The developers of the R1.7-billion Bay West Mall in Port Elizabeth, Abacus Asset Management and Billion Group, are targeting small-to-medium sized businesses for involvement during the construction phase of the centre.
The Bay West Mall primary contractor Murray & Roberts, through the mall’s Community Liaison Officer (CLO) Azola Tybosch, is looking to SMEs throughout the city – particularly from the Northern Areas suburbs and townships – to register on their database for possible work during the R1.3-billion construction phase.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NAFCOC), the Northern Areas People Development Initiative (NAPDI) and the National Black Contractors and Allied Trades Forum (NABCAT) have already been engaged with on the matter.
Tybosch said more than 200 SMEs and individuals had already registered on the database, the suitable candidates of which Murray & Roberts were already using on site. But Tybosch said she wanted more registrations on the database.
The developers have committed to spending at least R325-million on BEE equity involvement of the R1.3-billion, while R260-million of the R1.3-billion is set to go to procuring local business and services. Up to 1,500 local jobs are set to be created during the construction phase out of a total of 3,000 direct jobs. A further 7,000 indirect and induced jobs will be created.
Upon completion of the 87,500m² shopping centre in early 2015, a further 1,500 permanent jobs will be created to staff about 260 retail outlets.
Click HERE or on the image below to contact Azola at Bay West Mall.

Some Facts about Bay West Mall:
- The mall size of 87,500m² is the gross leasable area and excludes the parking area.
- The development of the mall is a joint venture between Abacus Asset Management and Billion Group.
- The construction value of the mall is approximately R1.7-billion, with a further R250-million being spent on developing the road network in the area. The road network includes an intersection onto/off the N2, as well as the Redhouse-Chelsea arterial road, linking the suburbs of Sherwood and Rowallan Park via a road over the N2.
- The mall is central to the development of the greater (longer-term) Bay West City project, for which the developers have earmarked 300 hectares.
- Up to 30% of the Bay West City site has been allocated for environmental preservation and will not be developed at all.
Alan Straton
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