Thavhani Mall in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, has scooped the top award for Rural and Small Town development in the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) Awards 2019.
Developed and owned by Flanagan & Gerard Property Development & Investment, Thavhani Property Investments and JSE-listed retail REIT Vukile Property Fund. Thavhani Mall is a new 50 000 sqm regional mall that opened in August 2017, introducing the biggest selection of shopping and leisure retail in the region with its 140 stores.
SAPOA award handover from left: Ipeleng Mkhari, SAPOA immediate past President, Sedise Moseneke, Executive director: Investment and Vukile academy from Vukile Property Fund; Donald McGillivray from MDS Architects; Neil Gopal, CEO of SAPOA and Zinon Marinakos, Excellence Awards Chairman – DSA Architects International.
Thavhani Mall’s exceptional design was created by multi-award-winning MDS Architecture, and its construction was delivered by main contractor WBHO.
The SAPOA Innovative Excellence Award recognises distinction in property development in the South African real estate industry, and showcases the most innovative property developments that contribute towards the enhancement of our towns and cities. This is exactly what Thavhani Mall set out to do.
Thavhani Mall is at the heart of the Thavhani City mixed-use urban precinct, which is designed to be the future economic hub of North Eastern Limpopo. It is the powerful catalyst for the rollout of a development masterplan that will create a new modern CBD with private healthcare facilities, transport terminals, a motor city, hotels and value retail. It will include a new multi-business office park with vibrant co-working facilities for entrepreneurs, becoming a hub of innovation, small businesses and job creation, as well as community soccer fields and outdoor gym.
Paul Gerard, MD of Flanagan & Gerard, comments, “Thavhani Mall was envisioned and designed as a world-class shopping experience for its community and surrounds, and we are incredibly pleased that it has been recognised for its excellence by its industry peers. This award is a testament to the excellence and professionalism of everyone involved in Thavhani Mall’s development. Thavhani City is rising and we are honoured to play a role in building its very bright future”
Itumeleng Mothibeli, incoming MD SA at Vukile, says, “We have great confidence in the people and economies of South Africa’s rural areas and towns, which can be seen from our investment in an exciting portfolio of shopping centres in these areas. With this in mind, an award in this category is particularly meaningful for Vukile and we are thrilled to have played a part, together with our esteemed partners, in bringing Thavhani Mall to Thohoyandou and its people. While building a large mall can have big benefits for a small rural community and meaningful impacts on employment, retail services and their local economy, it is precisely these shopping centres that we are currently seeing outperform their peers in urban areas.”