Court halts Gugulethu Mall protests

RESIDENTS and business groups in Gugulethu have been interdicted from any disruption and protests at Gugulethu Mall after they could not show the Western Cape High Court that they posed no threat in engaging in such activity.

- CHEVON BOOYSEN

This comes after several years of contention around the development of the shopping centre, where residents and business interest groups have demanded that they be given preference to work or operate their businesses there.

During 2023 and early 2024, Gugulethu Mall owner, Vukile Property Fund Ltd, received demands from what appeared to be various community associations going by different names.

They demanded, among others, the employment of a greater proportion of local Gugulethu residents at the mall, which spurred engagement between the owner's representatives and community representatives.

This was thought to be a fruitful meeting at the time, and the Vukile representative left with the impression that the associations’ concerns had been addressed.

However, this was not the case when the owner received another “final meeting invitation” months later.