A call has gone out to the business sector of Jeffreys Bay to join with the Kouga municipality in ensuring that the town‘s central business district does not deteriorate after the opening of a major new shopping centre.

At the packed opening of the R300-million Fountains Mall on Thursday, Kouga mayor Robbie Dennis said the new complex would have implications for the town‘s CBD, but by working together the municipality and business community could ensure the CBD remained viable.

“We are already working with the Cacadu district municipality on a project to give the CBD a facelift.

“Input from the business sector is going to be important.”

Dennis said the mall was evidence of what could be achieved if local government and the private sector worked together.

“The municipality cannot create jobs by itself. It can only create the right conditions for the private sector in which to do business.

“It is this partnership that leads to employment opportunities.”

Dennis said the Fountains Mall had brought hope to Kouga‘s unemployed, particularly young people, and he was confident the centre would benefit not only Jeffreys Bay but the region as a whole.

The 30 800m² Fountains Mall is the biggest shopping centre in Kouga and will be home to more than 90 tenants, including Game, Edgars, Woolworths and Pick n Pay.

Long queues had formed outside the major stores by the time they opened on Thursday.

Source: The Herald