Cavendish Square mall temporarily closed for a bit on Thursday, July 15. According to the Claremont-based shopping mall, this decision was made in the best interest of all shoppers and tenants given the turbulent times in South Africa.
As News 24 reports, the temporary closing of the mall occurred as a “precautionary measure amid growing tensions of mass looting.”
The popular mall announced its closing after it had received alleged threats in the form of a WhatsApp message.
Said message reportedly listed names of malls that were to be targeted, however, the information has not been verified.
Disaster Management Centre spokesperson James Stayn expressed earlier today that the “threat has been assessed and it [was] not considered to be a major concern,” adding there wasn’t a need for malls to close at this point.
Cavendish Square announced per their Facebook that they will be open again tomorrow.
Premier Alan Winde also expressed in a retweet from the Western Cape Government’s Twitter that “in the case of the WhatsApp message circulating listing 7 malls as targets, the threat has been assessed and it is not considered to be a major concern.”
In the case of the WhatsApp message circulating listing 7 malls as targets, the threat has been assessed and it is not considered to be a major concern. Read the latest safety update from the Western Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre here: https://t.co/X6HLTL5eR5. pic.twitter.com/xxJvRKqiec
— Western Cape Gov (@WesternCapeGov) July 15, 2021
Winde also went on to thank everyone in the Western Cape for “playing their part in making sure that we keep law and order in the province.”
Premier Alan Winde thanks everyone in the Western Cape for playing their part in making sure that we keep law and order in the province. Stay safe!
❗ No incidents of looting reported in the Western Cape. pic.twitter.com/Ho65wQyco6
— Western Cape Gov (@WesternCapeGov) July 15, 2021
“High-risk areas have been identified and contingency measures are already in place to address every situation that may come up,” Stayn additionally noted.
In light of the mall’s closure, City of Cape Town Mayco Member for Safety and Security JP Smith said that the decision was “taken by the mall management and was not prompted by an official communication from the City.”
Reportedly, The V&A Waterfront will still be operating as usual, alongside Blue Route Mall and Canal Walk.
Picture: Facebook/Cavendish Square