Roy Cokayne
The isolated KwaZulu-Natal town of Tugela Ferry is to get its first shopping mall next year.
The 15 000m2 Tugela Ferry Mall is set to open in April and means that the 41 800 households and 184 200 residents will no longer have to travel substantial distances to do their basic shopping.
Tugela Ferry is 197km north of Durban, 77km south of Dundee and 105km east of Ladysmith.
It is being developed by Copper Zone with Retail Network Services responsible for the retail leasing.
Gavin Tagg, the managing director of Retail Network Services, said the mall stood to benefit this out-of-the-way town but its isolation would also benefit the mall by making it by far the most convenient place for residents to shop.
“This creates a true win-win situation, which supports the sustainability of this development. Tugela Ferry Mall will go beyond bringing comprehensive convenient everyday shopping to residents. It will also serve as a central social hub for the community,” he said.
The centre will be anchored by Shoprite and include a comprehensive retail mix from convenience and banking to fashion, food and furniture.
Secured tenants include Cashbuild, Ellerines, OK Furniture, a post office, JD Group, Electric Express, Jet, Liquor City, KFC, Edgars Active, Ackermans, Exact, Standard Bank, Capitec Bank, Rage, Express Stores, Lewis Stores, Pep, Pep Cell and Waltloo Chicken & Meat.