Soshanguve mall closed as residents protest over jobs
Residents are demanding shops at the mall should employ locals.
Residents of Soshanguve staged a protest outside the Soshanguve Crossing mall on Thursday morning demanding that shops at the mall should employ local residents.
All shops at the mall closed while the residents gathered outside, demonstrating their unhappiness.
Residents said they were told before construction of the mall started the multimillion rand project meant residents would benefit.
“They said local residents, especially unemployed youth, were going to be beneficiaries of the project,” said Bonolo Hlahla.
The mall was officially opened in 2014.
Two years down the line residents were complaining most of the people who were working at the different shops in the mall were outsiders.
This has triggered a protest by locals who were expecting employment after the completion of the mall.
“We were misled into believing that over 2 000 people will be employed once the mall was completed. But the ray of hope was dashed,” said Elsie Motaung.
She added there were a lot of qualified, unemployed youth in Soshanguve who were struggling to find jobs.
Residents were up in arms and they protested at the entrance, calling on the people to boycott the mall.
Protesters accused the owners of the mall of prioritising profits over the plight of the local residents.
Police spokesperson Constable Rekeilwe Makwalo said police were keeping a close eye on events around the mall.
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