Local Economic Development

Pan Africa Shopping Centre: SA's first fully-integrated shopping mall and taxi facility

Released: October 2008 | Source: ARP

	Artist’s impression of Pan Africa Shopping Centre
	Artist’s impression
	Artist’s impression
	Development by October 2008
	Development by October 2008
	Development by October 2008

Pan Africa Shopping Centre is the first fully-integrated shopping mall and taxi facility to be developed in Alexandra township, the birthplace of South Africa’s new president Kgalema Motlanthe.

Alexandra is set to have its very own shopping choice and convenience with the 16,000m2, top-quality Pan Africa Shopping Centre, superbly located at the heart of the area’s iconic transport and retail node.

Pan Africa Shopping Centre is part of the Presidential Alexandra Renewal Project and is being developed by Pan Africa DevCo, a development company established by Tebfin Developments in partnership with local entrepreneurs and the two main taxi associations in Alexandra, being ATA and ARMSTA.

Alexandra Renewal Project is a massive initiative aimed at improving living conditions and upgrading human capacity. This project includes programmes related to environmental development, human skills, housing and infrastructure. Thinking big and making dreams a reality is what the Presidential Alexandra Renewal Project does best. Recent successes include KwaBhekilanga athletic and rugby facility and the Altrek sports facility upgrading, the building of three new schools, as well as the modernisation and renovation of 17 existing schools and the introduction of school library and computer centre projects.

“Pan Africa Shopping Centre will both improve the quality of life of the people of Alexandra and create jobs, opportunities and sustainable businesses, which will further be boosted by attracting visitors to this exciting shopping landmark,” says Darlene Louw, Deputy Director of the Alexandra Renewal Project.

Pan Africa Shopping Centre is the first fully-integrated shopping mall and taxi facility developed by public-private partnership of Gauteng Department of Housing, The Department of Public Transport, Roads and Works and Department of Finance and Economic Affairs, The City of Johannesburg and the Pan African Development Company.

Anchored by a 2,800m2 Pick n Pay, Pan Africa Shopping Centre will provide a quality, first-world shopping environment structured along the lines of leading shopping centres in South Africa, with some 80% tenants comprising national retailers, featuring some of South Africa’s favourite retail and food brands. A large number of retailers will be represented in Alexandra for the first time in Pan Africa Shopping Centre.

Exact, John Craig, Skipper Bar, Legit, Link Pharmacy, Jet Mart, Pep, Markham, Post Office, Nedbank, Savells, Fairdeal, Glomail, Jive City, Multiserve, Tab, OK Furniture and cellular operators Vodacom and MTN will all have shops at Pan Africa Shopping Centre. Complementing this is a unique mixture of local retailers spanning everything from fashion and beauty to health and medical and internet café to DVD rentals.

An impressive variety of food outlets includes MacDonalds, King Pie, Steers, Debonairs, Fish ‘n Chips, KFC, McDonalds, Milky Lane, Pantsula Bites, Captain Dorego’s and Meat & Chicken.

Pan Africa Shopping Centre forms part of a comprehensive retail and taxi node including a super-efficient 50,000m2 taxi rank, threelevel holding facility for taxis, public parking and structured informal trading. The combined retail offering in the node exceeds 40,000m2, which is equivalent to that of a regional shopping mall.

The mall will compete head-to-head with centres such as Balfour Park, Greenstone Mall, Sandton City and the Jo’burg CBD, where many Alex residents currently spend their money. Despite many other townships already having shopping malls, such as Soweto’s Maponya Mall, Bara Mall and Jabulani, Pan Africa Shopping Centre will be one of the first shopping centres that Alexandra residents can call their own and will assist in ensuring that consumer spend remains within the local economy, bringing with it all the associated financial, social and employment benefits.

“Pan Africa Shopping Centre represents the dreams and aspirations of the Alexandra people. We are developing it for them,” says Tebogo Mogashoa of Pan Africa Development Company.

For almost its entire 103 years of existence Alexandra has been subjected to upheavals, social and physical disruptions and disconnection. Despite years of adversity, when many similar ‘locations’ were dismantled by the Apartheid government, Alexandra has also proved a community determined to survive and thrive -- full of colour, life and optimism.

“Symbolising the freedom of choice, Pan Africa Shopping Centre is designed to be an important point of connection – public and private, resident and commuter, Alexandra and Africa, consumers and the items which will meet their daily needs,” says Louw. “Pan Africa Shopping Centre is set to be an asset that the community can be proud of.”

Alexandra township lies less than 5km to the east of the Sandton CBD, South Africa's financial hub and Pan Africa Shopping Centre is located at the gateway to Alexandra -- on the corner of 3rd Ave and Watt St in one of Alexandra's busiest areas with some 10,000 people and 1,500 operating taxis using the area each day, from Louis Botha Avenue, central Johannesburg, nearby Sandton and in fact, anywhere in South Africa and Africa.

“Set to be the heart of the shopping mecca for people of Alexandra and those using the commuter node, as well as the many who constantly access other parts of the country and beyond from the area, Pan Africa serves the same role as a major train or underground station in the UK, or even a ‘port’ for travellers throughout South Africa and Africa,” explains Mogashoa.

Pan Africa Shopping Centre is located on an historic site formally known as "Pan Africa", a natural site for a transport and retail node, which had originally housed a bus depot. Essentially the complex is divided by a road into two distinct structures, with the buildings linked by two bridges. Local taxis will drop commuters and shoppers at a shuttle rank on the shop level of the retail mall.

With a contemporary urban feel, its transparent façade will invite interest in its activity during the day and create a glowing beacon at night. Linking with its energetic surrounds and the community, the food court interfaces with a vibrant pubic square which opens out onto 2nd street.

“The integration of the shopping centre into a very busy transport hub was without a doubt the most challenging aspect of the project but also most satisfactory as it has meant that we have been able to create an incredibly convenient shopping experience for consumers,” explains Mogashoa.

Pan Africa Shopping Centre is set to open in March 2009.

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