Property tycoon Vivian Reddy’s KZN mall gets the go-ahead

The KwaDukuza Municipality has extended the temporary occupation certificate for Durban business tycoon Vivian Reddy’s multi-million rand KwaDukuza Mall. 

The mall, in which Reddy has invested R500-million, was scheduled to open on September 27, but the Concerned Citizens' Group rushed to the Durban High Court to stop the development. It claimed Reddy’s firm, Double Ring Trading, had not secured a certificate of occupation.

The Durban High Court adjourned the application indefinitely and reserved costs. The court recorded that the KwaDukuza Municipality and KwaDukuza Mall (Pty) Ltd, cited as second and ninth respondents, had undertaken that they would not permit trading in the mall, including opening it to the public, until such time as the municipality had issued the developer with a valid certificate of occupancy.

In a statement issued by the KwaDukuza Municipality on Friday, it said its executive committee had accepted recommendations by the building control officer to extend the mall’s temporary certificate.

The municipality said the decision was informed by the progress made in fulfilling the conditions of the temporary occupational certificate granted during the opening of the mall, validation of reasons for not achieving some of the conditions, the socio-economic benefits of the mall for local communities and written undertakings made by the developer to fulfill obligations as per approved building plans.

KwaDukuza Municipality spokesman Sipho Mkhize said: “Following due consideration, the municipality has granted the KwaDukuza Mall a further 90-day temporary occupation certificate. The duration granted took into account the construction industry shutdown period between December and January.”

The 29,000m² mall, with 900 parking bays and 80 stores and restaurants, is the first phase of a planned R1.5-biilion precinct that will include a value centre, hotel, private hospital and an office park.

Reddy, whose Edison Property Group is the developer of Durban's R4.3-billion mixed-use Oceans Umhlanga development, described the mall development as a role model in BEE, with a 90% BEE participation.

National tenants will occupy 80% and include Checkers, Pick n Pay, Woolworths, Edgars, Mr Price, Truworths, Clicks, Ackermans and all major banks.