Riot alerts are false: No threats to loot malls, says Winde
|Published
RE-OPENED: Cavendish Square
Premier Alan Winde has rubbished reports that seven malls in the Cape Town will be the targets of violent looting sprees by a rogue group of residents in the Western Cape.
A WhatsApp message that has been circulating on social media since Tuesday warns people of possible mayhem at Capricorn Centre, Cavendish Square, Blue Route Mall, Maynard Mall, Parow Centre, Kenilworth Centre and Lansdowne Corner Mall.
According to the message, the rioting was to commence at noon yesterday but Winde said no incidents were reported.
He said the message has been investigated and found to be false and misleading.
He explains: “A WhatsApp message has been circulating listing seven malls as targets today. This threat has been assessed and is not considered to be a legitimate concern.
“All information including threats and risks received are sent to the Joint Operations Committee (JOC) and SAPS for verification, as part of risk mitigation. The JOC confirmed that there have been no attacks on malls in the province to date.
“However, it is the decision of every mall owner to remain open or not but the JOC believes that there is no major risk at this stage and no need for malls to close.
Capricorn Centre was targeted on Wednesday night, but the City of Cape Town said this was opportunists who had tried to take advantage of a service delivery protest in Vrygrond but were thwarted.
Mayco Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says: “The protesters then attempted to turn that to their advantage and use the opportunity to attack Capricorn Park, but they were successfully blocked by SAPS, Metro Police and Law Enforcement.”
He says the area was calm yesterday.
Despite Winde’s reassurance and patrols being beefed up at shopping malls and centres, Cavendish Square and Somerset Mall decided to close their doors yesterday as a precautionary measure.
However, Cavendish reopened at noon while Somerset Mall announced that it will trade today but then close from 5pm until Sunday morning.
“To ensure that we mitigate any threat, Somerset Mall will close on Friday, 16 July, at 5pm for a complete lockdown and will reopen on Sunday, 18 July, at 10am,” it said.
The mall said its re-opening will be subject to review of any imminent threat.
Meanwhile, long lines were reported in KwaZulu-Natal as residents fear running out of food and medication.
The DA called on government to deploy soldiers on major routes to protect infrastructure and open up roads that would allow shops and businesses to re-stock.
The DA said 45 000 businesses were affected while losses are exceeding R16 billion in the unrest that started last Friday, after former president Jacob Zuma was jailed after being found guilty of contempt of court.