Assaulted and chased out – cry local patrons
Centre security accused of being unfair to certain patrons in Weltevreden Park.
Two unemployed Weltevreden Park dwellers, Lucky and Thulani Ndlovu, have criticised a local shopping centre security for allegedly treating them like criminals.
The duo, who survive on handouts and temporary employment from construction companies, complained to the Northsider, saying that the Palm Court Shopping Centre has barred them from entering the premises.
“We are harassed by centre security when we walk into the Palm Court Shopping Centre because they accuse us of being thugs,” said Lucky.
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Lucky added that centre security guards physically assault them or use pepper spray to chase them out of the property.
“We’ve been assaulted by security when we question them about ill-treating us,” Lucky explained.
Thulani felt the centre was looking down on them. “We are no longer allowed in the centre because of the way we look. We now have to ask passers-by to buy items for us because of this problem,” he lamented.
Recognising their pain, Steven Ngwenya, a Weltevreden Park homeless man, weighed in on the problem. Ngwenya felt that their support in the centre was unvalued.
“We are regular customers at the centre but they’ve chosen to ban us. We shop more than the people who drive fancy cars who only buy once in a while,” Ngwenya complained.
A source close to centre security and management, who wished to remain anonymous, made it clear that each and every shopping centre has rules which are meant to be adhered to by patrons. He said the rules are meant to create a safe environment for everyone occupying the property, including tenants.
“The centre does not have a problem with any patrons who abide by rules of the centre. We had a problem with the complainants [Lucky and Thulani] because of their unacceptable behaviour of drinking alcohol and selling items inside the premises, neither of which is allowed,” the source explained.
The source added that centre security had to enforce the rules when complainants became unruly or harassed customers.
“The centre will lose customers if we allow them to continue on their way,” the source concluded.
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