Guards explain how distancing rules work at mall in Katlehong

Similar to the situation at many malls across South Africa, only a limited number of shoppers are allowed at one time inside Sam Ntuli Mall in Katlehong, to maintain the law on social distancing.

Old people, people with disabilities and people with special conditions such as pregnant women do not stand in the line, they go through.

Sam Ntuli Mall is situated on the corner of Khumalo and Masakhane Street in Katlehong on the East Rand. Only essential stores are open, following the government’s instructions. These include Clicks, Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Meat World, Thabong Pharmacy and all the ATMs.

The stores are open from 08:00-18:00 and shoppers are ordered to wait outside the mall grounds in a queue.

Alfred Nephalaman, supervisor of Knights Protection Service, said, “Maintaining social distancing in the outside line is difficult because the people only do that for a short time, then get back close to each other again.”  

Nephalaman continued that there are seven Knights security guards at the mall; three guards inside the stores with the help of the stores’ own security guards, two guards monitoring the gate and one guard in the receiving area.

“The security guards inside the stores inform the guards who are at the gate about the number of people inside. They allow 20-50 people inside the mall, depending on the feedback they get from the guards inside,” he said. 

Thabiso Mamabolo, a security guard from Knights Protection Service working inside the mall, said, “On busy days such as pay day we get help from the South African Police Service (SAPS) and metro police to help, as there are many people who come to the mall.”

People with cars have to park in the designated area outside and join the lines.

Pearl Ndlovu, a shopper waiting in the line outside, said, “It is my first time coming to shop here since the nationwide lockdown and I came in a car. I had to join the line because the security guards said cars are not allowed to go inside the mall grounds. Everyone has to join the line.”

She said, “The line is not bad, it moves fast but it is quite hard to maintain the one-metre distancing because people get close to each other as the line moves.”