Full house signs will soon go up at Umlazi Mega City as retailers rush for available space. So far 86% of the space has been taken up, and some major retailers are now increasing trading areas.

Spar has increased the size of its store by 1 000sqm to   3 750sq, and Woolworths and Jet have also increased their store sizes. This has pushed the total area of trading floors from 28 000sqm to 30 000sqm. CTM, which sells tiles and sanitaryware, has opted for a stand-alone store separate from the main mall. Developer Mark Johnson of  Mark II Project Managers, says the extra space required means that Umlazi Mega City will now be completed by the end of February 2006 and the official opening will be on March 21. The R150 million project is co-owned by SA Retail Properties and Martprop Property Fund,

The Umlazi area community of 610 000 people is starting to feel the benefits of the first major retail and services facility for the area. An Umlazi security company has been appointed to the project and workers resident in the area are being employed on site. Eventually, work and new opportunities will be provided for 1 800 people. The project’s community liaison officer Sipho Mdlesthe says the management team has engaged the community through consultative meetings and every effort is being made to include Umlazi businesses. City councillors for the area are fully represented on the community liaison committee, and councillor Thami Ntuli says the community and its leadership are very excited that the project is finally taking off. “As councillors we are making sure that our community gets the benefits and opportunities to improve their lives.”

Work started on the development on January 31 this year and demolition of the old stadium, brewery and workshop buildings has been completed. Earthworks have been finished, most of the foundations have been laid and columns in the main mall have been cast. Work has also started on the casting of tilt-up panels for the main shopping mall walls.