Shocking Ster-Kinekor, Mimosa Mall Experience

My husband and I took my mother who is 79 and, in a wheelchair, to see the 7:30 show of Bohemian Rhapsody at Ster-Kinekor, Mimosa Mall, Bloemfontein on Tuesday (19/02/2019). Knowing that disabled access might be a problem, I googled Mimosa Ster Kinekor to get their number to phone in advance. Their SK Ticket Line number ( ********** 437) came up first on my search. I phoned the number and spoke to Creswell. Creswell assisted me to book 3 tickets in the bottom row of the cinema which could be accessed via the emergency entrance with a wheelchair, our reference number for the seats WNX4XJF. Before finalising the booking, I requested Creswell to make a note on our booking that we will need assistance to access the cinema via the emergency entrance. Creswell phoned the Mimosa Mall branch and spoke to the manager Thulisile who confirmed that access would not be a problem. When we got to the cinema no one knew we would need assistance but opened the back entrance for us which was locked in the hallway with a devil’s fork gate. After the movie ended we waited for the lights to be switched on and for someone to come and fetch us. It never happened. My husband then went out of the cinema to try and find someone to assist, all staff had left the cinema. He then had to drag my mother up two flights of stairs while I lit the way behind him with my mobile phone to assist him not to fall, as it was dark. When we got out of the cinema doors he then again had to lower her down two flights of stairs again to get out of the theater. Once we were out we tried to use the wheelchair lift provided to get to the floor where from you can exit the mall. This too did not work, and he had to drag her up another flight of stairs.

This is shocking firstly because it is a public building with no disabled access. Secondly, we arranged in advance and were assured that there would be no problems, yet all staff left knowing that we were stuck inside the cinema. And thirdly should a fire break out in the Mimosa Mall cinema, where a fire broke out only months earlier at their Shoprite Checkers, all the people inside would have been locked in as the emergency access route is locked with a gate.