A SHOPPING complex is on the cards for Whittlesea, according to Lukhanji mayor Mzwabantu Dapula.
The proposed shopping complex will be located on municipal land now occupied by a taxi rank funded at a cost of R530 000 by the national Transport Department in 2000.
“We are attracting business people to invest in Whittlesea. We have identified the land that was to be the taxi rank for development,” Dapula said.
“We will advertise the land for a town centre. There are business people who have shown interest.” He said his municipality wanted the disused taxi rank to create jobs and make the town attractive.
The idea fro a shopping complex dates back to 2000 when the taxi rank was completed. Then Whittlesea mayor Monde Ciko said it might be the start of development, “as interest has been shown for development of a shopping centre at the rank by a private developer”.
Yesterday, the municipality could not indicate when the land would be advertised and when development would start.
“It’s too early to say when the initiative will get off the ground. We are however, looking forward to it,” said municipal spokesperson Mkhululi Titi.
Pretoria-based developer Cas de Villiers of Vilved Group said his company was involved with business people in Quenstown who wished to develop Whittlesea.
He said the value of the complex would be determined by the size of the land to be bought.
De Villers said his company was now waiting for the land to be put to tender and, if successful, he estimated it would take about 12 months to develop the complex.”
De Villiers said he would prefer to construct a “bigger development” in Whittlesea.