R3bn Wilgepark mixed-use precinct breaks ground in Harrismith
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Construction has started on Wilgepark, a R3 billion integrated mixed-use precinct on the N3 and N5 corridors in Harrismith, Free State, combining retail, commercial, hospitality and residential space on a single site.
Construction has officially commenced on Wilgepark, an integrated R3 billion mixed-use precinct located along the N3 and N5 transport corridors in Harrismith in the eastern Free State.
The scheme is structured into five operational precincts: a Waterfront Mall with retail stores, restaurants and daily consumer services; a Waterfall Precinct of double-storey commercial showrooms aimed at automotive, home interiors and building supply operators; The Levels Hotel, a hospitality complex with accommodation, conferencing, wellness amenities and event space; and The Kraal Estate and The Kraal Apartments, which provide free-standing homes and apartment units served by landscaped lifestyle amenities.
Physical construction will be executed in phases, with site handovers following the sod-turning ceremony held on Friday. Project figures indicate the development will require between 1,500 and 2,000 workers during the building phase, followed by about 500 to 800 permanent operational jobs across property management, maintenance, security and retail tenant services.
The developer, Calvin and Family Group, said the location at the junction of the N3 and N5 enables direct logistics connectivity between Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the central Free State interior, and is intended to serve regional freight networks and surrounding agricultural nodes.
"We want to create an integrated space where people can shop, work, live and access hospitality services, while opening opportunities for businesses and local communities," said Calvin Mathibeli, chair of Calvin and Family Group. Maluti-a-Phofung local municipality mayor Tumelo Thebe said the initiative aligns with the area's infrastructure goals and positions Harrismith for greater economic activity.
Mathibeli said the economic impact will depend on execution, citing job creation, opportunities for local suppliers and the growth of supporting businesses, and noting that partnerships between investors, municipalities and communities would be important in realising those benefits. Further details on the construction timetable, civil works and commercial leasing milestones are expected as site installations advance.