TMPD busy with their by law operations outside Mam’s Mall in Mahube Mamelodi east Tshwane
Stalls and shacks which until Wednesday were an inconvenient feature and an eyesore on the fence of Mams Mall in the Far East of Mamelodi have been demolished by the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) officials as part of the Municipality’s unprecedented swoop on illegal building structures in Tshwane.
Though some people lamented the destruction of the stalls and shacks, others are actually rejoicing over the TMPD’s action against the owners of the illegally-built structures.
Some of the structures that were demolished by TMPD officials and Red Ants near the fence of Mams Mall on Wednesday photo by Peter Mothiba
Items like food, cigarettes, sweets, fruits and vegetables were sold by the different owners of the stalls and shacks.
The fence near Mams Mall now looks a bit clean after shacks and stalls were demolished there on Wednesday by TMPD officials and Red Ants photo by Peter Mothiba
Selinah Njokweni of Lusaka informal settlement told Tshwane Talks that she was disappointed by the TMPD’s action because the stalls were convenient to her as she could buy items there which she could not find in the formal stores located inside Mams Mall.
Phindi Chimorenga from Zimbabwe, lamented that her sweets, cigarette and beverages stall has been demolished.
“I don’t know what to do, I don’t know what to say, my stock has been taken away from me and everything rand abd cent I have worked for this year is gone, I don’t know how my family and I are going to cope this festive season without an income,” said Chimorenga.
South African citizens Joe Majola who up until now was selling “pap en mogodu” said he is facing a bleak future because his business helped him make ends meet and support his family.
“Unemployment is rife in the country and what does the TMPD expect us to make a living?” he asked.
Be that as it may, a resident who refused to be named thanked the TMPD for demolishing the aforesaid shacks and stalls, this as they were a crime hotspot wherein thugs would lie in wait for unsuspecting victims at night before ambushing them as they walk past the shacks.
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