KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna Municipality has ended a 26-year-long lease agreement for the Sanlam Nekkies Mall with Masakhane Business Corporation and is using the opportunity to look at alternative developments for the area.

Acting Knysna Municipal Manager Phumla Makoma in a statement said the municipality entered into a lease agreement for the Sanlam Nekkies Mall with the Masakhane Business Corporation on 1 November 1995.

"Due to some changes in the original partnership, this lease is not valid anymore. The partnership structure of this business entity has changed through the years. Our legal advisors are of the opinion that the partnership which existed at the time of entering into the lease agreement between Knysna Municipality and the Masakhane Business Corporation no longer exists," she said.

This means that the 1995 lease agreement is no longer valid and enforceable.

"We would like to use the opportunity to look at alternative developments for the area by calling for proposals. We do have to consider other planning proposals and studies for this area before we proceed. 

"The Sanlam Nekkies Mall area is included in a business plan approved by Council in August 2019 for submission for the NDPG Technical Study. The technical grant has been approved and a service provider appointed to do the study. We also have to consider the Sanral Nekkies Intersection Project that will also impact on any further developments," said Makoma.

She added that their vision for the area is a development that caters for entrepreneurs from the local community (low-cost rentals) and considers the needs of the existing tenants and taxi ranks.

"Any future development must work for the local community by creating opportunities and add value to the people that use it," she said.

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