 President
opens Alex shopping mall
President Jacob Zuma was in town yesterday, taking time to open
the Pan Africa Shopping Centre in Alexandra, as well as visit Soweto.
GONE are the days when Alexandra residents had to travel to other
parts of the city to do their shopping. A new mall, with all the
exclusive retail shops, has just opened for business in the township.
The Pan Africa Shopping Centre, a fully integrated shopping mall and
taxi facility located in the heart of Alex, was officially opened by
President Jacob Zuma on Sunday, 24 May.
Executive Mayor Amos Masondo, Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane and
several government officials also attended the function, alongside
thousands of Alex residents who wanted to catch a glimpse of the
president.
A few hours earlier, Zuma had been Soweto, where he had laid a wreath
at the Hector Pieterson Memorial and had visited Maponya Mall.
Zuma said it was apt that such a huge development was built in
Alexandra, one of South Africa's well-known townships. It had played a
remarkable role in the fight against apartheid.
"Alexandra is home to many leaders of the ANC. We can count leaders
like Kgalema Motlanthe, Alfred Nzo, Thomas Nkobi and many more who
were residents of this township. [It] has given this country expertise
and talent."
It was also well-known for resistance actions like the Alexandra bus
boycott. "But from today, Alex must now be known for development and
progress." Infrastructure
To loud cheers, Zuma said all townships needed to have
infrastructure like the Pan Africa Shopping Centre, and basic services
like water, roads and electricity. Economic development should not
only be the preserve of the former white suburbs, but should spread to
previously disadvantaged communities. The shopping centre would be a
catalyst for employment in "ekasi" - the slang term for township - and
people would be able to shop "right at their doorstep", the president
reiterated.
"One can walk to the township and buy a suit without spending any
transport money. Parents working at the centre can now spend quality
time with their children. Before the opening of the centre, parents
only had a chance to see their children during weekends because they
had to wake up very early and knock off very late when their children
were already asleep."
Opening the shopping centre was an important occasion, he said.
"This is a celebration of investment in the city of Johannesburg. But
this is not only a celebration of investment, but what we are seeing
today is urban renewal and rejuvenation."
In the south of the city, a similar kind of development had taken
place, he said, referring to Maponya Mall in Soweto. "During the
opening of the mall, Richard Maponya said we had taken Sandton and
placed it in Soweto. This shopping centre is part of developing our
townships and also part of empowering our people." The centre
Tebogo Mogashoa, the chief executive of Pan Africa Development
Company, the mall developers, said the 16 000m2 shopping centre was
already fully let and more than 1 000 jobs had been created.
"Pan Africa Shopping Centre represents the dreams and aspirations of
the Alexandra people. We developed it for them," he said.
Falling under the Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP), a programme to
upgrade infrastructure and living conditions in one of Johannesburg's
oldest townships, the Pan Africa Shopping Centre forms part of a
comprehensive retail and taxi node that includes a 50 000m2 taxi rank,
a three-level holding facility for taxis, public parking and
structured informal trading.
It is anchored by a 2 800m2 Pick n Pay, the first in Alex. Other
national retailers have also taken space, providing a quality shopping
environment structured along the lines of leading shopping centres in
the country, according to the developers.
Pan Africa Shopping Centre is located in one of the busiest and most
cosmopolitan areas of Alex, with a plethora of informal traders and an
assortment of shops selling a range of goods from traditional medicine
to exclusive boutique clothing.
Besides the Pan Africa Shopping Centre, Zuma said Alexandra boasted
some other economic and social developments. Quality schools, houses
and infrastructure had been built since the inception of the ARP.
"Surely but slowly, we are changing the face of our townships," he
said.
After the speeches, Zuma, together with Mokonyane and Masondo,
unveiled a plaque to declare the shopping centre officially open. |
