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A look at the massive new shopping mall in South Africa at the heart of a R30 billion city

 

The Westown development has entered its first phase, with the retail hub of Westown Square planned for opening by Easter 2025.

The mall and wider retail elements aim for a “high-street” feel, designed by retail specialists MDS Architecture in a joint venture with Boogertman and Partners KZN.

The retail area will cover 50,000 square metres, the developers said, and will feature niche offerings on top of national brands covering fashion, health and beauty, food, entertainment and lifestyle.

The developers said that the retail elements will be complemented by a ‘town square’ environment with features like an amphitheatre and maze, along with children’s play areas.

It will also feature “The Barn”, which is a market concept that will offer “bespoke experiences, with food, wine, local produce and handmade crafts housed in a textured environment of warmth and greenery”.

The new shopping mall forms the anchor for the wider 100-hectare Westown development, valued at over R2.5 billion.

Westow itself has been characterised as a “town within a town” and forms part of a much greater Shongweni Urban Development project, valued at R30 billion.

Westown has secured and approved development rights of approximately 520,000 square metres of bulk floor area. Various parts of the development are expected to open over the next five to ten years.

In late 2022, eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda said the R30 billion development would be a nine-phase urban mixed-use project that aims to create a new economic hub in the region.

He said it would be like the region’s own ‘Midrand’, sitting as a mid-point between two large cities (Durban and Pietermaritzburg).

“It will further catalyse investment in the city and stimulate job creation and investment,” he said.

 

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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