Video: Security system re-programmed
The busy hustle and bustle at the new phase of the Middelburg Mall was brought to a halt on Friday when a security alarm requested all patrons to vacate the building.
Confused shoppers made their way to various exits, some carrying with them plates of food they ordered from restaurants. Despite the deafening alarm and warning announcement, a number of shoppers opted to continue with their shopping.
Minutes later, everything returned to normal and it was business as usual. Only one shop remained closed.
Chicken Licken staff and patrons waited outside the closed doors of a dark restaurant. A journalist who was at the mall by chance asked the staff members why the restaurant was still closed and without electricity.
An unknown staff member said that they ‘nearly had big trouble’ and mentioned a fire in the kitchen area.
Janet Nel, a client who was in Chicken Licken at the time of the incident, said that there was a power cut moments before the security alarm went off. According to her she could see that something was wrong in the kitchen.
The owner of Chicken Licken, Farouk Ghani, said that there was no fire.
“It was a power cut in the mall’s main board. We requested management to come out and the problem was fixed.”
The whole incident lasted around 30 minutes Mr Ghani said.
Jannie Prinsloo, Middelburg Mall Operational Manager, said that it was pure coincidence that the security alarm went off at the same time that Chicken Licken’s power tripped.
Mr Prinsloo said that the alarm went off when someone tampered with one of the “break-glass systems” designed for emergencies.
The security system in the new phase was programmed wrong, causing the alarm to sound immediately after an emergency glass is broken or tampered with.
It has since been re-programmed to first send an emergency signal to the Middelburg Mall control room upon which a security guard will investigate and determine if an evacuation is necessary.
Mr Prinsloo said that the power cut at Chicken Licken was caused by a problem with one of the breakers in the kitchen.
“We have since re-programmed the system and it will not happen again. So next time you hear the alarm, you can know that there really is an emergency and evacuate.”
