Resource-rich Palapye attractive to investors � Goya
Lindiwe Mozola | Tuesday February 9, 2016 12:03
Goya, who is also the Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, was officiating at the groundbreaking ceremony of Diphalane Junction Mall. The mall is developed by Benchicks Investments.
He said Palapye is one of few villages that are blessed with resources such as land, water and electricity and this has seen many businesses and companies exploring for business opportunities in the village.
Diphalane Mall, which is expected to be completed in 19 months period, is located along the A1 road.
He said the multi-million Pula mall will make Palapye a destination of choice and would see an economic boom to the village that will eventually transform into a town.
“Our village has seen construction boom in the past years and we have many big businesses coming to Palapye. Availability of water and electricity also attracts potential investors,” he said.
Goya expressed gratitude to Benchicks Investment, which also owns a filling station along the A1 road, for continuing to put the village on the map--which he said is a clear indication that Palapye is transforming into a town.
Furthermore, Benchicks is giving hope to the villagers since there will be job creation during and after the construction of the mall. “It is is said that 400 to 600 people will be hired during the construction period which is a milestone in job creation. We therefore do appeal that only Palapye residents are employed. In the past, we had experienced companies doing some developments in Palapye sidelining residents and bringing on board expatriates,” he said.
He added: “More people will be hired once the construction is over. Shops such as Foschini, Ackermans, and Nandos among others will be accommodated in the mall therefore the needs of many will be catered for.”
Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, Sadique Kebonang shared the same sentiments as Goya by emphasising that business will never be the same in Palapye once the mall is completed.
He said it was good that the private sector is playing a major role in assisting government with job creation because the government alone cannot manage.
He also explained that Benchicks is playing a major role in curbing rural-urban migration as many people living here will now have jobs and would not migrate to cities looking for jobs. He also noted that the mall, which is funded through the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) to the tune of P30 million, is a clear indication that the government continues to empower citizens.
“This goes to show that government empowerment programmes are alive and active. I therefore encourage all of you to make use of them and remove yourselves from poverty.”
Central District Council (CDC) chairman, Peter Williams said developments like these are the ones they need to boost the economy of the CDC in terms of collection of rates.
He said with those rates, the council will become independent and minimise usage of state funds henceforth allowing the government to use money for other human empowerment developments.