MUST READ: Norwood Mall management official response on firing of assistants
NORWOOD – Security is paramount and remains first priority for Norwood Mall.
Norwood Mall’s customers have threatened to boycott the mall and are even circulating a petition to mobilise other shoppers and stores to support their move.
This follows the recent fiasco where car guards and customer assistants were fired by a service provider, Nogada, citing various bad behaviour, not wanting to increase standing fees and not reporting incidents by the customer assistants.
This has irked some customers who have held numerous meetings and written letters in their quest to block the job losses at the mall.
Read: UPDATE: Norwood Mall to give customer assistants alternate work
The customer and trolley assistants (CTA) were officially fired on 22 February contrary to a notice that was issued to them on 1 February stating that they will be relieved off their duties on 1 March.
Patrons took it upon themselves to try and fight for the assistants not to be fired but continue with their jobs.
Currently, according to the patrons who spoke to the North Eastern Tribune on 1 March, about 800 names have been registered in their petition and they are even expecting more names.
Read: UPDATE: Norwood Mall still uncertain about jobs
They also told Tribune they have approached big stores to support them in their quest to ensure that the assistants are going nowhere.
In their response, The Cavaleros Group, a company that manages Norwood Mall, said firing of the guards was not their decision.
The company’s spokesperson, Leila Daya, said Nogada decided for numerous reasons based on internal and non-performance issues to give The Cavaleros Group notice to terminate their services.
Whilst the news filtered to the public, Daya said they were accused falsely of cancellation by certain individuals.
“We have repeatedly conveyed to all [patrons] that Nogada terminated their services to Norwood Mall,” she said.
“Nogada had given Norwood Mall an undertaking that they would deploy the individuals of the CTA team to alternate sites and not collectively as a team within the Gauteng region. Certain individuals interfered with this process and took it upon themselves to circulate a petition within Norwood Mall.”
Nogada then informed Norwood Mall that due to the petition action they could not risk positioning the CTA team at other sites and terminated their services with immediate effect.
“Norwood Mall is going on record that the individuals who interfered with this process after being advised repeatedly by Norwood Mall of the facts are the ones responsible for the CTA team not having alternate positions.
“Norwood Mall requires efficient and effective management between Nogada and Norwood Mall’s actual security company SSG Security.
“Security is paramount and remains first priority for Norwood Mall.”
Details: The Cavaleros Group 011 622 3026.
