Orlando Chauke
LIMPOPO – Mike Nkuna , the pioneer of rural and township development, owner of several shopping malls throughout the country as well as a part of the Kaizer Chiefs Football Club, plans to bring another mall to the Giyani area.
Speaking last Thursday during the opening of the first shopping mall in Malamulele, Nkuna revealed plans are on the way to build the biggest mall yet in Giyani.
“It will be unique. The mall will take up about 65 000 m² and will be the biggest in the region,” he stated.
Furthermore, he has plans which are at an advanced stage, to build a 50 000 m² shopping mall in Louis Trichardt before the one that is now being planned for Giyani.
This will be his second property in the area as he recently bought Makhado Crossing Mall. He said it is his aim to establish ownership of property by black people.
“I had to take a long route and buy it in order to rectify the situation because there is no black person who has ever developed there,” he explained.
“To me it is not about enriching myself. I have the will to help the community through the creation of platforms where people can get employment to help them support their families,” he continued.
He added people who are employed should not only look after themselves and their families, but find ways to make a difference in their communities.
Speaking in support of the development in the area, the chairperson of the Traditional Leaders Association in Vhembe, Hosi Magona (Charles Nxumalo), who is also the secretary of the task team that fought and won the rights to have their own independent municipality in Malamulele, welcomed the development and urged the tycoon to do even more in order to help create jobs.
“This is the kind of development we need in order to uplift our communities, and I would like to urge you to continue and do even more for us…we will release land for you,” he added.
Meanwhile, Tourism Deputy Minister, Tokozile Xasa, urged business people to help support the government in the creation of jobs. Speaking specifically about the recent protests about university fees, Xasa said the country is not ready yet to have free education in universities, but added, the government will work something out for the future.
“As much as we all need free education for our children, the government is not ready yet to implement such a policy. We also need businesses’ support on this issue as they are supporting us to create jobs in rural areas,” she stated.
