Maerua Mall Unsafe At Night

LAST night, my son and a few of his friends – a group of five in total – were wandering around at Maerua Mall.

They were walking towards Checkers when they were accosted by a group of about 20 youths. The next minute, without any provocation or reason, this group of hooligans attacked them and assaulted them with “knuckle-dusters”, etc.Some of my son’s friends were injured so badly that they had to be taken to hospital for treatment.All of them had to be treated for shock.My son quickly realised that they were hopelessly outnumbered by four to one and would never be able to defend themselves against these assailants.However, what made matters worse was: 1.the fact that no security guard was in sight to offer any assistance; 2.that my son, upon running to summon help from security guards he found standing outside the cinema, was told that they could not help; 3.that three security guards stood by and watched what was happening and did absolutely nothing to assist; and 4.that when one of the parents returned to the mall (after having taken the boys to hospital for treatment and having gone to the police station to lay a charge of assault), the same group of hooligans were still there, seated outside Steers restaurant, laughing and joking.I wonder why Maerua Mall pays a security firm to guard the premises if they are merely the “toothless dogs” they claim to be.Not one was able to call the Police because they claimed not to know the telephone number.This is quite simply beyond belief! What are they actually there for? To act as observers of goings-on at the Mall or to safeguard the patrons who visit the place? Barbara van der Westhuizen Via e-mailThe next minute, without any provocation or reason, this group of hooligans attacked them and assaulted them with “knuckle-dusters”, etc.Some of my son’s friends were injured so badly that they had to be taken to hospital for treatment.All of them had to be treated for shock.My son quickly realised that they were hopelessly outnumbered by four to one and would never be able to defend themselves against these assailants.However, what made matters worse was: 1.the fact that no security guard was in sight to offer any assistance; 2.that my son, upon running to summon help from security guards he found standing outside the cinema, was told that they could not help; 3.that three security guards stood by and watched what was happening and did absolutely nothing to assist; and 4.that when one of the parents returned to the mall (after having taken the boys to hospital for treatment and having gone to the police station to lay a charge of assault), the same group of hooligans were still there, seated outside Steers restaurant, laughing and joking.I wonder why Maerua Mall pays a security firm to guard the premises if they are merely the “toothless dogs” they claim to be.Not one was able to call the Police because they claimed not to know the telephone number.This is quite simply beyond belief! What are they actually there for? To act as observers of goings-on at the Mall or to safeguard the patrons who visit the place? Barbara van der Westhuizen Via e-mail