Maluti Crescent Shopping Centre in Phuthaditjhaba, Free State, won the top award for Rural and Small-Town development in the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) Awards 2020.
The SAPOA Innovative Excellence Awards recognise distinction in property development in the South African real estate industry. The SAPOA awards were presented online last week, with the winning properties setting the benchmark for development excellence. The awards showcase the highest development standards and properties that enhance our towns and cities.
Owned by JSE-listed retail REIT Vukile Property Fund, developed by Flanagan & Gerard, designed by MDS Architecture, and constructed by Concor, Maluti Mall is situated at the foot of Parliament Hill, the historic local legislature of the former QwaQwa homeland.
Opened in March 2019, Maluti Crescent was the major redevelopment, expansion and rebranding of the former Setsing Crescent. Some 13,000sqm of gross lettable area was added to the mall, boosting its size to over 34,000sqm, and transforming it from a strip mall overlooking a parking lot into a beautifully enclosed mall comprising three levels, undercover parking, and a brand-new taxi rank.
Maluti Crescent is now the dominant centre in the area. Its design is inspired by the sandstone formations of the nearby Maluti Mountains, with a fresh, modern look and feel that allows its retailers to optimise their trade. Local informal traders have also been integrated into the scheme.
Itumeleng Mothibeli, MD SA at Vukile, says, “We continue to have the greatest confidence in the people and economies of South Africa’s rural areas and towns. Vukile’s rural shopping centres have markedly outperformed all other segments during the pandemic simply because they are relevant, convenient and genuinely serve their customers. We remain committed to investing in and improving shopping centres in these areas so that these important customers can enjoy retail excellence within their own communities. Receiving this award from SAPOA is a great honour and a testament to the excellence and professionalism of everyone involved in Maluti Crescent’s development. I do not doubt that this shopping centre will have positive impacts on employment, retail services and its local economy for years to come.”.
Paul Gerard, MD of Flanagan & Gerard, comments, “Maluti Crescent was developed and designed as a first-class shopping experience in a community that was previously underserved by retail. It is very pleasing that this high-impact development has been recognised for excellence by its industry peers. We are proud to have once again partnered with Vukile Property Fund for the development of Maluti Crescent for the people of Phuthaditjhaba and surrounding communities and to have and worked with a great professional team on the project.”
