“Mnquma is open for business!”
Premier Oscar Mabuyane declared this during the recent official Grand Opening of Phase 1 of the R352-million Gcuwa Mall situated on the N2 and R409 (Kwa-Key Robots) intersection in Butterworth, Eastern Cape.
Up to 50 local companies were contracted and created more than 1200 job opportunities, with just over 500 permanent posts. Gcuwa Mall is the third largest retail investment erected over the past five years in Mnquma, after Ibika Shopping Complex and KwaZengele Retail in Ngqamakhwe.
“We welcome the investment and congratulate the team that worked with speed to bring this project to fruition. Our province needs investment to create jobs,” he said.
The Premier said Gcuwa Mall investment would inspire more investors to come on board. “Municipalities should not hesitate and urgently convene Council meetings to make parcels of land available to potential investors. This piece of land will put bread on the tables of hundreds of families. We want to see more investors in areas like Centane as well,” said the Premier.
There are 42 shops (boutiques, restaurants, banks, grocery stores, furniture stores etc. ) at the 17 000 square metres Gcuwa Mall.
Hundreds of shoppers flocked to the shops as soon as doors opened this morning.
After cutting the symbolic red ribbon, the Premier, Mayor, Councillors, the Municipal Manager Mr Silumko Mahlasela, business and traditional leaders, went on a walkabout, chatting to workers and shoppers.
Shareholder Zolisa Magocoba, from Zazulwana Village, said the target for Phase 2 of the mall was 25 000 square metres. He thanked all stakeholders, from traditional leaders, the municipality and the local taxi industry for supporting the project.
Mnquma Executive Mayor Cllr Tunyiswa Manxila-Nkamisa thanked the administration for it’s commitment and dedication towards bringing high impact projects to Mnquma.
“Today is a big day. Everybody has benefited. We are feeling blessed and we highly appreciate this development,” she said.
All photos: Mnquma Municipality on Facebook
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Municipal investment profiling: A digital approach
In 2023, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA introduced the “Investment Profile Template Guide for Municipalities in South Africa” to help municipalities present their investment potential. Research showed only 15% of South African municipalities had investment profiles at the time.
However, limited financial and human resources have hindered digital promotion and investment attraction. SALGA has launched a programme to assist municipalities with digital initiatives, and the following municipalities are included in the first phase:
- City of Ekurhuleni (Gauteng)
- West Coast District Municipality (Western Cape)
- Mnquma Local Municipality (Eastern Cape)
- Matjhabeng Local Municipality (Free State)
The main objective of this project is to provide municipalities with a platform to market themselves as investment destinations to both domestic and foreign investors using an already existing platform and access to the Global Africa Network audience.
