Welkom’s once iconic mall ripped apart brick by brick

Once a beacon of modernity and a bustling community hub, Amogela Mall, formerly known as Liberty Centre, now stands as a crumbling symbol of urban decay in the center of Welkom, Free State.

It was celebrated as the city’s first major shopping destination when it opened in September 1985, but has since devolved into a hazardous crime hotspot, its shattered glory reflecting a city grappling with neglect, economic decline, and lawlessness.

When Liberty Centre opened its doors, it was a monumental achievement for Welkom.

Strategically located on Mooi Street in the central business district, bordered by Welkom Central Park, the 16,000-square-meter mall was designed for accessibility, with taxi ranks and a large underground parking garage.

It boasted Welkom’s first escalator, sleek glass panels, and an atrium with a memorable waterfall that became a nostalgic touchstone for many residents.

The mall housed major retailers like Edgars, Clicks, and Ackermans, alongside specialty shops.

Eateries like Talk of the Town, Giovanni’s for pizza, and Wimpy for burgers drew large crowds, while the Essanelle salon buzzed with clients seeking the latest hairstyles.

Beyond retail, locals recall how it fostered a vibrant community life.

Its outdoor amenities included a putt-putt course, an outdoor chess board, a jungle gym, a sand pit, an aviary with exotic birds, and an amphitheatre set amidst lush gardens.

The mall hosted major events like the Miss Goldfields pageant and memorable moments, such as a helicopter dropping money.

Teenagers flocked to Ster Kinekor for movie nights or pub lunches at Gilly’s Grill (later JJ’s).

As the Welkom community site Naudeville recalled in a recent post, it was a place where “black and white folks shopped side by side, ignoring apartheid’s ugliness,” drawn together by the lively atmosphere.

By 2009, the mall was thriving, with every shop occupied and a steady stream of visitors, earning its reputation as the “heartbeat” of Welkom.

“I have a lot of fond memories of the Liberty Centre,” said resident Jessica De Freitas. “It was very popular with lots of people visiting.”

“There was a big Reggie’s there that I used to go crazy about as a kid. My family and I would often have a big Wimpy breakfast on a Sunday together, it was full of light and was a beautiful place that we all treasured.”

The seeds of decline

It has been long reported that Welkom’s economy has seen a significant decline due to the major contraction of its gold mining industry, leading to widespread job losses, high unemployment, and outward migration of many residents and businesses with capital. 

This economic downturn has resulted in deteriorated infrastructure, a collapsed housing market where properties have become liabilities, and increased social disruption within the community.  

The mall’s decline is said to have begun with the opening of Goldfields Mall nearby, which siphoned off major retailers and foot traffic.

This shift plunged Liberty Centre, later renamed Amogela Mall, into financial distress.

By 2021, even Choppies, a grocery store introduced to try to revive the mall, had closed, and by late 2022, half the shops stood empty, with only a few struggling to survive.

The mall’s financial woes deepened with a series of sales and liquidations. In 2021, it was sold for R35 million, but the new owner faced bond issues, leading to liquidation proceedings.

By 2023, the mall was auctioned again for R19 million, and in March 2024, it was back on the auction block with an opening bid of R9 million, reflecting its plummeting value.

Despite its dilapidated state, auctioneers described the property as an “upmarket, clean and secure location” with “sleek lines exuding elegance,” a stark contrast to its grim reality.

A fire in June 2024 damaged several shops and shattered glass doors, further exacerbating these issues.

The mall’s structural integrity had become a significant concern, with former business owners warning of “significant structural risks” and a “possibility of collapse, endangering lives.”

While police are investigating the fire, social media speculation points to alleged drug users, who are known to inhabit the abandoned structure, as possible culprits.

A crumbling shell

Today, Amogela Mall is a shadow of its former self, described by residents as a “crumbling reminder of Welkom’s declining city center” and a “hazardous crime spot.”

All that is left are shells of what was once a mall. Walls and plundered equipment were stripped during vandalism and looting.

“I have watched them steal this building, brick by brick. It’s sad cause we can’t do anything. They are dangerous,” Nomsa, an elderly vendor on the adjacent street, told Newsday.

“The people that are there now smoke nyaope (concoctions of substances like rat poison, household detergents, ammonia, chlorine, ARVs, brown heroin, tik and dagga) and are very dangerous. They stole my phone with a knife the one day,” she added.

Reported criminal activities in the looted area, including daylight robbery, drug transactions, prostitution, and theft of copper wires, pipes, and doors, have turned the mall into a “hazardous drug haven.”

Looters reportedly drive vehicles inside to haul away metal beams and roofing sheets, while paving bricks are sold for R1 on-site.

Some shacks around Welkom have allegedly been built using materials scavenged from the mall.

Residents claim that police often stand by, stating they cannot act without a complaint from the property owner, whose identity remains unclear amid the mall’s troubled ownership history.

While there is no mention of plans for the area in the municipality’s recent IDP, given that it is not its property, it did not the need to improve safety and security in the area:

“Visible policing, new police stations to cater for the growing developments in various towns and the enforcement of by-laws are major challenges raised,” it noted.

“Cleaning of open spaces and renovations of abandoned buildings to reduce crime is key as some are used as a haven for thugs and drug syndicates.”

This has severely impacted surrounding businesses, with owners reporting that rising crime rates are driving customers away due to safety concerns.

“This is a prime example of the broken window theory in effect. The deterioration of the mall has sped up the deterioration of the area,” said DA councilor Coreen Malherbe.

“Law enforcement and the municipality have shown no will to stop the looting of the mall. Now, it sits as a shell.”

Efforts to revive the mall, such as appointing cleaning and security companies around 2018, were short-lived, overshadowed by Welkom’s broader economic struggles as a gold-mining town.

With its infrastructure deteriorating and criminal activity unchecked, many lament the sad tale of the community hub.

Its vibrant memories, of bustling shops, community events, and shared moments, risk being lost beneath the mess of neglect and decay.

“It’s become super unsafe now, with lots of crime occurring in the area, specifically there,” said De Freitas.

“It truly is a huge let down and has been such a shameful representation of what Welkom has become.”