Pilane Mall opens without �barred� SA retailers

Isaac Pinielo | Wednesday September 28, 2016 15:49

The 7,500 square-metre retail shopping centre was supposed to have been opened in August, but it was delayed by an impasse between some South African retailers and the ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry over licensing issues.

PrimeTime, who are the mall developers, said about 30% of the targeted tenants, who are South African retailers, have not been able to secure exemptions to trade in businesses reserved for locals.

The mall has 28 outlets, amongst them; First National Bank (FNB), Choppies Supermarket, Cashbuild, Puma petrol station, Barclays Bank, Knock-Out Cash ‘n Carry, OK Furniture and cell phone service providers.

PrimeTime said it is expecting multinational companies amongst them Jet, Mr Price, Clicks and others who were awaiting their licensing.

The company noted that it has been actively working with the retailers in order to obtain the required licences over the last few months, which has included liaising with the government at the highest levels but to no avail.

“At the current time, the company does not know if and/or when the required licences will be granted,” the company has stated.

According to the Trade Act of 2003, businesses such as auctioneers, car wash, cleaning services, Curio shop, fresh produce, general clothing, general dealer and hairdresser, are exclusively reserved for citizens of Botswana.

However, many SA retailers have up to now been able to sell these goods and services after securing exemptions from the minister of trade and industry.

Earlier on, the ministry stated that as government has the obligation to drive this initiative, a decision has been taken to suspend the granting of exemptions to non-citizen companies to expand and/or open new retail stores in the reserved business space.

The ministry said such companies would be required to demonstrate meaningful participation or involvement of citizens in their businesses as a way of citizen economic empowerment before they could be granted the exemption.