Safland Properties Group and representatives of the town council in Otjiwarongo celebrated the ground breaking of their new N$55 million investment in a modern ‘Town Square’ shopping mall complex last week. The town’s Shoprite Centre is being converted into a modern shopping mall which will include stores like Clicks, Mr Price, Edgars Active, Jet Mart, Fashion Express, Truworths, Total Sports, Scooters Pizza and Hungry Lion.

Speaking at the occasion Otjiwarongo mayor Hilda Jesaya said that, “the idea to have a lifestyle shopping mall was an initiative of the Municipality of Otjiwarongo, driven by the need to boost the image of our town. As council we will always strive to improve development in our town for the objective of providing employment opportunities for our people.”

Pointing out that Otjiwarongo is the capital of the Otjozondjupa region and that people from surrounding areas and towns come to the town for services and shopping, she said that, “I am indeed delighted that Safland took heed of our call for a developer to establish a top-standard Town Square shopping mall that will host a wide range of businesses, services and facilities.

” The mayor added a special commendation for Safland for constructing 20 informal stalls at the Town Square that will be donated to the Municipality of Otjiwarongo.

“In so doing you have shown that your interest is not only in doing business, but most important, in ploughing back to the local communities in the town.” The stalls are being built at a cost of N$500 000 and are to be handed over before the end of the year.

Safland CEO Kallie van der Merwe said that the company, together with the Frontier Property Trust made a commitment to develop people’s places. He said that the Otjiwarongo Town Square is set to be Safland’s first shopping centre development to be completed in the country. He noted the importance for the town to take advantage of the opportunities and money that will flow directly to the people.

“The main contractor Afrideca at any given moment has 74 permanent people on site and 10 temporary employees. All of these permanent workers are Namibian but more impressive is the fact that 71 come from this region, he said. “The sub-contractor with a workforce of 42 is from Otjiwarongo. All 13 suppliers are from Namibia and eight of these are from the region,” said van der Merwe.