New regional shopping mall coming to South Africa in major R3 billion development

Rural retail property developer McCormick is developing its largest rural retail development to date – the R3 billion Dan City mixed-use development in Limpopo.

The landmark development was granted approval by the province in March 2023, and will be anchored by a 36,000 square metre regional mall at the heart of the 146,000 square metre master plan.

On top of the new shopping mall, the site will also be host to a motor city, hospital and school.

Work on the project is expected to kick off in 2024, with the Dan City Mall expected to open its doors in 2025, the group said.

“Communities residing along the base of the Wolkberg mountain range from Nkowankowa all the way to The Oaks (65kms to the southeast) will benefit from this landmark development,” the developer said.

The project will take design cues and learnings from McCormick’s larger township malls in Gauteng.

The mall will bring a regional mall shopping experience to residents while retaining a local, culturally-relevant look and feel, the group said.

“The design includes three grocery anchors and an expansive fashion mix. Food, entertainment as well as banking and services previously not represented within the market will all contribute to the tenant mix,” it said.

“The development team is working closely with their leasing team, the local communities and the architects to ensure not only an impressive selection of stores but also a shopping destination that will provide an entertainment and value offering for the whole family.”

As with the group’s other developments, the design will focus on natural lighting, while solar power, waste management services and rainwater harvesting will all be included to ensure it is able to trade to capacity at all times, irrespective of service delivery constraints.

“We are absolutely thrilled that the rights for Dan City Mall have finally been approved. It is a scheme the team has been pushing for years, as we have always seen the potential of this region. This one is going to be extra special and I cannot wait to deliver an exceptional product to these communities,” said MD of MPD, Jason McCormick.

Dan City will be the third development in the region from MPD, with Maake Plaza and Mahlakung Mall, both neighbourhood centres, having been developed over the past two decades.

McCormick has launched a host of new shopping malls in more remote areas over the last year, and is getting ready to open its latest mall – Tshakhuma Mall – in October 2023.

The group has two more retail centres in the pipeline for 2024, including the 13,000 square metre Mehlareng Mall, and the 12,500 square metre Leeuwfontein Crossing – both in Limpopo. A smaller retail centre in the province, Bungeni Mall, has been pushed back.

“The mall and ancillary developments to follow will be an economic game-changer for the region, creating thousands of job opportunities and providing a platform for local businesses to grow and thrive,” the group said.

Read: New R200 million shopping mall opening soon in South Africa