Pimville, Klipspruit, and Bester residents have issued a stern warning to looters in the area. Residents said they would defend the remaining un-looted establishments with their lives.
Maponya Mall remains the only mall in functional condition after all six of Soweto’s major shopping centres were ransacked by looters between Sunday and Tuesday.
On Wednesday, residents of communities that surround the mall gathered in Pimville Zone 1 before marching to Maponya Mall to demonstrate their commitment to defending the mall. Among them were community leaders and local ward councillors.
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Klipspruit resident Lindiwe Maphatswana said the mall provided important employment opportunities to the people of Soweto and should be protected.
“This mall is the only thing we have going well for us. The employment that has come out of here is amazing, our parents fetch their medication here, and our children do things here. We can’t let it be looted. We will fight tooth and nail for (to protect) this mall,” she said.
Spearheading the bold initiative was one Nhlanhla Lux of Soweto Parliament who, on Tuesday issued a call out to residents around Maponya to protect the mall. Lux and a group of residents who heeded the call camped outside the Maponya Mall through the night, fending off several looters in the process.
Nhlanhla Lux, one of the Pimville residents who spent the night guarding #MaponyaMall says the men of Soweto must stand up to defend the township pic.twitter.com/9JHMz9uWHm
— Soweto Urban (@SowetoUrban) July 14, 2021
Addressing residents outside the mall on Wednesday morning, Lux said that it was time for Soweto men to stand up and up and protect communities.
“This is a time for the black nation to wake up. It’s time the black nations unite. The men in Soweto must rise and defend the communities, the businesses, the women, and the children. We are all we have,” Lux told community members.
The people of Pimville, Klipspruit, and Bester have vowed to patrol the township and protect its various business establishments.
Pimville, Klipspruit and Bester residents have gathered at a park in Zone 1 calling out the people of Soweto to come out and defend #MaponyaMall pic.twitter.com/pjBSj0DmGU
— Soweto Urban (@SowetoUrban) July 14, 2021
Outside #MaponyaMall residents say they will protect all business establishments of Pimville. "No looting in our name" is the message. pic.twitter.com/KpqYTkitsm
— Soweto Urban (@SowetoUrban) July 14, 2021
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