Mandela Boulevard container mall property receiving attention
George Municipality's planning department will be engaging with small business owners who used to trade from the former container mall in Mandela Boulevard about options for their future.
This comes after a plea from some of the owners to the municipality to renew the long-term lease they had on the property. The municipality made the land available in 1993 when the former Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) put up containers for small businesses. They are now seeking an investor who would build new shops. "We cannot approach investors if we do not have a long-term lease or own the land," says one of the business owners, Nomamsi Dlepu. She now runs her retail business from home.
The condition of the containers has deteriorated significantly over the years and some were extensively damaged in a fire a few years ago. Only two businesses are still trading, one of which is a barber shop. Most of the containers have been removed, apparently by the businesses themselves, for trading elsewhere.
Dr Kosie Haarhoff, Deputy Director for Strategic Growth and Development at the municipality's economic development section, visited the property on Monday to meet with a few owners who are still hoping for new shops to be built. Subsequently, Director of Human Settlements, Planning and Development Lauren Waring told the newspaper, "The economic development component will be doing planning work this year in order to take the process forward. As part of this we will formally engage with the occupants at the mall."