Prince Buthelezi Mall, formerly known as Greenhills Mall, is a new regional shopping centre being developed to offer a fresh and modern outlook to shopping in Empangeni, South Africa. It will be one of the largest retail offerings in the broader Empangeni region.
The shopping centre is a collaborative venture between Moolman Group, a property development and asset management company; Twin City Development, a property investment company; and Melta Capital, an investment company.
The renaming of Greenhills Mall to Prince Buthelezi Mall honours Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, a respected leader in Zulu culture.
Construction on the project began in December 2024, and the shopping mall is scheduled to open in April 2026.
Location of Prince Buthelezi Mall
Prince Buthelezi Mall is situated on a portion of Erf 11447, Richards Bay, among the hills of the King Cetshwayo District municipality in South Africa. It is located approximately 3km from Empangeni, 5km from Ngwelezane Township, and 15km from Esikhawini
The mall site has been rezoned from Agriculture 1 to Lifestyle Centre Zone for the development of the retail centre. It is conveniently positioned near KwaZulu-Natal’s key economic centres.
Neighbouring landmarks include the Empangeni central business district (CBD), Ngwelezane Township, the local neighbourhoods and commercial area of Empangeni, the 5 Ways Mall, and the Umfolozi Hotel Casino Convention Resort.
The mall is strategically positioned on the R102 regional route and adjacent to the N2 and John Ross Highway (R34) intersection, the main intersection of Empangeni, for optimal accessibility. It is also close to affluent residential areas, which makes it an attractive destination for a diverse range of shoppers.
Significant road improvements and better access routes to the mall are planned by the proprietors to enhance the shopping experience.
Prince Buthelezi Mall development background
Comprehensive research conducted by the developers of Prince Buthelezi Mall led to the identification of a demand for a centralised shopping hub in Empangeni that serves both the middle-class and wealthier segments, as well as aspirational consumers within its vicinity.
Retail activity in the town is currently dispersed across the CBD and peripheral suburbs. Existing retail options for the people of Empangeni include small centres and street-front retail, with the Empangeni Shopping Centre in the CBD being the largest retail option with an area of approximately 37,000m².
The CBD’s congestion, insufficient parking, accessibility challenges, safety concerns, and overall decline are anticipated to redirect shoppers to favour Prince Buthelezi Mall for an improved shopping experience.
The Prince Buthelezi Mall will be the developer’s second major venture in the region, following the Princess Mkabayi Mall project in KwaZulu-Natal, which opened in October 2024.
Prince Buthelezi Mall details and features
Prince Buthelezi Mall will be a fully enclosed shopping centre, covering an area of 37,000m². It will house around 140 retail outlets and offer a contemporary shopping experience.
Amenities at the mall will include a spacious entrance hall, ample seating areas, a food court, an entertainment area with a children’s play zone, artistic installations, complimentary Wi-Fi access, charging stations for electronic devices, and more.
Additionally, a taxi rank and approximately 1,626 parking spaces will be available.
Design details
The architectural design of Prince Buthelezi Mall draws inspiration from the surrounding landscape of green rolling hills.
The main entrance features curved forms and vertical green slats that reference the local topography and nearby sugar cane fields.
Colours and finishes, both inside and outside the mall, reflect the textures of fever trees and the natural earth tones common to the area.
Retail options at the Prince Buthelezi Mall
The mall will be anchored by popular retail stores and brands, including grocery stores and supermarkets such as Checkers FreshX, Shoprite, Boxer, and Woolworths, as well as pharmacies Dis-Chem and Clicks.
Major fashion retail brands at the mall will include TFG, Pepkor, Mr Price Group, Truworths, Retailability and Studio 88 Brands. The list further includes Miladys, Identity, Pick n Pay Clothing, Mr Price, Legit and Edgars, as well as, Ackermans, Old Khaki, Studio 88, Jam Clothing, Home Choice and Pep. In addition Clothing Junction, Skipper Bar, The Fix, Lovisa, Sportscene with The Hub, Foschini, and Continental Linen.
The food offerings at the centre will include Fish Always, Nando’s, Hungry Lion, King Pie, Ocean and Basket, and also Steers, Mug and Beans, Debonairs Pizza and Roman’s Pizza.
In addition, there are major financial institutions, many of which opened second or third branches in the area, including Capitec, FNB, Absa and Old Mutual.
Furthermore, some of the major national retailers are set to enter Empangeni for the first time at Prince Buthelezi Mall, with new tenants, including Crazy Plastics, Converse, Crazy Pets, Roots and Polo.
The mall will also house Galaxy Bingo, which promotes one of the best gaming experiences in South Africa.
Contractors involved
Ikotwe Construction is the main contractor on the project, with Jodan Construction responsible for bulk earthworks. MDS Architecture is the lead architect, supported by Matla Quantity Surveyors.
Watson Mattheus Consulting is providing electrical engineering services, while Ingplan Consulting Engineers is overseeing fire and mechanical engineering.
Metik Consulting is the civil and structural engineer, and Watsol Group is managing wet services. Tenant coordination is being handled by Orion Project Managers. Millenium Roller Doors is supplying rolled doors for the Prince Buthelezi Mall.