The management of Savannah Mall told the Polokwane Review-Observer that they are committed to working with the Polokwane Municipality to address any structural concerns they have.

Their response follows remarks made by the Polokwane Mayor, John Mpe, on Thursday in which he stated that the mall will be shut down if it fails to meet municipal building safety regulations.

Read more: Polokwane mayor warns Savannah Mall over building safety non-compliance

Mpe visited the site of the Student Supamarket in Mankweng Plaza, Zone 1, where one person was killed after part of the building collapsed earlier this week.

According to Mpe, the municipality has instructed the mall’s management to appoint a structural engineer to conduct an independent assessment.

“We can confirm that the municipality was on site for an inspection, accompanied by relevant engineers representing both parties. We have noted the concerns raised, and the municipality is currently awaiting a report from our engineer to confirm the on site discussions that there are no signs of structural stress,” Savannah Mall management told the Polokwane Review-Observer.

The mall further stressed that the safety of its tenants and shoppers are their first priority.

“We want to stress that Savannah Mall is safe. Over the past few years we have invested significantly in uplifting the mall and ensuring that the environment remains conducive for everyone who visits”

Meanwhile, the municipality’s building inspectorate and compliance enforcement teams have been activated to assess commercial and public structures citywide to prevent similar tragedies such as the one in Mankweng.