DURBAN - MSUNDUZI mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla will lay the first ceremonial brick tomorrow signifying the rebuilding of the Brookside Mall that was destroyed during the riots and looting in July.
The municipality said the rebuilding signified hope for the city, where several shopping centres were destroyed. Brookside Mall was among the worst affected, as parts of it were set alight and consumed by fire.
Thebolla will on Tuesday lead a multidisciplinary municipal team to witness the start of the Brookside Mall rebuilding process, said the city in a statement.
“The multimillion shopping mall, boasting multinational retail chain stores such as Shoprite, Clicks, Pep and many others, was looted, vandalised and burnt during the recent unrest that hit KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
“In a spirit of appreciation and an effort to encourage businesses to rebuild and re-invest in the City of Pietermaritzburg, the mayor will be part of this significant occasion which bears testimony to the business sector’s commitment to rebuilding, renewal and rejuvenating what was destroyed during the unrest,” it said.
Media reports have revealed that a 35-year-old man, Khetho Zuma, was arrested and appeared in court for his alleged involvement in July’s looting and torching of the Brookside Mall.
The report on the matter said it was alleged that he was involved in the incitement of public violence through social media and other platforms during the period of unrest, and as a result, Brookside Mall was broken into and criminal activities such as theft of goods occurred.
THE MERCURY