New R375-million train station shopping mall opened in South Africa

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has opened a new mall at a train station in South Africa.

Isipingo Mall is a new shopping centre that forms part of the upgrades made by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) to the Isipingo train station.

Creecy said that as South Africa rebuilds its rail system, PRASA must also rebuild the communities that depend on it. 

“The Isipingo Mall is a shining example of how PRASA’s property portfolio can drive urban renewal and create new economic hubs that directly benefit local residents,” she said. 

The development is part of the state-owned entity’s secondary mandate strategy, which aims to revamp key economic nodes and realize the commercial potential of properties surrounding its train stations.

Covering 7,259 square metres of lettable retail space, the mall will feature 45 stores, a centre management Office, public ablution facilities, banks, ATMS, a food court, and 304 parking bays.

Notable tenants at Isipingo include a KFC, Rage, the Scene Lab, Clicks, SuperSpar, Standard Bank, FNB, and Telkom.

Roughly 271 jobs were created during the construction phase, and the completed mall is now expected to generate 150 permanent jobs in retail, community services, and facility management.

Creecy claimed that the project is already helping local families secure stable incomes and contribute to the economy of eThekwini. 

She added that the development embodies PRASA’s secondary commercial mandate to generate revenue via its property assets. 

“By investing in developments like Isipingo Mall, PRASA demonstrates that public infrastructure can be financially viable, socially impactful, and community-oriented all at once,” said Creecy. 

The transport minister noted that the project would not have been possible without the assistance of the private sector and the local community.

“Each of the projects, from the solar installations to the new trains and the Isipingo Mall, are a direct reflection of the true ethos of South Africa, the spirit of Ubuntu: working together to uplift one another,” they said. 

“Through these partnerships, we are laying the tracks for a transport system that does more than move people; it transforms lives.

A delayed start

The mall may have been opened this week, but contractors completed their work on the site four years ago.

The mall was finished in March 2021 after two years of construction, wrapping up a contract worth approximately R375 million.

The developers, GVK-Siya Zama, built the retail development over a live railway station, creating 24,000 square metres of retail and parking space, running into challenges like active power lines and commuters moving through the station.

The project is part of PRASA’s attempts to recover from years of financial troubles, which were compounded during the Covid-19 pandemic era when passenger numbers flatlined and there was a huge spike in vandalism on its tracks.

The state-owned entity is starting to recover across its rail network, with passenger numbers climbing 600% compared to 2020.