MALL OF MTHATHA, MTHATHA
Mall of Mthatha previously known as BT Ngebs City, a regional shopping centre located in the heart of Mthatha, Eastern Cape, is undergoing a refurbishment.
The shopping centre was acquired by Flanagan & Gerard Property Group and specialist retail REIT Vukile Property Fund in April 2024. MDS Architecture has reimagined the 60,000m 2 shopping centre for the owners, with construction currently in progress and is expected to be completed by June 2025.
Pierre Lahaye, partner at MDS Architecture, says,“ Mall of Mthatha is a single level shopping centre on top of a super basement and adjoins a hotel and a casino in the precinct. It is well located and has incredible potential to become a new urban precinct for Mthatha. Every detail has been meticulously crafted in the revitalised mall to enhance the shopper journey.”
Interventions Every aspect of the shopping centre and surrounds has been carefully considered. Extensive structural and civil engineering works are part of the project scope, and the co-owners have invested heavily in servicing and repair.
One of the standout features of this redevelopment is the introduction of sleek escalators that seamlessly connect the basement carpark to the retail level. The existing parking basement has a very high underside of slab soffit level, that enabled the inclusion of additional retail GLA of 725m 2 via a new mezzanine level.
Lifestyle Area An existing car showroom area has been replaced with a vibrant restaurant offering, significantly strengthening the mall’ s connection with the adjacent casino and Mayfair Hotel.“ This area has been designed as an urban square environment, offering a variety of entertainment options and seamless connections to the hotel and casino, all supported by safe and secure parking. The buildings have been integrated into a cohesive precinct aimed at creating a vibrant destination in Mthatha where the community can relax, shop and enjoy quality entertainment,” says Paul Gerard, Managing Director of Flanagan & Gerard.
Internal Transformation Internal courts have been completely overhauled.“ We took the opportunity to create a new look and feel, adding definition with bulkheads and using a new colour palette and paint techniques, as well as new lighting and soft interiors. Columns have been added and the natural light present in the shopping centre has been amplified. The promotional courts are now in line with the high brand standards that are associated with both Vukile and Flanagan & Gerard shopping centres,” explains Lahaye.
Retail Mix As part of the upgrade, the new co-owners are also giving the retail mix at Mall of Mthatha a boost.
“ Vukile’ s customer-centric model creates tenant mixes driven by real community needs. By leveraging data and local insights, we curate shopping centres that reflect the lifestyles, preferences and aspirations of the surrounding catchment. Retail experiences that are personal, convenient and culturally aligned result in sustained relevance and strong shopper support. Vukile’ s centres don’ t just serve communities, they’ re shaped by them,” says Itumeleng Mothibeli, MD SA at Vukile Property Fund.
The mall benefits from retailers focusing on essential goods, along with Dis-Chem and other shopping options to add to the already impressive lineup of stores. It boasts several household names including Woolworths, Pick n Pay and Checkers and now a new Shoprite.
Although a large portion of Eastern Cape is rural, the city of Mthatha has an established university, a golf course and a high-rise office block. The investment in Mall of Mthatha and its surrounds, coupled with increased infrastructure spending, bode well for the future of the city.
“ We envisage a new town square evolving at the Mall of Mthatha precinct to bring together the various aspects of this development. With extensive upgrades, the reimagined BT Ngebs City unlocks the mall’ s potential, creating a more engaging, appealing, and convenient experience for everyone in a province with immense potential,” concludes Lahaye
22 Project Watch