South Africas New R15bn City Square Opens Near Durban

The developers of Westown Square, the mall at South Africas newest R15 billion city in Shongweni, west of eThekwini metro , have laid the final bricks to complete construction ahead of its official opening to the public this week.

Fundamentum Property Group director Sean Bergsma, speaking at the launch of the R1.3 billion mall this week, said it marked the realisation of a vision shared with his co-director and brother, Donovan, and chief executive Carolos Correira, to build an economically inclusive town in the region.

Westown Square is designed around a high street concept, and is in the heart of the 2000 hectare urban mixed-used Westown development near Hillcrest. It will comprise a hospital, school, retirement village, apartments and houses, in several phases of construction over 10 to 15 years.

Construction of the mall, which includes open spaces with walls decorated with murals by local artists and shrubs, started along with a R730 million upgrade of water, sanitation and road infrastructure that included the widening of Kassier Road which links with the N3 and M13 in September 2022.

The development aims to create a new economic hub to catalyse investment, stimulate job creation and attract services closer to where people live. As a green development it will include walking and biking trails and incorporates renewable energy, including solar generated power, in its design.