Water closet woes
ROSEBANK - An uncomfortable situation arose at The Firs Mall when a shop assistant from The Zone@Rosebank was barred from entering The Firs' public toilets by a security guard.
According to David Kagiso Mabule, this was not the first time staff from the neighbouring mall had been prevented from using the restrooms.
“The closest toilets to my shop are at The Firs, so it makes sense to use them. Last year, security guards told people who work at The Zone@Rosebank not to use The Firs’ toilets, as they were for patrons only. But I’m a customer at The Firs. I often go to the restaurants there,” he said.
Mabule said that he spoke to The Firs former marketing manager after that first incident, who confirmed that the restrooms were only for their patrons’ use.
An indignant Mabule continued using The Firs’ restrooms regardless.
“The security guards didn’t pay much attention until recently, when they prevented us from going to those toilets again,” explained Mabule.
He then approached The Firs marketing manager Sharon de Beer who said that the bathrooms were only for the use of their patrons.
“I spoke to some store managers at The Zone@Rosebank, and was told they had been told the same thing by The Firs management,” said Mabule.
De Beer, however, said that no one had been barred from using The Firs toilets.
“In every shopping centre, bathrooms are allocated for the use of patrons and staff. Many restaurants here have bathrooms for patrons and staff, although I am aware that some have closed the restrooms. As The Firs only has two men’s restrooms and four women’s restrooms, we asked The Zone@Rosebank tenants to please consider using their own bathrooms to alleviate pressure on ours,” said De Beer.
She added that The Firs management had no problem with people using their restrooms, but asked they please be considerate of their patrons and staff.
