By Phiwa Sikhondze
During the 2023/24 financial year, the Municipal Council of Manzini processed 181 building applications representing a total value of E681.77 million. This is according to the Council’s 2023/24 Annual Report.
This marks a significant increase in the total value of applications, despite a 57% decrease in the number of submissions compared to the previous year.
The processed applications include residential, commercial, industrial, and public infrastructure projects, with commercial developments leading the pack at E603.95 million in value across 27 applications.
This surge in commercial development highlights growing investor confidence in Manzini’s economic landscape.
During the 2023/24 financial year, Manzini witnessed several notable commercial developments. One of the flagship projects is the Manzini Mall at the Old Trade Fair site, a state-of-the-art development spearheaded by South Africa’s Nthwese Developments.
This project will feature 183 shops and is expected to create over 1,500 job opportunities for emaSwati, underscoring its economic impact. Additionally, the Fairview Shopping Mall project is another major initiative, anticipated to generate over 500 jobs, with 250 of them being permanent positions.
Residential applications amounted to E58.29 million from 91 submissions, while boundary walls, often seen as an indicator of urban expansion, contributed E7.85 million from 39 applications. Industrial applications saw a slight increase in value to E3.08 million from just one submission, compared to the previous year’s E0.58 million.
The Council has attributed this increase in value to larger-scale projects and a shift towards more significant commercial and industrial developments.
Despite the decrease in the number of applications from 318 in the previous year to 181, the Council notes that the high total value is a testament to the ambitious projects being launched in the city.
The processing of these applications is crucial to supporting the city’s growth ambitions under the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) 2024-2030, aimed at developing Manzini into a smart and sustainable city.
Breakdown of Building Applications:
- Residential: 91 applications – E58.29 million
- Commercial: 27 applications – E603.95 million
- Boundary Walls: 39 applications – E7.85 million
- Industrial: 1 application – E3.08 million
- Public Infrastructure: 23 applications – E8.6 million
The report highlights that the council continues to prioritize efficient processing of building plans to ensure that development remains in line with the city’s strategic goals.