Long-awaited mall, friend or foe?

The long-awaited Princess Mkabayi Mall officially opened its doors to the public on Thursday. His Majesty the King of the Zulu Nation, MisuZulu kaZwelithini, cut the ribbon at a prestigious event the previous day.
The mall has been in the pipeline for a number of years. The Moolman Group – which is also a co-owner of Twin City, JB Holdings and Green Giraffe – has planned and delivered an impressive retail centre for the community of Vryheid and other communities in a radius of almost 100km. Steph Beyers of the Moolman Group says, “The Princess Mkabayi Mall is more than just a shopping centre – it’s a vibrant community hub that celebrates the rich heritage of KwaZulu-Natal. This mall is the result of years of careful planning and collaboration, and we’re incredibly proud to have brought this vision to life for the community.” The opening of the mall was greeted with mixed emotions as residents voiced their opinions on social media platforms after their first visit to the centre. Some residents are excited about the new variety of shops, while others are concerned about smaller businesses in town.

Regardless of these mixed emotions though, the mall boasts 30,740sqm and is home to over 70 retail shops, a large entertainment space and play area for children, surrounded by several eateries, as well as 800 free parking spaces. The mall has created jobs for approximately 1200 people, with the local community being prioritised when it comes to employment opportunities. Roux Shabangu of JB Holdings said, “We’ve created a retail destination that not only offers a world-class shopping experience, but also honours the legacy of Princess Mkabayi kaJama and the Zulu nation. We’re thrilled to welcome the community to their new favourite shopping centre.”
During the construction of the mall, an astonishing R50 million was ploughed back into the local economy. Local artists had the opportunity to display their creations by competing online, and these masterpieces have been incorporated throughout the mall. The mall’s design was inspired by the culture of the local community, as well as the legacy of Princess Mkabay kaJama.

Many residents were concerned about the mall’s electricity usage, since the town experiences regular power outages, but the centre has solar power and will have its own water plant for garden irrigation and other uses. Ryno de Leeuw of Twin City commented that, “The Princess Mkabayi Mall is a testament to what can be achieved when passion, expertise and commitment come together. We’re proud to have played a part in bringing this incredible project to fruition and look forward to seeing the mall thrive at the heart of the community for years to come.”

The mall is in Ward 22; Councillor Mlu Lambiso’s ward. He said that, “As a councillor for Ward 22, I am very excited about our regional mall in the Zululand District. I would like to thank all the investors in the Princess Mkabayi Mall for bringing us this huge and beautiful development in AbaQulusi Local Municipality and the Zululand District at large. I was lucky enough to be there when they were still planning this mall, right up until it was fully finalized. As the councillor for Ward 22, I was frequently in contact, as well as updated on what was happening with the development. I thank the developers for recognising me as the ward councillor.” Lambiso further stated that, “I am mostly glad about the job opportunities that came with the mall; a lot of young people benefited from this project. We hope that people in and around AbaQulusi welcome, love and embrace this new development, as there are still many projects to be built in Ward 22. Residents must be aware of false news; they should not listen to everything that’s said. If there’s something happening in wards, they should wait for councillors to inform them, because listening to just anyone may be misleading at times.”

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The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.