Masingita Group faces questions over seven-day approval for Malamulele Mall land
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The Masingita Group of Companies secured land-use approval for its planned Malamulele Mall in Limpopo in just seven days, a timeline now at the centre of a dispute over land allegedly earmarked for a local high school.
A property known as the Old Malamulele High School is at the centre of questions over land-use approval, alleged preferential treatment and a legal dispute involving a rival developer and the Collins Chabane Local Municipality in Limpopo.
The Masingita Group of Companies is facing questions over how it secured land-use approval for its planned Malamulele Mall in just seven days, with the parcel of land initially designated for a local high school. The group is scheduled to break ground soon, but the speed of the approval process has raised questions about whether it followed required land-use procedures or received preferential treatment.
The dispute dates back to November 2024, when property development company Yinhla Property Development, led by Yinhla Maluleke, began working to develop an enclosed shopping centre in Malamulele. Maluleke says he has invested millions of rand in pre-development work and fulfilled obligations in a sale agreement with the municipality that required him to develop the shopping complex within three years. The land he intended to develop is about one kilometre from the site where the Masingita Group plans to build its mall.
According to papers seen by The Citizen, the Masingita Group acquired its property on 11 November 2025, almost a year after Maluleke's own development process began, and had allegedly obtained business rights by 18 November 2025, just seven days later. Maluleke argues that a process involving land-use applications, public participation and municipal consideration would ordinarily take substantially longer, in some instances up to nine months, and says there is no record of a rezoning application for the property.
South African municipalities regulate land use through legislation including the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act, alongside their own planning by-laws and land-use schemes. Depending on the property's existing zoning, a change in land use may require a formal application, public notification, consideration of objections and a decision by the relevant municipal planning authority. The outstanding questions include how the property was acquired and granted business rights for a commercial development, whether the public was given an opportunity to participate and comment, and what legal basis the municipality relied on.
Founded by Dr Mike Nkuna, the Masingita Group has developed shopping centres across South Africa, most recently the Fleurhof Mall in Roodepoort, Gauteng, co-developed with Abcon Developments. When approached by The Citizen, the group declined to answer questions and referred the publication to the municipality, saying: “We note your enquiry below. However, we are not able to respond to matters that are within the regulatory control of the municipality.” Malamulele falls under the Collins Chabane Local Municipality, led by ANC mayor Shadrack Maluleke. According to Maluleke, the Masingita Group holds a one-page certificate identifying the municipality as the applicant, describing the land use as “vacant” and recording the zoning as “Business 3”.