Human chain event protests Makro in Magaliessig

Saturday 19 November 2011 saw residents of Magaliessig, Fourways gathering on the corner of Witkoppen and Leslie Roads from 9 to 11am for a non-confrontational human chain event opposing the Makro development planned for the suburb.

Magaliessig is a quiet, leafy residential area within Fourways and motorists would be forgiven for being surprised by the scores of placard-wielding residents who turned out for the event.

Children, families and elderly residents of the Merrow Down Country Club held placards bearing slogans such as “Would you want Makro in your backyard?”, “Walmart, this is a residential area!”, “No Makro here” and “Walmart, welcome to South Africa but you’re not welcome here”.

One 89-year old resident voiced her objections by standing on the corner of the busy Witkoppen Road, waving her placard and loudly blowing on a vuvuzela.

Five emergency service vehicles, two Tactical Reaction Services vehicles, the JMPD and the SAPS were also present at the event.

Members of the local K9 training school, currently housed on the land where Makro intends to build, turned out in full force. Humans and their canine counterparts joined the human chain to make their voices (and barks) heard.

The message of the event was clear – residents will not give up the fight. The human chain event aimed to reinforce the objections to the building of a Makro in the Magaliessig residential suburb, to raise community spirit and awareness and to voice the objections to Walmart (which has recently acquired a majority share in Massmart, the company that owns Makro).

The community held a similar event in March 2010 and has been fighting the 20 000 square metre commercial development since the plan to build a Makro was first announced.

“The battle continues,” a 70-year old resident said, “We’re not giving up. We don’t want a Makro in Magaliessig. Makro should go where it’s wanted.”

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Human chain event protests Makro in Magaliessig