EVATON.- The Evaton West United Businesses, together with community members, marched to the Evaton Mall yesterday (Wednesday) morning.

Under the theme: ‘Restoring dignity and economic justice for the people of Evaton’, the marchers submitted a memorandum of demand to a representative of the mall demanding urgent and meaningful transformation by the mall management.

The memorandum stated, amongst other things, that:

• Since its establishment in 2006, Evaton Mall has reaped profits from the community without reinvesting in the people, businesses, and spaces it relies on.

The marchers demanded the following:

• The Immediate Employment of local workers

A minimum employment quota of 90% local residents must be implemented with immediate effect.

• Termination or review of SLAs that exclude local businesses

All existing service-level agreements (SLAs) must be audited and reviewed. Contracts that exclude qualified local businesses for cleaning, security, maintenance, waste management, etc., must be restructured to promote local economic participation.

• Monthly community engagement meetings

The Evaton Mall Management must hold formal monthly meetings with representatives from the community, including local business forums, youth leaders, and elders.

• Annual CSI budget to be spent locally

The mall must allocate and publicly disclose an annual Corporate Social Investment (CSI) budget. These funds must be spent within Evaton West on programs that uplift the youth, support local schools and clinics, and develop community infrastructure.

• Support for local institutions (Schools, Clinics, NPOs, Youth Centres)

These include donations, maintenance assistance, educational partnerships, and hosting awareness drives within the mall.

• Local agricultural and manufacturing procurement

That Evaton Mall must commit to sourcing agricultural produce, artisan goods, and manufactured items from local producers, farmers, and co-operatives.

• Open spaces for local vendors and SMMEs

Mall management must make provision for permanent and rotating trading spaces for informal traders, local SMMEs, and township entrepreneurs.

• Publication of procurement and Job opportunities

The mall must publicly advertise all procurement and employment opportunities through local platforms, schools, churches, and forums—ensuring transparency and equal access.

• Emergency assistance during community crises

The mall must contribute meaningfully during community emergencies. Whether it be transformer breakdowns, fires, floods, or deaths, the Mall must provide relief support and partner with local response teams.

• Infrastructure investment around the mall

Evaton Mall must participate in improving roads, lighting, drainage, sidewalks, and safety infrastructure in the surrounding areas to benefit both businesses and pedestrians.

Following the march, the Evaton West United Businesses and the community said that they remain hopeful that they will open the door to continued dialogue and cooperation in addressing the issues raised.

“Together, we can build a stronger and more inclusive Evaton. Thank you once again for your time, respect, and willingness to engage with the community in good faith. These demands are not optional—they are essential. We have waited for over 19 years. Now, we demand accountability, inclusion, and justice.”

The Evaton Mall management sent a representative to receive the marchers’ memorandum with a promise of reverting to the marchers soon.