Andile Moshoeshoe
THE proposed two-year retail development, estimated to cost between R150 million and R200 million, is anticipated to reshape the commercial landscape and inject fresh economic activity into the southern KwaZulu-Natal town of Kokstad.
The Grand Mall, a private sector development facilitated by the Greater Kokstad Municipality, is planned for a site on the banks of the uMzimtlanga River, below the Mount Currie Inn and adjacent to the rapidly expanding Mamiesa residential area and along the N2 interchange.
Once completed, the development will comprise about 60 000 square metres of gross floor area, including approximately 40 000 square metres of retail space. According to developers, a number of national retailers have already committed to the project although the anchor tenants’ names have yet to be announced.
Designed as more than a shopping centre, the Grand Mall will incorporate architectural features inspired by Mount Currie and Kokstad’s cultural heritage. Among its standout features will be a pedestrian bridge linking the parking area with the main shopping complex, as well as a lifestyle precinct, Mount Currie Corner, featuring restaurants, cafés and entertainment facilities centred on a public gathering space.
Greater Kokstad Municipality mayor Lwanda Madikizela said the development reflects the municipality’s long-term vision of positioning the Kokstad area as the city of economic possibilities by 2047.
“This is more than a retail development. It is an investment in Kokstad. It will create employment opportunities, attract further private investment and strengthen our local economy,” he said. He also stated that the municipality has invested in infrastructure to support developments of this scale, including the recently upgraded R560 million N2 interchange, which has improved traffic flow through the town and enhanced its position as a strategic gateway between KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.
