Too many malls on the West Rand?

Anil Sewpersad from Roodepoort writes:

With regard to the above mentioned matter, I really must beg the question: Has the West Rand become inundated with shopping malls – of which a few are white elephants?

Beginning at the corner of Conrad Streets and Ontdekkers Road, one finds Flora Centre which is in very grave danger of turning into a white elephant sooner rather than later. As one proceeds down Ontdekkers Road, one finds Horison Village, then Westgate, and Princess Crossing. These malls have sprouted up faster than mushrooms do, and, the burning question is: Does the population on the West Rand really need these inconveniences – of course that is precisely what they are! These malls are now becoming inundated with empty spaces, and, here again, a couple of questions need to be asked. (a). Is it really the owners of these malls and/or their fleecing letting agents who are playing hard ball with regard to astronomical rentals, or (b). Is there something sinister going on in between the owners of these malls and government which is preventing the latter from intervening with regard to tenants being taken to the cleaners insofar as those binding lease agreements – which are always in favour of the landlords in any case – are concerned? I have seen people literally lose everything they owned just due to the balance of lease implication – oh these landlords are parasites, and, they will extract almost every drop of blood out of their prey! Should not the balance of lease implication apply to national traders only as opposed to the small entrepreneur? Surely these national traders should not be allowed to dictate to landlords insofar as rental per sq mtr and balance of lease implications are concerned?

Why does Ontdekkers Road resemble a Christmas tree in the first instance? I am convinced that it comes down to those avaricious landlords of these shopping malls. Why should a tenant pay a landlord R400 sq/mtr when he can purchase his own property in the first instance? After the initial 10 years, (a). his equity i9ncreases, and, (b). his ability to make a profit almost doubles – if not trebles.

Let us get to the bottom of this, and, let us play a contributory role insofar as getting the West Rand working again. Our economy is definitely down in the pits, and, these landlords know no recession, they know no tough times, and, they know nothing to be honest! All they do seem to know is how to increase rentals of tenants, and, fleece people.