The assistant, who cannot be named for her own safety, was walking to her vehicle after work at about 8pm on 27 June, when she was approached by two unknown men, one carrying a knife. The woman was told by one of the robbers not to scream, while the other took her parcels before cutting her throat.
According to sources, the lights on the rooftop parking, where tenants park were broken at the time, and there were no security guards around.
The woman then had to drive herself to the Netcare Sunninghill Hospital for treatment, where she received 12 stitches. Another Sandton City tenant, who also wishes to remain anonymous, has told the Sandton Chronicle about the tremendous stress that the young woman has faced since the attack.
Sandton City has, as a result of the incident, improved the security and lighting conditions in the tenants’ parking area, and installed cameras. They have also made security guards available to escort tenants to their vehicles at night.
According to Sharon Swain, portfolio manager for Sandton City and Nelson Mandela Square, the mall is working with police to fully investigate the matter.
“The safety and security of our tenants and shoppers is of paramount importance, and we take all reported incidents extremely seriously. To ensure that incidents are handled correctly, with minimal impact, the centre’s security provider ensures that all security staff on site are trained in various crime prevention measures,” said Swain.
The centre also relies greatly on the general public to always be aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious activity to management, they said.
In response to tenants’ concerns regarding the malls’ extended trading hours, Swain said, “No matter how the mall trades, security is always high on Sandton City’s agenda. Our state-of-the-art surveillance and our ground force security are on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
You might also be interested in a similar story from our sister publication, Rosebank Killarney Gazette:
Not enough security at Rosebank Mall – Shopper
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