Unrest fires were not just random acts
SPRINGFIELD Value Centre has a popular Facebook page. Before the centre was gutted during the insurrection in July last year about 15 000 people followed the page and liked the specials that were offered by the branded outlet stores that traded there.
Ahead of Father’s Day in June last year United Furniture Outlets advertised what they termed “epic offers”.
Later that month, Superga, the international footwear and lifestyle brand, advertised their latest shoe, Superga 2750.
On Thursday, July 8, came an offering by Le coq Sportif for 30% off on selected items.
It would be the last store offering on the centre’s Facebook page.
In the days that followed the 37 shops that made up Springfield Value Centre were looted.
Then the building was set alight. The centre opened in 1996 and is currently owned by SA Corporate Real Estate. The company owns several shopping centres in KwaZulu-Natal and around the country but Springfield Value Centre was most affected by the unrest in July 2021.
Mark Mac Kaiser, an asset manager with the company, said they had never anticipated violence and destruction on that level.
“Sure, as a company we had cover with Sasria for about a billion rand but we never thought something like this could happen.
“Umlazi Mega City, which we co-own, was targeted that Sunday. At around midnight that night we got the first reports that Springfield Value Centre was being targeted. Initially it was looting but later it was set alight.”
With the situation out of control, the fire department was not willing to act unless they had police protection. Like with so many other buildings that were set alight, they were left to burn
until the structure crumbled.
“In my opinion, it was something that was planned,” said Mac Kaiser.
“These incidents in July as well as the more recent incidents were not just random acts.
“When our guards initially tried to put out the fire, they were shot at.”
By the time the situation was finally brought under control about a week later, only one block of the building remained somewhat intact. It housed Pick n Pay, Wimpy, Jayshree’s, Global Brands and Guess.
The cost of rebuilding Springfield Value Centre is estimated at approximately R300 million.
That’s just for the building. It excludes what tenants will have to fork out to refit their shops and stock them.
“The violence has had a huge impact on us and our tenants,” said Mac Kaiser.
“We are still busy with the demolition. Then the rebuild starts. Hopefully by the end of this year the centre will be fully opened. We are very worried that what happened in July last year could happen again because no one has been held accountable.
“We have had some questions about why we continue to invest in KwaZulu-Natal but we still believe there are good opportunities in this province.
“Certainly, there is excellent demand for the centre and we are confident we will have most, if not all, of our tenants back.
“Generally, retail seems to be picking up. In the centres we own, December 2021 turnover exceeded what was done in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Despite what is happening in first world countries, I still believe that shopping centres are places people want to be seen in.
“Online sales are creeping up. But we are nowhere near the levels we see overseas so I do believe that shopping centres are still relevant.”
There’s truth in what Mac Kaiser has said based on the responses from the centre’s Facebook page. In the days after the destruction, people volunteered to help clean up. Others shared the memories they had of the centre.
There was joy when Pick n Pay opened in August last year and Wimpy during December and every now and then, some ask when the centre will reopen.
On December 1 the centre expressed the hope that 2022 would be a year to remember. It will no doubt be for workers, shop owners and customers.
But Mac Kaiser hopes for just one thing: “A normal boring year in retail and for Springfield Value Centre to remain as KZN’s Number One value destination!”