Official Opening of Inkosi Simingaye Shopping Centre
KWA XIMBA, South Africa — August 2, 2025 — In a boost for local communities in KwaXimba near Cato Ridge, west of Durban, the Inkosi Simingaye Shopping Centre was officially opened on Thursday, bringing essential services and economic opportunities closer to residents in this rural area of the eThekwini Municipality.
The event, held on July 31, featured Deputy President Paul Mashatile as a key speaker, who used the platform to highlight the government’s commitment to rural development while addressing personal allegations of financial impropriety.
Mashatile emphasized the centre’s role in integrating services such as shopping, banking, and potentially government facilities like Home Affairs offices and clinics, reducing the need for residents to travel long distances to urban areas.
This shopping centre is not just about retail; it’s about creating a multi-purpose hub where people can shop, access banking, and handle essential services all in one place,” Mashatile said during his address. He also touched on broader plans to collaborate with traditional leaders to accelerate development in underserved regions like KwaXimba.
The deputy president took the opportunity to deny reports linking him to misuse of public funds for luxury properties, clarifying that a R28.9 million home in Constantia, Cape Town, belongs to his son-in-law’s company, and a R34 million property in Waterfall, Midrand, is privately owned. “I don’t use government money. There’s no government money in those houses,” Mashatile stated, urging the public to “read carefully” and verify facts. This comes amid recent scrutiny, including a R10,000 fine from Parliament’s Ethics Committee for failing to declare a diamond gift to his wife.
Named after Inkosi Simingaye Mlaba, the current chief of the AmaXimba people and a member of the South African Communist Party (SACP) with ties to the African National Congress (ANC), the shopping centre represents a partnership between private developers and traditional authorities Mlaba, who assumed his role in 2008, has been supportive of community initiatives, rallying younger generations for progress in the area.
The development, spearheaded by Stonegold Properties under Stuart Graham, was first announced in September 2024 with an expected opening in September 2025. However, the project advanced ahead of schedule, benefiting approximately 3,000 residents by providing jobs for youth and adults, and aiming to alleviate unemployment in the region. Features include retail stores, banking facilities, and community spaces designed to foster economic growth and reduce reliance on distant urban centers.
The opening also highlighted political dynamics in the area, with former President Jacob Zuma, leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, being invited by local MK Party members—including MPL Musa Mkhize and Inkosi Mlaba—to participate in an event tied to the centre’s unveiling.
