{"id":841367,"date":"2025-10-30T09:30:57","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T07:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=841367"},"modified":"2025-10-31T07:10:40","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T05:10:40","slug":"new-state-owned-shopping-mall-opens-in-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/property\/841367\/new-state-owned-shopping-mall-opens-in-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"New state-owned shopping mall opens in South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Isipingo Mall has been opened by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, which forms part of the upgrades made by PRASA of the Isipingo Train Station. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creecy opened the mall in the train station, unveiled the 300th sitimela Sabantu (The People\u2019s Train) and a major renewable energy project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creecy said that as South Africa rebuilds its rail system, PRASA must also rebuild the communities that depend on it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Isipingo Mall is a shining example of how PRASA\u2019s property portfolio can drive urban renewal and create new economic hubs that directly benefit local residents,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The development forms part of PRASA\u2019s secondary mandate strategy to revitalise key economic nodes and unlock the commercial potential of properties surrounding its rail network. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The centre covers 7,000 sqm of lettable retail area to be utilised by 45 shops, a Centre Manager Office, Public Ablution facilities, banks & ATM\u2019s, a Food Court and 304 parking bays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tenants for the mall include a SuperSpar, KFC, Rage, the Scent Lab, Clicks, Standard Bank, FNB, Telkom and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During construction, the project created roughly 271 jobs, providing vital income and skills training for artisans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now in its operational phase, the mall is expected to generate over 150 more permanent jobs in retail, facilities management and community services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creecy said that opportunities are already helping local families secure stable incomes and contribute to the economic vitality of eThekwini. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She added that the development embodies PRASA\u2019s secondary commercial mandate to generate revenue via its property assets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These property assets are designed to benefit communities and support the financial sustainability of the rail network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A while to open <\/h2>\n\n\n
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\u201cBy investing in developments like Isipingo Mall, PRASA demonstrates that public infrastructure can be financially viable, socially impactful, and community-oriented all at once,\u201d said Creecy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She added that none of the achievements of the development would have been possible without strong partnerships, including those with the private sector and the surrounding community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEach of the projects, from the solar installations to the new trains and the Isipingo Mall, are a direct reflection of the true ethos of South Africa, the spirit of Ubuntu: working together to uplift one another,\u201d they said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThrough these partnerships, we are laying the tracks for a transport system that does more than move people; it transforms lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notably, the mall only opened four years after construction had been finished on the mall by its contractors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mall was finalised in March 2021 following two years of construction in a contract worth just R375 million. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The developers, GVK-Siya Zama, constructed a retail development over a live railway station, creating 24,000 sqm of retail and parking space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the many challenges faced by the developers was erecting the superstructure over live power lines and an active commuter station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The opening of the mall came after several troubling years for PRASA, where its rail network was impacted by vandalism following COVID-19 and poor commuter numbers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The state-owned entity is starting to recover across its rail network, having seen an over 600% rise in customer numbers compared to 2020. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given the relatively cheaper price of using rail, PRASA continues to see an improvement in its customer numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Images of the Isipingo Development<\/h2>\n\n\n
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A post shared by Isipingo (@isipingoshoppingcentre)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n