This is the scene that greets you today at Alex Mall in Alexandra, northern Johannesburg, a far cry from the picture of scores of people descending on the shopping centre to loot and smash windows of shops during the violent unrest three weeks ago.
“We have long queues because today [yesterday] the elderly are receiving their old age grants. Tomorrow, it is the disability grant and other grants afterwards. So, because other places where people used to get grants are damaged, people now come to our mall. People use our ATMs to access their money,” said Bophela.
“I have been standing in this Capitec [Bank] queue for more than 45 minutes. I am here to make a deposit. This is boring. We are too many here. Before the protests, I would come to the mall and run my errands and go back home [without long queues]. Now things are slow. Sometimes I would come to the mall and withdraw cash and then go to work. Now it will be difficult to withdraw cash and be on time for work because of the long queues,” said a shopper who did not want to be named.
“The prices at Pan Africa are low and affordable. Alex Mall goods are expensive. People are now going to have to pay more for products. Another problem is that there are unique products that are only available at Pan Africa and not available at Alex Mall. Pan Africa had a store called Freedom supermarket, which sold food and hardware items that you will not find here at the mall,” said the employee.
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