Latest news with #FourwaysMall
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Displaced but not defeated, hawkers vow to fight for their spot
'They removed us so that they can plant trees,' declared hawker Blessing Melambo, a statement that encapsulated the anguish many traders feel as they were forcibly cleared from the busy intersection at Winnie Mandela Drive and Fourways Boulevard. The removals, executed by the JMPD following a call from Fourways Mall, Ward 94 councillor David Foley, and the intervention of the Fourways Improvement District officers, are part of a beautification project envisioned by the mall. While the hawkers, including Mlambo and Fatima Mashaba, acknowledge that the land belongs to the mall's proprietors, the emotional and economic toll is palpable. 'It's really painful,' said Mlambo, voicing the frustration of traders who have long depended on the foot traffic and commerce of this bustling location. 'We really do not mind getting a designated area where we can pay rent and keep clean. We have been here for a long time and leaving just like that is not easy for us.' Also read: Fourways Gardens Estate plant 67 trees for 67 minutes of Mandela Day But not all the traders are willing to take this removal lying down. 'We are not just going to move quietly this time around,' said Lindi Mothali, vowing to seek guidance from various government departments. Mothali, and fellow traders, are demanding, not only a right to their livelihoods, but also a seat at the table in future decision-making processes. 'It's painful, because we get our items from the mall,' said Margaret Seanego, highlighting the close economic ties that bind them to the mall's ecosystem. Seanego said she has spent decades trading at this intersection, and she laments that her removal now endangers her ability to support her grandchildren. 'We just need them to show a little compassion and work with us, because we are also customers at the mall.' Foley, at the time, said the law is clear, hawking is not permitted on provincial roads. He also confirmed that the removal of the hawkers was lawful. Also read: Lonehill residents create 'Garden of Eden' at shopping centre with indigenous plants Trees to bring shade and beauty, but at what cost? In a few short months, a soft, green canopy of Celtis Africana trees will stretch over parts of Winnie Mandela Drive and Fourways Boulevard. Hardy, evergreen, and low-maintenance, the species was specifically chosen to line the streets leading up to Fourways Mall as part of the beautification project which is now in full swing. The trees, 200 in total, were donated by Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo to enhance the environment around the mall. They're being carefully planted by local landscaping company, We Serve Landscaping, headed by Ishmael Mutileni His team has already begun work along the key arteries surrounding the mall, including Cedar Road. 'These are not just any trees,' Mutileni explained. 'Celtis Africana are perfect for urban spaces. They don't damage infrastructure with their roots and they stay lush during their season. In just a few months, this area will be transformed.' Also read: Fourways resident fed up with eye sore vendors taking over Winnie Mandela Drive The project has been championed by Fourways Mall representative Nicho Mbhumi, who described the current phase as a milestone. 'I'm very happy, because this is what I needed to see. We want to improve the aesthetic of the mall for the community, environment, and people who are coming to the area. I can't wait for them to bloom and show off their beauty. 'We understand that the informal traders are trying to make a living, but law enforcement is also important. We were very understanding when we were enforcing the law. Nobody's goods were impounded. We simply explained why they can't be here,' said Mbhumi. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
The Citizen
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
200 trees signal new aesthetic chapter for Fourways Mall after trader clearance
There's something quietly powerful about trees. How they soften a space, offer shade, and everything else that's green. For the community around Fourways Mall, 200 newly donated trees are about to do just that. Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo has handed over the trees to support the mall's beautification project, which began a few weeks ago with the removal of informal traders along Winnie Mandela Drive and Fourways Boulevard. The joint operation with the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and the Fourways Improvement District made space for something new to take root, literally. Also read: Sunninghill residents rally to keep their streets litter-free Nicho Mbhumi, representing Fourways Mall and spearheading the beautification project from the very beginning, said he's thrilled about this next phase. 