RAZINA MUNSHI AND SIBONGILE KHUMALO

25 September 2005

DURBAN’s Indian businesses are moving to greener pasters up north to keep up with the growing demand of affluent families.

Shop owners, who previously made a living in areas such as Grey Street, are now prospering in upmarket malls. And the returns from the many Indians in formerly whites-only suburbs are handsome.

"The spending power of the Indian community is mind boggling. They are buying expensive plasma and projection-screen television sets and high quality home appliances," says Kay Makan, the owner of an electronics chain in Overport and Umhlanga.

In centres such as the Pavilion in Westville, Gateway in Umhlanga and Musgrave Centre in Berea, the businesses trade in wares such as Indian spices, food, jewellery and clothing.

The exodus from downtown Durban follows research by the SA Institute of Race Relations in February, which found that incomes in Indian households were the fastest growing in South Africa. It also identified Indian household incomes as having overtaken those of whites in five provinces. The research showed a whopping 79% leap in annual income for Indian families to R148 822 between 1996 and 2003.

Durban Chamber of Commerce’s chief executive, Bonke Dumisa, said the outflow of business from the CBD to suburbs was a worldwide phenomenon. "Business people are following customers. Many with buying power have relocated to suburbs and shopping at malls close by is now a matter of convenience."

While most of the businesses cite crime as the reason for relocating, they concede they are following their increasingly well-off customers.

Shopping malls, they explain, are convenient and attract a broader clientele despite cheaper prices in the city. Parking in the malls is also easily available, and the attraction of buying everything under one roof is irresistible.

Narandas Jewellers operated in Victoria Street and Field Street for nearly 70 years. Its owner Bob Narandas said they moved to the Pavilion and Musgrave centres mainly for safety reasons. "We were held up twice at our town premises. The malls are safer for us and our customers."

Shopper Sharon Naidoo said a mall was a safe haven, even though things "are cheaper" in the city where she used to shop.

Another shopper, Ronnie Pillay of Isipingo, has not been to the city in a while. "Moving to the suburbs is a sign that people, not only Indians, now have better opportunities and, therefore, better lifestyles. Convenience, safety and parking outweigh cheaper options in the city," he said.

Monty Moodley, the owner of Silveranis Restaurant moved his business from the city centre to Silverton Road, Berea, last year. His turnover has tripled.

Moodley said his customers were insurance agents, brokers, advocates and judges who followed him to Berea for Indian cuisine. "And they keep coming back," said Moodley.

"I wish we had made this move a long time ago."

Despite the move to the north, traders such as Amina and Muhammad Hamid, owners of the exclusive Eastern boutique Memsaab, have maintained their presence in the city centre.

Their business in Grey Street has boomed, with tourists as new customers on top of the traditional affluent Indians.