Elim’s Mall to benefit community
The Elim Mall that was built at a cost of R220 million has brought comprehensive, targeted convenience and fashion shopping to the doorstep of Elim residents, 80% of whom previously had to shop in other towns.
The Elim Mall that was built at a cost of R220 million has brought comprehensive, targeted convenience and fashion shopping to the doorstep of Elim residents, 80% of whom previously had to shop in other towns.
The first phase of the 17 500m² single-level shopping centre features 50 stores of market-matched retailers. Property developer, Twin City Development, Leon Jacobs Architects and Ribola Property Development, a local partner and former land owner, developed the mall.
Twin City has also acquired adjacent land as part of the joint venture, which allows it to extend the centre up to 45 000m².
Twin City Development is the owner of retail developments such as Blue Haze Mall in Hazyview, Twin City Mall in Burgersfort and Twin City Mall Bushbuckridge.
The mall design has acknowledged the importance of commuter transport systems and has incorporated a taxi rank with 72 bays, serving over 110 taxis, a bus drop-off and collection area and 884 mall parking bays. Part of the development was for the construction of a new Engen filling station.
Johan Visagie of Twin City said they had chosen a suitable location at a bustling intersection, with high traffic volumes and excellent exposure at the crossroads to Makhado, Giyani and Levubu, contributing to considerable flow past the site
“The mall also contributed to job creation and economic empowerment within the community, on an ongoing basis. More than the numerous jobs created for the ongoing operation of the mall, a centre of this size usually generates many retail job opportunities, depending on tenant needs. The developers encourage retailers to hire from the local community. During construction, some 140 workers were employed on site at peak production,” he said.
