Silas Nduvheni

LIMPOPO – THE official start of the construction on the new R1 billion Thavhani Mall in Thohoyandou was marked by a sod-turning ceremony on Friday.

The building of the mall is expected to create about 1 500 permanent jobs. Present were public works, roads and infrastructure MEC, Jerry Ndou, who was representing the premier, Vhembe district mayor, Tshitereke Matibe, Thulamela mayor, Grace Mahosi and several senior traditional leaders as well as the mall’s owners and developers, Thavhani Property Investments and more than 250 business, government and traditional leaders. “The Thavhani Mall will be the anchor and catalyst development within a new, bigger commercial development node on a 27ha site in the Thulamela area, dubbed Thavhani City. This is a key mega-development as part of the Thulamela Municipality’s vision of securing city status by 2030,” Ndou explained. “Government’s rjole is to create an environment for proper infrastructure that business people will be able to invest in,” Ndou added. Chief Jeffrey Ramovha of Thavhani Property Investments, first had the vision of a regional mall six years ago. He later roped in shopping centre developers and investors, Flanagan & Gerard Property Development and Investment to help make his vision a reality. Patrick Flanagan, executive director of Flanagan & Gerard Property Development and Investment and a shareholder in Thavhani Property Investment, said Thavhani Mall was a major investment in the area and would be the largest shopping centre in Thohoyandou as well as the greater Thulamela municipal area.

Construction on R950m Thohoyandou mall to begin soon