THERE was heavy security presence at the opening of the newly built Letsheng Mall in Orange Farm, south of Joburg on Thursday, 23 November.
This after a shooting incident that left five taxi operators dead, five others hospitalised and a passenger injured on Wednesday, 22 November in Lakeside, near Orange Farm.
Daily Sun understands that two taxi associations are at war over the newly built Letsheng Mall Taxi Rank.
City of Joburg Ward 2 Councillor Dimakatso Ramafikeng told Daily Sun she doesn’t understand why the taxi associations are fighting over something they didn’t even contribute to its development.
Ramafikeng said no taxi association will get the key to the taxi rank.
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"The two associations will get the keys of the rank the day they decide to work together. The mall belongs to community members, not the taxi industry," said the councillor.
“The opening of the mall went very smoothly. All residents in the borders of the city of Joburg and Emfuleni are happy to finally have their big shopping mall not far from their homes."
"Young and old people from all townships have put their hopes of being employed by the mall. I pray that many get employment. They should never focus on the taxi violence and politics of the mall," said Ramafikeng.
Meanwhile, happy residents flocked in numbers during the opening of the mall on Thursday, as many were applying for jobs and others did their shopping.
Resident Kgopotso Phushudi from Lakeside said she is happy that the mall has finally opened.
