba Mall management team’s attention so that they can sort out their differences.

“We cannot tolerate their conduct, they signed a memorandum of understanding the Govan Mbeki Municipality that they will give work to locals but now they are not adhering to that.

“This is affecting our business as people from other provinces come and take our jobs.

“If they do not give us attention we will intensify the protest.”

He said most of the people rendering service at the eMba Mall are not from this area not even in the province.

“The security company and the cleaning service company are from Gauteng.

“Even people who do minor maintenance such as changing tiles and replacing bulbs are from Gauteng.

“This is taking bread away from the locals and destroying our local economy.”

As the protest was on things became tense between the police and the business owners.

The business owners accused the police for being biased and acting as mall security guards.

This came after police opened the gates of the mall.

Capt Magonseni Nkosi, spokesman of the police, told the protesters that they had received a complaint that security guards and shop owners were threatened and told not to open mall gates and shops.

The protesting business owners then arranged a meeting with Col Maria Sibanyoni, eMbalenhle Police Station Commander, late on the day.

Coming out of the meeting they seemed frustrated and kept shouting, “how can she advise to protest”.

The Echo contacted Capt Nkosi who disputed the allegation that Col Sibanyoni told the business owners to mobilise a march.

Col Sibanyoni told them that if they break the law they will be arrested and if they want to march they should follow the legal route.

The Echo tried to contact the mall management team but they were not available for comment.