I’langa Mall opens in Nelspruit

Nelspruit’s newest shopping experience, I’langa Mall, officially opened for trading today (29 April 2010) in time for the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Nelspruit is one of the host cities and I’langa Mall is located about a kilometre from Mbombela Stadium.

The 45 000m2 I’langa Mall is owned by the Visagie Trust, Resilient Properties and Laeveld Trust. It features a range of stores, modern architectural design, prime location and easy access of the N4 highway.

The mall has 110 stores, including anchor tenants Game, Edgars, Mr Price, Pick ‘n Pay and Woolworths. Banks include Absa, Bidvest, Capitec and Standard Bank.

Others stores in the mall include Aldo, Baglios, Bag Mania, Blooming Gorgeous, BT Games, Cappuccino’s, Davisons, Dion Wired, Donna Claire, Due South, Earthwise, Exact, Fascination Books, Forever New, FX, Hang Ten, Jeep Megastore, Jetaime Hair Salon, Jola, Lavish, Mr Price Sport, Mpumalanga Arts and Crafts, Naartjie, Nozihle Dry Cleaners, Old Khaki, Poetry, Queue, Sass Diva, Side Step, Studio 88, Urban Rose, VJ Nova Gant and Zoom.

There are 2900 free all-day parking bays with car guard facilities.

Andeon Visagie of major stakeholder Visagie Trust says: “I’langa Mall has created a new shopping experience within Nelspruit that will have an extended reach throughout the province and beyond country’s borders.”

“With many retailers choosing I’langa Mall to debut the arrival of new brands in the area, stakeholder and retailer confidence is strongly cemented in the vision and future success of the centre, as well as the positive long-term growth of Nelspruit as a whole,” notes Luan Visagie of Visagie Trust.

The opening of this upmarket centre is the long-term vision of the late Andeon Visagie (senior), who was the motivation and catalyst for this development.

After extensive market research, the developers established that there was a necessity for a regional shopping centre within the area, not only to serve the immediate environment but also to serve the substantial and growing cross-border shopping market from Mozambique and tourists visiting the area.

The opening of the centre was celebrated by the owners, developers, government officials and dignitaries as well as hundreds of shoppers.

Councillor Lassy Chiwayo, executive mayor of Mbombela Local Municipality, who officially opened I’langa Mall, is excited about the mall and the benefits that the centre will bring to the area. He believes I’langa Mall brings more than shopping to Nelspruit, as it is also set to positively impact the local municipality.

“I’langa Mall is an exciting development, which the residents of Nelspruit have seen blossom before their eyes. We have been watching in anticipation as the centre was under construction, and will now enjoy this new development within our community,” says Chiwayo.

“The development is set to boost the local economy, with residents provided with more reason to keep spend within the province, rather than crossing provincial borders to shop. I’langa Mall will also boost local employment and job opportunities.”

The majority of construction workers employed to build the centre were drawn from local communities, and many unskilled labourers were sent on scaffolding, brick laying and first aid courses. The centre also generates hundreds of permanent and part-time sustainable jobs.

The local road infrastructure in the area has also benefited with the development of the mall, with the developers investing millions on upgrading roads and intersections to ensure good traffic flow on all major routes around the mall. This included the construction of a bus and taxi bay on one of the main roads in the area.

“I’langa Mall has been strategically designed to meet the key needs of shoppers and offers a great variety of fashion, leisure and lifestyle shopping,” says Johann Kriek of Resilient, a JSE-listed property company.

“With big retail giants such as Game, Edgars, Mr Price Group, Pick n Pay and Woolworths as anchor tenants, the central location and favourable consumer markets, I’langa Mall is set to become synonymous with shopping in Mpumalanga.”

Heading up the ongoing management of the mall is centre manager Hennie van Staden. He says: “The purpose of I’langa Mall is to bring superior, convenient shopping to the area. The centre features top retailers and phenomenal restaurants at the open-air piazza area, all within a modern environment with all amenities that any shopper may need. We are excited that our opening day is finally here and look forward to being at the heart of this great community which has encouraged and supported I’langa Mall every step of the way.”