'I'm very happy, because this is what I needed to see. We want to improve the aesthetic of the mall for the community, environment, and people who are coming to the area. I can't wait for them to bloom and show off their beauty. We are so grateful to City Parks for these beautiful trees.' The tree planting is being done in partnership with Ishmael Mutileni, from We Serve Landscaping, who is carefully planting the tree species around the mall, lining Winnie Mandela Drive, stretching from the intersection onto Fourways Boulevard and down to Cedar Road, and including the verges on the road. Also read: Fourways Mall rises from the ashes with a multimillion rand revamp According to Mutileni, the transformation won't take long. Once in the ground, the trees are expected to bloom in a few months, bringing life, colour, and a sense of renewal to the heart of Fourways. 'The trees are called Celtis Africana. They were selected because they are beautifully evergreen during their season, and they don't have invasive roots, which might damage the road. They are also very low in maintenance.' Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
06-07-2025
- The Citizen
Hawkers on Winnie Mandela Drive cry abuse
Lindy Mothali, Blessing Mlambo, Margaret Seanego, and a group of informal traders operating along William Mandela Drive say they are fed up with being shifted from one location to another with no permanent solution in sight. The hawkers, who have been selling goods in the area for years, say they are now reaching a breaking point, after their recent removal by Fourways Mall management, Ward 94 councillor David Foley, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), and private security officers from the Fourways Improvement District. The traders were evicted from their trading spots on Winnie Mandela Drive and Fourways Boulevard, both of which are classified as provincial roads where hawking is prohibited. But the hawkers argue that this enforcement is unfair and lacks compassion. According to them, this is not the first time they've been removed. Many say they were previously displaced from other intersections before settling there. 'Before we came here, we were chased from other places too. Now, again, we are being told to move. We're tired of being moved like cattle,' said Mothali. 'Some of us were selling here before the mall was even built.' The hawkers claim they have documentation reflecting their attempts to formalise their trading. One such paper, seen by Fourways Review, lists exactly Winnie Mandela Drive as the road for Mothali to operate on legally. 'I got these papers from the health department, but [JMPD] say they are not correct papers,' she added. 'Another problem is that the authorities don't include us in their meetings. They come here already decided and that is not right. We also have rights, as hawkers, in the constitution. We also need a share of the pie. #Illegaltrading ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North @caxtonjoburgnorth Blessing Mlambo, as well a group of other informal traders who moved to the other side of Fourways Boulevard and Winnie Mandela Drive after being removed from their spots for a beatification project by Fourways Mall, says they are not willing to move just like that this time around. #Fourwaysmall Adding to their fear is the looming threat of yet another forced removal. According to Mothali, JMPD officers and security personnel warned them earlier this week that they will be cleared out again on July 7. 'It's going to be bad for us,' said Seanego, who supports her grandchildren through her trading. 'They take our stock when they come. That stock is my bread. My grandchildren depend on it because the grant money isn't enough.' Seanego says what hurts the most is that she buys her goods from Fourways Mall to sell to passing motorists and pedestrians. 'We support the mall. We buy from them. We contribute to their business. So, why can't they work with us, not against us?' The hawkers say they feel excluded from key conversations that affect their livelihoods. They've now formed a WhatsApp group to discuss their next steps and share information. 'All we need is a designated area where we can sell. We do not mind paying rent and taking care of the place, but [officials] don't know that, because we are not involved in the meetings where decisions are made about us. We also have rights. We just want to be heard and to work with the system, not be crushed by it,' said Mlambo. Foley confirmed that the recent action was lawful, saying that hawking is not permitted on provincial roads. He urged traders to engage the city through the proper channels for legal trading space. This is a developing story. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
19-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Law vs livelihood: JMPD removes informal traders from Winnie Mandela Drive
