Speaking at the official opening ceremony, developer and chief executive of Billion Group, Sisa Ngebulana, said the mall was not only a social investment, but an economic investment as well.
“We conducted extensive research and findings indicate that the people of Mdantsane have buying power. We decided to create an enabling environment so that businesses could seize those opportunities,” he said.
“I have no doubt that the tenants and retailers who’ve taken occupation will realise the return on their investment.”
The mall is set in an easily accessible area of Mdantsane and has become the biggest in Buffalo City thus far, surpassing the Vincent shopping centre.
People in Mdantsane expressed their appreciation for the convenience and employment opportunities they hoped the mall would bring to its residents.
More than 1200 people were employed during the construction phase and hundreds more are expected to be employed by businesses in the mall.
According to Ngebulana, the services of 45 contractors and sub-contractors were u sed.
“We hope we have helped their businesses to grow so that they will be ready for other investment opportunities … We are hoping the Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme will help bring more investment into Mdantsane ,” said Ngebulana.
NU 14 resident Lunga Mbola said it was “wonderful” to have the new mall opened to the community.
“With the taxi fares that have been hiked, people will not have to go to Vincent, so they will save money .”
Another resident, Phumza Dyos, however, raised his concern about security in the mall.
“We are very excited, this is the first time we have a mall of this size in Mdantsane. We have wanted convenience and improvement in our lives.
“The only concern is crime so we hope security will be tight. It would be good to have police visibility or a police station close to this place,” said Dyos. Ngebulana allayed security fears, however , saying the mall was equipped with top-security technology and personnel.
Buffalo City mayor, Zintle Peter, urged residents to protect and maintain the standard of the mall, which she said would raise the value of residential property in the area.
“We want to ensure other businesses come to the area … Without the business community, this exceptional effort by the Billion Group would have amounted to nothing if business had shied away,” said Peter.