R400m Emoyeni Mall is a real opportunity
During an exclusive interview co-owner, Mr Dominic Mdluli, said the development was progressing well as the levelling of the 35 000 square-metre stand was completed last week.
MSOGWABA – Travelling long distances for shopping will soon be a thing of the past for thousands of residents of Msogwaba and surrounding communities as the development of a R400 million Emoyeni Mall is set to commence.
During an exclusive interview co-owner, Mr Dominic Mdluli, said the development was progressing well as the levelling of the 35 000 square-metre stand was completed last week.
“We are currently busy with the adjudication of contractors who are expected to be on site to start with the project between March and April.”
Mdluli says the mall will be beneficial to the community of Pienaar and surrounding areas, “A total of 1 400 jobs will be created during the construction phase and 1 000 permanent positions will be created after its completion.”
He says they have already received thousands of job applications.
The mall will house well-known retailers such as Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Cashbuild, Truworths, Pep Stores, Milady’s, banks, a filling station, food courts, children’s court and many more advanced facilities. It is scheduled to open by April 2015.
When asked how he came up with the idea of developing a mall in Pienaar as the area was notorious for its crime, he said he started planning the development way back in 2004. He said it needed a lot of planning, research and perseverance.
“It was not easy to achieve what we have now. I knocked on so many doors, trying to attract investors.
Many rejected my idea. They couldn’t believe it but some were positive. I’ve suffered 10 years loss of income because I had to invest in paying consultants such as land surveyors, a town planner and others to do with this development.
“Some had a lot of questions on how I could bring a mall to Pienaar because of the town’s background. Hard work, determination, having a vision, passion and zeal has kept me going with my partners Jacky Poeng and McCormick Property Group.”
Mdluli added that for the purpose of this project, six homesteads located closer to the site were evaluated and residents were given a choice to choose if they wanted the developers to build them houses or to be paid. “Three families agreed and we have already paid them even more than their homes were worth after being evaluated. However, we still have not convinced three other families to relocate, but we believe a decision will soon be reached.”
He said he had title deeds for the land and the local councillor had been requested to intervene. When asked about the development of another mall in Msogwaba, Mdluli said the application for the development of Emoyeni Mall was approved in 2008 by Council Resolution and they would object to having competitors.
