The manager of the centre, Natasha Styger, tells OFM News they closed the centre’s doors after 3 pm on Monday in the best interests of their patrons, tenants and staff after receiving a warning notification regarding possible unrest. The centre has been open since Tuesday morning (13 July) at 08:00 am. Styger says despite the situation returning to normal, security is on high alert in case of any incidents.

The closure comes amidst the eruption of violent chaos in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal over the arrest of former President Jacob Zuma, in which protesters targeted shopping malls, ransacking them and in some cases torching them. The Brookside Mall in Pietermaritzburg was one such centre that was set alight by protesters. 

The situation descended to such pandemonium that members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) were deployed to affected areas. 

North West shop owners also closed down their businesses on Monday out of fear of a possible looting situation in Mahikeng. OFM News reported on pictures of owners shutting down their businesses in that area doing the rounds on social media amidst the violent protest and looting situation in different parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

In recent weeks, the Free State city has had its own share of sporadic unrest - mainly in Thabong - over repeated calls for the Matjhabeng Local Municipality Major, Nkosinjani Speelman, to step down. The matter appears to be on ice after the ANC’s Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) in the Free State plead with the leaders of the Matjhabeng Community Foundation for more time to deliberate on the issue.

OFM News