Rondebult gets a new shopping centre
From local job opportunities to a space where families can eat, children can play and residents can gather, Rondebult Shopping Centre is preparing to open its doors on October 22.
Rondebult Shopping Centre officially opened on October 22, bringing retail stores, food outlets and family-friendly facilities to the area.
A week before the grand opening, local media, schools and community organisations were treated to a walk-through sneak peek of the new development.
According to RNS CEO and project manager Gavin Tagg, the development builds on the area’s existing retail history and growth.
He explained the family-owned property had been used for retail trading for years before plans for the shopping centre took shape.
Market research was conducted to assess the area’s potential and determine the appropriate size of the community-focused centre.
Spanning more than 25 000m², the centre has 84 tenants, with only two spaces remaining vacant at the time of the preview visit.
The retail offering includes Shoprite, Boxer, Rondebult Meat Market, fashion stores, furniture and household retailers, banks and pharmacies.
Tagg said the development was designed to give residents a place to shop while also providing space to socialise and enjoy family activities.
“It’s really a community meeting place where families can relax, watch big-screen sporting events, enjoy entertainment, let kids play and have a meal.
Bringing convenience closer to home
Social media influencer Jay’dean Langeveldt, who attended the community preview, said the centre will make everyday shopping more convenient for people living nearby.
For her, the centre’s location is particularly appealing because she lives close by.
“Convenience is number one on my list. I know this centre is going to serve my family and I well.”
Local jobs and opportunities
The development also created employment opportunities.
Tagg said people from the community had been employed during construction, while retailers were collecting CVs and interviewing prospective employees ahead of the opening.
“The centre’s community liaison officer had helped connect jobseekers with retailers. Each retailer follows its own recruitment policies, with applications considered according to company procedures and available positions.”
Njabulo Mpapane, a Rondebult resident who has worked in construction since 2014, said he had worked with the centre’s construction company across different projects.
“They employed both skilled and unskilled labour, giving those with less experience an opportunity to learn.”
While he is happy shopping is now more accessible than destinations such as Dawn Park, Germiston and Brakpan, Mpapane did raise concerns about the effects the new shopping centre will have on existing flea market traders.
Tagg explained theexisting flea market, which had to be moved during construction, is expected to return to its original site in an upgraded environment.
He acknowledged the role it plays in supporting local entrepreneurs and families who rely on the income it generates.
The centre’s grand opening on October 22 will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, community performances, entertainment, giveaways and family-friendly activities.
Celebrations will continue over the following weekends, including the Our Place, Our Moves street dance competition, where local talent will compete for a share of R10 000 in prizes.
With its message, “This Is Our Place,” the centre aims to create a space where residents can shop, meet and enjoy shared experiences close to home.
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