Residents from the Nzhelele area marched to the new Mphephu Mall on Wednesday, 14 April, to submit a memorandum in which they demand 70% of employment at the mall be granted to local community members.
They claimed that one of the shopping centre's main purposes was to provide employment opportunities for local residents, and that this promise was not being fulfilled.
The residents also want the speedy construction of a proper taxi rank to avoid traffic congestion at the mall, and demand that local councillor Maggie Mathalise and the community liaison officer, Mr Lufuno Mawela, consult with the communities as mandated.
Mr Tshume Tshindane, who acted as convener on behalf of the protesters, said that they were opposing the decision by shop managers to recruit workers from outside the area. "It's like the managers are undermining the communities. So, we have decided to have a march and hand in a memorandum. Currently, the rate of unemployment in the area is very high. You just need to visit these communities to know that it's true and how people are suffering from unemployment," he said.
Tshindane said that they were thankful to businesspeople for empowering their communities by establishing shops so close to them. "This mall is built within the area, but only a small number of the local people from our villages are being employed. Our people are continuously being neglected, while they should be considered first for job opportunities."
The mall has been given seven working days to respond to the memorandum.
"Our community members are the ones that are contributing to sales at these shops. We are not here to intimidate the shops owners, but to give them our reasons for the fundamental role that needs to played in order to close the gap between their own interests and those of the community," he said.
The memorandum was accepted by Thovhele Vho-Nkhaneni Ramovha, who said that it would be handed to the relevant people. "We will keep in contact and update you about the answers within seven working days," Ramovha assured the marchers.