This is Cingiswa Mtabati, project community liaison officer of Thembalethu Square, speaking about the opening of the first formal shopping facility in Thembalethu next Thursday 30 August.
The R60-million shopping centre, designed by Boets Smuts of Smuts & De Kock Architects, is providing permanent jobs for about 380 people, and according to Mtabati, almost all of them are from Thembalethu. Shoprite's full-fledged branch of 2 600m², for example, is under the management of Thembalethan Andile Mbobo.
"Everybody is excited about this opportunity and the convenience of having such a facility nearby. Because they will save on travelling costs, people can spend a bit more on household and other goods," said Mtabati.
"Many pensioners are grateful too, because they don't have to depend on others any longer to do their shopping. The shops are now within their reach. The mall has really created a whole lot of positiveness in the community."
Speaking on behalf of the developing company, Arengo 89, Louis van Rensburg said, "I foresee that the centre will satisfy a huge need in the community. They have only spaza shops here and I estimate there are about 60 000 people living here. It is also within easy reach of other informal areas in the area."
Thembalethu Square is a project that was supposed to have happened a few years ago. The land was put out to tender for a shopping centre by the George Municipality in 2006. It was awarded to Arengo 89, but the project never got off the ground and in 2010 the developers approached Van Rensburg when the municipality wanted to cancel the tender. Van Rensburg, together with Lood Bester and Gerhard de Klerk, bought the company. "We did some market research and approached Shoprite and Cash Build, the present anchor tenants. As soon as they committed, we set the ball rolling."
JC Joubert, a local contractor, built the centre. It is situated adjacent to the taxi rank on the corner of Sandkraal and Ngcakani Road. A filling station is also being planned next to the centre.
The Uncedo Service Taxi Associaton expressed its support for the centre recently in an interview with Myron Rabinowitz, freelance journalist of the George Herald. Chairman Whelele Mbudede told Rabinowitz that they support all new developments that will have a positive impact on the community. Although he foresaw an initial 50% drop in shopping commuters to the CBD, he anticipated that it will level off and stabilise. He pointed out that when the Garden Route Mall opened a few years ago, new routes also opened up and industry grew accordingly.
The secretary, Luvuyo Ngixi said economic development leads to increased economic activity, which in turn leads to greater movement of the population and goods. "We are in the mobility industry and will capitalise on this."
Bes Bezuidenhout, a businessman from the CBD who campaigns for the revitalisation of the town centre and has expressed concern over the opening of large malls on the outskirts of town, said that he does not oppose a shopping centre in Thembalethu. "It is so difficult for those residents to get to town, so it is only fair for them to have shops nearby."
• Die opening van Thembalethu Square is soos 'n droom wat bewaarheid word vir die gemeenskap van Thembalethu, sê Cingiswa Mtabati, gemeenskapskakelbeampte vir die winkelsentrum. Die R60 miljoen se sentrum se winkels sal volgende Donderdag, 30 Augustus vir die eerste keer sake doen.
Almost completed. The last finishing touches and fittings are still being added to Thembalethu Square.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: ALIDA DE BEER, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
