Mall’s first anniversary, residents want more than just a slice
Soshanguve Crossing in Soshanguve Block M has been open for a year already, but residents are disappointed.
Thato Mahlangu
Residents of Soshanguve Block M and LKK are not thrilled about the shopping mall marking its first year. They said they were disappointed, as they had expected the shopping centre to bring tarred roads to the area, since the government had failed to do so.
The mall was established by Resilient Property Income Fund Limited, the Moolman Group, and Falcon Forest Trading. Its major tenants are Game, Shoprite and Super-Spar. “We thought investors would look into building us streets, as we support the shopping centre,” said Sipho Mnisi, a resident of Block M.
Another resident, Morongwa Phahlane of Block L, said they continued to live in poverty, even though the mall was already a year old, because those who got the jobs at the mall were from other townships such as Mabopane and Winterveldt. “I feel that they promised us things that they could not deliver. Most of our children are not working and have to resort to crime, while jobs are given to people from afar,” said Phahlane.
A regular customer, Tiisetso Kekana, disagreed with the residents of Block M about the expected social upliftment developments they thought would come as a result of the mall. “People need to understand that any business is there to make money. It is a fortunate situation if a business embarks on any social corporate investment in an area it trades in, because that is not really its mandate,” said Kekana.
Taxi owner Zwelinzima Mabena, who works at the shopping mall’s taxi rank, said: “The opening of the shopping centre took my business to greater heights. I have bought three new taxis in a year and employed more people.”
Record contacted the owners of the shopping mall, but they refused to comment on the matter.
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