Hoot! Hoot! No loot! All calm as Middelburg community sends a strong message (Video)
“Hoot! Hoot! No loot!” Middelburg residents have sent a stern warning to trouble makers, “Don’t you dare touch our town!” with taxi drivers forming a convoy to warn would-be criminals to think twice.
The Middelburg Mall opened its doors for business on Wednesday after closing the previous day as a precautionary measure.
Mike Tammadge, Middelburg Mall manager, said that it is heartwarming to see how resilient people are with business returning back to normal as people return to the mall after Tuesday’s closure.
Tuesday’s closure saw a loss in revenue of around R7 million. Mr Tammadge spoke Mobserver shortly after having a meeting with local taxi associations, who offered their support and vowed to help protect the mall from looting.
“Taxis are driving around the mall in convoys, hooting, as a message that no looting will be tolerated here,” Mr Tammadge said.
They have a full Fidelity Guards security team guarding the mall at night.
He said that they have attorneys looking at the possibility of criminal charges or civil action against people who made threats of looting the mall on social media platforms.
Another source, who asked to remain anonymous, said that residents are very proactive. Someone reported three busses with people entering Middelburg last night and police, as well as community safety groups, were there in a flash, only to find out that the busses were transporting SANDF members.
The source said that voice notes, saying that police were on their way to the Middelburg Mall where trouble broke out on Tuesday, were false, as all was quiet throughout the night.
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