Etwatwa Crossing has opened its doors to shoppers in Etwatwa, Daveyton and surrounding communities, introducing a 17,976m2 retail centre designed around everyday shopping, essential services and local economic participation.
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Developed through a partnership between McCormick Property Development and GMI Property Group, the centre brings together a strong mix of grocery, fashion, food, pharmacy and banking tenants, creating a one-stop retail destination for an area that has historically been under-serviced.
The tenant mix includes Shoprite, Shoprite Liquor, Boxer, Boxer Liquor and Clicks, while fashion retailers from the Pepkor, Foschini, Truworths and Mr Price groups, alongside Studio 88, provide shoppers with a broad choice of clothing and footwear.
The food offering includes KFC, Hungry Lion, Steers and Debonairs, while Absa, Standard Bank, Capitec and FNB provide full-service banking branches.
For the developers, the centre is intended to do more than provide shopping convenience. It is positioned as an investment in community infrastructure and economic participation.
“Our commitment to providing quality retail opportunities within under-serviced areas remains our core purpose,” says Jason McCormick, CEO of Exemplar.
“As does our commitment to fostering economic development, creating job opportunities, and driving positive change within the communities that our assets are based.”
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Retail creating local economic opportunities
Employment has been a key component of the development. Of the 474 employment opportunities created during construction, 297 were awarded to local residents, meaning more than half of the construction workforce came from the surrounding community.
Since opening, the centre has created more than 700 employment opportunities through its various tenants, extending its economic impact beyond the construction phase.
The development also incorporated local skills and infrastructure initiatives. Two tertiary education learners received training under the main contractor from the beginning to completion of the project, while infrastructure upgrades and installations amounted to R12m.
The result is a retail development that connects consumer spending with broader economic activity in the area, from construction and employment to local services and ongoing retail jobs.
Designed around how the community moves
Accessibility was another consideration in the centre's development. Etwatwa Crossing includes an onsite taxi rank, dedicated e-hailing parking bays, pedestrian walk-in access and ample parking for shoppers arriving by car.
The centre's design combines two prominent entrances with large branded arches, elevated bulkheads, extensive glass storefronts and natural lighting to create a contemporary shopping environment.
Local creative talent has also been incorporated into the development. Etwatwa resident Moses Bene created two wall murals, which have become a popular feature of the centre. The artwork also inspired the graphics used in the centre's bulkhead designs, giving the development a visual identity connected to its community.
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Part of a Gauteng retail expansion
The opening takes Exemplar's Gauteng management portfolio to 13 centres, covering more than 300,000m2.
Etwatwa Crossing also marks the beginning of a busy opening period for Exemplar and McCormick Property Development, with more than 80,000m2 of retail space scheduled to open between the end of August and October 2026.
The 21,500m2 iTonka Square is scheduled to open on 24 September, followed by the 37,000m2 Leratong City on 29 October and the 10,000m2 Moletsi Mall in Limpopo on 30 October.
“With over 80,000sqm opening between the end of August and October 2026, our teams are creating quality retail almost faster than shoppers can keep up,” says McCormick.
Etwatwa Crossing demonstrates the role that community retail can play when developments combine essential retail with employment, infrastructure, transport access and local participation.
For shoppers, the centre brings greater convenience; for the surrounding community, it represents a new commercial hub with the potential to support economic activity well beyond the shopping centre itself.
