Plaza creates over 2000 jobs and impacts over 91,000 community members through redevelopment
QwaQwa, Free State – Community members alongside stakeholders recently gathered at a formal event in celebration of the newly-redeveloped Setsing Plaza. While the centre has been operational for a few months now, the gathering marked the centre’s completion – symbolising renewed confidence in local economic growth, infrastructure development, and community revitalisation across the Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality.
The ceremony was attended by Houses of Traditional Leaders, the Free State Provincial Government officials, Executive Mayor, Cllr. Malekula Melato, who was accompanied by Members of the Mayoral Committee and Council, partners, and community representatives.
The redevelopment is driven by the Shenge Property Group – a 100% black-owned and managed property company with over 32 years of experience in property investment and development.
The Group manages and controls a Gross Lettable Area (GLA) exceeding 450,000 square metres across a diverse portfolio that includes commercial, industrial, and retail developments nationwide and in neighbouring countries.
The Group has hailed the success of the project.
“Setsing Plaza is more than a retail centre — it’s a symbol of progress, partnership, and pride for the people of QwaQwa,” says Seabelo Theledi, CEO of Shenge Property Group.
“This project was about investing where it truly matters — in communities that have long faced poverty, underdevelopment, and lack of infrastructure.”
Addressing Local Challenges Through Investment
Research shows that Maluti-A-Phofung region is one of the most poverty-stricken areas in the Free State. Around 60% of households earn less than R2,000 per month, and only 15% of the population is formally employed. These socio-economic conditions, coupled with infrastructure backlogs and high youth unemployment, propelled the Shenge Property Group’s investment in the area.
The redevelopment has also received the support of the Critical Infrastructure Fund (CIF) administered by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), enabling major bulk infrastructure upgrades to improve accessibility, services, and sustainability in the precinct.
The project has had a significant impact on employment and the local economy. During construction, over 1,000 jobs were created, with an emphasis on local hiring and skills development.
Since its completion, the centre supports more than 1300 permanent jobs in retail, management, and operations. Using a multiplier effect of seven, the development is estimated to have positively impacted over 91,000 people through indirect economic benefits.
A key component of the redevelopment has also been the relocation and formalisation of hawkers and informal traders with the local Taxi Association also forming partnerships with the Municipality.
The initiative provides traders with safer, better-equipped trading spaces and improved access to customers, while the Taxi Association ensures easy transport connections for surrounding communities to the Plaza.
In commending the Shenge Group for this development, the Executive Mayor, Cllr. Malekula Melato thanked the Group CEO, Seabelo Theledi.
“We welcome your efforts and this huge investment in reviving our Setsing,” she said. “Setsing has always been a meeting place for thousands of people on a daily basis. Many friendships and marriages have had their origins here over the years. Setsing Plaza will continue to be part of our DNA as Qwaqwa people, in particular,” she added.
The Executive Mayor also pleaded with residents to take care of Setsing Plaza. “The Shenge Group has invested millions in this project. However, it remains our own Setsing. Let us take good care of this investment. Let us guard jealously against those who would want to reverse this gain.
Let us call out thieves and vandals who destroy our critical infrastructure,” she said. Executive Mayor posed a challenge to the corporate world. “We have shopping centres in our villages like in Bolata, Tseki, Makeneng, Makwane, Monontsha and so on, that need to be revived too. Those areas, like here, also need economic revival to create jobs right on the doorsteps of our traditional leadership.”
The project has taken almost 5 years to complete.
