Exemplar REITail has opened Leratong City Mall in Kagiso, Mogale City, marking the first phase of the R5 billion Leratong Smart City development on Gauteng’s West Rand. The 34,000 square meter regional shopping center is the second-largest mall in Exemplar’s portfolio and one of the biggest retail developments to open in a South African township this year. Developed by McCormick Property Development (MPD) and designed by MDS Architecture, the mall serves the communities of Kagiso, Tshepisong, and Azaadville, while drawing visitors from across the region due to its strategic location at the R41/R558 crossroads, directly opposite Leratong Hospital.
Green Building With a Mining Heritage
Leratong City Mall has received preliminary EDGE Advanced certification, the highest tier of the International Finance Corporation’s green building standard. Nedbank CIB Property Finance provided funding for the development, working with in-house EDGE specialists from the design phase. The project reflects a growing trend in South African retail, where sustainability is increasingly driven by financial considerations rather than reputation alone.
Electricity and water costs have risen sharply in recent years, making energy efficiency a practical necessity. The mall’s rooftop solar installation, featuring 5,376 panels and 3.3MW of installed capacity, is expected to reduce grid electricity use by approximately 31%. The building’s orientation maximizes natural light while minimizing heat gain, reducing the load on lighting and air-conditioning systems.
MDS Architecture incorporated elements of the West Rand’s gold mining history into the design. Angular steel canopies at the main entrances are modeled after mine headgear, serving as both landmarks and weather protection. Inside, a geometric ceiling in the main walkway resembles an open-cast mine, broken up by skylines that flood the space with daylight. The interior palette uses neutral tones inspired by rock excavated on-site, allowing tenant shopfronts to provide color.
The mall features 89 retail tenants, including three supermarket anchors—Shoprite, Boxer, and Pick n Pay—along with Clicks and Dis-Chem pharmacies, nine banks, and more than 60 fashion stores. Fast-food chains like KFC round out the offering. For local residents, the mall consolidates daily errands that previously required taxi rides to Krugersdorp, Roodepoort, or Soweto. Taxi facilities are integrated into the development.
Beyond shopping, the mall includes family entertainment options such as a 1,000-seat amphitheater equipped with a digital screen, designed for concerts, markets, and community events. The food court overlooks the amphitheater, with large sliding glass panels allowing diners to move between indoor and outdoor spaces. Additional amenities include 11 restaurants, two children’s play areas inside, three sit-down restaurants outside, and a 300-square-meter outdoor play zone.
From Mall to Smart City
Leratong City is a public-private partnership between the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements, Mogale City Local Municipality, and Trendville, with MPD as the developer. The mall serves as the commercial anchor for a 350-hectare node planned to include 15,000 housing units, a private hospital, schools, early childhood development centers, parks, transport facilities, government service offices, and a commercial precinct. The remainder of the development is expected to roll out over the next 10 to 15 years.
The project traces its origins to the Township Regeneration Strategy of the early 2010s and aligns with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2019 call for new smart cities. Planning has been underway for over a decade, with construction beginning in June 2025 following a sod-turning ceremony on June 5. The 17-month build was completed on schedule and within budget, according to CEO Jason McCormick. The mall’s completion represents a shift in township development, where commercial infrastructure precedes residential growth, providing an immediate employer and source of municipal revenue before the first homes are built.
The development created 1,096 jobs during construction, with 495 people employed on-site at the end of 2025. More than 20 small businesses from surrounding wards were contracted during the build phase. A project steering committee oversees community engagement and ensures compliance with development goals. Once the broader smart city is complete, it is projected to support around 2,500 permanent jobs. The first major event at the mall, the All White Soul Session, is scheduled for October 31.
Exemplar’s expansion continues beyond Leratong. These additions strengthen Exemplar’s position in township retail, a sector recognized as one of South Africa’s largest consumer markets. With the mall now open, focus shifts to the next phases of the smart city, where housing, healthcare, and government services will gradually take shape around the commercial core.
Leadership and Legacy
John McCormick founded McCormick Property Development in 1983, establishing the firm that would later partner with Exemplar on multiple township retail projects. His son, Jason McCormick, now leads Exemplar as CEO, continuing the family’s focus on underserved markets. The partnership between the two companies has produced several major developments, including Chris Hani Crossing in Vosloorus, which remains Exemplar’s flagship center at over 40,000 square meters.
Opening Schedule Through 2027
Exemplar and MPD have three additional centers slated to open in 2027. Ntuzuma Mall in KwaZulu-Natal will open on March 25, followed by KwaMashu Point on April 29, and Dan City Mall in Limpopo on September 30. These projects continue the firms’ strategy of targeting high-demand areas outside traditional metropolitan centers.
Meanwhile, Moletsi Mall in Limpopo opens on Friday, October 30, just one day before the All White Soul Session at Leratong City Mall. This event marks the first major community gathering at the new center, drawing attention to the mall’s role as more than a retail destination. It serves as a social hub where residents can shop, dine, and participate in cultural activities.