The streets between Winnie Mandela Drive and Boulevard Road, just before Fourways Mall, are usually bustling with activity, and it is all thanks to the informal traders who call this spot their workplace. That all changed on June 19 when JMPD officers swooped in, removing the informal traders and their stalls. The move was based on a call to action from the Fourways Improvement District, a non-profit company, Fourways Mall, and Ward 94 councillor David Foley, who said it is for a very specific reason: 'It's against the law to trade on provincial roads.' Also read: Informal traders, pointsmen, and traffic light tamperers, your days in Fourways are numbered Foley said that the area is slated for a beautification project, aimed at making the spot more welcoming to the visitors and shoppers at Fourways Mall. 'We are planning to beautify the area with plants, so that it is welcoming for people who plan to come to the businesses. It will also be easier for officers to monitor the area.' What does this mean for the informal traders who rely on this spot to make a living? Fatima Mashaba, from Diepsloot, said she started trading in the area in 2022. 'I don't know where to go because this is my only means of income. What is it that my kids are going to eat? I am aware it is against the law, because this is not the first time that the police came to remove us from the area, but there are no jobs. What can we do?' Also read: Community funding initiative continues in order to fence off informal settlement @caxtonjoburgnorth An informal trader on Winnie Mandela Drive and Boulevard Road in Fourways tries to negotiate if authorities can place them elsewhere to trade after being removed from the area. Video: Ditiro Masuku ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North She is not the only one, a second trader, who asked not to be identified, said the authorities should've issued them a warning about their visit, so that they could plan. 'It is not fair because it means today I did not make enough money. If they told us that they were coming, or said: 'Okay, today is your last day, tomorrow don't come here', it would've been better.' Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
13-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Court ruling leads to business rescue for Azrapart, owner of Fourways Mall
The South Gauteng High Court has put Azrapart, which owns half of South Africa's largest shopping center, Fourways Mall, under business rescue after it was unable to pay Investec and First Rand Bank R2.8 billion. Image: Fourways Mall/Facebook The South Gauteng High Court has put Azrapart, which owns half of South Africa's largest shopping center, Fourways Mall, under business rescue after it was unable to pay Investec and First Rand Bank R2.8 billion. Azrapart's only business activity relates to the joint ownership and management of Fourways Mall, a super-regional shopping centre in Fourways, Johannesburg. The other half of the mall is owned by listed fund APF. Azrapart is controlled by Eriologix, which is in turn controlled by the Michael Family Trust. The ruling caps off a series of court matters, including one in March in which both Investec and First Rand Bank, acting through its Rand Merchant Bank, argued that Azrapart owed them R2.3 billion, which it was unable to pay. 'As a result, the court found that there is no doubt strong indications that the first respondent is in financial distress,' the latest ruling handed down earlier this month stated. To further complicate matters, in May 2024, the Competition Tribunal decided that the two banks that successfully placed Azrapart under business rescue, could take control of the mall owner in a bid to restructure Azrapart's debt. In March this year, Azrapart argued that it was in the process of finalising a transaction with Redcore Hospitality, a company registered in the United Kingdom. In terms of this transaction, it would receive a capital injection of R2.6 billion. This, the mall owner argued, would enable it to pay its debt. 'In an affidavit filed on behalf of the first respondent, there was an undertaking that the first respondent [Azrapart] would make payment of the R2.6 billion so received to the applicants [Investec and First Rand], which would be more than sufficient to cover the liability of the first respondent towards the applicants.' In the March ruling, the issue arose of whether this amount would be paid, and final judgment for the banks' application to have Azrapart placed under administration. Between March and June, Azrapart filed several applications indicating that the cash injection would be forthcoming. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading However, a subsequent investigation revealed that Redcore didn't actually have the money it needed to pay Azrapart. 'It appears then that, having regard to all the information placed before it, this Court still cannot find with any measure of certainty that the R2.6bn will be transferred to the first respondent by Redcore. It follows that the first respondent should now be placed in business rescue,' the South Gauteng High Court said in June. It added that this will 'enable the independent rescue practitioners to assess any agreement with Redcore, and if determined viable, to pursue such transactions further in the first respondent's business rescue proceedings'. Under the latest ruling, Piers Marsden and Lance Schapiro have been appointed as joint interim business rescue practitioners. As part of the process, the mall owner has been placed under supervision. The Fourways Mall partnership came about in 2015, when the Competition Tribunal approved a merger between Accelerate Property Fund and Azrapart, owners of property in the Fourways area. 'It was found that neither merger would have an impact on competition,' it said. IOL
