New shopping mall named after a politician opening soon in South Africa

·30 Dec 2025

Prince Buthelezi Mall is set to open in the coming months and is named after former politician and Zulu prince, Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

The mall aims to become a beacon of hope and pride in the area of Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal.

The mall was originally going to be called Greenhills Mall, but its name changed to Prince Buthelezi Mall as the developers aimed to honour a respectable figure in Zulu history.

Buthelezi was a Zulu prince and the Chief Minister of the KwaZulu bantustan during the apartheid era. He also founded the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in 1975, leading the organisation until 2019.

He was part of the post-apartheid government and served as Minister of Home Affairs from 1994 to 2004. He passed away in 2023 at the age of 95.

Earthworks on the mall have officially commenced, with the mall set to cover 37,000 square meters of retail space in a single-level shopping experience.

The architectural design of the mall is inspired by the lush, green rolling hills of the area, and the project aims to create a dominant and aspirational shopping experience for Empangeni.

The new mall is the latest development by the Moolman Group and co-owners Twin City and Melta Capital.

The Moolman Group previously stated that Empangeni is sorely underserved by retail, lacking a comprehensive shopping centre in the area.

Most of the town’s retail activities are currently scattered between the CBD and the surrounding suburbs.

This makes it difficult for many residents to meet daily retail needs and satisfy their shopping and leisure preferences in one location.

This has driven demand for a larger shopping mall that caters to the needs of Empangeni’s aspirational consumers.

The area’s diverse consumer base, which spans all income categories, has meaningful spending power.

The mall is positioned on the R102, right at its junction with the John Ross Highway. It is only 15 km from Richards Bay and 3.5 km from the Empangeni CBD.

The new mall is designed to cater for future shoppers. It will feature a large new taxi rank, ample free parking, modern design and finishes, communal seating areas, and a safe and air-conditioned shopping experience.

The mall will have 140 stores, including Checkers, Shoprite, Dis-Chem, Clicks, Boxer and Woolworths. The mall is set to open its doors on 30 April 2026.