By Cathy Dippnall

Construction is due to start this month on an 8 200m² shopping plaza in Thembalethu, the first of its kind for this growing George township of about 45 000 people.

One of the plaza‘s major features will be the Entrepreneurship Centre, which will fall under the auspices of the Thembalethu Uncedo Taxi Association (Tuta) giving local entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop and market their skills.

Tuta chairman Sipho Phelekwa said the body would be playing a large part in the development, which would also house small stalls for entrepreneurs to sell their goods.

Tuta would also own 40% of a proposed service station at the complex.

The site, on which stands a play school to be moved across the road, is next to the taxi rank and close to the N2 on Sandkraal Road, the only entrance into Thembalethu.

It will be the first time residents will have easy access to major stores without having to go to George.

“A group of local developers formed a consortium and we were awarded the tender in 2006,” said shareholder and spokesman Amanda Dreyer.

As well as anchor tenant Shoprite, the centre will also house furnishers Ellerines, clothing store Pep, and Hungry Lion takeaway and Ayobayo restaurant franchises.

Thys de Beer, the spokesman for the municipal planning department, said Thembalethu was a fast-growing suburb and the need for a formal shopping centre was long overdue.

Source: The Herald