‘Mall of substance to bring jobs’
ORK has finally started on the new KwaDukuza Mall after some opposition from locals who believed the facility would throttle local business.
The project, an undertaking by prominent Durban businessman Vivian Reddy, has been plagued with controversy and delays because of action against it by community members.
The Concerned Citizens Movement along with some KwaDukuza (Stanger) residents recently filed an urgent interdict at the Durban High Court to stop construction, but this was dismissed by the court last week.
When POST visited the site last Wednesday, demolition contractors were hard at work taking apart old fixtures and structures dotted around two large sports fields where the mall, complete with about 1 000 parking spaces, would be built.
A handful of local community members scurried around the area, helping themselves to anything they could get their hands on.
The demolition crew worked throughout last week to get the plot ready for construction to begin in earnest.
The chief executive of the Edison Property Group, Pregan Naicker, told POST that they were ecstatic to finally begin development.
“It feels good to finally lay our bricks on the ground. It has been on hold forever and we are happy as it will revitalise the Stanger community,” he said.
“People who drive through (KwaDukuza) don’t see a mall to go through and a mall is the number one recreation for families.”
He denied that the development would strangle the town’s local business, saying they have reserved 30% of shops for local traders.
“People who talk of it strangling local business are false.
“If you look at the Pavilion or the Workshop, people thought West Street would collapse. It didn’t. People feared the same with Gateway and Galleria.
“The reality is that shops in Stanger CBD don’t even get a lick of paint. This mall will make the consumer gain confidence in Stanger and they will want to come back.
“We are building a mall of substance. It will improve the profile of the shopper, who comes into Stanger, and that can force local businesses to rethink their strategy and reinvest in their businesses.
“We are not moving them (local traders) out. We are making a more competitive environment and the consumer benefits.”
The 30 000m2 structure will house 120 stores. The owners believe it will see 1.5 million customers a year.
It will be home to a municipal office precinct and a medical facility.
Naicker said they are accelerating the programme and aiming for a September 2018 deadline.
The main contractors are expected to be on site on June 1. “We wanted to open in April 2018 but there were those delays. Now, because the retail environment works in seasons, we missed the April season, so we had to push it forward.
“We are in the final stages of negotiations for some shops but already our anchors are Woolworths, Checkers and Food Lover’s Market. We also have national tenants like Truworths and Identity and all the banks.” Reddy said he expected the mall to provide jobs to 2 500 people in the area.
“We are going through tough economic times,” he said.
“Every project that employs people must be encouraged. We are happy to finally start because every time it was delayed that was 2 500 people, who were denied opportunities.”
Naicker added: “So it will bring a lot of benefits for people. There will be huge social and financial benefits.”