Yes I know that, in part, it
goes right down to the rentals that these stores pay for
their outlets in these malls, but come on. If the Chinese
can come all the way from China to coin it on our doorstep,
why can’t we?
According to Kloppers ‘The Chinese
retailers have been so successful that owners of struggling
shopping centres are queuing to fill their vacant space
with so-called "Chinatowns".
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Typical Waterfront |
Typical Chinatown |
Is the solution then not to fill it with
SouthAfricaTowns intead o Chinatowns.
There are thousands of qualified South Africans who are
able to manufacture these goods at competitive prices, and
there are thousands of entrepreneurs prepared to sell these
goods at competitive prices, if only the system and the
property moguls would allow us to.
But no.
We have to run to China for the solution, and then we complain
that Chinese imports are killing our local industries.
And talking of property moguls, South Africa’s
biggest property group Growthpoint Properties and the government
pension fund have just paid R9.7bn to buy the V&A Waterfront
back from UK-based London & Regional Properties and
Dubai World.
Maybe they intend letting the empty spaces
in the white elephant that is The Clock Tower to The China
Trust to turn it into another successful Chinatown?
Maybe a Chinatown with affordable restaurants bars and clubs.
Lets face it.
Historically the Waterfront made no bones about the fact
that it caters to an affluent foreign tourist market.
Might as well go for gold and invite some foreigners to
come and coin it by catering to a local market with a predilection
for affordable living.
