Construction underway for a new mall in KZN
The new Prince Buthelezi Mall in Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal, is now under construction, with developers targeting completion by April 2026.
Work has started on the Prince Buthelezi Mall in Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal, a new project by the Moolman Group in partnership with co-owners Twin City and Melta Capital.
When will the Buthelezi mall be open to the public?
The developers aim to complete the new KZN mall by April 2026.
“Empangeni is sorely underserved by retail without a comprehensive shopping centre available in the area.”
The Moolman Group
Currently, most of the area’s shops are scattered between the CBD and surrounding suburbs.
The Prince Buthelezi Mall will be a modern, single-level, and fully enclosed regional shopping mall with 37 000 sqm of shopping spaces. Located on the R102, it is 15 km from Richards Bay and 3,5 km from the Empangeni CBD.
The new mall will also feature a large new taxi rank and ample free parking.
Why did the name change?
The mall was formerly known as Greenhills Mall, but the developers and investors decided to rename the building after Prince Buthelezi.
Mangosuthu Buthelezi was a prominent figure in South African history. During apartheid, he served as the chief minister of the KwaZulu Bantustan, a semi-independent territory allocated to the Zulu people by the government. He was also the founder and leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) from its inception in 1975 until his retirement in 2019.
Buthelezi played a significant role in the transition to democracy in South Africa. He served as the Minister of Home Affairs from 1994 to 2004 under both Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki.
Buthelezi passed away on September 9, 2023, at the age of 95. He was a complex and controversial figure, but his impact on South African politics and society is undeniable.
What shops will be in the Buthelezi mall?
Prince Buthelezi Mall has already secured an exciting mix of retailers as tenants, including Checkers FreshX, Shoprite, Woolworths, Boxer, Dis-Chem, Crazy Plastic, Crazy Pets, and Converse.
There will also be a strong fashion variety, including Truworths, Miladys, Identity, Pick n Pay Clothing, Mr Price, Legit, Edgars, Ackermans, Pep, Jam Clothing, and Old Khaki.
In addition to the shops, there will be banking facilities and various restaurants.
Markedly, development of this new mall in KZN will lead to many new employment opportunities.