Long-awaited mall in Standerton is in final stages of business processes

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06-09-2022
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Ridge Times
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Lekwa does not have sufficient bulk infrastructure to cater for the development.

Lekwa’s council had a meeting on Wednesday, August 31 at which a progress report on the development of the mall was submitted.

In the report of Louis Delani Thabethe, executive mayor, the background was sketched.

To recap it all, the municipality requested proposals from qualified developers in June 2014 for the construction of a mall in Walter Sisulu Drive, with Sky Village Properties CC appointed after evaluation and adjudication.

On their part, Sky Village gave the go-ahead to Metroplan Town Planners and Urban Designers for development of the mall.

A public participation process followed and no objections were received.

It took more than another four years before Gert Sibande District Municipality approved the development and imposed certain conditions.

The developer is responsible for provision and installation of internal engineering services at his/her cost. while the municipality handles the external engineering services.

Now comes the hindering block.

Lekwa does not have sufficient bulk infrastructure to cater for the development.

The DA took to the streets and protested early 2019 in front of the municipal building in Mbonani Mayisela Street.

Job opportunities at the mall were specifically on their minds.

The mayor’s report outlined the implications of the service level agreement.

With regard to water, it proposes a borehole supply facility to be owned by the municipality, but built and operated by the developer.

The developer will recover his costs by means of offsetting his monthly billing for water against the installation figures.

With regard to sanitation, the parties have agreed to connect to the Coligny-sewage line now being upgraded, or alternatively the Ext 8-sewage line, now under construction.

The developer constructs the external infrastructure and a shortfall in costs can be offset against billing during early operational years.

The mall’s electricity will come from B-sub and the latter will be upgraded at the cost of the developer.

Once again, costs will be offset against the rates assessment.

Refuse removal will be handled by Lekwa.

Money-wise, the estimated cost of upgrading external engineering services is R29 218 395 and the total bulk contribution payable by the developer is R9 211 692.

A balance of about R20 006 702 will have to be offset from the rates assessment.

The mayor recommended that council authorises the MM to sign the service level agreement.

After signing on the dotted line, the developer can submit a site development plan, engineering services design, landscaping design and building plan to Lekwa.

Once approved, work can begin.