Last month, Centurion-based construction company Tri-Star Construction announced it had been selected as the main contractor on the development of the Mamelodi Square Shopping Centre in Pretoria, Gauteng.

The release explains that rural retail development specialists McCormick Property Development announced in September that it has broken ground on the shopping centre site which will be is its seventy-first development.

“Developed in partnership with property investment firm Putprop Limited, Mamelodi Square will be a single-level enclosed mall spanning over 16 000 m²,” says of McCormick Property Development MD Jason McCormick.

The site, located directly off the main arterial of Tsamaya road in Mamelodi, was previously used as a bus depot for transport provider Public Utility Transport Corporation, commonly known as Putco.

Mamelodi Square will maximise this notable location within the heart of Mamelodi’s more established and wealthy suburbs to provide convenient and essential retail to the surrounding community.

Confirmed tenants to date include banking group Capitec Bank and retail and consumer businesses Shoprite, Clicks, KFC, Power Fashion and the Pepkor group.

“McCormick is proud to be providing retail convenience while creating employment opportunities,” he adds.

It is anticipated that the development will create about 420 local labour positions during construction with an anticipated 950 permanent positions created once the centre is open for trade.

“One of our primary objectives as developers has always been ‘community first’ and Mamelodi Square is no different,” explains McCormick.

He adds that through the creation of employment opportunities and the upskilling of local contractors and entrepreneurs, the company is confident that Mamelodi Square will contribute to improving the livelihoods of the local communities.

“In this way, we will be a step closer to our goal of building a better and brighter future for the youth while staying true to our desire to provide convenient and accessible retail to all.”

Construction of the mall is anticipated to take about 15 months with an anticipated opening date in the final quarter of 2022.