Peddie set to get own shopping centre

PEDDIE consumers using two modes of transport to get to their nearest shop could soon benefit from a shopping complex planned for the town.

The Ngqushwa Municipality this week called for an expression of interest for a retail complex in Peddie.

The municipality hopes the centre will change the face of the town when it opens in 2016 to serve residents who have to travel to other centres such as Port Elizabeth, East London, Grahamstown, Port Alfred and King William's Town to do their basic shopping.

Ngqusha Municipality spatial manager and acting executive manager Steven Simphiwe Mnweba said the municipality had seen a population exodus to other urban areas.

He said it was hoped the project could reverse this trend as well as help residents save on travelling costs.

"The Ngqushwa community travels long distances to other neighbouring towns to purchase goods. Some of them use up to two modes of transport. This becomes too expensive for rural people as most of them are pensioners, and some rely on social grants," Mnweba said.

The size of the property to be developed is 3.3 hectares – roughly the size of three rugby fields – and developers and businesses are being invited to come up with proposals.

"We are looking at any kind of shop, as long as it is going to change the face of the town. Even though the project is still in an initial phase, [prominent] shops will be an added advantage. We do not want this complex to be a white elephant or find that it is not serving the purpose that it is intended for," Mnweba said.

He said the successful bidder would enter into a lease agreement for a certain time period with the municipality and to ensure sustainability, the bidder had to source funding and show evidence of a development concept and sound financial model.

Border Kei Chamber of Commerce executive director Les Holbrook said any form of development was good news and was welcomed by the chamber, particularly in small towns because of the incremental impact it had on a smallish economy.

"While the development is good news and a solid contribution, one is not sure how this will affect informal traders. It may well be a catalyst to changing the way business operates in Peddie.

The chamber has always supported the formal approach and clearly this type of development leans towards a much more structured and long-term sustainable development. Some argue that retail 'giants' kill small business – however, there is no doubt that they bring investment and jobs to any location," Holbrook said.

He said a solid and well considered business plan would be needed to ensure the project was viable. - Cindy Preller