Cape Town - Residents have continued their protest over what they allege are unfair hiring practices at the new R60 million Langa Junction Mall in Cape Town.
The Langa ward councillor at the centre of nepotism accusations was unavailable for comment on Thursday. When contacted for comment by the African News Agency, councillor Neliswa Ngqose said she was in hospital.
There have been calls for Ngqose, chairperson of the Project Steering Committee for the mall to step down and for the mall to revise its hiring practices.
“This mall was meant to benefit people of Langa but most of the employees are not from here. We will continue this protest until tonight,” said Sihle Tshabalala, a Langa resident who also sat on the Committee.
The first protest took place last week, with much of the anger directed at Ngqose.
Thursday’s protest saw residents calling for the temporary closure of the anchor tenant Shoprite and the immediate removal of the Committee.
Protesters claimed employees of Shoprite had allegedly used addresses from friends and family in Langa to secure employment at the mall. Protesters have called for the temporary closure of the store until they found employees confirmed as Langa residents.
Shoprite was unavailable for comment at the time of writing.
Protesters also accused Ngqose of allowing family and friends to personally benefit from the mall’s construction.
African News Agency