RETAIL, SERVICES, and ICT
Broadband
The broadband Project aimed to capitalise on the launch of Seacom undersea fibre optic cable on the north coast.
iLembe District Municipality currently holds a private Telecommunications network License, which can be used to provide more affordable telephony and internet access to Government institutions and community facilities in the district.
A feasibility study was completed and highlighted the benefits to rural communities in terms of access to telecommunications, access to markets and increased digital capacity.
The objective of the pre-feasibility was based on the objectives as set out in IDM’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) which aimed at promoting local economic development, and expanding Broadband to rural communities, this would ultimately in turn, reduce the socio-economic gap between the rich and poor areas.
Current Status of the Project;
Phase one of the project was completed in 2012, the aim of the project was to prove the feasibility of inter-municipal interconnectivity and to establish infrastructure across the district to make this possible. Phase two, of the project kicked off in 2015 and is a partnership between Enterprise iLembe and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa. The objectives of the project can be listed as to Enhance the Broadband strategy, by deploying fibre optic cables along the PRASA railway line infrastructure, to enable back haul connectivity to the urban, semi urban and some rural nodes within the District .
Shopping Centre
Ballito on the burgeoning North Coast is set to get a R1.4 billion regional mall with leading developers and investors, the Menlyn Maine and Flanagan & Gerard consortium, acquiring Ballito Junction Shopping Centre together with the adjacent undeveloped land and development rights.
The acquisition of the existing 11 000 square metre mall and prime 10 hectare property at the entrance to Ballito, will see Ballito Junction expanded to a massive 65 000 square metres, transforming it into the area’s first regional shopping centre. Development rights that exist on the site allow for the centre to be further expanded to 90 000 square metres and “super-regional” shopping centre status.
The largest single property development in Ballito since the Zimbali Resort – is due to commence later this year and be complete in March 2017. The new mega-mall is being developed to meet the retail and leisure needs of a growing and affluent market on the KZN North Coast.
Flanagan & Gerard is one of South Africa’s foremost shopping centre developers. The joint-venture in KZN will see these two groups bring their extensive property expertise together in developing a vibrant new retail and leisure hub in Ballito.