Why are they the top 10 biggest malls in South Africa? Let’s find out
South Africa boasts some of the most impressive shopping destinations on the African continent, with malls that offer everything from high-end fashion to entertainment and dining. With approximately 2000 malls scattered across different parts of the country, this is the ultimate dream for a shopping enthusiast or if you just love exploring vast retail spaces, you’ll be delighted to know that South Africa is home to some of the largest malls in Africa. We’ll take a closer look at the top ten biggest malls in South Africa, highlighting what makes each of them a must-visit shopping and entertainment destination.
1. Fourways Mall
Located in Johannesburg, Gauteng, Fourways Mall is currently regarded as the biggest mall in South Africa, this came after its massive renovations.
The mall was first constructed in 1994 and the doors of the mall officially opened in August 2019. It is said to be owned by Accelerate Property Fund and Azrapart.
With a landmass of 178,000 square meters, the mall has 400 stores and 8 000 parking bays. For a world-class shopping experience, this is the mall to visit.
The mall is open from Monday to Saturday 9 am – 7 pm, Sundays & Public Holidays from 9 am – 6 pm.
2. Menlyn Park Shopping Centre
Formally known as the biggest mall in South Africa, Menlyn was replaced from its number one spot by Fourways mall.
It is an award-winning shopping centre, situated in the capital city of Tshwane, South Africa, in the Menlyn node. It was established in 1979.
After its redevelopment in 2017, it now has a Gross Lettable Area (GLA) of over 177 000 square metres, with over 500 stores and 8 250 parking bays. One of its perks is it has 16 parking entrants and 12 parking exits.
The mall is filled with international brands, great dining places, entertainment, and leisure spots.
The mall opens till late; Monday – Thursday 09h00 – 19h00, Friday – Saturday 09h00 – 20h00, and Sunday & Public Holiday 09h00 – 18h00
3. Gateway Theatre of Shopping
Third, on the list of the biggest mall in South Africa, Gateway Theatre of Shopping is found at Umhlanga Rocks, on the north side of Durban.
With a landmass of about 150 320 square metres, it was opened in 1998 and is owned by Old Mutual Property.
It has over 430 stores, 70 eateries, and exciting entertainment areas. The mall has a mixture of local South African retailers and big international brands such as Gant, Zara, Cotton On, and Forever New.
The mall is open from Monday – Thursday 09h00 – 19h00, Friday – Saturday 09h00 – 21h00, and Sunday 09h00 – 18h00. Public holiday hours are the same as above on the day on which they fall.
4. Canal Walk
Fourth on the list of the biggest malls in South Africa is Canal Walk is the largest shopping centre in Cape Town. It is located on the N1 and is central to the CBD and surrounding areas.
It was established in the year 2000 and it is owned by Hyprop Investments and Ellerine Bros.
It has over 400 stores and 8 000 parking bays. It has everything from the greatest fashion to entertainment options for the whole family.
They offer the ultimate best movie experience as their Cinema “Nu Metro Cana Walk” has the biggest 3 storey high screens, with 4k ultra-high-definition projection.
The mall operates from 9 am – 9 pm daily.
5. Sandton City
Fifth on the list of the biggest malls in South Africa is Sandton City. Found on the northern side of Johannesburg, Sandton City is a multiple award-winning shopping centre that was established in 1973 and is owned by Liberty Holdings and Pareto.
With a landmass of 141 390 square metres, it boasts some of the most luxurious and exclusive retail and leisure experience in Africa. It is home to over 300 stores that cater to all people from all walks of life and serves as a tourism attraction site due to its amazing features.
The mall operates from Monday – Thursday 09h00 – 19h00, Friday – Saturday 09h00 – 19h00, and Sunday & Public Holidays 09h00 – 18h00.
6. Mall of Africa
Sixth on the list of the biggest malls in South Africa is , Mall of Africa , which is considered the first largest shopping mall on the continent to be ever built in a single phase.
It was constructed in 2012 and it open its doors to the public to shop in 2016. The shopping centre has over 131 00 square metres of retail space and it is located in Waterfall City, Midrand, Gauteng.
The mall is owned by Attacq and ATTERBURY Property Group.
Mall of Africa is home to over 300 stores, both local and international brands. It has great features and amazing entertainment and leisure areas for the whole family.
Its trading hours are from 09h00 – 20h00 daily, including public holidays.
7. Pavilion Shopping Centre
Seventh on the list of the biggest malls in South Africa, is the Pavilion. Famous for its European architectural features and beautiful attractions, Pavilion is located in Westville, near Durban Harbour Entry Port and King Shaka International Airport.
It was opened in 1993, making it the first shopping mall in KwaZulu-Natal. It covers 119 000 square metres and has 255 stores which are national and international retail outlets, 40 restaurants and food outlets, and a cinema with 1 4DX theatre.
The mall operates daily from 09h00 – 19h00, and the food court, entertainment & restaurants are open from 09h00 to 21h00 daily.
8. Eastgate Shopping Centre
Eighth on the list of the biggest malls in South Africa is Eastgate shopping centre. Located in the eastern suburbs of Johannesburg, Eastgate shopping centre is also one of the biggest and most popular malls in South Africa.
It is 15 minutes away from O.R Tambo Johannesburg International Airport and it is surrounded by amazing hotels for accommodation.
Eastgate Shopping Centre was opened in 1979 and it is presently owned by Liberty Holdings. Since its establishment, it has evolved into a sophisticated shopping centre with well-recognised stores.
It has over 300 stores and is home to a number of entertainment and leisure activities that every shopper can rave about.
The mall trades from Monday – Thursday 09h00 – 19h00, Friday 09h00 – 21h00, and, Saturday – Sunday including public holidays 09h00 – 19h00.
9. Centurion Mall
Ninth on the list of the biggest malls in South Africa is, Centurion Mall is perfectly located in between Midrand and Pretoria, Gauteng.
What makes the mall stand out it’s the amazing architectural features added into the design of the fashion spine which one gets to see at the entrance of the mall.
With a landmass of 112 828 square metres, the mall is home to over 200 stores, which consists of fashion and food stores, bookstores, and a cinema.
The mall is open Monday – Friday 09:00 – 19:00, Saturday 08:00 – 18:00, Sunday and Public Holiday 09:00 – 17:00.
10. Westgate Mall
Tenth on the list of the biggest malls in South Africa is Westgate Mall. Built in the year 1985, Westgate Mall is located in the west rand of Johannesburg, Roodepoort area. It is owned by Pareto Limited.
The mall has a GLA of 109 000 square metres and it is home to 184 stores. Its design is simple, making it easy for one to navigate through the mall and have a great shopping experience.
The trading hours are Monday to Thursday 9 am – 6 pm, Friday 9 am – 7 pm, Saturday 9 am – 5 pm, and Sundays & Public Holidays 9 am – 4 pm.
The key takeaway and biggest highlight of this article are that majority of the biggest malls in South Africa are found in Gauteng, in between Johannesburg and Pretoria to be precise. This set Gauteng at the top as the province and home to the biggest malls in South Africa out of all 9 provinces.
If you will be visiting any of the above-mentioned malls for the first time, I would advise you to please keep track of where you parked and the entrance you used because getting lost in these malls is not a myth.
But if you happen to be in this situation, remember that all malls have securities who are well trained to assist in such situations.