The making of Mdantsane

Politicians seized on the official opening to connect the NU6 mall with the Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme (Murp) - the 10-year development project that seeks to address under-development, poverty and crime in the suburb.

Eastern Cape Premier Nosimo Balindlela told the dignitaries and hundreds of ordinary people who turned up for the official opening that the mall represented hope for the future of Mdantsane.

Buffalo City Executive Mayor Zintle Peter said: “Previously we've had some challenges but now I can proudly say we have progressed as Buffalo City.

“We want to bring those that are at the periphery of the economy in, to be roleplayers in the economy.”

Landmark opening

The opening of the mall is a landmark event for the 240,000 people of Mdantsane, who will no longer have to travel to East London to shop. The mall's tenants include Woolworths, Pick 'n Pay, Jet Mart, fashion stores, restaurants and car dealers.

For commercial property developer and Billion Group chief executive, Mthatha-born Sisa Ngebulana, the mall makes economic sense.

“Research shows that there is buying power. This is more than social investment ... it is an economic investment too. This mall is up to the same standard you would expect in any mall of this size.

“The businesses that came to the party have shown confidence in the area and I have no doubt that they will get a return on their investments,” said Ngebulana.

The new mall also means more jobs in Mdantsane and possibly the beginning of a real central business district.

Already in isolated pockets around the township, there are businesspeople betting on the positive future of Mdantsane. Shebeens are slowly giving way to fully fledged sports bars and bed & breakfasts are popping up.

Crime still a problem

But crime remains an obstacle - and a high cost - for many small business owners, especially taverns, shops and the many traders operating from containers in areas such as Highway.

Mary Mbali, the owner of the township's first sports bar, the Cornerstone Tavern in NU9, narrowly escaped during an armed robbery last year when three men made off with goods and cash worth R10,000.

Although she welcomed the new mall, she said she was concerned about safety there.

“I saw that there is a bank in there but I am afraid to use it,” she said. “I don't even use the one in Highway because, even though there is a police station there, it does not make a difference.”

Mdantsane-based Imonti Tours operator Velile Ndlumbini said crime in Mdantsane was a threat to development plans for the place.

Small businesses in the area became the targets of criminals, he said, which deterred aspiring entrepreneurs from setting up shop in Mdantsane. “The impact of crime kills business. Some people even close their businesses because they become victims of burglaries.”

Combat programme

Ndlumbini believes that curbing crime is not the sole responsibility of the police. “It starts with the community. If residents don't stand up and fight against crime in community policing forums, it will not stop,” he said.

“Some parents know that their children are criminals but do nothing except bail them out when they get arrested.”

Murp's political head, Luntu Bobo, says the programme has identified crime as a key element to be addressed. “There are many ways to fight crime, such as creating jobs and infrastructure. We've set aside R60 million to upgrade street lighting at Qumza Highway with the aim of minimising crime. We also want to ensure we upgrade open spaces to minimise crime.”

Bobo said a R138 million cash injection for Murp from the Treasury had been earmarked for developing Highway and beefing up security in the area.

Protesting lack of delivery

However, a German development bank recently threatened to withdraw R65 million in funding earmarked for dealing with crime in the township because of the municipality's slowness in appointing a project leader to drive the initiative.

Indeed, the urban renewal programme is not moving fast enough for some of the people on the ground.

Though the anger was directed at ward councillors, there have been two protests against lack of delivery by Mdantsane residents in the past six months - one in February by the people of Gqozo, an NU1 informal settlement, and one in December last year by the people of Ward 15.

These were preceded by protests by Potsdam residents in September last year, also against the slow pace of service delivery. The police were sent in to calm Potsdam and fired rubber bullets into a crowd.

But Bobo said that Murp was on track except for housing, which fell under the national and provincial housing departments.

He also said the German funds had not been withdrawn, but Peter was not aware of this.

Peter said of the German funding saga: “Mainly, we were challenged as far as counter-funding is concerned. When we get funding from outside, we are expected, as a municipality, to put a certain percentage down to counter the funding. If it was possible, we would go back to the table and talk to the people who were (giving) us that funding.”

Encouraging confidence

Bobo is confident that the new mall is more than just a symbol. It was an indication of the confidence business had in the buying power of Mdantsane, he said, and showed a willingness to invest in townships.

Other business would follow once they saw the mall succeeding, he said, and the development of business went hand-in-hand with Murp's initiatives. “The more businesses we can get into Mdantsane, the closer we will get to achieving the objectives of Murp, one of which is to fight hunger and poverty. We are hoping it is the first step to chasing away poverty in Mdantsane.”

Source: Daily Dispatch

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