The V&A Waterfront, one of SA’s largest, mixed-use destinations, is ramping up security measures as it plans the R20bn expansion of the adjacent Granger Bay precinct.
It has applied for rezoning approval from the City of Cape Town, with construction set to begin this year.
The precinct’s security and compliance team are assessing the strategic placement of additional security measures and personnel.
Granger Bay is set to be transformed into a vibrant, mixed-use precinct with a focus on residential development, alongside public and cultural amenities. This redevelopment will also restore public access to the waterfront.
According to the V&A’s head of communications, Donald Kau, the construction will be rolled out in phases over the next 15 to 20 years, with plans to break ground this year.
The area features several notable establishments, such as the Oceana Power Boat Club, the Grand Africa Café & Beach restaurant and Waterfront Mall, which is ranked among the top super-regional shopping centres in SA by the Urban Studies shopper index.
The V&A Waterfront, which is co-owned by Growthpoint Properties and the Public Investment Corporation, uses Axis technology installed a decade ago, which remains relevant now.
As traffic congestion remains a challenge across Cape Town, the V&A is tackling the issue head-on with integrated vehicle-counting software. By using licence plate recognition technology, operators can track vehicles involved in security incidents, monitoring them from the moment they enter the precinct until they leave.
To tackle the challenge of managing crowds, the mall, which has almost 24-million visitors annually, uses Axis cameras and on-device analytics. This allows operators to track movements and spot unusual behaviour, helping to improve crowd control and gain valuable insights into visitor dynamics.
“Thanks to years-long experience and a clear understanding of our security needs, we are staying true to our vision of the V&A Waterfront remaining a safe and secure place. What makes our partnership with Axis so lucrative and successful is the ways in which its results extend beyond security and surveillance,” said Clinton Sandmann, compliance manager at V&A Waterfront.
In its most recent trading update, Growthpoint said there was a strong demand for office space and near-zero vacancies in the V&A precinct. In addition, demand for office space was outpacing available space, driven in part by semigration and demand for office space from tenants in the renewable energy sector.
The growth was fuelled by a steady increase in retail sales, which boosted retail turnover rentals. From January to August 2024, international air passenger arrivals at Cape Town International Airport rose 11%, while domestic tourism grew 7%. Over a rolling 12-month period, retail sales and visitor numbers rose 4% and 11% respectively, compared with the period ended September 2023.
Postpandemic, retail landlords faced challenges including high interest rates, load-shedding and rising municipal costs. Yet, the V&A Waterfront continues to lead the market, while other malls, such as Fourways near Johannesburg, are still recovering from empty stores, low foot traffic, and financial struggles.
Lightstone’s research shows that the Mall of Africa in Gauteng was SA’s busiest shopping centre from January to August 2024, based on vehicle stops. Sandton City and Gateway Theatre of Shopping in KwaZulu-Natal closely followed.
Head of retail at Lightstone Mohit Narotam said that while many shopping centres had experienced an increase in foot traffic, data showed that vehicle visits to Fourways Mall and Mall of Africa had yet to recover to pre-Covid levels.
Regarding shopper income levels, Sandton City dominated the affluent category, while Mall of Africa came out top in the lower-income and mid-level income categories.
Ultraluxury brands are primarily present in three major malls: Sandton City, V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, and Oceans Mall in Umhlanga, with Sandton City being the most established luxury destination in SA.
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