Eikestad Mall. Its central location in Stellenbosch, as well as its upstairs student accommodation, make it a well known sight amongst students. The centre lies across the road from Stellenbosch University property and has had several bomb scares in the past. PHOTO: Byron Latham
Eikestad Mall’s management has confirmed that an emergency evacuation drill was the cause for heightened activity around the shopping centre on Monday, 24 February.
It was, however, a scheduled event and as such there was no need for concern, said Ronelle le Roux, marketing manager of Eikestad Mall.
“The drill was conducted in conjunction with the local fire department, SAPS, Emergency Services, Law Enforcement, Disaster Management and Fidelity Security Services,” said Le Roux, in a statement following the drill.
Eikestad Mall is obliged by health and safety regulations to ensure that emergency procedures are in place, Le Roux said.
“The alley” that runs through the centre and is often used by Stellenbosch residents going between Bird and Andringa streets. The alley was closed off by security personnel during Monday’s emergency evacuation drill. PHOTO: Byron Latham
Store owner, Rehmat Tasawar, stated that the drill occurs roughly every six months.
“Two days before the drill, they gave us papers explaining the situation so that we don’t need to worry about it. So the bomb is just people talking about it,” said Tasawar.
Throughout 2018 and 2019, Eikestad Mall has often featured in the news due to several bomb scares.
Store owner Rehmat Tasawar mans his store in Eikestad Mall. Tasawar states that he is happy with the scheduled drills as they help avoid future issues with mall maintenance. He said that talk of a bomb scare may be attributed to “people just talking about it”. PHOTO: Byron Latham
Although Monday’s event was a planned one, residents who live above the centre mentioned that bomb scares have frequently happened in the past.
The bomb scares had led to annoyance amongst tenants, said Caiti Buenk, a postgraduate student at Stellenbosch University and a resident in a complex above the centre.
“Last year, in April, there were three bomb scares in one month and they [the bomb squad unit] often take up to four hours to clear the mall. Because it happened frequently, you had to carry everything you needed on campus. If you had a test you needed to have everything with you because you wouldn’t know when you could get back to your house. It is really inconvenient and often police at the scene aren’t able to give you an update,” said Buenk.