By Nangamso Mabindla
5 June 2006

THE first sod has been turned in multimillion rand shopping development in Mdantsane, with Buffalo City mayor, Zintle Peter, performing the honours.

Billion Property Group chairperson Sisa Ngebulana and members of the local business community attended the ceremony, on Monday, 5 June.

The shopping complex will be constructed at a cost of some R300-million.

Because of its size Mdantsane deserved to have a shopping mall, said Ngebulana, explaining the black economic empowerment group's investment.

"Townships like Soweto have shopping malls," he said. "As a result, we decided that as the second largest township in the country Mdantsane deserved to have its own mall."

Ngebulana, who was born in East London, said one of the benefits was that the township's 175 000 residents would not have to travel 15 kilometers to Vincent Park or 20 kilometers to the Retail Park in Beacon Bay to do their shopping.

The 35 000m² mall will be the second biggest in the Eastern Cape, behind Port Elizabeth's Greenacres shopping complex.

Companies had shown an interest in doing business in Mdantsane, Ngebulana said. "We have already leased about 70 percent of the shopping mall."

There will be 110 shops in the mall, including Truworths, Cashbuild, Foschini, Mr Price, Morkels, Romans Pizza, Pep Stores, and Edgars.

"We will also have a rates office where people will be able to do their municipal business and learn about the City's services," said Ngebulana.

Construction is due to start in July and work is expected to be complete by October 2007.

"I am excited that the mall will now become a reality," said Peter.

"The township will now experience business vibrancy never seen in Mdantsane before," she added.

The mall will also play a role in the Mdantsane Urban Renewal Project, an extensive development programme aimed a changing the face of Mdantsane.

"We are truly happy with the confidence the Billion Property group has show in Buffalo City and we promise to continue creating a very business-friendly environment," said the mayor.