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13/12/2007 11:54 AM - (SA) 'I feel unsafe at Mall' 13-12-2007
I took my nine-year-old daughter to the women's toilets in the middle of the 09:45 movie we were watching at the Somerset Mall last week. As she came out of her cubicle, a man emerged from another. I was talking to her, so he must have been aware of our presence. The man began calmly washing his hands at the basin next to us, as if it was perfectly normal for him to be there. I left quickly, found one of the movie theatre staff and informed her of the situation. After a brief search, we found him trying to leave through an emergency exit, mere steps away from the toilets. He claimed to be lost and the staff member let him go on his way. A theatre-goer who had observed the incident, said he had seen the same man walking around the area for about 30 minutes, smoking. I'm very suspicious of the man's behaviour. He was white, in his mid-40's, of medium height, and quite slim. He had straight black hair, cut neatly. He was wearing a blue and khaki safari or farm-style shirt. When the movie was over, I spoke to a second Ster-Kinekor staff member, who appeared very worried when I described the incident to him. As a result of this experience, I don't feel it's safe for my children - or even us as adults - to be at the Mall. I subsequently contacted Somerset Mall operations manager Steve Fourie about the events. He was very sympathetic on the phone, but after promising to contact me later that same day, I have yet to hear from him. I'd like to know exactly what the management team is doing to step up security during the festive season and beyond. I shudder to think what could have happened to my little girl had she gone to the loo alone. Many parents bring their children to the movies, check that they are settled in their seats and then leave them alone to watch a movie while they go shopping. Ster-Kinekor general manager, Neil D'Oliveira, replies: I was very disturbed to read your letter regarding the incident at our cinemas. This is the first time anything of this nature has been reported to me and I take it very seriously. Ster-Kinekor Theatres falls under the centre management security and with whom we work very closely. Everyone who enters our cinemas does so by means of a valid cinema ticket and I am sure you will appreciate it is difficult to judge anyone's intentions; but we do report suspicious behaviour to centre security. And we did so in this instance. Our staff check all the cinemas during each screening and there is always staff on duty in the foyer as well as a duty manager. In the light of this incident we have briefed our staff to be vigilant during this period. I would urge our customers to ensure they accompany their young children to the movies and exercise the normal caution that you would at any other public place. Somerset Mall general manager, Mandy Bellamy, writes: Somerset Mall management security is not directly responsible for Ster-Kinekor's internal premises and toilet facilities, however, when called upon will be there to assist or take control of the situation. This said incident within the Ster-Kinekor toilet facility was not reported to centre security by Ster-Kinekor. However, the reported incident is regarded as a very serious nature and mall management security have been briefed together with Ster-Kinekor personnel, including the Ster-Kinekor cleaners to ensure increased awareness. We urge parents to accompany their children and exercise more awareness within public places and report any suspicious behaviour to individual stores as well as centre security or centre management.
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