Author: Kagiso Mahlangu

In late September, South Africa is set to get its latest big shopping mall. Once complete, the Madombidzha Mall, located in Makado in Limpopo, will have a 9,200m2 footprint and more than 40 tenants. It will also add to the more than 3,050 shopping malls currently serving local consumers. With several prominent properties in financial trouble, including the country’s largest, the question that all South African mall developers should ask themselves is whether shopping malls are truly being developed for the communities they services. While vacancy rates have improved this year, there are still significant issues. Despite increases in foot…