UPDATE: BOULDERS CENTRE MANAGER SUSPENDED

Jose Maponyane, the Boulders Shopping Centre Manager who requested a man dressed in traditional attire to leave “his mall” has been suspended effective immediately.

The real owners of Boulders Shopping Centre, Redefine Properties said that the manager has been “suspended pending an internal investigation into the matter”

This is after the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) visited the mall in Halfway House, Midrand early this morning and public outcry over the viral video.

Saddest reality in Africa, I was subjected to inside the @Clicks_SA store at The Boulders Shopping Center. By the center manager, who said it was his shopping complex. I was told that I'm wearing inappropriate I must go & Omega risk solutions harassed me #NdebeleTwitter pic.twitter.com/klzmTQspJO
— #WeNeedAmaNdebeleOnTV (@thandomahlangu_) March 24, 2021

See Redefine Properties Statement Below:

“The events that unfolded at the Boulders Shopping Centre yesterday are most regrettable. It is imperative that we, as Redefine, take this opportunity to reiterate every South African’s right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought and belief as protected in section 15 of the Constitution. In addition, given South Africa’s painful, racial and culturally oppressive past, we also align ourselves with the provisions of section 31 of the Constitution where the rights belonging to a cultural and religious group may not be denied.”

“Redefine therefore distances itself from the degrading and undignified manner in which Mr Thando Mahlangu and Ms Nqobile Masuku were treated by the Centre Manager. The treatment meted out to Mr Mahlangu and Ms Masuku was devoid of the principles of human dignity and equality which underpin our constitutional democracy. In this vein, Redefine not only apologises to Mr Mahlangu and Ms Masuku, but it does so to the Ndebele nation as a whole and to all South Africans.”

“The Boulders’ Centre Manager has been suspended pending an internal investigation into the matter. It is imperative for Redefine to communicate that we are alive to the fact that no outcome of an internal action is capable of undoing the pain and embarrassment the action has caused.”

“We respect the choice of all South Africans to dress, associate and assert their identity and cultural beliefs. As an immediate measure, we will strengthen diversity training efforts to all our Centre Managers. This matter has also illuminated for us, the need to continually review and revise our internal policies on an on-going basis, in order to ensure that our policies are brought in line with the values and principles that recognise and celebrate the multitude of cultures that make up our diverse nation.”

“We are in the process of attempting to reach Mr Mahlangu to apologise to him in person.”