Councillors sing praises of the new Alex Mall which is set to launch at the end of March
ALEXANDRA – Local councillors are upbeat about the new Alex Mall.
Multi-party councillors in Alex have added to the chorus approving the new Alex Mall in Tsutsumani.
They lauded the multi-million rand development in the township as a worthy and aesthetic investment with multifaceted spin-offs to be embraced by the greater Alexandrians, residents of nearby leafy suburbs such as Lombary and Bramley, and even the continental financial hub, Sandton.
The ANC Ward 105 councillor Teffo Rapadu, his DA counterparts and proportional representatives Shadrack Mkhonto and Judith Madiakgotla sang its praises, urging all to look at the positives rather than imagined negatives, to identify with it and seek to protect it as their own and for generations to come.
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Rapadu said in anything developmental, it is impossible to please everyone. “The merits of the mall is what we all have to look at. Its structural design is appealing and will be complemented by value-adding historical exhibitions and artistic pieces, making it attractive to tourists keen to meet Alexandrians and feel and savour Alex’s history, and thereby plough in resources for our benefit.”
He said the critical benefits include the improvement of property values as buyers are attracted to the proximity to essential facilities and amenities, the development and retention of the local economy, regardless of the likely limited ownership of trading space by locals. “This will be mitigated by the hundreds we expect to be employed in different levels of jobs, the potential for other spin-off jobs, increased security for the area, and the improvement of surrounding access routes to the place. With more employed, crime often associated with joblessness will be reduced.”
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Rapadu added that unlike its overcrowded counterparts – the Pan Africa mall and Alex Plaza to the east – the new mall is well positioned, has easy access with perimeter fencing to help control movement, and a holistic outlook with the internal inclusion of art.
He said its development process involved consulting relevant stakeholders, including the previous local councillor Joyce Ngwenya and local businesses, adding that the general public was urged to submit CVs for employment consideration. “Hence several businesses will get trading space, and 500 to 600 locals were employed in the construction phase. We expect 40 to 60 per cent of those employed to be Alexandrians.”
He added that the police and the taxi industry were consulted to help curb the potential for nasty and deadly incidents which happened during the opening of the Mall of Africa in Midrand last year. “We anticipate there to be tight security internally as in all other malls, but may have challenges with pickpocketing, theft of cellphones and possible hijackings outside, just like in any other public space where there is congestion.” This he said will require the cooperation of the community with the police.
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Mkhonto concurred and added that the mall will benefit the Riverpark, Tsutsumani and Ext 9 and 10 residents with the proximity of services. He urged the traders to prioritise Alexandrians in most of the jobs to help inculcate a sense of ownership and a public desire to protect the investment. “It’s a job creator which locals will want to protect if they are made part of it,” Madiakgotla stressed.
