Mafenyatlala Mall official opens tomorrow

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Wednesday July 7, 2010 00:00

The Mall, owned by Cash Bazaar Holdings (CBH), started operating towards the end of last year.  Some of the tenants at the mall include Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), JB Sports, CB Stores, Cell City, Furnmart, First National Bank, Style Clothing, Dunns, Pep Stores, Taku, Dodo's Clothing, Jewellery Box, Cash Build, and Super Spar.

CBH had entered into a 35-year lease agreement with the Kweneng Rural Development Association (KRDA) which owns the plot where the mall has been built.  The company paid KRDA P2 million for the lease.  The new shopping complex is located at the same plot where the Mafenyatlala Hotel used to be.  The Mafenyatlala Hotel which was owned by KRDA, was gutted by fire in 2003. 

It was after the fire incident that the KRDA board decided to lease part of the plot for commercial purposes.But there has been criticism that the company acquired the land for a song.  Another concern was that KRDA should have invited tenders for the project instead of only dealing with one company. KRDA chairman, Shima Monageng, said the entire property could be reverted to the community after the expiry of the lease period.  However, he said, KRDA has an option of extending the lease for another 20 years at a rental of P9 million for the entire period of the lease.

Monageng said the spectacular shopping complex has changed the landscape of Molepolole drastically, adding that some residents were skeptical about the project.  They thought the mall would become a white elephant.

'As we speak now, all the spaces are occupied, there are three commercial banks, Spar Supermarket, Cash Build and KFC which are some of the major retail shops which the mall prides itself in. All of use should embrace and acknowledge as maiteko a sechaba sa Mokwena.  It should be remembered that our objectives as KRDA are to bring about development in the district and help create employment.  This is exactly what we have done with this mall,' he said. Monageng said plans are underway to refurbish the BP filling station adjacent to the shopping complex to make it compatible with the current development. 'Not only do we intend to develop the filling station but even the Mafenyatlala Hotel as well.  The hotel will be built on the southern side of the mall towards Gathaone dam for it to have a beautiful landscape.  All these developments are what Bakwena deserve,' he said.

According to the KRDA chairman, the initiative is to have such developments in the Bakwena capital as a way of emulating other tribes, citing Bakgatla ba ga Kgafela, Bangwato and Bafokeng in South Africa who have developments that are entirely trustees of the tribe.  He recalled that in the 1980s and 1990s, cooperatives in Molepolole were owned by communities with profits going towards the tribes' coffers.  'Our government encourages Ipelegeng (self-reliance) as well as community and private partnership.' Monageng said the KRDA board has proposed that after the KRDA's take over by the government, the remaining projects they were running should be called Kgosi Kgari Sechele III Development Association.  He said this would instill a sense of unity within the tribe.  'We want our paramount chief to be the trustee of these developments as government will no longer be taking part in such commercial endeavours. The paramount chief will then be the umbrella and custodian of these properties as the tradition dictates. We have held meetings with all the headmen in the district and they fully agree to this concept.' Monageng said the concept has always been there as it is evidenced by the silos at the Bakwena main kgotla. 

'We are determined to revive the spirit of self-reliance, unity among the tribe and respect to our Kgosi Kgolo so as to achieve optimum development for our community,' he said.